#PLStories- #StuartPearce on West Ham’s superb win at Man United and #MichailAntonio fitness #WHUFC
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Mark Noble And Marko Arnautovic West Hamjpg
What is your reaction to the result?
We are delighted with the result, it’s a really tough place to come. We had to sustain pressure for periods of the game. I think we started the game very well deservedly got in front, and at the end of the game potentially could have led by two goals made it little bit more comfortable for us bystanders. We have real togetherness at this football club and the players were fantastic tonight.
It was a great response to what happened at the end on Sunday, that’s two matches where you’ve gone toe to toe with Man United to run them extremely close in one and beat them in another what does that say about this group.
Well, we’re really disappointed we didn’t get something for the weekend, I’ve got to say we think on the run of play, we were at least worthy of a point. So we’re disappointed with that but like I said United are an outstanding team with a lot of talent within a group, which is aspiring to challenge the likes of United but you know the way the managers got this club going and pulling through each other in a real togetherness right the way down, is absolute credit to him.
How big is the win for the manager?
Dave’s been around for near enough 1000 matches or maybe more than 1000 games so he’s done it all and he’ll take this victory in his stride as he normally does, he’ll refocus the squad tomorrow morning to face leads at the weekend and there will be no complacency. Yes, he’s pleased that he’s coming here and won I’m sure but I don’t think he’ll get washed away with it because he’s not like that.
That’s three games that you’ve played in the last week, two wins and a narrow defeat, how’s the squad coped with that?
I think in the summer, David wanted probably 20 outfield players and the goalkeeping situation to be solid, I think we’ve got that. We’ve got competition for places. I think at this moment in time, you know, bear in mind we had Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice on the outside and a lot of changes within our ranks there’s competition for places here real bright togetherness and I think we’ve almost got the mentality of the top teams if I’m being honest. We’re just taking each game as it comes and attempting to win each game so I don’t think the amount of games that are coming in our direction would really faze us in any way shape or form. We come into the game tonight with no injuries whatsoever. We’ve got one or two little niggles obviously after the game but there’s such a real togetherness and a work ethic within the group now that we just look forward to each game as it comes
How is Michail Antonio?
He was all right for tonight, we just decided not to utilise him.
It looked like Issa Diop had his confidence back tonight.
I think he’s always had confidence, to be honest. We’ve got a real strong situation at the heart of our defence. Craig Dawson has come in and been magnificent since he’s come into the club Ogbonna has been brilliant, and obviously, Kurt’s come to join us as well and Cresswell can play in that situation if we need a three. But tonight I thought he [Diop] was absolutely magnificent. The longer the game went on the more of a colossus he looked at the back and he’s still in relative terms, a very young man for a central defender so we’re absolutely delighted to have Issa at this club and that performance tonight just puts more pressure on the manager to say look we’ve got four really good central defenders at this club and selection is up there but Issa has done himself no harm the same as Dawson has tonight with their performance, they were magnificent
How did you feel Jarrod Bowen played?
I think probably and bear in mind the goalkeeper made his debut this evening as well. He was good and I thought Jarrod leading the line with magnificent playing in probably not his favourable position but he’s proved to us he can lead the line. He was competitive and he was a thorn in the side of the United defenders all night so he’s come out with massive credit from the game, without a doubt, they were two of our top performers tonight no doubt about that and we’re absolutely delighted with how they’re performing for the club.
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