West Ham 1-1 Chelsea (eye witness account)
The press will no doubt have it that the story of this game was the failure of Chelsea to increase their lead at the top of the table – an opportunity missed. Perhaps a dig at Ancelotti for not even being able to beat poor old West Ham.
Nothing of the sort. This was the freezing afternoon when West Ham rediscovered their passion, their pattern and their confidence. They went toe to toe with the best team in the country and were desperately unlucky not to come away with all three points.
Diamanti emerged as the 90-minute creative force that we had hoped he might be. Added to that was the sustained excellence of Franco as lone striker and the best performance in midfield I’ve seen from Mark Noble in about two years. Parker was strength personified and even Kovac played the second half like a man who had adjusted to the pace of the Premiership.
In defence Tomkins was pressed into action after Gabbidon tweaked, jarred or pulled something after 18 mins – and he didn’t let the side down at all, often being left against Drogba and standing up the challenge like a veteran.
All the bravery would have come to nought though if it had not been for the infectious composure of Matthew Upson, returning from injury to captain the side
So I have one message to the spivs in the West Ham boardroom. Don’t sell Upson in January (or anyone else) if you want still to have a Premiership football club to overvalue.