Undoubtedly a momentous night for all those whose blood flows claret and blue (if that makes any sense), supporters of rival clubs were quick to congratulate West Ham on their new home.
Advertisement
The Hammers, who trailed 2-1 from last week’s first leg, had a Cheikhou Kouyate brace to thank for putting them on course for a victory in their opening match at their new Olympic Stadium home. More work is needed, and some of the sightlines might keep local opticians busy, but the overwhelming sensation was of a project that will succeed.
Despite Maraval denying Michail Antonio with a finger-tip save shortly before the break, Domzale still carried an attacking threat and a goal for the visitors could have potentially sent the match into extra-time. Watching the stadium fill up in the moments before kick-off, one thing was clear as supporters poured through the turnstiles and found their bearings: Upton Park belonged to a different world and a different time.
“It was brilliant to go out in front of a packed, loud Stadium”.
West Ham need to win their first game at the Olympic Stadium, officially known as the London Stadium, to advance to the play-off round.
“It’s a good feeling, we played well but we ain’t going to go overboard”.
This comes as West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admitted that his “priority” is to sign a new left-back following the injury that will sideline Aaron Cresswell for four months. “We as a club and players want to experience it and progress”, Reid said.
“We have to be positive and I’m totally positive, the players are not afraid of it, they like it. They liked it from the start, we have moved just 10 minutes, it is still east London”.
Rio Ave have scored just one goal in their last six first halves across the board, conceding a far from disastrous three times too, with half of those games being goalless at the interval. “We enjoyed it”, he said.
Advertisement
However Bilic, who confirmed that Diafra Sakho’s move to West Bromwich Albion collapsed after the striker failed a medical, was quietly encouraged.
