This time last year, I was preparing for my first trip to Villa Park in confident mood, the Irons were flying high and had just beat Swansea City, thanks to an Andy Carroll inspired performance.
Twelve months later to the day, I take the coach back up to Birmingham, following yet another Andy Carroll inspired win over Swansea, and I feel a sense of deja vu.
Back then the trip meant far less, the pressure was all on the hosts who were battling against relegation, now the tables have turned and the pressure is all on the Hammers. The Irons lie in 18th place but are on the back of an away point at Stamford Bridge and a long awaited home victory over Swansea.
This is where I make my main point of my article; my away form is dismal, since the Championship season, I haven’t seen an away win. That includes trips to places you would really expect the Hammers to walk away with three points, newly promoted Reading and Crystal Palace spring to mind.
It says a lot when my best away day visit in the Premier League, was a rain soaked 0-0 draw against Southampton, earlier this season. But do I care that I travel up and down the country to watch the Hammers lose? Well of course I want to see us pick up three points week in week out, but if you’re born a Hammer you get used to these things, you just have to have a laugh and a good old knees up.
As long as today pans out slightly better than the hopeless display I had to endure last year, albeit it was the only away goal I have seen in four Premier League away days, so I guess that was a bonus. So I guess you could say away days have some kind on voodoo over me at the minute.
I must admit, Reading away last year was an all-time low, the pies in the ground were amazing though so that softened the blow, and you got a pint with it too, which my two occupying mates took full advantage off, missing the first 20 minutes of the second half sampling every flavoured pie possible as it would be, and I quote, “rude not to”.
So, I would like to apologise for the impending doom that we shall all feel come five pm tomorrow, as knowing my luck I will trudge away from Villa Park once again empty handed, knowing that I will walk through my door at home to a smug Villa fan. Happy days.
Come on West Ham please give me something to smile about, bring this jinx to an end, and climb away from relegation danger.
I believe.
Come on you Irons
Tweet me @Bowdenwhu
Congratulations Sam Allardyce & the team, in West Ham getting back-to-back wins in our last 2 games. That score certainly needed settling. Fantastic!!! Don’t forget West Ham’s hit list of 10 games for revenge in 2014 that started with Chelsea, continues! Don’t forget what those Norwich mongrels did to us after Jussi made a simple mistake & how they ground our noses into our own s**t. Do not let them get away with that West Ham. Make Norwich pay on Tuesday night for the humiliation they handed out to us on 9th Nov 2013. Don’t let an ex Spurs upstart, who walked away from where has was raised, to play most of his playing days at Spurs before managing Newcastle & now Norwich even get a look in when his team comes to Upton Park this Tuesday. They will pay for that defeat at Carrow Rd, and we owe it to Andy, to continue our roll of revenge against the FA for Andy’s 3 game ban injustice. Keep this going, and you will start to fill the role of a big stadium side. Keep up the great work! C’mon you Irons