That’s the spirit!
COLLINS SAYS BIG BOOZE-UP STOPPED ROT
JAMES COLLINS says West Ham stopped the rot thanks to a boozy night out.
Dimitri Payet scored a wonder goal to grab the Hammers a point six minutes after Cristhian Stuani put Boro in front.
It ended a run of four straight league defeats for West Ham, who are in the bottom three after taking just four points from seven games.
But Collins reckons it was all down to a team bonding session the players held at a West End restaurant last Monday.
Pictures later emerged of some Hammers stars drinking into the early hours, and the club are still investigating claims Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph carried on boozing well into Tuesday.
But Collins said: “There was a lot of comment on it. There’s no need to. If it was last year and we were seen out, nothing would’ve been said.
“Sometimes a night like that, when we are all sat around a table chatting about different ideas, is as good as a training DIMITRI PAYET Wonder goal GOKHAN TORE Has played better session. It worked, we knew what we had to do, we were better, but we would have liked the three points. It helps to integrate the new lads. It’s not a major thing, it happens at every club.
“The Southampton lads stayed down here after the game last week and it is good for team spirit. We are no different from anyone else. We sit round and have a chat and see what’s going well.”
Slaven Bilic raised eyebrows by allowing his team go out boozing after their poor start to the season.
But co-owner David Sullivan used his pre-match programme notes to back the decision, saying: “I welcome the fact the players held their own meeting.
“The players were honest with each other during the meeting and it shows the passion and determination they have in wanting to turn things around. Team bonding is so important.”
Hammers defender Winston Reid also claimed the session had helped get a few things out in the open and make the club’s new signings feel more at home.
He said: “You need occasions like that. We have new players coming into the dressing room, so we like to have a chat and we did so. We got a point at the end of the day.”
Bilic believes the meeting, which was his idea, had a positive impact but said he would use the international break to speak to injured striker Carroll.
He faces a £180,000 fine if he is found to have broken club rules. Keeper Randolph also faces a fine.
Bilic said: “I’m going to see what really happened. We are going to pick up all the information and we are going to talk about it and if needed we are going to act.”
Boro also stopped the rot after three defeats and winger Stewart Downing said: “It’s encouraging and I think the manager was pleased with the way we played.”
The former Hammer admitted he is not impressed by the London Stadium. He said: “I prefer the old stadium. Upton Park used to be on top of you, with the fans really close. This is a bit different and I found it a bit strange.
“Their players are going to have to get used to that. You can see they’re a little bit low on confidence.” Three men have been bailed after violence flared outside the stadium. Two of the three were arrested on suspicion of affray and the third on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Adrian 5; Byram 5 (Arbeloa 7, 6), Reid 6, Collins 6, Ogbonna 6; Kouyate 6, Obiang 6; Tore 4 (Zaza 46, 6), Noble 7 (Lanzini 73), PAYET 8; Antonio 6. Subs: Randolph, Feghouli, Fletcher, Fernandes. UP NEXT: Crystal Palace (a), Premier League, Saturday, October 15. MIDDLESBRO (4-4-2): Valdes 6; Barragan 6, Gibson 6, Chambers 6, Friend 6; STUANI 7, Forshaw 6, De Roon 6, Downing 6; Rhodes 6 (Negredo 68, 6), Fischer 6 (Ramirez 59). Subs: Guzan, Ayala, Espinosa, Clayton, Traore. UP NEXT: Watford (h), Premier League, Sunday, October 16. Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6. YOUR TURN: Who re-joined Boro from West Ham for £5.5m in 2015 after scoring seven goals in 69 league appearances for West Ham?