WE CAN STING BLUES
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY GAME
MARK NOBLE wants West Ham to make a statement by completing a double against Chelsea next Monday.
The Hammers knocked the Premier League leaders out of the EFL Cup in October.
“We’ve beaten Chelsea once already this season and although they are absolutely flying, it’s a London derby under the lights,” said the West Ham captain.
“I hope we can generate another really good atmosphere and a strong performance.
“Maybe we didn’t get enough credit for knocking Chelsea out of the League Cup.
“Because, for a time, whenever we won at home, it was overshadowed by crowd trouble, the atmosphere or people moaning.
“But if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 20 times – everyone who moves grounds has problems and to be able to get ourselves in the position where we are now is a credit to the lads.
Stuff
“After the start we had and all the stuff off the pitch, I would eat your microphone to finish in the top seven or eight.”
The Hammers were up against it when Troy Deeney gave Watford an early lead from the penalty spot.
But Andre Ayew levelled in the second half after Michail Antonio outpaced Watford defender Younes Kaboul and saw his shot hit both posts.
Antonio was then sent off after getting a second yellow card for a needless handball, which will rule him out of the Chelsea game.
“He’s been playing really well and we are going to miss him because he’s been a top player for us,” Noble said.
Kaboul said: “Antonio is very sharp and when West Ham release him through the channels, it’s always going to take a lot to stay with him because he has a lot of desire. I may be 31, but in our first-team squad I am probably the quickest in a 60-yard sprint.
“I have faced a few quick strikers this season and Jamie Vardy was very sharp, but Antonio is right up there.”
Watford and Kaboul have both improved since the 4-1 home mauling by Tottenham on New Year’s Day.
“It was a bad game against Tottenham, that’s for sure,” he said. “But since then we have had some good results, especially at Arsenal.
“We are catching up now. A point was a fair result here.”
Watford playmaker Mauro Zarate is out for the rest of the season after confirming yesterday he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. WATFORD (4-4-1-1): Gomes 6; Janmaat 6 (Cathcart 52, 5), KABOU Britos 6, Holebas 5; Niang 6 (Success 8 Cleverley 5, Behrami 6, Capoue 5; Zarat (Doucoure 45, 6); Deeney 6. Subs: Arlauskis, Prodl, Zuniga, Okaka. UP NEXT: Southampton (h), Premier League, Saturday. WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Randolph 6 Kouyate 6, Reid 7, Fonte 7, CRESSWELL 8; Obiang 7, Noble 6; Feghouli 6, Snodgrass 4 (Ayew 65, 6), Lanzini 7 (Fernandes 90); Antonio 7. Su Adrian, Collins, Byram, Masuaka, UP Caller NEXT: Chelsea (h), Premier Leagu next Monday. Referee: Craig Pawson 6. YOUR TURN: Who scored both goals when Watford beat West Ham 2-0 at ho last season?