West Ham United supporter in the home end has perfect answer for angry Anderlecht fan
One West Ham fan sitting in the home crowd against Anderlecht produced the ideal response for an angry Belgian supporter, Roshane Thomas reported.
The Hammers produced a tight 1-0 victory late on in the Europa Conference League game on Thursday night (6 October), to pull five points clear at the top of Group B via a late Gianluca Scamacca strike and an even later, stunning save from Alphonse Areola.
But earlier in the match the possibility of some crowd trouble when one of the home supporters reacted to the presence of travelling fans in the home end was averted when a veteran Hammer produced some universal diplomacy.
Posting on his personal Twitter account from the stadium Athletic journalist Thomas wrote: “A few West Ham fans are in the home crowd and this annoyed an Anderlecht supporter.
“An elderly West Ham fan (with the grey hair) bought this supporter a pint and sat next to him to calm him down.”
Classic move
Most of the football world would be a better place if disagreements were settled like this, and while that may be wishful thinking it is at least nice to see it working this time.
Away fans among the home support is an issue that isn’t uncommon at the London Stadium as well, but given the prices of pints in Stratford there is perhaps less chance of this happening in return, not that the drinks would get anywhere near the seats anyway.
It was a fairly even game for most of the evening, with both sides threatening to take charge but neither quite able to do so.
David Moyes was forced to send in the cavalry late on to push his side over the hump, and it was triple-introduction of Declan Rice, Scamacca, and Lucas Paqueta that made the difference.
With somewhere in the region of £250million-worth of talent in that group it probably should have, but it took Areola’s wonderful late save to preserve the victory.
Ultimately it was a job well done by the Irons, as well as one of their more senior representatives in the stands, and the club are looking well set to win the group.