Mark Noble: West Ham penalty goal v Manchester City was ‘special moment’
By Max Parsons
Seventeen years, over 530 appearances, captain fantastic. Mark Noble has had a special career, engraving himself into the history of West Ham United.
And, coming to the end of his playing days, the Hammers skipper is witnessing one of the club’s most rewarding periods, currently sitting in the Premier League’s top four and having a League Cup quarter-final to look to after knocking out Manchester City on Wednesday night.
That match proved tight and was decided via a penalty shootout. West Ham went on to beat City 5-3 in the shootout, with Noble smoothly firing home his side’s first. The strike signified a complete performance from the veteran midfielder and redemption for his notorious missed spot-kick against Manchester United in September.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the midfielder spoke of his pure happiness with the current situation.
“To score a penalty and win the shootout was – for me, and not just for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family who went through the pain with me for the last one – pretty special tonight,” the 34-year-old said with a grin on his face.
When asked whether he could end his final season with silverware, Noble was reluctant to tempt fate.
“It would be really nice,” the club legend joked. “But, to be fair, the last 18 months have been fantastic for me. To be at this club for so many years, and care about this club so much.
“We’ve got such a good team spirit and, in my final year, that we can go on and be involved in cup games like that and be fourth in the league, is a lovely moment for me.”
Deserving of glory
It may be the final year of a 17-year career with West Ham, but Noble is yet to lift any major silverware with his boyhood club. The 34-year-old won promotion to the Premier League in both 2005 and 2012 via the Championship play-offs, although hasn’t tasted glory elsewhere.
For a player who many regard as unfortunate to have been overlooked by England throughout a consistent career, nothing would be more suitable for him to lift silverware in his last campaign for the Hammers.
Noble has been a loyal and stoic servant, regularly providing the sort of performances that go unnoticed and make a team click – as he did on Wednesday. His all-action, tenacious and composed display was crucial in West Ham’s engine room and was a key factor in the side’s progression to the next round in the League Cup.
And, should the Hammers go on and lift the trophy in March, no one but Noble should take centre stage.
In other West Ham news, this is what Michail Antonio said to Cristian Romero in the win over Tottenham.
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