Hare Trigger

We've had seasons where we've finished up higher in the league, but relatively speaking The Hammers' achievement in getting to the FA Cup final and guaranteeing a place in next season's UEFA Cup in our first season back in the top flight represents almost unprecedented progress. So a hearty well done to gaffer Alan Pardew, scorer Marlon Harewood and everybody else at the club for a just-about deserved 1-0 victory over Middlesborough in the semi-final at Villa Park earlier today, in what was a fitting tribute to former boss John Lyall (who guided us to FA Cup victories in 1975 and 1980) who sadly died earlier this week just a couple of months after his predecessor and mentor Ron Greenwood also succumbed to illness.

We're up against Liverpool in the Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 13, where we'll be clear underdogs but if we can defend like demons and our strikers are on song we surely have it in us to supply a glorious finish to an outstanding season. Come on, you Irons!