December Doldrums

[Nigel]

Sorry about that one, Sweder. It's been a long time.

I can still remember Paolo di Canio sneaking a cheeky one past Barthez, the Frenchman's arm hoisted to arrest the offending mafiosi as determinedly as any of Maggie's Orgreave policemen.

And I can remember rising to my feet awestruck and jubilant in the Bobby Moore stand as a young and still appealingly enthusiastic Jermain Defoe sprung the Mighty Reds' back four to equalise at Upton Park from a 90th minute free kick, the lightning striking from a full yard offside, as I and 33,999 other Cockneys uttered not a single word of complaint.

The Hammers skipper has suffered a lot of stick lately. Pardew's taken the rap. New manager Curbs had never beaten your team in his entire managerial career.

I can hardly believe that he has pulled it off now, old chap. So I'll have to wait till MOTD2 tonight see how young Nigel Reo-Coker achieved that unlikely feat today.