West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has cited one factor within the squad which is helping the Irons to enjoy a rewarding season under David Moyes.
The Italian opened the scoring in Monday night’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and, after the game, he spoke to the club’s official website regarding the positive mindset within the camp, saying:
It was a good result, a good night for us. Sometimes you play well and don’t get a result, but today we stuck at it, and our winning mentality got us the three points.
It’s my first goal for nearly a year and I’m so glad. I’m really happy for the team, that we got the three points today. Since the manager came in we’ve had a different point of view. I think it’s perfect.
We had a bit of luck and sometimes that happens, but it’s not just luck. We fought for the win and I think we deserve it for that.
West Ham’s third victory in succession – each of them by the odd goal – has elevated them to fifth in the table and leaves them just one point outside of the Champions League positions and four away from the summit.
They needed a lot of resilience to get over the line last night, though, surviving a missed penalty and a disallowed stoppage-time equaliser as well as facing 16 shots when having just six of their own.
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Early days it may be, but there certainly seems to be an added resilience this season in the Hammers squad, underlined by the three consecutive single-goal victories.
In previous seasons, the Irons may well have contrived to throw away at least one of those winning positions instead of picking up all nine points on offer.
Perhaps the biggest sign of an improved mentality came in those thrilling final 10 minutes away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October. Most sides, let alone West Ham of yesteryear, would have given up all hope of getting anything from that match at 3-0 down, but this crop never gave up and were rewarded at the death thanks to Manuel Lanzini’s stunning equaliser.
It seems quite apt that Moyes’ Irons are showing far more steel this season, as proclaimed by Ogbonna.
