Root and Stokes grind down weary India to stretch lead beyond 100
Will David Moyes’s West Ham go one step further than the team of 76?
West Ham United fans in the stands show their support during the Uefa Europa League semi-final, first leg match at the London Stadium, London
by Paul Donovan
WEST HAM UNITED stand on the brink of their first European final for 46 years. The mountain is looking that bit harder to climb now, after losing the home leg 1-2, meaning they will have to come from behind if they are to emulate the boys of ’76.
Those of us old enough to remember will already be aware of the parallels. Back in 1976, West Ham also drew Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final of the then European Cup Winners Cup — it was one of the great cup nights at the old Boleyn ground.
The Hammers were 2-1 down from the first leg, ran out 3-1 winners on the night, so going through 4-3 on aggregate. The victory was inspired by a brilliant performance from Trevor Brooking, who scored two of the goals on the night.
More from this author
From Gaza protest bans to proscribing Palestine Action, political elites are showing a crisis of confidence as they abandon Roy Jenkins’s apologetic approach for Suella Braverman’s aggressive ‘hate march’ rhetoric, writes PAUL DONOVAN
PAUL DONOVAN is fascinated by a deep dive into contemporary social crises, that examines how they are manipulated by elites
PAUL DONOVAN applauds a timely play that explores the resonances of McCarthyite nationalism in today’s US
