Cresswell: Spurs win gives us momentum and confidence

Aaron Cresswell

 

West Ham United need to use the momentum Wednesday night’s comeback win against Tottenham Hotspur provided when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday, according to full-back Aaron Cresswell.

The Hammers came from two goals behind to beat their London rivals at Wembley in the Carabao Cup thanks to Andre Ayew’s double and Angelo Ogbonna’s headed winner.

And with a massive Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace to come on Saturday, Cresswell thinks the victory has given his side a huge amount of confidence going into their second consecutive London derby.

He said: “Beating a team like Tottenham is great because they’re a fantastic team. It gives us momentum and confidence. We have to take that momentum into Saturday because Palace are fighting for their lives.

“Every game is massive. It’s not as if one game is more important - every game is. We want to get three points and push up that league.

“Obviously we read and hear these things [in the press] but as professionals, we have to deal with that in a positive way and nights like these hopefully turn these things away and we’re looking forward to the Crystal Palace game now.”

For the third [goal], I turned round and I think Adrian had got to Angelo before I could even get there! I turned round and there he was!

Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell celebrates
Cresswell was a constant threat for the Hammers particularly in the second period, crossing dangerously from the left on a number of occasions to put the hosts under pressure.

It was the full-back’s initial delivery which was only half cleared before Manuel Lanzini set up Ayew’s second – the Hammers’ equaliser.

However it was the third goal, and particularly the resulting celebrations, which Cresswell particularly enjoyed on the famous Wembley evening.

“For the third, I turned round and I think Adrian had got to Angelo before I could even get there!” the England international laughed. “I turned round and there he was!

“You could see how delighted we all were with the win. After the second goal went in, the momentum really swung our way.

“It wasn’t good enough first half from us but second half was a different game. Once we got that first goal, it felt like we could go onto win. It was a strange match.

“I spoke to Nobes [Mark Noble] about it; when the first goal went in, we knew we were coming. We were on the front foot from there.

“At half time, we all pulled together and realised it was unacceptable, so we game out fighting and we turned the game around. To do that in the way we did and to get into the next round was brilliant.”