Stimac's Disbelief

Igor Stimac admits he is still reeling from the defeat at Maine Road - and can't understand why Svetoslav Todorov's goal was disallowed.

"The two halves were very different, I would say," he admits.

"We didn't play very well in the first one, and the second was probably one of the best 45 minutes of the season."

The comment reminds one of the how well West Ham played in the first half of the Leicester home game at the start of the season, only to find it tough in the second half after Igor had been sent off.

Some observers feel that defeat had a knock on effect that lasted well into the season, though of course one game cannot be blamed for the malaise of the entire campaign.

Certainly, though, the game was indicative of West Ham's season - going from below par to brilliance, with, it must be said, no luck at all.

"I still can't believe that we didn't score in the second half because we definitely created enough chances to win five games, not one - but that's football, and there is nothing we can do now," he admits.

And, speaking of the disallowed 'goal' by Toddy, he says:

"I don't know why the decision was made to be honest," he says.

"I was there in the middle of everything, but the players are saying nothing happened."

The upshot of it is, however, that the Hammers may still need a point to be safe - an unlikely scenario, certainly an unwelcome one, but something Igor says must be faced up to.

"Until we are not definitely sure we are going to stay up, we ARE in trouble; we have to make sure on Saturday we get the points."

 Coventry, on 33 points, face Aston Villa away and Bradford at home; Manchester City, on 34 points, take on Ipswich away and  Chelsea at home; Derby County, on 38 points, meet Manchester United away and Ipswich at home; Middlesbrough play Bradford away and of courseWest Ham at the Riverside, while the Hammers hope to wrap it up against Southampton who haven't scored since Glenn Hoddle left.

The fact remains, however, that Manchester City and Coventry need maximum points to stay up - and West Ham have already beaten the Saints and Boro, so they are looking for the first doubles of the season!

* Glen Johnson certainly enjoyed his Riverside experience ahead of the first team travelling to Middlesbrough on the last day of the season.

He played in England's quarter final win over Germany yesterday in the UEFA Under-16 Championship, which was won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in front of a record 4000 plus crowd.