Matchwinner Diafra Sakho said there is no sweeter feeling in football than netting a late winner
Diafra Sakho said there is no sweeter feeling in football than netting a late winner, after his dramatic 88th minute strike earned West Ham United all three Barclays Premier League points against Sunderland on Saturday.
The Senegal man had earlier twice seen headers skip past the post and it looked as if both he and the Hammers were to endure a frustrating evening at the Boleyn Ground.
But when Mark Noble flicked the ball into his path, the 25-year-old was calmness personified in dispatching a right-footed drive into the opposite corner. A classy finish it most certainly was and the No15 revealed that he has attacking coach Teddy Sheringham to thank for that.
“In training, I’ve been working with Teddy all the time on things like that,” he told West Ham TV. “We try to apply what we've done in training with him, particularly the attackers.
“When I find myself in front of goal, I tell myself that it's the last chance I'm going to get. You have to have the composure to score. That's what I did and I succeeded.”
With just one win in the previous 12 league outings, this was a massive goal for all concerned. Naturally, then, there was a mix of relief and joy for Sakho, who said the Hammers can now go into the international break with smiles on faces.
Asked if there were a sweeter feeling in football, he beamed: "I don't think so! The emotion that we feel, I think that everyone felt it together – whether that be me who scored, the manager or the supporters. We all wanted to get that first goal. We did it, we won and we're happy.
“It’s the feeling of having won, of having done the job. The manager said before the game we had to win it. Also, we knew we had a break before the next game, so at least everyone's going to be smiling, knowing that we won the game before the international break. We'll look to return strongly. It's good.
“It was important for the whole team, the club and the supporters to win on Saturday, because it was more or less ten games since we last won. You have to make sure that the doubts don't creep in.”
The Senegal man had earlier twice seen headers skip past the post and it looked as if both he and the Hammers were to endure a frustrating evening at the Boleyn Ground.
But when Mark Noble flicked the ball into his path, the 25-year-old was calmness personified in dispatching a right-footed drive into the opposite corner. A classy finish it most certainly was and the No15 revealed that he has attacking coach Teddy Sheringham to thank for that.
“In training, I’ve been working with Teddy all the time on things like that,” he told West Ham TV. “We try to apply what we've done in training with him, particularly the attackers.
“When I find myself in front of goal, I tell myself that it's the last chance I'm going to get. You have to have the composure to score. That's what I did and I succeeded.”
With just one win in the previous 12 league outings, this was a massive goal for all concerned. Naturally, then, there was a mix of relief and joy for Sakho, who said the Hammers can now go into the international break with smiles on faces.
Asked if there were a sweeter feeling in football, he beamed: "I don't think so! The emotion that we feel, I think that everyone felt it together – whether that be me who scored, the manager or the supporters. We all wanted to get that first goal. We did it, we won and we're happy.
“It’s the feeling of having won, of having done the job. The manager said before the game we had to win it. Also, we knew we had a break before the next game, so at least everyone's going to be smiling, knowing that we won the game before the international break. We'll look to return strongly. It's good.
“It was important for the whole team, the club and the supporters to win on Saturday, because it was more or less ten games since we last won. You have to make sure that the doubts don't creep in.”
When I find myself in front of goal, I tell myself that it's the last chance I'm going to get. You have to have the composure to score.
Amid that difficult run, the Hammers were twice victims of late, late shows, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur snatching a share of the spoils in injury time. This time, however, it was West Ham who finished the stronger and Sakho believes it is a sign that the group are maturing.
“It proves that we're growing and that we're learning from our mistakes,” he continued. “We conceded two or three goals in the dying minutes. On Saturday it was us who have ended up scoring in those last few minutes.
“Now it's important that we continue to build and we know it. We have to continue to grow like that and win games at homes.”
For Sakho, Saturday’s early-evening rendition of ‘he scores when he wants’ was music to his ears, having not bagged at the Boleyn Ground since New Year’s Day.
The Senegal international is now into double figures in the league and hopes his name will be ringing around the Boleyn Ground in the Hammers’ final three home games of the campaign.
“Whenever I score here or away from home, I dedicate it to the supporters. I think that they're important to help us push ourselves until the end. We need them and they need us. It's us and them together that makes a team.
“It had been a while since I heard it [the song] at home, I enjoy it. I hope that's going to continue and that I'll be hearing it regularly, particularly at home.”
“It proves that we're growing and that we're learning from our mistakes,” he continued. “We conceded two or three goals in the dying minutes. On Saturday it was us who have ended up scoring in those last few minutes.
“Now it's important that we continue to build and we know it. We have to continue to grow like that and win games at homes.”
For Sakho, Saturday’s early-evening rendition of ‘he scores when he wants’ was music to his ears, having not bagged at the Boleyn Ground since New Year’s Day.
The Senegal international is now into double figures in the league and hopes his name will be ringing around the Boleyn Ground in the Hammers’ final three home games of the campaign.
“Whenever I score here or away from home, I dedicate it to the supporters. I think that they're important to help us push ourselves until the end. We need them and they need us. It's us and them together that makes a team.
“It had been a while since I heard it [the song] at home, I enjoy it. I hope that's going to continue and that I'll be hearing it regularly, particularly at home.”