West Ham United win a football match as Said Benrahma haunts old club Brentford in the FA Cup third round clash.
Stop the press, hold the front – and back – page, alert the elders because West Ham have finally stopped the stinking rot.
The Hammers made hard work of it against Brentford’s Bee team.
But after a six-game winless run stretching back to a game against Romanian side FCSB at the start of November, the Hammers got a victory.
Said Benrahma did the damage firing home from outside the box after a superb tackle in central midfield by Declan Rice.
There was not much magic of the cup about this third round clash between Brentford and West Ham.
But Algerian star Benrahma – dropped for this game and the draw at Leeds despite his fine form this season – provided a champagne moment at least when he came on as a second half substitute.
It was a war of attrition with the wind and rain making for a dull affair. But winning – and getting this terrible season back on track – is all that mattered for David Moyes and his side.
And they got it thanks to some decent defending and the lovely strike from Benrahma.
They say winning breeds confidence and Moyes can only hope this breathes some life into his players ahead of huge six-pointers against Wolves and Everton next – two of the three teams below West Ham in the Premier League table.
But let’s not get carried away. There was little evidence of any real improvement from West Ham or the system.
Lucas Paqueta was quiet yet again, Michail Antonio anonymous and neither Ben Johnson or Emerson are anywhere near the level required of a top flight fullback. We must not forget this was also a much changed Brentford without star man Ivan Toney and a host of others.
West Ham must try and take all the positives, though, and that is undoubtedly the win and a long overdue clean sheet.
There was also a measure of revenge on the Bees who did a number on West Ham at the London Stadium just over a week ago.
The star performers were West Ham’s brilliant fans who made it feel and sound like a home game.
Supporters serenaded Craig Dawson, Benrahma and their teammates throughout and deserve all the credit for dragging the team over the line.