Here's what the managers had to say in the post-match press conference following West Ham's 2-0 victory:
Alan Pardew“To get a performance like that you need everybody's performance levels to be risen. You need that certain feeling that only the atmosphere can create at times. I mentioned it on Saturday and I knew the atmosphere was going to be like thisand it was one of those magical evenings. The players responded to the fans and that's how it works at big clubs.
My feelings tonight are also with Mick McCarthy & Joe Royle, Both those clubs would have graced the final and it's a horrible, horrible way to lose. However, we did play terrifically well tonight. We saw what I like my teams to be about – fast, pulling people about, getting crosses in and playing in the right way and i thought we won it in the right way tonight. It wasn't “bash ball” football – we played with intelligence and we have intelligent players. Our offensive players – who didn't have the greatest of days at Ipswich were especially good tonight.
When you've had a season like we've had – and we've had some horrible nights and some horrible Saturday afternoons – we've had criticism levelled at a lot of players. After Saturday it was suggested that Marlon couldn't play on the right but I thought he was terrific tonight. Matty Etherington was doubled up on tonightand he had to be patient but when his moment came he produced a bit of absolute Premiership quality. All our players have come in for criticism this year, as I have as the staff has and as the chairman has. All we can do is keep tight as a unit and keep out team philosophy together and win games.
We lost a bit of belief in the last 8-9 minutes of the first half when Ipswich started to form their little triangles in midfield. My only job at half time was to tell them how well they were playing.
It's an emotional evening and I'm a little surprised how subdued it is in this press room tonight (obviously AP at this point had failed to spot the Howlett & Thrower victory grins!). It's been a tiring night. I'm shattered, the players are shattered, the staff are shattered - it's been one of those draining nights. Roger Cross has just said to me that he can't remember an evening as magical as this – and he's been here a good few years – but we know that the big game is yet to come. I've lost in the play-off final before and there's nothing worse than that. There's no point going there unless you're going to win it.
Iain Dowie & Crystal Palace have had a terrific season. They would grace the Premiership if promoted but they would have seen us at full tilt tonight and hopefully the final will see the rebirth of a big club. As for whether we're favourites for the final, well that's not a question I want to answer – that's one for you guys to deal with. I spoke to Trevor earlier and he said that tonight was about the performance as well as the victory and I think he's probably right.
The way Ipswich play means that your wide players have to work very hard and both Etherington and Harewood were terrific tonight. The work ethic in the team was superb tonight. Without giving too much away, we felt that Ipswich gave us the opportunity to play short corners on Saturday but we didn't take it. We took it tonight although Matty still had a lot of work to do once he'd got the ball. It was a fantastic goal that underlines Matty's season. He's got one more game to go and if he can put another performance in like that he can pat himself on the back for a fine season. Matty's had the opportunity to play a run of games that he didn't get at Tottenham and you need that run to instil the confidence you need to play for a club like this and I think Bobby Zamora will be the same with a few games under his belt.
(On the comment that it had been a great team performance rather than one where any individual had stood out) That's a great statement. It means that all the cogs are working and we're working as a unit. Christan Dailly's taken a few knocks and bruises this season – he's obviously from the Highlands and he'd have made a good extra in “Braveheart”! He's got scars all over this season and he's been rock solid for us all year.
I said to Steve Bywater that the one thing you need to create as a 'keeper is an aura of invincibility and I feel that about him. I said to him tonight that to only concede one goal over two legs when the chances are flying thick and fast is a real achievement. He's been terrific, we've all been terrific and it's been a long night and I'd like to go and get a small beer now!
The key to any big club is the fans. They're your life blood and they've stuck by us through some bad times and they got their reward tonight. Sometimes you just have to keep turning upand they've done that. Hopefully they can have a great day out at Cardiff – but there is no great day out at Cardiff unless you win and that's what we aim to do.”
Joe Royle
Sorry, but by the time Mr Royle arrived for his part of the conference KUMB was feeling physically and emotionally exhausted and, since closing time at the Wakefield loomed it was decided to forego Mr Royle's comments in favour of a cold beer. We feel sure that you will understand!
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