Antonio calls for a United front

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 22nd March 2018

Match-winner Michail Antonio has called for the fans to get behind the team for the remaining eight Premier League matches this season.

The winger looked in fine fettle tonight as he tormented a Dagenham & Redbridge defence whilst grabbing two goals to help West Ham to a 3-1 win at Victoria Road.

However his primary concern is to ensure the club retains its top flight status at the end of what has been a difficult season - and called for the supporters to unify for the common cause.

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"The message is 'don’t give up on us' as [being] in the situation we’re in, we’re going to need them," he told whufc.com following tonight's friendly encounter. "It’s not just us or just them, we’re all in this situation together - so we’ll keep fighting and keep pushing together."

Antonio, who continued his return form a long injury with another 90 minutes of match play before being replaced in the closing seconds by Bernardo Rosa was however understandably pleased with his own contribution to West Ham's win.

"It was a decent game. There was a nice vibe and we enjoyed it," he added. "They turned up and they tried to play a bit of football, so it was all positive. I hate to see other football clubs struggling, especially having come from non-league so any way we could help, we can.

"I feel I’ve got the goals in me to keep West Ham up. I’ve got nine goals in each of the last two seasons but this season hasn’t been going well for me as I’ve had quite a few injuries. I’ve come back now and scored two goals in the league and got a couple today, so hopefully I can keep pushing forward."

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Antonio has made 20 appearances for the Hammers during the current campaign, all in the Premier League.

Having been ruled out for a month in the early part of the season (most of November) West Ham's number 30 was sidelined for a further six weeks during the Christmas programme. Prior to his recent return, the 27-year-old had scored just once this term, in the 1-1 draw at Burnley in October.

However tonight's brace and two goals in his last three Premier League games (also West Ham's only two goals in those fixtures against Liverpool, Swansea and Burnley) offer both Antonio and the fans renewed hope that he is beginning to get back to his very best.

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