Ipswich Town fans taunted West Ham United supporters with the familiar “football in a library” chant during their Premier League clash on 5 October, while the score was still level at 1-1.
However, the game ended 4-1 in favour of the Hammers, bringing their five-game winless streak to a close and easing some of the tension around the London Stadium.
The result lifted Julen Lopetegui’s side to 12th place in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone. It was a much-needed victory, but the atmosphere at the London Stadium during the early stages of the game told a different story.
Michael Emons, reporting for the BBC, described the subdued mood in the stadium while the score remained tied.
“A very strange atmosphere at London Stadium,” he noted.
“Apart from West Ham’s first-minute goal, there has been little noise from the home fans, with most of the singing coming from the away fans.”
Emons highlighted the Ipswich supporters’ chants, including their mocking of the quiet home crowd.
“The ‘football in a library’ chant has been given a few outings from the Ipswich sections, but to be fair the Hammers supporters have not had too much to be excited about since Ipswich’s equaliser.”
Despite the early tension, the final scoreline will have come as a relief to West Ham’s faithful. Michail Antonio opened the scoring in the first minute, but Ipswich quickly responded, leaving the home side nervy.
Mohammed Kudus restored West Ham’s lead just before the break, followed by goals from Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, which sealed the victory.
West Ham to Build on Ipswich Win
West Ham have struggled for form this season, and their performance against Ipswich was a rare glimpse of their potential. The 4-1 win offered hope that better performances could follow, but many will feel this is the level they should have been operating at all along.
Julen Lopetegui, who has been under scrutiny in recent weeks, received a vote of confidence from the West Ham board, who expressed their “full support” for the Spanish manager. This backing, reported by The Athletic, suggests Lopetegui’s future at the club is safe for now.
His decision to stick with an unchanged side for the Ipswich game, including opting for Michail Antonio up front, appears to have paid off. Now, the challenge will be maintaining this momentum as West Ham look to turn their season around.