Brutal West Ham fans are famed for their cockney wit and it was on full display with a chant aimed at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
West Ham put in an excellent away performance to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford, keeping their Premier League survival hopes alive.
The Hammers were good value at 0-0 until Diogo Dalot’s composed finish to a scrappy move in the second half.
There was a lot of speculation before the game that Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes might be missing after a cryptic update from Ruben Amorim about two mystery players being unavailable.
Fernandes takes centre stage but West Ham have last laugh
Fernandes rarely misses a game, though, and he was indeed in the Man United starting XI.
It was he who came closest to opening the scoring as he pulled off a Paolo Di Canio-esque scissor-kick on the edge of the box to shave a post before the break.
Bruno’s compatriot and namesake Mateus Fernandes had the best chance of the first half for West Ham when he should have done better as the ball was played across the Man United box.
Of course Man United skipper Fernandes was central to most things in the game.
The Portuguese is undoubtedly one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League and indeed Europe.
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
But his talents often go underappreciated outside of the Man United bubble due to his behaviour.
Fernandes is that player you love when he’s on your team but love to hate if you are the opposition.
And West Ham fans certainly let Fernandes know what side of that particular fence they were on.
Fernandes left commentators baffled and Hammers supporters seething by demanding a penalty after a perfectly good block tackle from Tomas Soucek in the first half.
Brutal West Ham fans aimed relentless chant at Fernandes
Fernandes harangued the referee over the incident before then demanding a foul after a coming together with West Ham’s homegrown midfielder Freddie Potts.
The travelling Hammers faithful had seen enough of Fernandes’s histrionics almost from the off.
West Ham fans aimed relentless chant at Man United captain Fernandes.
The London Stadium may resemble a library compared to Upton Park but the West Ham army are always in good voice on the road.
Who would you have chosen to replace Lucas Paqueta at Old Trafford and why?
“It was a tough match against Liverpool, but we managed to compete well for large spells. Unfortunately we didn’t achieve the result we wanted, but the feeling was that we competed until the last minute.
“I think we played well offensively, but we needed to make better decisions in the final third. The accuracy of our passes, shots and combinations just wasn’t quite there.That’s what we have to look for on Thursday.
“We continue to work on the training field through repetition, and by trying to innovate as well. It requires that, because if things aren’t working, we have to change.”
– Nuno on his plans for Man United
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The same was true at Old Trafford as Hammers supporters taunted Man United with chants about Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaving because they weren’t particularly good – although in not so many words.
West Ham legend Billy Bonds passed away at the weekend and was honoured with several renditions of ‘Billy Bonds’s claret and blue army’.
Then that famous east end humour was there for all to hear when Fernandes wound the away end up.
Those watching on the TV may not have quite picked up what was being said by the Hammers fans – but it is fair to say it wasn’t very complimentary.
And it would have given ex Arsenal star Martin Keown a few flashbacks.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
“He looks like a rat, he looks like a rat, Bruno Fernandes, he looks like a rat,” the West Ham fans chanted relentlessly at the Manchester United captain.
Man United fans were also taunted with chants of ‘We forgot that you were here’ after they were awoken from their slumber by Dalot’s goal.
They were silenced when man of the match Soungoutou Magassa equalised late on.
A deserved goal for his performance and a deserved point for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on the road.
Where do you think West Ham would be right now if they had hired Ruben Amorim in 2024?
“Obviously my trip was a mistake. The timing was completely wrong. It didn’t seem right at the time.
“It was wrong, especially when I’m so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one’s actions can overpower the team. I have already removed players from the squad for much less.
“It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it.”
– Ruben Amorim on holding talks with West Ham while still Sporting coach, April 2024
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