Whilst many West Ham fans had been delighted with the start to the season, going into the game against Manchester City represented the iron test of just how far the club has come in what seems like a relatively short space of time.

Playing a top club in the Premiership is always a difficult task but we must not forget that Manchester City are the champions and had beaten West Ham FOUR times during the previous campaign. Despite all the changes West Ham have made, could there really be a shock on the cards?

You always go into games hoping the side you support can perform well and put in a five-star performance but even the most optimistic Hammers fans could not have hoped for such a display.

The performance was as good as any I have seen from a West Ham side in recent years and the applause the team were given just at the half-time break made me realise I was not alone in this opinion.

West Ham had everything. Strength, determination, and quality in front of goal. The two goals scored were not that of luck, but of accurate passing and great positioning.

Now you may think I could be going over the top when praising the West Ham display, but we are all so quick to delve into the intricacies of bad performances and ensure that the negativity lingers around like a potent bad smell until the next game comes around.

West Ham supporters have had to endure a very frustrating few years and must take every good moment and enjoy it because if you’re only going to focus on the bad times and not embrace the good, what is the point of supporting a football team?

Now is not the time for fans to be telling other fans that they were “right all along” about Sam Allardyce. This debate has been done to death and all that we must focus on is moving the club forward, which we as fans have a part to play in.

Whatever the reason for the change in direction, style and general ethos of West Ham United during the last few months surely we can be nothing but delighted that the club lie fourth in the table having already beaten last season’s top two.

The new signings have breathed life back into the club and players such as Aaron Cresswell, Alex Song, Enner Valencia and of course goal scoring sensation Diafra Sakho have upped the level of quality to heights we could not have imagined during the summer months.

Next for West Ham a visit to Stoke City, which is never an easy trip. The away form this season has been very encouraging but this will be no walk in the park. There are no easy games in the Premiership and the levels of intensity will need to be just as high as they were against Manchester City.

What West Ham have this season is goals. We can talk about football and tactics until we are blue in the face but ultimately the teams who do well score goals and the teams who do badly do not.

Those negative emotions that clouded West Ham during last season have all but disappeared and everyone from the manager, the owners and the fans are moving forward to ensure the club reach the heights we are so desperate for.