In the land of pie and mash, Mark Noble was always different gravy.
As an enterprising kid from Canning Town, he used to crawl under the gates to watch his boyhood team at Upton Park for free, the cheeky beggar. But for the last 18 years, he has paid West Ham back for that schoolboy jibbing in blood, sweat and tears – 549 appearances, 62 goals and the captain's armband he's worn like Popeye's bicep.
Noble's last act in front of his adoring cockney flock – a 13-minute cameo from the bench – was to help deliver a kiss of life to the title race. As a tribute to their outgoing captain, the Hammers served up a performance of wonderful gusto. And among his souvenirs from a rollicking send-off which made the fillings in your teeth rattle was a hug from Manchester City messiah Pep Guardiola.
