DAVID MARTIN arrived at Stamford Bridge carrying a banana — plus the desperate hopes of West Ham on his shoulders.
And then this goalkeeping son of Hammers royalty made certain Chelsea slipped up on his Premier League debut aged almost 34.
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It was such a stirring, feel-good story even Blues boss Frank Lampard was “very happy” for him.
Lampard knows what it is like to impress a footballing dad, having done so countless times with his own parent, Frank Sr, also a West Ham legend.
So he knew how Martin’s father Alvin, with 471 league appearances under his belt, was feeling when he gave his son an emotional, tear-filled hug after David “did a Pat Cash” and jumped into the crowd to be with him.
Lamps and Alvin are pals, having been at Upton Park at the same time although they never played alongside each other.
But the pair did line up together recently… in unusual circumstances.
Lampard said: “I saw Alvin by chance at the urinal in a London toilet… and I won’t give you any more on that!
“I know him pretty well although I was in the West Ham youth team when he was playing.
“I’m sure Alvin is very proud. To come in like he did with all the talk, his son played a very good game and it was great.
“I was very happy for him. He has worked hard and got an opportunity to play for West Ham. To do as well as he did — we have to give credit.”
The previous occasion Martin, 34 next month, faced a Premier League club it was a disaster.
He committed a howler against Brighton last March in the FA Cup playing for Millwall in front of the TV cameras — and it allowed the Seagulls to go on and reach the semi-finals.
But he did not put a glove wrong after replacing flying clown Roberto, as he kept the Hammers’ first clean sheet since September 22 with delirious fans singing: “England’s No 1.”
And Martin also relieved the pressure on boss Manuel Pellegrini, who came into the match having taken just two points from a possible 21.
Team-mate Michail Antonio said: “What a debut! I’m so happy for him because he’s West Ham through and through and his dad is a legend.
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“Football’s crazy. Last season, he was hardly playing at Millwall, now he’s playing at Chelsea. The boys love him. And you could see how everyone went to congratulate him at the end because it was a great performance.”
Martin, THIRD-CHOICE keeper at West Ham after joining on a free from Millwall in the summer, could not have chosen better opposition for his Premier League bow because Chelsea were poor.
He said on Saturday: “It feels surreal. As a lad supporting West Ham, you dream of days like this.
“I’ll open my eyes in the morning and realise it did happen.
“My dad doesn’t normally like to watch me play so I’m pleased to share my Premier League debut with him.
“Our hug at the end is a bit embarrassing, tears and all.
“We went to speak to each other then just went ‘ugh’ and both broke down. It was great to share it with him, as he was at West Ham for 21 years.”
Proud dad Alvin posted on social media: “Not been on Twitter for a couple of years!
“And don’t intend to return but I would like to thank the WHUFC family especially those at the Bridge for the way you treated my boy yesterday but don’t forget how well OUR team played X.”
It was such a great outing for the Hammers that star midfielder Declan Rice, who started out in the Blues academy, said it was probably one of the best days of his life.
Chelsea missed the pace and menace of crocked top-scorer Tammy Abraham, who has ten league goals this season.
France striker Olivier Giroud, 33, carried no threat. Known for his heading ability, he failed to meet a whipped Reece James cross just before the break which should have given Blues the lead.
Yet strangely, Lampard kept Michy Batshuayi on the bench although he did eventually hook the awful Giroud, who somehow managed to stay on until the 71st minute.
Hammers, with Rice outshining his bestie Mason Mount in midfield, deserved the points and earned them thanks to a cracking finish from Aaron Cresswell, who cut inside to fire home his third goal of the season in the 48th minute.
They also had an Antonio goal disallowed by VAR and were twice denied by acrobatic saves from Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
It was certainly some turnaround — their first Bridge win in 17 years — following their spineless display against Spurs the previous weekend which put so much pressure on Pellegrini.
Antonio said: “You’re under a microscope all the time. Unai Emery’s just been sacked… with Pellegrini, it’s just one of those things.
“If you’re not doing well, people are going to start talking about your job. Then you start doing well and it’s all about new contracts.”
