THE NOTEBOOK: Emerson makes history, Bowen in dreamland and kit kerfuffle leaves Hammers in white

Jarrod Bowen scored in the 90th minute as West Ham United secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday to clinch a first major European trophy in over half a century.

The match at Prague’s Eden Arena looked like it was heading to extra-time when Lucas Paqueta slipped a ball through to Bowen who outpaced the defenders and fired home past a sprawling Fiorentina keeper.

West Ham took the lead in the 62nd minute when Said Benrahma converted a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a handball by the Italian side’s captain Cristiano Biraghi, who had earlier received medical attention after being struck on the head by a plastic cup thrown from the stands.

Fiorentina immediately stepped up the pace and were rewarded five minutes later when Giacomo Bonaventura controlled the ball with two defenders on him and sent an angled shot past the West Ham keeper. 

Mail Sport’s KIERAN GILL takes a look at some of things you may have missed. 

West Ham defender Emerson makes history

West Ham were locked Trebles all round for Emerson, who became the first player to win the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League. 

Not only that, Emerson’s wife is due to give birth to their third son next week. ‘Get much sleep last night?’ is a favourite question of managers when players rock up at the training ground. 

As anyone with a newborn will attest – myself included – uninterrupted snoozing is a luxury. 

Jarrod Bowen’s other half, Dani, gave birth to twins recently but speaking to Mail Sport before Wednesday night’s final, he insisted he was sleeping well and had even been dreaming of scoring a winner.

Father of newborn twins Jarrod Bowen had been sleeping well and dreamt of scoring

Kit kerfuffle leaves Hammers in white

West Ham were locked in a kit kerfuffle with UEFA ahead of this final. Mail Sport can reveal the club had asked European football’s governing body if the team could change into their claret and blue shirts for the trophy ceremony, should they beat Fiorentina at the Fortuna Arena – the home of Czech side Slavia Prague. 

But West Ham were annoyed when UEFA denied their request with little justifiable reason. 

Still, David Moyes’ men hoped their white kit would be a good omen, given that is what West Ham wore the last time they won a trophy, in 1980. With Fiorentina wearing their home shirts, that meant West Ham got the home changing room.

That was perfect nostalgia for former Slavia Prague player Tomas Soucek, who nabbed his old seat.

Final farewell for Italiano?

Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano has been linked with the Napoli vacancy so there was a suspicion this might be his final farewell. 

Likewise, you wonder what is next for David Moyes. 

He has been linked with the Celtic job, though sources at the club say there are concerns that his cautious style of play would not satisfy supporters who have grown used to fluid football under Ange Postecoglou, who has joined Tottenham on a four-year deal.

Some of Fiorentina’s play-acting was pathetic. 

First, Cristiano Biraghi pretended Jarrod Bowen’s attempt at blocking his clearance had wounded him. 

Then, Nicolas Gonzalez acted as if Declan Rice had elbowed him in the nose. 

Next it was Nikola Milenkovic’s turn to claim Michail Antonio had caught his face. 

Winners bus proves no jinx

The superstitious West Ham fans will have been worried they had been left open to ridicule when an image of a open-top bus did the rounds on social media on Wednesday. 

The vehicle, which had the word ‘WINNERS’ emblazoned across the front, was readied in the anticipation of a trophy parade through the streets of east London, if the Hammers were successful in Prague. 

Thankfully for everyone involved, the preparations did not go to waste. 

All aboard the party bus! 

West Ham had decked out an open-top bus in preparation for a trophy parade before the final