HISLOP FEARED THE WORST FOR STIMAC
Two years ago Hislop had collided with Chelsea's Pierluigi Casiraghi - that clash had resulted in the Italian striker never being able to kick a ball in the Premiership again, and the former Newcastle shot-stopper thought that history was repeating itself as his studs ripped through Stimac's leg at the weekend.
"I thought I'd broken his leg - but it's just a nasty gash," said Hislop. "The situation reminded me of Casiraghi in terms of the commitment and the way he went in. In those sort of situations, sparks can fly.
"The difference was Casiraghi was an opponent and my heart went out to him. I went to see him in hospital afterwards. No disrespect, but this one was much closer to home."
The incident happened just minutes from the final whistle, as Hislop, Stimac and Ipswich striker David Johnson raced for the ball, and in the resultant melee Hislop's stud's cut a deep gash across Stimac's leg, but the keeper said that he simply had to forget about the collision and remained focussed until the final whistle.
"I had to put it to the back of my mind for the final two minutes of injury time," said Hislop. "When I got down the tunnel, the first thing he asked me was how we had done - I smiled and told him we had got a point."
Hammers boss Harry Redknapp will not welcome this latest injury setback to his Croatian defender, who is expected to be out of action for three weeks, as he looks to reverse the club's fortunes in the Premiership this season and raise them from the 18th place that they currently occupy in the table.
