Kieron Dyer: I choked back the tears and played on in his honour

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The 30-year-old had to be consoled by Hammers team-mate Danny Gabbidon during a minute's silence to mark Robson's death before this morning's Barclays Asia Trophy third-place play-off.

Dyer played under Robson at Newcastle for his entire five-year spell on Tyneside and the pair forged a close bond, based partly on having both plied their trade at Ipswich Town.

After Gabbidon and Zavon Hines had given West Ham a deserved victory in China, Dyer said: "I only found out five minutes before the game that Sir Bobby has passed away so its probably the hardest 90 minutes I have played.

"They really wanted me to play and I am glad I did. It hit home during the minute's silence here that he was gone.

"Back home, instead of a minute's silence I'd like to see a minute of applause because we should celebrate what he brought to the game.

"When we were at Newcastlewe had a squad of about 25 players but everyone was happy.

"In today's football, with millionaire prima- donnas, that is very hard to do but he was such a lovable guy.

"He was a fighter. He beat cancer numerous times and I thought he would do again but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

"He was a wonderful man and when I was at Newcastle he took a great shine to me with the Ipswich connection and he was like a father to me. He will be sorely missed and I am just glad I got through the game for him."