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CARROLL Roy
REPKA Tomas
SCALONI Lionel
KONCHESKI Paul
GABBIDON Daniel
FERDINAND Anton
FLETCHER Carl
DAILLY Christian
SHERINGHAM Teddy
ASHTON Dean
HAREWOOD Marion
ETHERINGTON Matthew
BYWATER Stephen
COHEN Chris
BENAYOUN Yossi
WILLIAMS Gavin
MULLINS Hayden
SOFIANE Youssef
KATAN Yaniv
COLLINS James
REO-COKER Nigel
BELLION David
WARD Elliott
WALKER James
NOBLE Mark
ZAMORA Bobby
NEWTON Shaun
MIKOLANDA Petr
McCLENAHAN Trent
EPHRAIM Hogan
CLARKE Clive
STOKES Tony
BLEWITT Darren
ASHIKODI Moses
HISLOP Shaka
REID Kyle
CHADWICK Luke
ALIADIERE Jeremie
REED Matthew
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Blackburn Rovers
Newcastle United
Bolton Wanderers
Aston Villa
Fulham
Sheffield Wednesday
Arsenal
Sunderland
Manchester City
Middlesbrough
Bolton Wanderers
Liverpool
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Liverpool
MALKY MACKAY joins Watford - July 2005 Free transfer
CHRIS POWELL joins Charlton Athletic - July 2005 Free transfer
DON HUTCHISON joins Millwall - August 2005 Free transfer
CHRIS COHEN joins Yeovil Town - November 2005 Loan, permanent June 2006
GAVIN WILLIAMS joins Ipswich Town - November 2005 Loan, permanent January 2006 £300,000
TOMAS REPKA joins Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) January 2006 Free transfer
LUKE CHADWICK joins Stoke City - January 2006 £100,000
JEREMIE ALIADIERE rejoins Arsenal - January 2006 after loan spell
DAVID BELLION rejoins Manchester United - January 2006 after loan spell
TEDDY SHERINGHAM - Released May 2006 - later joins Colchester United
YANIV KATAN joins Maccabi Haifa (Israel) May 2006 Loan, permanent
LIONEL SCALONI rejoins Deportivo de Coruna (Spain) May 2006 after loan spell
CARL FLETCHER joins Crystal Palace - June 2006 £400,000
SHAKA HISLOP joins FC Dallas (USA) July 2006 Free transfer
Pre - Season Friendlies
FALKENBERGS FF (Sweden)
Falkenbergs
3-1 (Harewood 2, Zamora)
14th July 2005
Trollhattan
3-0 (Fletcher, Zamora, Sheringham)
16th July 2005
Bywater
Repka
Newton (Ward)
Gabbidon (Collins)
Ferdinand
Chadwick (Williams)
Fletcher
Reo-Coker
Sheringham (Dailly)
Zamora (Mikolanda)
Etherington (Konchesky)
VASTRA FROLUNDA IF (Sweden)
Kungsbacka
3-0
19th July 2005
HORNCHURCH
The Stadium
16th July 2005
2-0
AFC SUDBURY
King's Marsh Stadium
19th July 2005
?
YEOVIL TOWN
Huish Park
19th July 2005
2-2 (Mikolanda, Zamora)
Bywater
McClenahan
Newton (Ward)
Collins
Mackay
Fletcher
Dailly (Ward)
Williams
Zamora
Mikolanda (Reid)
Chadwick (Sofiane)
TSV MUNICH 1860 (Germany)
Allianz Arena - Munich: 40th Anniversary Match
1-1 (Harewood)
27th July 2005
Carroll
Repka (Chadwick)
Konchesky (Ward)
Gabbidon
Ferdinand
Mullins (Lika)
Newton
Sheringham (Benayoun)
Reo-Coker (Dailly)
Harewood
Etherington (Williams)
Honours even at the magnificent Allianz Arena
Marlon Harewood's strike helped West Ham United to a 1-1 draw against TSV 1860 Munich in front of a fantastic 18,791 crowd at the magnificent new Allianz Area.
As the two clubs commemorated 40 years since West Ham's famous victory in the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup, Marlon headed home Matthew Etherington's cross on 33 mintues to give Alan Pardew's men the lead.
But 1860 Munich fought back and equalised just before half-time when a loose touch from Tomas Repka presented Emmanuel Krotiris with a shooting chance and he made no mistake, beating Roy Carroll with a low drive. Hammers saw chances from Shaun Newton, Harewood and Teddy Sheringham all go beggging in a game that they should have won, but both clubs could be proud of a successful evening in the Allianz Arena.
Pennant image courtesy of Oliver Buch
Oliver lives in Germany and informs me that 1860 Munich's marketing bureau always produce three issues for a match pennant.
West Ham marked their return to the Barclays Premiership in style with a superb victory over Blackburn at Upton Park. Blackburn took the lead after 17 minutes when Andy Todd profited from a defensive lapse - but as the newly-promoted Hammers adapted to the pace of the Premiership they began to look more dangerous. Teddy Sheringham slotted the equaliser just after the interval, Nigel Reo-Coker blasted West Ham ahead and then Matthew Etherington sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining. To compound Blackburn's misery, substitute striker Paul Dickov was sent off just a minute later for a late challenge on Paul Konchesky. Not that the 33,305 crowd had too much sympathy. They were too busy singing: "We are top of the league". They sit level with London rivals Charlton looking down, for now at least, on the likes of Manchester United. Blackburn included summer signings Craig Bellamy and Shefki Kuqi up front while Pardew gave West Ham debuts to goalkeeper Roy Carroll, left-back Paul Konchesky, Welsh centre-back Danny Gabbidon and Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun. Captain Christian Dailly was switched to right-back after Tomas Repka fell ill overnight and Hayden Mullins partnered Reo-Coker in the centre of West Ham's midfield. Reo-Coker, the England Under-21 international, created the first real chance after four minutes with a perfectly-weighted pass through to Marlon Harewood, who then scuffed his shot across the face of goal. But the early exchanges were dominated by Blackburn, who kept possession neatly in midfield and threatened to undo West Ham's new-look defence. Gabbidon was frequently called upon to clear West Ham's lines with timely interventions and Konchesky rose to head Robbie Savage's goalbound free-kick out for a corner. It was last-ditch stuff for the Hammers and eventually Blackburn fashioned the breakthrough. Morten Gamst Pedersen's low free-kick caused confusion in the West Ham area and as the ball bobbled around, Todd stepped up to stroke it inside the far corner. Kuqi's height and power was causing West Ham's defence problems and the visitors began to control the middle of the park. But as Pardew's men settled they began to play the better football. Savage was booked for tripping Harewood just as the West Ham striker threatened to break clear down the right. Etherington was lively down the left and Sheringham was pulling the strings in his deep-lying role up front. Harewood latched onto a perfectly-weighted ball into the box from Sheringham but his first touch in the box took him too wide and the chance was gone. Sheringham, linking well with Benayoun, then forced Brad Friedel into a low save to his left before curling another chance just wide of Blackburn's far post. Rovers carried the lead into the interval but West Ham had been threatening a breakthrough and it took less than 50 seconds of the second half to find one. For the first time in the game Benayoun found space to run at the Blackburn defence. His pass into the box clipped Todd's heel and sat up nicely for Sheringham to slot the ball past Friedel. The goal cranked up the pace of the game. Pedersen fired a volley over Carroll's crossbar and then Harewood shot wide on the turn as play swung almost recklessly from box to box. Konchesky cleared West Ham's lines after Ferdinand had misjudged his jump and then Sheringham, stretching on the edge of the six-yard box to reach Harewood's cross, skewed his effort wide. But it was not long before West Ham conjured up a second, wonderfully-taken goal. Konchesky cleared the ball off his own line as another Blackburn corner caused problems inside the West Ham box. Unperturbed, the Hammers burst downfield again. Etherington played the ball square for Reo-Coker, who beat Aaron Mokoena with a brilliant half-turn on the edge of the Blackburn box and then drove the ball into the top corner. Reo-Coker's strike prompted tactical changes from both sides. Sheringham was replaced by Shaun Newton as Benayoun moved inside to support Harewood, while Blackburn threw on Paul Dickov to add extra fire-power. But that just prompted a disastrous five-minute spell for Blackburn. Dominic Matteo carelessly gave the ball away to Benayoun on the edge of his own box. The Israeli advanced on goal and calmly played it square to Etherington who sealed the game for West Ham. Things still got worse for Blackburn. In a fit of pique, Dickov lunged in late on Konchesky and was shown a straight red card by referee Wiley.
CRYSTAL PALACE : F.A. Premier Reserve League
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1-1 (Ephraim)
17th August 2005
Toothless Newcastle let 10-man West Ham off the hook after defender Paul Konchesky was controversially sent off. The full-back was dismissed for a 55th-minute professional foul on Jermaine Jenas who appeared to win the ball. The Magpies could not make their numerical advantage count and they were booed from the pitch. That Newcastle badly misfired is not in any doubt, but it would be churlish not to acknowledge the Hammers' performance with Danny Gabbidon outstanding at the back and Marlon Harewood giving Jean-Alain Boumsong the sternest of examinations. They were well worth their point, and despite the fact that he was several players short of his best 11, the gaps in Souness' squad were cruelly exposed by a side which was, after all, playing Coca-Cola Championship football last season. The Magpies lacked bite in attack, invention in midfield and were not entirely convincing at the back. West Ham announced their arrival in the Premiership last week with a 3-1 victory over Blackburn which set out their stall for the new campaign, and they walked out at St James' Park determined to build upon that. Souness and his players knew only a win would do, Souness opted to field James Milner wide on the left side of a five-man defence and asked him to join forces with his captain when possible. The ploy lasted for 27 minutes, during which the pair were rarely able to link, and in a congested midfield, there was little time or space for the invention they needed. They did create a series of promising opportunities - Charles N'Zogbia forced a good save from Roy Carroll on 20 minutes and Jenas, who later headed a Stephen Carr cross over the bar, tested the keeper again seconds later - but could not find the breakthrough with Gabbidon in particular doing well in his battle with Shearer. However, the best chance of the half fell to the Hammers when, with 23 minutes gone, veteran Teddy Sheringham opened up Newcastle with a pin-point through-ball to Yossi Benayoun, whose shot was half-blocked by Shay Given and hacked away by Celestine Babayaro. Sheringham almost got on the end of a Konchesky cross on the stroke of half-time, but by then, Souness had reshuffled and moved Milner into an out-and-out attacking role in a 4-4-2 formation. Sheringham needed treatment on the pitch after falling awkwardly, and he last just three minutes of the second half before he was replaced by Shaun Newton. The game was blown wide open on 55 minutes when Konchesky was controversially dismissed for a tackle on Jenas. Milner's clever turn and neat pass on halfway sent the midfielder clear, but Konchesky tracked back well and appeared to get the ball, although not in referee Dermot Gallagher's opinion, and even a consultation with his assistant could not save the defender. But even against 10 men, Newcastle were in dire need of inspiration and Souness made his move on 63 minutes when, to popular acclaim, he sent on Clark for N'Zogbia. The new arrival almost made a dream start when, four minutes later, he latched on to Babayaro's pass and fired in a first-time left-foot shot which Carroll dived to his left to turn away. Carroll was in action again a minute later to tip a Lee Bowyer volley over the bar and Boumsong headed over from the resulting corner, and the pressure, belatedly, was mounting. However, the Hammers were stubbornly refusing to give ground and with the Magpies running out of ideas, they became increasingly desperate as time ran down. Even the vastly-experienced Shearer let his eagerness get the better of him on 77 minutes when he pushed Tomas Repka in his attempt to reach Carr's cross at the back post. The 35-year-old saw an 88th-minute effort blocked and Parker fired high over in injury-time, but there was to be no late escape for Souness.
BOLTON WANDERERS Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
Alan Pardew has spent the entire summer trying to bring a top-class striker to West Ham - and this home defeat by Bolton proved why he must succeed in that quest. West Ham dominated most of the match and created far more good chances, but although they found Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in superb form, the home side were dreadfully wasteful in front of goal, with Marlon Harewood the main culprit. Kevin Nolan and substitute Ivan Campo showed West Ham how it was done by scoring the second-half goals that earned Wanderers their second Premiership win in four days. Teddy Sheringham gave West Ham hope with a late penalty and also hit the bar with a free-kick, but his team-mates have to be more ruthless in attack if his inventiveness and intelligence is to be fully exploited. West Ham began brightly, using the width of the pitch well to mount their attacks. Paul Konchesky was twice released on the left, but both times the full-back's crosses were poor and Jaaskelainen made simple catches. Another good move in the fifth minute led to Harewood setting up Hayden Mullins 30 yards from goal, the Welsh midfielder's shot striking Gary Speed and bouncing to safety. At the other end, Kevin Davies nodded Stelios Giannakopoulos' right-wing free-kick goalwards, only to see the ball deflect off Danny Gabbidon's head and pass just over the bar. After 26 minutes, Etherington sent Konchesky into another promising position, only for Jaaskelainen to claim his low ball with relative ease. But Bolton struggled to keep possession and West Ham pressed forward. First Benayoun headed Tomas Repka's cross straight at Jaaskelainen, and shortly afterwards Harewood simply stood and watched on the edge of the six-yard box instead of diverting Benayoun's cut-back into the unguarded goal. In the 36th minute, Wanderers duo Davies and Giannakopoulos inadvertently obstructed one another trying to convert El-Hadji Diouf's right-wing cross - but their side had an incredible escape a minute later. First Speed did brilliantly to head the excellent Sheringham's teasing cross behind for a corner with Mullins lurking at the far post. And then Jaaskelainen made a fantastic instinctive save to deny Gabbidon, whose back-heel following Benayoun's drilled cross appeared to have wrong-footed the Finn. West Ham put the Bolton defence under more pressure at the start of the second half. Benayoun's deflected 20-yard shot four minutes after the break fell to Sheringham, but Speed made another fine intervention to concede a corner. But as the half continued, Bolton were troubled less by the home side - and came within inches of scoring themselves. Spaniard Campo, who had replaced Diouf in the 52nd minute, cracked a loose ball towards the top-left corner from 30 yards, only for Hammers keeper Roy Carroll to produce a brilliant save to tip it onto the bar. Almost immediately, West Ham moved into attack, Harewood firing well over - but Bolton took the lead in the 59th minute. Jay-Jay Okocha's stunning 20-yard volley was blocked on the line by Benayoun, but Davies reached the loose ball first and fed Nolan, who steered the ball into the roof of the net from seven yards. Hammers manager Pardew brought on Aliadiere for his debut as well as Bobby Zamora, whose run and low cross in the 72nd minute saw the sliding Sheringham send the ball narrowly wide. Then a thrilling burst down the right by Aliadiere earned his side a free-kick 20 yards from goal for a foul on him by Tal Ben Haim. But it meant only more frustration for the Hammers as Sheringham's effort hit the underside of the bar with Jaaskelainen unmoved. The introductions of Aliadiere and Zamora gave West Ham new verve, and Jaaskelainen excelled himself again to turn Nigel Reo-Coker's low drive behind 10 minutes from time. Bolton wrapped up the win in the 85th minute when Campo won the ball in midfield and fed Okocha, who sent him clear with a return pass that Campo slotted coolly past Carroll. The home side must be praised for continuing to believe, and they earned small consolation in the 89th minute when Nicky Hunt felled Mullins in the box and Sheringham slammed home the penalty.
EVERTON Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
Little Heath
3-3 (Stokes 2, Tomkins)
27th August 2005
Marlon Harewood fired the first Barclays Premiership hat-trick of the season to silence his critics and raise the roof at Upton Park. The powerful Hammers striker could have spent most of the season languishing on the bench if Czech international Milan Baros had not snubbed a move to West Ham in favour of Aston Villa. But the Upton Park crowd were left chanting "Baros, what's the score?" after Harewood had fired West Ham back to winning ways and repaid the faith shown in him by Alan Pardew. He linked brilliantly with Teddy Sheringham for the first after 24 minutes and then touched home the second from Hayden Mullins' header to give West Ham a 2-0 half-time lead. Harewood smashed home his third from a Matthew Etherington cross just after the interval and was then given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Bobby Zamora with 10 minutes left. Tonight, Harewood stated his case as Baros and Villa boss David O'Leary were left scratching their heads long before Yossi Benayoun provided the crowning glory in injury time with his first goal in a West Ham shirt. Villa had the best chance in an action-packed opening when Kevin Phillips stole in behind Danny Gabbidon and latched onto a long clearance from Thomas Sorensen on the edge of the Hammers box. Anton Ferdinand closed him down - helped by a sly tug of the shirt - and as Phillips tried to find Baros, West Ham scrambled the ball clear. But the Hammers, roared on by the home fans who had packed the pubs on Green Street before kick-off to enjoy England's Ashes victory at The Oval, were enjoying the best of the possession and the best of the chances. Harewood came within inches of latching onto Paul Konchesky's low cross from the left but West Ham's pressure finally paid dividends after 24 minutes. Harewood linked expertly with Sheringham, spinning into space to receive a return ball and then charging into the box to slide his shot under Sorensen. West Ham's tails were up. Repka whipped in a cross from the right that forced Hughes to stoop and head over his own bar. Etherington picked out Mullins with the corner and Harewood poked the ball home from close range. Harewood then had a confident shout for a penalty waved away by referee Andy d'Urso after Liam Ridgewell appeared to be holding him back in the box as he looked to turn and shoot. Roy Carroll turned a low James Milner drive round the post and then just after half-time the on-loan midfielder struck the inside of the West Ham post with a cross. The ball stayed out but fell invitingly for Phillips who could only fire his volley into the side netting. But West Ham continued unperturbed and after 50 minutes Harewood got his third. Nigel Reo-Coker, the England Under-21 captain, was tugged back after getting the better of Ridgewell. Sorensen came charging out and got nowhere near Etherington's cross and the ball fell to Harewood unmarked at the far post to smash into an empty net. Villa pressed in search of something but Anton Ferdinand and then Gabbidon cleared West Ham's lines magnificently. Baros stole into the box and was one-on-one with the 'keeper but Carroll produced an excellent save. West Ham were a kind bounce away from a fourth after Benayoun almost worked enough space for a shot. But his effort, followed by those from Sheringham and Harewood were all deflected as Villa's defence desperately scrambled the ball clear. But West Ham were knocking the ball around confidently and final party piece came form Benayoun, who twisted and turned inside the Villa box and then fired his cross shot low into the bottom right corner.
Marlon Harewood provided the inspiration once again as West Ham registered their second Barclays Premiership victory in six days in a pulsating London derby. Harewood followed up his hat-trick in Monday night's 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa with another star turn, pouncing for the opener a minute after half-time and then forcing goalkeeper Tony Warner's cruel own goal. Fulham hit back through the inspirational Luis Boa Morte, who played like a man possessed from start to finish, but the skipper's beautifully-struck curler remained the home side's only response. Both teams entered the match high in confidence and it showed on the pitch with the sell-out crowd treated to some thrilling moments as the high-octane play switched from end to end. Fulham striker Brian McBride gave another impressive performance - he was denied twice by superb saves from Roy Carroll - but the afternoon belonged to Harewood who has struck rich form. The 25-year-old, signed for £500,000 from Nottingham Forest in 2003, proved a handful throughout with his strength and pace causing Fulham's defence plenty of problems. He also found the net in the first half but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside. West Ham, who recalled Bobby Zamora with Teddy Sheringham dropping to the bench, grew as an attacking force as the match wore on but it was Fulham who dominated the opening half-hour. They made a strong start with Steed Malbranque profiting when Nigel Reo-Coker gave the ball away in midfield but the Frenchman lacked support as he closed in on goal and the threat was gone. Claus Jensen carved West Ham wide open moments later following superb link play with Malbranque, dribbling to the edge of the area before firing his shot straight at Roy Carroll. Moritz Volz scrambled the ball to safety as West Ham staged an attack in the 10th minute with Matthew Etherington looking to make the most of Marlon Harewood's inventive play on the edge of the area. A fine save from Carroll prevented Fulham taking the lead a heartbeat later with McBride heading an inspired cross from Boa Morte towards the right corner only for the former Manchester United keeper to get his body in the way. West Ham found the back of the net in the 27th minute when Etherington's shot rebounded off Warner and into the path of Harewood who made no mistake from close range, but the flag went up for offside. A fingertip save from Carroll prevented a long-range thunderbolt from McBride finding its mark while Harewood hit the crossbar at the other end, with Reo-Coker squandering the follow-up. The tempo of the match had increased significantly now that West Ham were beginning to make inroads and Zamora should have at least hit the target with a headed corner as cracks appeared in Fulham's defence. The deadlock was broken just a minute after the interval when a long pass from defence was flicked on by Zamora to Harewood who hooked the ball over defender Zat Knight before slipping it past Warner. It was a well-executed move which had caught Fulham - who fielded the same side for a third successive match - cold and five minutes later West Ham had gone 2-0 up following a cruel piece of luck for Warner. Etherington made the initial inroads down the left before offloading to Paul Konchesky who found Harewood tussling with Carlos Bocanegra just outside of the six-yard box. Harewood shook off Bocanegra and struck the left post with his shot only for the ball to then cannon off Warner, who had made a despairing dive to save the goal, into the back of the net. The score did not break Fulham's spirit, however, and they hit back in the 66th minute through Boa Morte who picked up Malbranque's pass before turning Konchesky inside-out and curling home from the edge of the area.
CARDIFF CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
University of Glamorgan Playing Fields, Treforest
2-0
17th September 2005
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : Carling Cup (Second Round)
Hillsborough
4-2 (Dailly, Zamora 2, Bellion)
20th September 2005
Att: 14,976
Referee: S. Tanner
Hislop
Repka (Stokes)
Cohen
Ward
Collins
Dailly
Williams (Ephraim)
Newton
Noble
Zamora
Harewood (Bellion)
Two-goal Bobby Zamora, captain for the-night Christian Dailly and David Bellion fired West Ham into the Carling Cup third round - but only after a late scare against the Coca-Cola Championship's rock-bottom club. Zamora has been overshadowed recently by forward partner Marlon Harewood who has hogged centre stage with four goals in his last two games to help elevate the Hammers to a heady sixth in the Barclays Premiership. But Zamora finally stepped into the spotlight with a brace of outstanding quality, with Dailly's powerful header for his first goal for 16 months sandwiched in between. That was before Wednesday proceeded to mount a late comeback that was killed off by sub Bellion six minutes from time. Wednesday, with just one league win to their credit this season, could not have made a worse start, with Zamora scoring his first goal since his play-off final winner in May after just 75 seconds. Gavin Williams, one of eight players making his first start for West Ham in this game, provided Zamora with a pass he gratefully ran onto before smashing an 18-yard left-foot shot past goalkeeper David Lucas. But it was not until nine minutes after the break manager Alan Pardew's side made their Premiership class count, with Scotland international Dailly meeting an inswinging corner from Shaun Newton with an explosive header from eight yards. Eight minutes later and Zamora scored an exquisite third on the night for the visitors, and his second, as he perfectly connected with a 25-yard right-foot volley that flew past Lucas after Graham Coughlan's clearing header had ballooned up into the air. At that stage the game seemed dead and buried and West Ham were as good as into the hat for the third-round draw, only for Wednesday to stage their fightback. Boss Paul Sturrock's side had proved they were far from overawed in a first half they had finished the stronger, with chances for David Graham and Barry Corr. Just 35 seconds into the second period Graham had forced a superb acrobatic tip-over save from Shaka Hislop before West Ham seemingly had the game in the bag with their two-goals-in-eight-minutes spell. But 15 minutes from time they initially scored what appeared at that stage to be nothing more than a consolation when Coughlan headed home a Chris Brunt corner. Two minutes later and the visitors were rattled further when a mistake from debutant James Collins allowed Graham to turn his marker and drill a low 25-yard drive into the bottom right-hand corner. The Owls' tails were now up and they were within inches of an equaliser when Graham was given space inside the area, only to clip the top of the crossbar with a left-foot curler. With nerves fraying, Bellion - on loan from Manchester United for the season and making his first appearance after coming on as a 65th-minute substitute - powered his way into the area and turned inside two Wednesday defenders before rifling a right-foot cracker beyond Lucas.
COVENTRY CITY : F.A. Premier Reserve League
(Away)
1-0
21st September 2005
ARSENAL : Barclays Premiership
Upton Park
0-0
24th September 2005
Att: 34,742
Referee: M. Dean
West Ham and Arsenal tried their best to inject some excitement back into the Barclays Premiership at Upton Park this afternoon - but both failed to produce a goal, despite plenty of effort and passion on display in front of a sell-out crowd. The point will probably have been more palatable to the home support, who for two seasons had been used to hosting the likes of Stoke and Crewe rather than one of the top-flight's premier sides, a mark of just how far the Hammers have come under Alan Pardew. Indeed, the hosts could have snatched a famous victory had substitute Bobby Zamora not headed wide when picked out by Matthew Etherington's centre late on. Arsenal, though, know they will have to find an answer to their lack of a killer instinct in the final third without the services of injured striker Thierry Henry sooner rather than later if they are to challenge for the title. But for the segregation rows between the home and away fans behind the Centenary Stand goal, there were few visible empty seats at a noisy Upton Park on what was FIFA World Fair Play Day. Arsenal, in their yellow change strip, started brightly, with Van Persie driving a 20-yard effort just wide of Roy Carroll's left-hand post. The Hammers soon settled, and after seven minutes, Yossi Benayoun turned Ashley Cole and got to the goal-line down the right to send over a dangerous cross, which Etherington nodded down before the ball was hacked clear. At the other end, Carroll then produced a good low stop from Van Persie after good work by Ljungberg down the right. In the 11th minute, Gilberto tripped Etherington around 22 yards out in a central position. Sheringham whipped the resulting free-kick around the wall, but also just wide of Jens Lehmann's right-hand post. The visitors soaked up the early pressure, and then began to see more of the ball in midfield themselves. In the 20th minute, Hleb jinked to the edge of the area, and fed a perfectly-weighted pass through to Cesc Fabregas - but the young Spaniard snatched at his shot and stabbed the ball horribly wide from 12 yards. There was certainly plenty of positive approach play from both sides to keep the crowd entertained, if nothing of real quality in either penalty box. On 28 minutes, Cole blasted an ambitious effort high over the bar from 25 yards. Reyes was closer with his effort from similar distance a few moments later, looping a shot just past Carroll's right-hand post. A deep ball in from the left aimed at Benayoun caused Cole some concern, as his off-balance header fell back into the path of the Hammers midfielder. However, it was a rushed effort from the Israeli, who shot wide from 10 yards. West Ham forced an early second-half corner on the right. Lehmann flapped at the cross into the six-yard box, and the ball fell out to Benayoun at the edge of the area. The midfielder caught his strike well, but the Arsenal goalkeeper reacted quickly to stand tall and make the save to his left. Lehmann was less than convincing when coming to collect another centre, and Sol Campbell appeared to block a ball back into the danger area with his arm. Sheringham was then cautioned for tussling with the Arsenal captain, much to the frustration of the home support in the crowd of 34,742. On 58 minutes, the former England striker swept over a diagonal pass from the right towards the far post, which was just too quick for Etherington to reach. Gilberto had to go off for treatment on his shin after making a brave sliding tackle to win back possession in midfield. The Brazilian returned to the action, but looked to be struggling, and was replaced by Mathieu Flamini in the 70th minute. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie came on for Reyes with 18 minutes left, and caused some concern with his pace. Zamora was introduced with just under 10 minutes to go, and Gael Clichy replaced Van Persie. Indeed, the Hammers striker - who scored two in the midweek Carling Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday - could have won it in the closing stages. Picked out by Etherington's centre from the left, no more than eight yards out, Zamora went to glance the ball into the far corner, but only succeeded in guiding it wide of the far post.
MILLWALL Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
Little Heath
6-2 (Cowley, Ephraim 2, Reid, Welsh, Hines)
24th September 2005
Kemel
Henry (Andrews)
Widdowson
White
Tomkins
Cowley
Davidson
Hales
Jeffrey (Hines)
Ephraim (Welsh)
Reid
LEICESTER CITY : F.A. Premier Reserve League
Greene King Stadium
2-2
28th September 2005
SUNDERLAND : Barclays Premiership
Stadium of Light
1-1 (Benayoun)
1st October 2005
Att: 31,212
Referee: M. Atkinson
Luckless Sunderland had two precious Barclays Premiership points snatched from their grasp as West Ham staged an outrageous comeback at the Stadium of Light. The visitors looked to have been battered into submission by Mick McCarthy's side, who took the lead through Tommy Miller at the end of an ordinary first half and then upped the tempo after the break. But after threatening to win it comfortably, the Black Cats were forced to make do with a draw when Israeli international Yossi Benayoun levelled with 18 minutes remaining. Sunderland will feel they deserved a second successive victory after dominating for much of the game - with Andy Welsh and Stephen Elliott particularly impressive. But Hammers boss Alan Pardew was rewarded for his substitutions, with Bobby Zamora and Shaun Newton helping to change the flow of the game. West Ham have now lost only one of their seven matches since returning to the top flight - and although it may be little consolation to McCarthy, his side is now unbeaten in three. Sunderland started brightly against a team who finished 21 points and five places behind them in last season's Coca-Cola Championship. The Hammers kicked off lying fifth in the table - but they should have been behind on Wearside with just five minutes gone. Andy Welsh took full advantage of Thomas Repka's slip to pick out Andy Gray in the middle after he had found a gap between central defenders Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon. But he directed a powder-puff header straight at a relieved Roy Carroll. Within four minutes Teddy Sheringham and Benayoun combined to put Marlon Harewood in on goal, but Kelvin Davis got down well to keep out the low drive. Yet from then on, a scrappy battle ensued in which neither side was able to retain the ball for a sustained period - and it was not until injury time that the breakthrough arrived. Welsh was once again the instigator as he played in full-back Justin Hoyte down the left. Then when substitute Liam Lawrence - on for the injured Christian Bassila - latched on to Hoyte's cross to force Carroll to block, Miller lashed the loose ball into the roof of the net to open the scoring. The Hammers responded by launching a series of long balls towards Harewood and Sheringham, although neither man had any real chance of collecting any of them. Their frustration was summed up by full-back Paul Konchesky on 50 minutes when he took aim from 40 yards but succeeded only in drilling the ball into the crowd way wide of the target. Sheringham looked certain to level on 55 minutes when he ran on to Repka's long ball and lifted the ball over the advancing Davis, but his effort dropped wide of the post. Sunderland forced the visitors on to the back foot again and twice went close to extending their lead. From a corner, the ball ended up in the back of the net off the unwitting Ferdinand - but referee Martin Atkinson had spotted an offence and ruled out the strike. The lively Elliott carved a path through the Hammers' defence four minutes later before firing left-footed towards goal. But Carroll blocked with his legs, and Gray could not convert the rebound - although an offside flag would have spoiled the moment anyway. Gary Breen twice threatened with headers from corners, and Lawrence forced Carroll to save with a long-range strike. But just as it looked as though the visitors were going to finish empty-handed, they got back on terms. A 72nd-minute attempted clearance ricocheted off Miller and fell into the path of Benayoun, who surged past the wrong-footed Black Cats' defence and fired unerringly past the helpless Davis. With Zamora and Newton - who had replaced Sheringham and Matthew Etherington - causing problems, the visitors might even have snatched victory at the death. But that would have been too cruel on their hosts.
ARSENAL Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
Highbury
2-0 (Stokes, Ephraim)
1st October 2005
Reed
Henry
Andrews
White
Tomkins
Stokes
Reid
Cowley (Hales)
Hines (Jeffrey)
Ephraim
Welsh (Davidson)
IPSWICH TOWN Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
(Away)
1-5
8th October 2005
CHELSEA : F.A. Premier Reserve League
Recreation Ground : Aldershot
1-1
10th October 2005
NORWICH CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League
