westhamacademy

RICHARD WRIGHT to Ipswich Town for an Undisclosed fee - July 2008
BOBBY ZAMORA & JOHN PANTSIL join Fulham for a combined £6.3m fee - July 2008
FREDERIK LJUNGBERG - Released from contract on undisclosed terms by mutual agreement - August 2008
ANTON FERDINAND to Sunderland for an Undisclosed fee rumoured to be £8m - August 2008
GEORGE McCARTNEY to Sunderland for an Undisclosed fee rumoured to be £5m - September 2008
MATTHEW ETHERINGTON to Stoke City for an Undisclosed fee rumoured to be £3m - January 2009
CRAIG BELLAMY to Manchester City for £14m - January 2009
HAYDEN MULLINS to Portsmouth for an Undisclosed fee - January 2000
LEE BOWYER - Released June 2009
DIEGO TRISTAN - Released June 2009
WALTER LOPEZ - Released June 2009
KYEL REID - Released June 2009
JIMMY WALKER - Released June 2009
JAN LASTUVKA - Returns to Shakhtar Donetsk after loan spell - June 2009
RADOSLAV KOVAC - Returns to Spartak Moscow after loan spell - June 2009 (permanent August 2009)
DAVID DI MICHELE - Returns to Torino after loan spell - June 2009

Pre - Season Friendlies

Hampton & Richmond Borough
17th July 2008
4-2 Beveree Stadium

Thurrock
26th July 2008
3-1 The Hotel

Billericay Town
19th July 2008
1-0 New Lodge

COLUMBUS CREW : Columbus Crew Stadium

West Ham players and staff had a long travel day Friday and some didn't arrive in Columbus until 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Yet, manager Alan Curbishley had them on the Crew Stadium field for a light workout by 11 a.m. under sunny skies as the temperature soared to 88 degrees. The conditions were a good 25 degrees cooler and much grayer when they left London.
"We knew the logistics. We knew how it was going to be, I'm impressed with the Crew pitch and the stadium. It's just right for us. We're looking forward to tomorrow night being really our first competitive game. We obviously had a long journey yesterday and we fully expected that," Curbishley said. "We used this morning to get the legs down and this afternoon to try to win more balls. It's the start of our third week. We plan six weeks before we're ready to go. This is all part of it."

3-1 (Ashton, o.g., Reid)
20th July 2008
Att:

Green (Walker)
Neill
Ferdinand
Davenport (Collison)
Noble (Mullins)
Parker (Spence)
Faubert (Stokes)
Reid (Stanislas)
Widdowson
Ashton (Cole)
Bellamy (Miller)

A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS' Columbus Crew. The fights, which overshadowed West Ham United's 3-1 win, began when a handful of West Ham supporters, some wearing the team's claret and blue colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew's most boisterous supporters typically gather. Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups. Highway Patrol officers arrested one fan outside the stadium for disorderly conduct, Patrol spokeswoman Anne Ralston said. A dispatcher didn't know whether Columbus police had made any arrests inside the stadium.
West Ham forward Dean Ashton scored the game's first goal, a blistering low shot that flew past Andy Gruenebaum in the sixth minute. Forward Jason Garey put Columbus on the scoreboard in the 20th minute, leaping to head home a bending crossing pass from Cory Elenio. Crew midfielder Brad Evans inadvertently doubled West Ham's advantage by scoring into his own goal in the 26th minute. Kyle Reid completed the scoring for West Ham with a close-range goal in the 53rd minute.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said afterwards "It was a terrific game for us. We needed that sort of a workout,". "We took the MLS game because we wanted to come to America. We wanted to show people what we're about."

MLS All-Star Official Player's Party

Columbus Crew Matchday Poster

Columbus Crew Autographs courtesy of Paul Sturton

MLS ALL-STARS : BMO Field

2-3 (Ashton 2)
24th July 2008
Att: 20,844

Green
Neill
Davenport
Ferdinand
Wiidowson
Faubert (Stanislas)
Mullins (Collison)
Parker
Etherington (Boa Morte)
Cole (Stokes)
Ashton (Reid)

TORONTO — Chicago midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored one goal and helped set up another, and Houston midfielder Dwayne DeRosario snapped a tie with a penalty kick to give the MLS All-Stars a 3-2 victory over English Premier League team West Ham United 3-2 on Thursday night.
The All-Stars are unbeaten in five years against foreign opponents. Blanco was chosen as the game's most valuable player. Forward Dean Ashton scored both goals for West Ham, which beat MLS' Columbus Crew 3-1 in an exhibition match on Sunday that was marred by a halftime brawl between more than 100 fans.Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham played the entire game and earned an assist in his first MLS All-Star appearance. Beckham came close to scoring in the 40th minute, but his low free kick was headed away by West Ham defender Calum Davenport. The England international had two more opportunities early in the second half, running onto a loose ball inside the 18-yard box but shooting high and just wide. He misses wide again on a free kick minutes later. West Ham opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Carlton Cole's header sent Ashton in alone on goal. Ashton, who made his international debut for England last month, coolly fired a low shot past New England goalkeeper Matt Reis and into the bottom corner. The lead was short-lived, as Beckham and Blanco teamed up to help the MLS All-Stars tie it one minute later. Blanco's clever back-heel on Beckham's pass from midfield sent Colorado midfielder Christian Gomez into the 18-yard box, and he scored with a low shot under West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green. Blanco put the All-Stars in front 2-1 with a brilliant goal just before halftime. Dallas midfielder Juan Toja slid a short pass to Blanco, who eluded Scott Parker and curled a shot into a far corner, beyond Green's outstretched arms.
Ashton tied it at 2-all in the 68th minute when his long shot deflected off Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad and past Reis. Again, the MLS wasted little time in replying. Referee Mauricio Navarro pointed to the penalty spot after Lucas Neill brought down DeRosario inside the penalty box. With the record crowd of 20,844 roaring for the Toronto native, DeRosario blasted his shot off the underside of the crossbar. The ball then took a fortunate bounce into the back of the net.
West Ham's Luis Boa Morte almost tied it in the final minute of regular time, but shot wide. DeRosario nearly added a second soon after, but Green dove to palm away his deflected free kick.

MLS All-Stars Autographs courtesy of Paul Sturton

Southampton
1st August 2008
2-2 St Mary's

Cambridge United
30th July 2008
0-0 Abbey Stadium

Peterborough United
29th July 2008
2-0 London Road

Cambridge United
Teamsheet

Grays Athletic
2nd August 2008
1-2 New Recreation Ground

Ipswich Town
4th August 2008
5-3 Portman Road

Bishop's Stortford
5th August 2008
2-0 Woodside Park

Tilbury
11th August 2008
3-0 Chadfields

Bishop's Stortford
Teamsheet

IN THE NEWS - Monday 4th August 2008

JAN LASTUVKA Czech International goalkeeper signs from Ukraine club SHAKHTAR DONETSK

IN THE NEWS - Wednesday 6th August 2008

FREDRIK LJUNGBERG contract terminated on undisclosed terms by mutual agreement

VILLARREAL : The Bobby Moore Cup

Upton Park
1-1 (Cole)
9th August 2008
Att:
Ref: R. Styles

Green
Neill
Upson
Davenport
Thatcher (Bowyer)
Behrami
Noble (Hines)
Parker
Etherington (Reid)
Cole (Sears)
Ashton (Faubert)

Ticket and Press Pass images courtesy of Luke Avenell

A Carlton Cole strike had given the Hammers an early lead after just 80 seconds. However that was cancelled out shortly before the half-time whistle by Santi Cazorla. The Hammers once again featured triallist Ben Thatcher in the starting line-up. Back in the side after injury were Matthew Etherington and Carlton Cole, whilst Valon Behrami made his home debut. The Hammers made a dream start when Cole finished an incisive move started by Matthew Upson. The centre-half - who later handed two replica kits to Stephanie Moore to mark the retirement of Bobby Moore's number six shirt - sent a ball over the top for Matthew Etherington to chase. The winger, making his return to first team action after a lengthy lay-off pulled the ball back for Cole to score from close range. Cole had a similar chance to make it 2-0 to the Hammers just after the half hour mark. It proved to be a costly miss as Villarreal equalised nine minutes ahead of the break through Cazorla, who played a neat (headed) one-two before firing past Rob Green from an acute angle.
The second half saw more fouls than goalscoring opportunities and a number of players from both sides were booked by fussy referee Rob Styles, who appeared to have forgotten he was officiating a friendly. The Hammers thought they had snatched a late winner when, just eight minutes from full time, substitute Freddie Sears converted a Julien Faubert corner which had been nodded on by Calum Davenport. However Sears' effort was ruled out for offside; a marginal but probably correct decision. As a result of the draw the Bobby Moore Cup, the latest incarnation of which was being played for the first time today will be shared by the two clubs.

Villarreal Team Sheet

WIGAN ATHLETIC : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
2-1 (Ashton 2)
16th August 2008
Att: 32,758
Referee: S. Bennett

Green
Behrami
Upson
Davenport
Neill
Faubert (Boa Morte)
Parker (Mullins)
Noble
Etherington
Cole
Ashton (Sears)

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Capello leans on two-goal Ashton

VALON BEHRAMI - Hammers Debut

FABIO CAPELLO has made it abundantly clear that his most important job as England manager is to give his players confidence. With Dean Ashton, he decided a shot across the bows might be more effective and, as the Italian watched him at Upton Park, it almost worked like a dream.
Capello told the West Ham striker that he needed to lose weight to establish himself as an international player after spending most of last season out with ankle, knee and hamstring injuries. In response, Ashton not only looked a little slimmer against Wigan, he also scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes. But, in trying to prove a point, he went too far and is due to find out today if his injury curse, this time self-inflicted, has struck again. In the 69th minute, Ashton pulled up after blasting an over-ambitious free-kick into the back of the stand behind Chris Kirkland's goal from 35 yards out and was taken off after treatment.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said: We think it was cramp but we will find out Sunday morning. The first goal was terrific and he has scored quite a few in pre-season. He is a bit leaner now and has worked hard on his diet. Ashton's goals almost killed of f the challenge of Steve Brace's side before it had started. Yet the Wigan manager's half-time team talk got his side back into a game they had looked disinterested in. The visitors were as impressive in the second half as they were awful in the first and, after Amr Zaki pulled a goal back with a rasping volley in the 47th minute, they were in control. The on-loan striker has enjoyed the title of FIFA's best in the world after firing 27 goals in 48 games for Egypt and was a real threat, but he should have enjoyed a match-whining debut. Wilson Palacios, an Arsenal trialist before teaming up with Bruce at Birmingham and then Wigan, used his impressive strength to drive his side on from midfield. It was not just then* long throws and passes which caused West Ham problems and ZaM was presented with a hat-trick of good chances in the second half but lacked composure. Bruce said: 'Saying I am frustrated is an understatement. We gave them a doing in their own backyard and came away with nothing. Curbishley should count himself fortunate and hope the win will ease the pressure on him. He looked relieved when Ashton's first goal went in after just three minutes.
It was the result of good work from Scott Parker and Julien Faubert, who combined down the right. From the Frenchman's cross, Ashton turned and smashed the ball into the roof of goalkeeper Kirkland's net as Paul Scharner hesitated. Wigan were stunned and conceded again seven minutes later, with Faubert the architect for a second time. He swung in a curling corner that was knocked on to an unmarked Ashton, and the striker does not miss from a couple of yards out, whatever his weight.

MANCHESTER UNITED Under-18 (F.A. Premier Academy League)

Little Heath:
0-0
23rd August 2008

Street
Brookes
Fry
N'Gala
Eyjolfsson
Lee
Payne
Kearns (Montano)
Okus (Grasser)
Abdulla
Edgar

Honours even for U18s

Tony Carr was more than content with his Academy boys on Saturday after they secured a goalless draw in their opening game of the FA Premier Academy League season. The young Hammers put in a solid performance in an end-to-end game which could have gone either way. Carr said: "It was a good solid start. We are really pleased. Maybe on reflection we might have won it, but I think they might think the same. For a 0-0 draw, it was a very entertaining game. "It was important to get a clean sheet," he added. "It keeps you in the game all the time. Manchester United had their moments obviously as you would expect, but I thought we defended very well and worked very hard. "It was very, very hot and we just about edged it. Maybe it would not have been an injustice if we had won," he concluded.

MANCHESTER CITY : Barclays Premier League

City of Manchester Stadium
0-3
24th August 2008
Att: 36,635
Referee: H. Webb

Green
Behrami
Davenport
Upson
Neill
Faubert
Noble
Parker
Etherington (Boa Morte)
Ashton
Cole (Sears) (Mullins)

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Shinawatra's in great NICK

THERE is nothing like your team winning a football match to ease a troubled mind. Thaksin Shinawatra is a fugitive in exile, his wife is appealing a three-year sentence for tax evasion and he has £800million of assets frozen back in Thailand. Yet at least for 90 minutes yesterday, Shinawatra could smile — along with the faithful who never desert the boys in blue. The club, in which the ex-Thai Prime Minister has invested some of the millions his former authorities did not manage to grab, recorded their first win of the season. It was a convincing one, too. Good football and good finishing left a good feeling all round, as, the gloom was lifted at the City of Manchester Stadium. Three cracking second-half goals in 11 minutes against 10-man West Ham quickly buried the memories of City's opening game. Brazilian Elano, struck twice and Daniel Sturridge, who City plucked from Coventry when he was just 14, opened the scoring. That was only what City deserved, as they had looked much the better side even before Mark Noble's 38th-minute sending-off tipped the scales firmly in their favour. By then, Stephen Ireland had seen a shot cleared off the line by Calum Davenport, while Tal Ben-Haim saw his follow-up deflected onto the bar by the same player. Martin Petrov then hit a tremendous, 25-yard free-kick which hit the outside of Robert Green's left post with the Hammers keeper rooted to the spot. Noble's sending-off was totally deserved for sheer stupidity, after he collected two yellow

cards in the space of five minutes. The first came when he lost the ball and decided to haul it back with his hand as he lay on the ground. Moments later, he was desperately late sliding in on a loose ball and took Michael Johnson out at the ankles. The second yellow — and subsequent red card from ref Howard Webb — was inevitable. Despite that, it took until the 65th minute before City finally used their numerical and quality advantage to force open the floodgates. Sub Dietmar Hamann laid the ball into Sturridge, who held off his man and swept it out wide to Petrov. His cross was only half-cleared by Matthew Upson and there was Sturridge, having made ground into the box, to lash a shot over a startled Green and into the roof of the net. A little dance followed in celebration from a player who celebrates his 19th birthday a week today. The second goal followed on 70 minutes, as the ball flowed through Johnson and Vedran Corluka before Ireland pulled it back from the touchline. The ball looked to have gone behind Elano but this bloke has some skill. He brought it back under control with one touch and sent it flying into the bottom corner with another. Six minutes later the scoring was complete. Elano hit his second as boss Mark Hughes waited for the ball to go out so he could sub him. Ireland was again the supplier, having made it to the tquchline again before pulling the ball back for Elano to side-foot home. Hammers boss Alan Curbishley will be feeling a bit dazed and confused after this as well. He will want to know why Noble got himself sent off and why his back four went to sleep in the second half.

IN THE NEWS - Wednesday 27th August 2008

Anton joins the Black Cats

Sunderland have completed the signing of defender Anton Ferdinand from West Ham United on a four-year deal. Ferdinand, who is thought to have cost the Wearside club £8m, has been drafted in to help reinforce Sunderland's rearguard and has become the Black Cats' ninth signing of the summer. Ferdinand, who is believed to have rejected a move to Newcastle earlier this summer, admitted that he would find it difficult to leave his hometown club but the England Under-21 international now hopes to improve as a player, much like his elder brother Rio Ferdinand, who left Upton Park for Leeds and subsequently Manchester United. "It was hard leaving West Ham because I have been there for 16 years but after meeting Roy Keane I knew it was time for a change," he said. "This is a great challenge for me and I feel it is an exciting time at Sunderland. I think the move will do me good."

MACCLESFIELD TOWN : Carling Cup (Third Round)

Upton Park
4-1 a.e.t. (Bowyer, Cole, Hines, Reid)
27th August 2008
Att: 10,055
Referee: C. Penton

Green
Behrami (Hines)
McCartney (Reid)
Upson
Davenport
Faubert
Bowyer
Mullins
Boa Morte
Ashton
Sears (Cole)

Sweaty night for Curbishley

Tiny Macclesfield turned the pressure screw on West Ham manager Alan Curbishley even tighter at Upton Park. The Cheshire League Two team came to London's East End having lost all three league games this season and hadn't even scored a goal. But they took their Premier League opponents to extra-time on an embarrassing night for Curbishley. Macclesfield were ahead after only five minutes as local boy Gareth Evans stuck. It took West Ham until the 74th minute to draw level, Lee Bowyer — playing his first game since February — heading home Julien Faubert's cross. West Ham finally took the lead in the 100th minute. Fauber was again the provider, his cross finding Dean Ashton who headed goalwards for substitute Carlton Cole to head in. Zavon Hines, another substitute, hit the Hammers' third on 105 minutes and Kyel Reid a fourth three minutes from the end.
Curbishley is already favourite to be the first top-flight manager to be out of a job this season and, after a shocking 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, this performance did him no favours at all.
It was Evans whose goal guaranteed Macclesfield's survival In the League last season, and he gave the Hammers an early warning when he flipped the ball inside for Francis Green to hit a vicious shot over the bar. And within minutes West Ham had gone behind. Things went wrong as Calum Davenport was injured as he back-tracked to keep out a corner. While he was being treated, Izak Reid swung over another corner from the right and Evans ripped a close-range header into the roof of the net with George McCartney desperately trying to keep it out. There were only 10,055 inside the ground and the West Ham fans made their feelings plain as they booed heartily. The home team should have retaliated almost straight away but teenager Freddie Sears could only force keeper Jon Brian into a save down to his left, instead of netting. Brian did well again when he held a shot from Ashton.
West Ham lost right back Valon Behrama on 27 minutes with a head injury, allowing one of their academy prospects, Hines, to come on. Curbishley didn't take long to start substituting players in the second half, bringing on Reid for McCartney and then Cole for young Sears. Cole had a chance just past the hour but hit his volley straight at Brian. Macclesfield, who beat Championship side Blackpool in the first round, were reduced to 10 men when Reid was sent off for a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

ZAVON HINES - Hammers Debut

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
4-1 (Davenport, o.g., Bellamy, Cole)
30th August 2008
Att: 32,905
Referee: M. Riley

Green
Behrami
Upson
Davenport
Neill
Faubert (McCartney)
Parker
Noble (Mullins)
Etherington
Cole
Ashton (Bellamy)

ALAN CURBISHLEY got it in the neck from fans last week. But his problems pale into insignificance compared to the ordeal West Hani's goalscorer Calum Davenport has gone through. Only now is the defender comfortable enough to reveal the full, ala'rm-ing details and the fallout from the broken neck he suffered giving his all on the pitch on January 19. The stricken star's spine took the full force when 6ft lin team-mate Darius Henderson landed on him in his first game on loan at Watford against Charlton. Davenport, 25, spent a week in hospital before slowly regaining his fitness and confidence from what he has finally revealed was a nightmare brush with disaster. He said: "The specialist told me that if the player who landed on my neck had been 5Ib heavier I would be in a wheelchair. I have seen people that has happened to. "It was touch and go, really quite serious. I fractured vertebrae In my neck.
"But the swelling around the. nerve endings, which reach down to your arms and legs, was really quite bad. I lost feeling in my right hand and leg for a while where my spinal cord had taken the impact. "I could have easily thrown in the towel but I worked my way back. I am fitter than ever and everyone at the club has been brilliant to me." Davenport added: "Those dark times make you really appreciate whatever you get from then on. I am loving life at the moment and really enjoying my football. It is now about taking each day as it comes, not taking things for granted •because it's been a long road back.
"I am chuffed to be playing at a massive club in the best league in the world and long may that continue."
Davenport was rumoured to be on his way out of the Hammers but With determination and other casualties in defence, he has played all four games this season. He stuck his neck out to head in the opening goal on 13 minutes a; striker Craig Bellamy also celebrated his return from injury witl a stunning goal in the second half. A Christopher Samba own-goa and a second in as many games for Carlton Cole wrapped up a second 4-1 win in a week, but West Ham': performance was most notable. They were robust instead of routine, swashbuckling as opposed to staid, and sensible, which has been the hallmark of play for some months.
The Hammers could have lost 4-1 as easily as won 4-1, which made the rollercoaster return of hate figure Paul Ince to Upton Park all the more dramatic.
Hammers fans actually have a lot to thank Ince for. His appearance at the Boleyn Ground whipped the crowd into a frenzy, which inspired the players to go for it in their traditional way. Rovers' sub Matt Derbyshire was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside and the pendulum swung wildly for 90 minutes. Davenport added: "The fans really played their part. All the stuff surrounding the game made for a real atmosphere and to be fair to the boys, they rose to the "occasion.
West Ham keeper Robert Green saved Jason Roberts' penalty after Carlton Cole handled a free-kick and then made a point-blank save from Brett Emerton. Roberts had put the visitors right back in it at 2-1 after 22 pulsating minutes. He said: "If I'd stuck that penalty away things would have been totally different. "People look at the result but I don't think it really reflects the performance. "We tried to push on towards the last 10-15 minutes of the game and that's -where we really got caught out. Overall, we played pretty well but, obviously, we are disappointed with some of the goals we conceded." The Hammers now head into the international break with the Curb-o-meter on the up with the fans.

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

LEEDS UNITED Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Thorp Arch
2-2 (Payne, Edgar)
30th August 2008

Stech, O'Neill, Brown, Miller, Fry, Kearns, Lee, Payne, Grasser (Montano), Edgar, Abdulla

U18s settle for draw

Tony Carr's young side were frustrated by a late equaliser on Saturday morning after goals from Josh Payne and Anthony Edgar had looked like securing the first victory of the new season.
The youngsters turned in a solid display with captain Payne equalising from the edge of the area midway through the first half before a splendid strike from Edgar put the visitors in front just before half-time. It looked like the team would take all three points back with them to London until an 85th-minute deflected shot looped up over Marek Stech, giving him no chance to save.

IN THE NEWS - Monday 1st September 2008

George McCartney heads to Sunderland

West Ham United have allowed George McCartney to leave for Sunderland after his written transfer request was accepted.
The club received a substantial undisclosed fee for McCartney, who said his desire to leave was due to family reasons. Despite signing a new five-year contract in July and the club rejecting Sunderland's initial approach earlier in the summer, McCartney subsequently handed in a written transfer request.
Explaining his reasons to fans, McCartney said: "I had two great seasons with West Ham and I'd like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to play for a club with the history they have and their fantastic supporters. But for personel reasons, this is the right move for me.
"My wife, Elaine, didn't settle in London and Sunderland have offered me the chance to return to the north-east, where I spent ten years after joining the club as a youngster," McCartney added. "I'd like to wish West Ham and Alan Curbishley all the very best of luck."

Question: Why wasn't George in the Team Group picture taken at the start of the season?

IN THE NEWS - Tuesday 2nd September 2008

CURBISHLEY TENDERS RESIGNATION AS WEST HAM MANAGER

Alan Curbishley has resigned as manager of West Ham because of a lack of control over transfer policy.
Curbishley tendered his resignation on Wednesday and it was accepted by owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. Last week's sale of Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland angered Curbishley, but he was reportedly placated by assurances that there would be no further departures. When full-back George McCartney then followed Ferdinand to Sunderland, Curbishley's patience reached breaking point.
"The selection of players is critical to the job of the manager and I had an agreement with the club that I alone would determine the composition of the squad," Curbishley said. "However, the club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave. Nevertheless, I wish the club and the players every success in the future."
A West Ham statement said the club had accepted Curbishley's resignation "in the best interests of both parties".

Keen takes temporary charge

Kevin Keen has been confirmed as caretaker manager of West Ham United until a new manager is appointed and will take charge of all first-team matters.
The process to find a replacement for Alan Curbishley is already under way with the club beginning to draw up an initial shortlist of potential candidates.

Three new signings

The club have also confirmed that the Premier League has registered Italy striker David Di Michele and Congolese left-back Herita Ilunga and both player will join up with the rest of the first-team squad shortly. Also joining the Hammers is Hungarian Under-19 forward Balint Bajner, the youth international striker joins on a seson-long loan with a view to a possible permanent transfer from Romanian club Liberty Oradea.

David Di Michele

IN THE NEWS - Friday 5th September 2008

West Ham United have announced the capture of Uruguay international defender Walter Lopez on a one-year contract. The Hammers snapped up the 22-year-old left-back on a free transfer following his decision to leave former club River Plate. The three-times capped international impressed during a brief trial at Upton Park. His arrival comes just 48 hours after Alan Curbishley resigned as manager citing a lack of control over the club's transfer movements. "Walter is a very attacking full-back who can get forward," caretaker manager Kevin Keen told the club's official website, he is another West Ham-type player who will hopefully show everyone at the club what he can do." Lopez, who has also had spells in Spain and Mexico, added: "I am really happy to be here and I hope to have a good career. "I watch the Premier League all the time on TV. It is the number one league in the world, the best and it is great to be a part of it. "I am very happy that I am here and I get to play for West Ham. The fans are very passionate and I hope to show them what I can do." Lopez will wear the No.5 shirt.

READING Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath:
1-1 (Bajner)
6th September 2008

Street
Harvey
Brown
McNaughton (Montano)
Fry
Lee
Kearns (Grasser)
Payne
Abdulla
Bajner
Edgar

Bajner off to a flier

Balint Bajner made a dream start to his West Ham United career with a goal inside five minutes on his debut but it was not enough to give his new club victory.
The Hungarian youth international striker's early goal completed a memorable week that began with him signing for the club on deadline day from Romanian outfit Liberty Oradea. The towering 17-year-old, who played for his country in this summer's European Under-19 Championship, popped up with just five minutes gone to convert after captain Josh Payne had played the ball across goal.
At a windswept Little Heath, the home side had plenty of chances to extend their lead. Two of the best chances fell to Danny Kearns and Anthony Edgar, only to be denied by the goalkeeper after a great shot and a one-on-one chance respectively. However, it did seem Bajner's effort would be enough. The game turned though after second-half substitute Christian Montano was sent off just after coming on.
The referee produced the red card after a coming together with a Reading player while defending a free-kick and it left Tony Carr's side down to ten men for the final 20 minutes. The visitors soon made the extra man count when they scrambled in an equaliser after a lofted free-kick caused confusion in the home defence. After that it was about hanging on to the point and the third straight draw of the new 2008/09

IN THE NEWS - Thursday 11th September 2008

Zola Named as new Hammers manager

Gianfranco Zola has been confirmed as the new manager of West Ham United.
The 42-year-old Zola, who has agreed a three-year contract, was the unanimous choice of the Board and comes to the Boleyn Ground from the Italian Football Association where he has worked for the past two years primarly within the successful Under-21 set-up.

IN THE NEWS - Friday 12th September 2008

Hammers end XL shirt sponsorship

West Ham have ended their sponsorship deal with collapsed travel firm XL Holidays and will play at West Brom on Saturday in an unbranded kit. The Hammers have suspended all sales of replica shirts and hope to remove all branding from their Upton Park ground. West Brom do not have a shirt sponsor, so Saturday's Premier League match will see both sides in plain strips. The Hammers could face a £5m shortfall after XL went into administration on Friday, BBC Sport understands.
It is understood West Ham have only received £2.5m from a three-year deal with the Sussex-based travel company. A £7.5m deal, worth £2.5m a year, was signed in February 2007 but only one year of the contract has been paid so far.
Hammers chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is also one of the guarantors of a 207 million Euros (£163m) bank loan given to XL.
A West Ham statement said: "In light of the circumstances surrounding the company, West Ham United have taken the decision to immediately terminate their relationship with XL Holidays. "In view of this, the club have suspended all sales of replica shirts until further notice. This will also involve in due course the removal of XL Holidays branding from all West Ham United platforms."
"West Ham United will be seeking further talks with the administrators at the earliest opportunity to clarify the situation regarding the company," added the statement.
"As stated, our sincere sympathies are with those XL Holidays customers and staff directly affected by today's news."
Meanwhile, it emerged that Gudmundsson and his son Bjorgolfur Thor Bjorgolfsson, who is also a billionaire, became guarantors of the huge bank loan on Wednesday.
The guarantee was originally provided by Icelandic shipping company Eimskip, in which Gudmundsson has an interest.
West Ham will now start the search for another shirt sponsor and wait, along with XL's other creditors, to see what administrator Kroll does with the company.
A contingency plan had been built into the deal in the event of the club being relegated, with the annual payment being reduced from £2.5m if the Hammers did drop down a division.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Barclays Premier League

The Hawthorns
2-3 (Noble, Neill)
13th September 2008
Referee: L. Probert
Att: 26,213

Green
Neill
Davenport
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami (Faubert)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte (Etherington)
Ashton (Di Michele)
Cole

Cavalier Hammers leave Zola with much food for thought

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has promised exciting football — and that is just what he got before he even delivered his first team talk.
At the end of a frantic, exciting, crazy afternoon, the little Italian walked into the West Ham dressing room and told his new charges: 'Unlucky. I'll see you on Monday.'
What the new Upton Park supremo had witnessed two days after taking over from Alan Curbishley had offered plenty of food for thought. It was as if the Hammers had decided that, before their new boss had handed out any instructions, cavalier football was the order of the day — and that's what they provided.
Unfortunately, it was also suicidal, careless football, too. Wonderful for the fans (particularly of the opposition) but not the long-term recipe for successful, winning football, which is what the East End fans really want, even though they demand it be accompanied by a bit of style.
Yet there should be no griping on an afternoon that saw West Brom lose their tag as the only Premier League club without a shirt sponsor following the collapse of West Ham's backers, the XL holiday firm.
The match was great entertainment, full of action, twists and turns in the plot and finally settled seven minutes from time by Chris Brunt sealing West Brom's first victory of the season to take Tony Mowbray's newly-promoted team off the bottom of the table. Still, it was enough to have any manager reaching for the tranquillisers. Mqwbray summed it up perfectly. Winning was a big relief, but his side have to get better.
'I've always said we'll score goals, and it was nice to show the doubters we can,' said the West Brom manager. 'But it could have been 6-6 and we have to control games better than that. Teams with world-class forwards will hurt us if we play like that.'
West Ham caretaker-manager Kevin Keen praised the attitude of his players, particularly in fighting back to take a 2-1 lead after conceding an early goal and then having striker Dean Ashton taken off after 19 minutes with a gash on the back of his head that needed six stitches.
But he added, at the conclusion of his one-match reign: 'I wasn't much of a defensive player and I think there was a bit of me out there.'
The turning point of a contest, which at times resembled a Masters five-a-side match, was a blunder by Robert Green just when West Ham were threatening to take control.

Zola had barely settled into his seat in the directors' box when his new team went behind as Barja Valero, Albion's £5 million record signing from Real Mallorca, made an instant impact with an inviting cross that was headed firmly in by James Morrison.
Ashton's departure did not deter West Ham, capably led by Carlton Cole, from working their way back into the match. They were back on terms just before the half-hour as Mark Noble tapped in after Scott Carson had only partially saved Valon Behrami's header, and ahead seven minutes later with a rare, but splendid goal from Lucas Neill.
After Calum Davenport had headed Noble's deep corner back across the penalty area, the Hammers skipper struck a left-foot volley that gave Carson little chance. The lead was to be short-lived, however,, as Green fumbled a quickly taken free-kick from Brunt and then brought down Leon Barnett as he scrambled for the loose ball. Although the goalkeeper got a slight touch on the ball, there was no doubt his momentum sent the Albion centre-back sprawling. Referee Lee Probert appeared spot-on in awarding the penalty, which was dispatched by Roman Bednar.
A match of such sustained excitement merited a winner and Albion claimed it, marginally deservedly so. Zola will have noticed the breakaway goal followed a West Ham corner. Full-back Paul Robinson led the charge from defence and supplied Brunt with an accurate pass, which he swept past the stranded Green. Even then there was time for Scott Parker, all alone six yards out, to spurn an injury-time equaliser as he allowed Carson to dash out and block. Zola's first training session will be interesting tomorrow. He surely will not be working on a 10-man defence as he jokingly predicted. But maybe he'll suggest a few more at the back than he saw in this match.

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

ASTON VILLA Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath:
3-0 (Sears 2, Abdulla)
13th September 2008

Street
Brookes
Brown
Fry
Eyjolfsson
Lee
Kearns (Barrett)
Payne
Sears
Abdulla (Grasser)
Edgar (Okus)

Sears double downs Villa

Tony Carr was more than happy with a tremendous team display as his Under-18s saw off a strong Aston Villa side with a home win at Little Heath.
The visitors arrived with the reputation of being one of the best Academy sides in the country but were beaten by two goals from Freddie Sears and another strike by Ahmed Abdulla. Sears poked in the first midway through the first half before showing good composure to add his second just before the interval. Abdulla's first of the season was a header as the game moved into the closing stages.
It was the first victory of the season but, after three previous draws, Carr's side are still unbeaten. The delighted Academy director said: "It was our best performance so far this season and Villa's first defeat. It was a very good result for us."

CHELSEA (Premier Reserve League)

Griffin Park
0-2
15th September 2008

Lastuvka
Miller
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Widdowson (O'Neill)
Edgay (Kearns)
Payne (Lee)
Harvey
Stanislas
Sears
Stokes

Reserves lose out in derby

A youthful West Ham United side were edged out of their opening game of the 2008/09 FA Premier Reserve League South season.
After holding out for an hour against their hosts at the Griffin Park home of Chelsea, Kevin Keen's young side were beaten by strikes from substitute Michael Woods and Scott Sinclair. The first was a tap in from close range but Sinclair's strike underlined why he is one of the country's most promising talents with a mazy run and shot that gave the impressive Jan Lastukva no chance in the 66th minute.
Lastuvka was probably the pick of the West Ham United side, with some superb saves including most memorably in the 50th minute when Sinclair seemed certain to score with a low shot into the corner. The Czech international instinctively stuck out his leg and diverted the ball to safety.
West Ham United did have their moments, especially through Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas with the former looking to build on his two goals for the Under-18s at the weekend. Chelsea had the clearer opportunities though but they were thwarted by good goalkeeping and some decisive play by Bondz N'Gala and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
The heart of the West Ham United midfield was the relatively inexperienced Tom Harvey and Josh Payne and the duo worked tirelessly with some strong challenges and also bright forward play. It was Payne who had the first real effort of note for the visitors on 28 minutes but his low shot was well saved by Rhys Taylor. The closest Keen's team came in the second half was Eyjolfsson's late header but again the goalkeeper was equal to it.

IN THE NEWS - Monday 15th September 2008

Clarke takes coaching role

Steve Clarke has been appointed first-team coach to reunite him with Gianfranco Zola.
The highly ragarded Clarke, who left his post at Chelsea last week and was able to move to the Boleyn Ground after a compensation package was agreed.Steve will be part of a strong coaching set-up. It also includes Kevin Keen, who has been promoted to first-team coach, and goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko. Clarke has agreed a three-year contract.

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
3-1 (Di Michele 2, Etherington)
20th September 2008
Referee: P. Dowd
Att: 34,743

Green
Behrami
Upson
Neill
Ilunga
Faubert
Noble (Mullins)
Parker
Etherington (Boa Morte)
Di Michele
Cole (Sears)

Fellow Italian gets Zola off to bright start

A cynic might say that anyone could have been in charge against Newcastle United and won, but Gianfranco Zola, making his managerial debut, won more than three points. He won over the West Ham United fans, who are notoriously hard to please, he impressed the players and wooed the media. Newcastle may be a limping zebra in full sight of all predators, but this victory belonged to the diminutive Sardinian. "He is a calm man, when he speaks you listen, he commands respect. He was a brilliant player. Zola told the players to enjoy themselves, control the game and be patient. Crucially, he told David Di Michele to sharpen up in front of goal, which the on-loan Italian did, scoring twice and setting up a third goal. "I told Di Michele he can do unbelievable things, but he needs to improve his finishing — which shows he listens to me very carefully," Zola said. "I have seen him in Italy many times doing unbelievable things, but then coming in front of the goalkeeper and missing. Today he did not do that, so I am very pleased."
Di Michele, on his home debut, soared from being a "Who is he, again?" sort of player to the next Paolo Di Canio. Di Michele, capped six times for Italy, has played for seven Italian clubs and at 32 seems an unlikely star in the making. His first goal was fortunate, the ball looping in over the head of Shay Given from a nasty deflection off Steven Taylor. His second owed more to his quick reactions. After the Italian's initial effort had been saved by Given's head, Di Michele scampered after the loose ball and beat Taylor to open up a second chance.
Parker said: "As a midfielder it was particularly good playing with him [Di Michele] because it was easy to find him. He can't speak a word of English, but if he keens banging them in like he did today he can speak whatever language he likes."
It-was Newcastle who looked the team with a language barrier. Their fans lapped up the sunshine and sang heartily, Chris Hughton, their caretaker manager, refused to blame the ownership crisis, but the players performed as if trapped in a corny soap opera. Hughton said that his experienced players are doing their best — "your Michael Owens, your Nicky Butts, your Shay Givens, Steve Harper, Geremi. These are experienced players who have seen mangers go and therefore become even more important in these sorts of situations."
There were plenty of glimpses of Owen's class, not least in the manner in which he took his goal, but it is unlikely that he will present Fabio Capello, the England manager, with a selection dilemma while part of such a hapless club. And so, as happens every season, Newcastle pin their hopes on the cup competitions.

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

BIRMINGHAM CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Away
0-2
20th September 2008

Street
Brookes
Brown
McNaughton
Fry
Lee (Bajner)
Kearns (Barrett)
Payne
Abdulla (Grasser)
Edgar
Okus

Youths lose at Birmingham

Tony Carr's side suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday as they lost out to Birmingham City.
In a hard-fought encounter, the visitors conceded a goal in each half with both coming after free-kicks were played into the box and not cleared. Substitute Balint Bajner made an instant impression and was unlucky to see an effort hit the woodwork which would have levelled matters. Next up is a home match against last year's champions Arsenal at Little Heath on Saturday.
Birmingham took the lead on 20 minutes when a deep free-kick into the visitors' area saw goalkeeper Adam Street fail to collect. The home side were on to capitalise and opened the scoring with a simple tap-in. Chances were at a premium after that until Bajner, who had been away on international duty until late in the week, entered as a half-time replacement.
The Hungarian Under-19 international took just ten minutes to fire in on goal. His effort smashed against the post though and away to safety just when it seemed United would be back in the contest. Birmingham defended their lead after that and took the game out of reach with ten minutes to play when another set-piece was not cleared and the unlucky Street was beaten by a header.

WATFORD : Carling Cup (Fourth Round)

Vicarage Road
0-1
23rd September 2008
Att: 12,914
Referee: P. Walton

Lastuvka
Neill
Lopez
Upson
Etherington
Boa Morte (Parker)
Noble
Mullins
Faubert
Di Michele (Reid)
Sears

Boothroyd enjoys change of fortune

Both teams have felt a sense of injustice in recent days, but it was Hayden Mullins ruing his ill-fortune last night. The midfield player saw the ball rebound off his shin into his own goal to give Watford a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup, ending a dreadful day for West Ham United, who had learnt in the morning that they would face a substantial compensation bill from Sheffield United.
While West Ham were in a state of shock after the legal verdict over the Carlos Tevez affair, Watford were still stunned by Stuart Attwell's decision to award a "phantom goal" to Reading during their 2-2 draw on Saturday. The luck of Adrian Boothroyd, the Watford manager, turned midway through the second half, however. Lee Williamson's free kick from the right wing evaded Jan Lastuvka's attempt to punch clear and the ball struck Mullins and rolled over the line. "I am thrilled with the result; we rode our luck at times," Boothroyd said.
Watford's indifferent start to the season owes something to Boothroyd's decision to move away from the long-ball game. "When we get it right, it looks wonderful, but when we don't, it can look awful," he said. The Coca-Cola Championship side endured a frantic final five minutes with ten men after Jay DeMerit, the defender, hobbled off injured, with three substitutes having been used. Matthew Upson, the West Ham defender, headed on to the bar late on.
Gianfranco Zola's influence was evident, with West Ham passing the ball better through midfield, but without his three main strikers, Freddie Sears struggled to adapt as a lone forward. Their best moment before Upson's header nearly forced extra time came when Scott Loach, the Watford goalkeeper, tipped over Luis Boa Morte's drive from the edge of the area
"It won't change our positive attitude," Zola, the new manager, said. "To improve, we need to go through difficult times. I wanted to get angry, but they tried their best."

JAN LASTUVKA - Hammers Debut

WALTER LOPEZ - Hammers Debut

In the News - Tuesday 23rd September 2008

West Ham to continue fight against £30m bill in Tevez affair

Carling Cup exit completes day of misery

West Ham United will up the ante in their multimillion-pound damages dispute with Sheffield United by approaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The East London club are exploring the possibility of the court in Lausanne hearing the case after Sheffield United won a compensation battle, thought to be the first of its kind at the highest level of football in England.
The Yorkshire club have claimed about £30 million in compensation, arguing that they were relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2006-07 season as a result of West Ham's admitted breach of Premier League rules in the transfer of Carlos Tevez from Corinthians, the Brazilian club, two years ago.
The Argentina forward helped to rescue West Ham from relegation as they ended the campaign three points above Sheffield United. Tevez subsequently moved to Manchester United. "The club will consult lawyers before considering our next steps," a statement from West Ham said.
Their misery was compounded last night when they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by lower-league opposition for the eleventh time in 21 seasons. Hayden Mullins scored an own goal away to Watford after Jan Lastuvka, the goalkeeper, misjudged a free kick midway through the second half of the third-round tie.
"I don't want to find any excuse for the defeat," Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, said. "It has not been a great day for us. But I knew the match would be tough — it came at the worst moment It is a big blow, but we will bounce back."
Both West Ham and Sheffield United were informed of the judgment on Friday, after the dispute was considered in July by a three-man panel, made up of Lord Griffiths, a former president of MCC, Sir Anthony Colman, a former High Court judge, and Robert Englehart, QC. The panel will begin deliberating on the level of compensation at a hearing on October 2, but assessing the extent of the damages could take months.
The panel needs to consider the difference in television income, gate receipts, sponsorship and commercial revenue, as well as player sales resulting from relegation. The compensation is likely to be limited to one season's income, although the sides could still settle out of court. Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United pic chairman said that he felt vindicated by the judgment.

IN THE NEWS - Wednesday 24th September 2008

West Ham United confirmed today that their lawyers are drafting a statement of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland in relation to the case involving the Hammers and Sheffield United.
West Ham United cannot comment in detail in response to the FA arbitration panel ruling made public yesterday because of confidentiality provisions but will update supporters via whufc.com as and when appropriate. However, the club can confirm that while we respect the judgement of the FA arbitration panel, we do not accept that one player's contribution can be placed over that of the team as a whole nor used as the basis for judging the results of a 38-game season. This ruling undermines the significant efforts of our entire playing squad and coaching staff over the duration of the 2006/07 Premier League season and does not take sufficient account of the performances of the other 19 clubs in the competition.
We acknowledge again that the club broke Premier League rules in the original signing of Carlos Tevez but we were dealt with accordingly by an independent Premier League commission and accepted the significant punishment handed down at that time.
In light of this and the wider implications of this latest ruling for English football we have decided to ask that the case be considered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FULHAM : Barclays Premier League

Craven Cottage
2-1 (Cole, Etherington)
27th September 2008
Att: 23,946
Referee: A. Marriner

Green
Faubert
Neill
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker (Boa Morte)
Noble
Etherington (Mullins)
Cole
Di. Michele (Bellamy)

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Cole times it perfectly to break Fulham's resolve after a difficult week for West Ham

WEST HAM may have spent the week feeling that the whole world was against them, but it was Fulham who emerged from this encounter wondering quite how events conspired to send them to their first home defeat of the season. Superior for almost the whole of the first half, they paid a harsh price for failing to turn their dominance into goals. With Jimmy Bullard winning his midfield battle against Scott Parker while watched by England manager Fabio Capello, the platform for control was clear. Yet as chances were spurned, with Bobby Zamora as guilty as anyone, they remained open to any sucker punches West Ham might throw.
The first arrived after 43 minutes as Matthew Etherington, already the focus for the crowd's anger after an incident with Fulham's Paul Konchesky, raced to the deadball line before cutting the ball back for Carlton Cole to crash a shot home from six yards.
Two minutes later it was Etherington again — latching onto Mark Noble's pass to slide the ball under Mark Schwarzer and double West Ham's lead. With Craven Cottage in shock, Andy Johnson provided the icing for West Ham's cake, collecting a second yellow card on the cusp of half-time for a foul on Lucas Neill to reduce the home side to ten men.
It was not a decision which went down well with Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, who said: 'I thought the dismissal was unfortunate as Johnson got caught by Neill, not vice versa. 'It was one of those really weird games, though. I've got to be satisfied with a lot of the things we did, but in three minutes everything changed. I thought we showed real character, but it was all for nothing.'
An instinctive hand stuck out by Neill midway through the second half helped Fulham halve the margin as Danny Murphy converted the subsequent penalty, but their inability to turn pressure into chances put paid to their hopes of stealing a point.
For Gianfranco Zola, still learning the ropes as a Premier League manager, despite having won his first two league matches, it was a day to enjoy. He said: 'We played very well. We made very few mistakes, scored goals when it mattered and the team showed great spirit.'
His ideas on football management remain as positive as ever. 'The players know the football I want to play and they respond well to what I ask them to do,' he said. 'I don't mind us letting in a goal, just as long as we score two. That is the way I always like to play the game.'

ARSENAL Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
1-2 (Edgar pen)
27th September 2008

Street
Brookes (Brown)
Fry
McNaughton
Eyjolfsson
Lee
Kearns
Okus (Grasser)
Abdulla
Bajner
Edgar

Youths edged out in derby

Tony Carr's side were unlucky losers as Arsenal fought back from a half-time deficit to take the honours. Oliver Lee had earned his side a penalty just before half-time, which Anthony Edgar duly converted. Conor Okus and Balint Bajner then had good chances to extend the lead before the break but were to be denied. The hosts were to pay for their profligacy as Arsenal scored two second-half goals to take all three points.
The morning had begun with a misty start at Little Heath but as West Ham United got into their stride, so the early fog disappeared to make way for glorious sunshine. The home side were in lively form, despite the absence of regulars like captain Josh Payne, on loan at Cheltenham Town, and the suspended Christian Montano. Bajner was back in the starting lineup - a towering presence with Ahmed Abdulla and Edgar in support.
Both teams had their moments but it looked like it would be honours at half-time before Lee found space in the penalty area. As he set himself to shoot for goal, a visiting defender tugged back his shirt and the referee had no choice but to blow for a penalty. Edgar stepped up to score his second goal of the season. Okus and Bajner then had their opportunities but the visitors managed to resist the United attacks before the interval.
As was to be expected, Arsenal raised their game in the second half. They finally ensured parity on the hour with a headed goal from a corner that was not cleared. Ten minutes later, they made the most of an injury to Tony Brookes at right-back. The Gunners surged down that flank before crossing in for the winning goal. Bajner had another chance late on but the home side were unable to avoid a second straight defeat

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Premier Reserve League

Bishop's Stortford
4-3 (Sears 4)
30th September 2008

Stech
Miller
Collins (N'Gala)
Davenport
Lopez
Stanislas
Collison
Bowyer (Bajner)
Reid
Stokes
Sears

Freddie the four-goal hero

Freddie Sears struck all four goals as West Ham United edged a seven-goal thriller. Before his late winner, the 18-year-old striker equalised three times against a lively West Bromwich Albion team that more than contributed to a hugely entertaining evening at a chilly Woodside Park. The night was also notable for the return of captain James Collins, for his first competitive match since suffering a knee injury in a January reserve outing, and Lee Bowyer, who had not played since the Carling Cup second round last month.
Sebastian Lake-Gaskin put the visitors in front on 19 minutes with a deflected shot but Sears struck for the first time just after the half-hour mark. Bartosz Slusarski then restored the advantage for West Brom from the penalty spot after Collins was harshly deemed to have fouled the No9 before Sears tapped in a quickfire equaliser when a firm Bowyer shot was spilled. Lateef Alliyu added a long-range third for the visitors just before the interval.
The second half continued in the same lively fashion with Jack Collison, himself back after a knee problem, his usual marauding self in midfield. Sears finally got his treble just before the hour when the referee pointed to the spot after a handball. Sears stepped up and made no mistake. He could have had a fourth soon afterwards only to fire over when well-placed to the right of goal. Sears then set Junior Stanislas away but this time the post saved the visitors.
After a solid 70 minutes, coach Alex Dyer had sent on Bondz N'Gala and Balint Bajner - making his reserve-team debut. Meanwhile, Sears kept going and struck a last-gasp winner after Walter Lopez's flicked header was not cleared by the visiting defence.

IN THE NEWS - Thursday 2nd October 2008

The Carlos Tevez affair looks set to rumble on into the New Year as West Ham continue their fight against the decision. There was a further development when the Hammers who were due to submit a a claim to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) requesting them to rule on the case. And in a possible attempt to prevent paying Sheffield United a £30million package, West Ham are considering High Court action.
Lord Griffiths, the 85-year-old law lord who headed the arbitration panel, has agreed to adjourn Thursday's directions hearing - aimed at laying out the timetable to decide compensation - after West Ham asked for a postponement.The hearing is expected to take place in February 2009, although it could take even longer if the case goes to the High Court or CAS.

PORTSMOUTH Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Wellington Sports Ground
0-2
4th October 2008

Street, O'Neill, Brown, N'Gala, Fry, Grasser (Kearnes), Barrett (McNaughton), Lee, Abdulla (Montano), Edgar, Bajner

Carr looking for a finish

The hosts took the lead in the 65th minute through penalty after Matty Fry was adjudged to have felled Tom Kilbey in the area. United thought they had equalised a short while later but Balint Bajner's strike was ruled out for offside. Portsmouth put the game out of reach with a second five minutes from time.
Despite the loss, Carr was pleased with his side's efforts, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. He said: "We played very well in the first half, and arguably could have been 2-0 up at half-time. There was a great chance from Balint Bajner who saw his close-range effort saved by the goalkeeper and Ahmed Abdulla again, from quite close range, lofted the ball over the bar when if he had hit the target he would have scored.
Several of Carr's original Under-18 squad have made the step up to the senior level this season. The likes of Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas, Jordan Spence and Marek Stech have progressed to be in and around the first-team but the academy director is still more than happy with the players he has at his disposal. He believed some small changes would make a big difference. "It is nothing to do with fitness just things like people having an extra touch on the ball, when all it needs is one or two touches, not three.
"There is a lot we can improve on the training pitch and other things like confidence will come when we get a goal in front again and get a win under our belts. We are going back to the real basics, setting our stall out to make sure we are organised, are concentrating, never turn our back on the ball, always have our eye on what is going on and we keep the performance going and the chances going for the whole 90 minutes."

BOLTON WANDERERS : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
1-3 (Cole)
5th October 2008
Att:
Referee: M. Dean

Green
Faubert
Neill
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble
Di Michele (Bellamy)
Etherington (Sears)
Cole

Green gaffes hide bad show

Goalkeeper Robert Green may have taken most of the flak for this disappointing home defeat, but the team really must take collective responsibility for what was a dismal performance. Manager Gianfranco Zola pointed to Green's mistake as the turning point of the match, and he was right, but there were already plenty of things for West Ham to worry about before that.
"The positive thing was that until the goal we were in complete control of the game, we were doing what we were supposed to do," insisted Zola. That was not quite right. West Ham certainly had plenty of possession, but against a solid, determined Bolton side, they rarely looked like breaking them down. David Di Michele had just one shot to show for his insipid 53 minutes on the field; Matty Etherington drifted inside and out again, but never showed Bolton his pace or crossing ability, while Carlton Cole was largely shackled by Gary Cahill at the back. Only when full-back Herita Ilunga went on the offensive did West Ham look like making an impact, but though he was able to get into the box, there was no-one to finish off his hard work. Cole had a shot just over the bar, while Julien Faubert forced a low save from Jussi Jaaskelainen with a free kick and Di Michele's effort slipped just wide after a fine break by Mark Noble and Scott Parker.But the warning signs were already evident at the other end. Johan Elmander should have done better than shoot straight at Green after Ricardo Gardner had slipped the ball through to him, while four consecutive Bolton corners put West Ham under pressure.
No-one was quite prepared for the four-minute spell around the half hour mark though. First, Jlloyd Samuel's deep cross looked meat and drink for Green only for the England goalkeeper to inexplicably drop the ball at Kevin Davies' feet, and the striker did the rest.
Three minutes later, a Bolton free kick was headed out by Matty Upson to Gretar Steinsson whose thumping shot was only pushed straight out by Green and Cahill was first to react and force in the rebound. Three minutes of football, two goals and the game looked all over bar the shouting. Liverpool may have come from two down at Manchester City to win, but this West Ham side simply did not look capable of doing the same.
It was shock more than surprise for the West Ham fans, and any hope of a big comeback after the break was hampered by some dreadful passing and the inability to hold on to the ball when they had it.
West Ham finally hauled themselves back into the game on 68 minutes. Etherington's corner was met by Upson's head and Cole quickly stole in to nod the ball in from close range. Freddie Sears came on to play alongside Cole and Craig Bellamy in a three-pronged attack, but in truth they rarely looked like breaking the Bolton shackles.
Behrami had a shot from the edge of the box after good work by Bellamy, which he dragged wide, but it was Bolton who had the last laugh when substitute Matt Taylor caught Green and the West Ham defence unawares to thump in a 30-yard free kick and made it 3-1.
"Sometimes games like this can make you take one step back in order to take two steps forward, so that is what we are hoping for."
That is what West Ham fans are hoping for too, but there are quite a few little problems that Zola will have to deal with sooner rather than later.
Faubert was simply awful at right back, Lucas Neill is still a worry at centre half, while Di Michele still looks unfit and out of touch.
There is no need to panic, the manager will be only too aware of some of the failings in the squad, and that will not be sorted simply by enthusiasm, but by hard work on the training ground and maybe some tough decisions over selection.
One thing is for sure. With matches against Arsenal and Manchester United on the horizon, he will want to solve those problems sooner rather than later.

IN THE NEWS - Thursday 7th October 2008

West Ham shiver as bitter chill of credit crisis wings in from Iceland

Fears grew last night that West Ham United are on the brink of a financial crisis after Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, the West Ham United owner, was dragged into the global credit crisis. The collapse of Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank of which Gudmundsson was chairman and a major shareholder, raised fears that he would need to sell the club. While shares of the bank are suspended after it was nationalised yesterday, Gudmundsson's stake in it is notionally worthless.
Gudmundsson has said that there are no plans to sell the Barclays Premier League club, but he could not rule out the possibility if his other investments are affected by the turmoil in the markets. He has refused to consider interest from at least one serious potential buyer in recent weeks, but is bound to find more vultures circling over the coming days. The club are worth nearly three times the £85 million that he paid two years ago -taking on £20 million in debt — since when he has injected £30 million.
Asgeir Fridgeirsson, the West Ham vice-chairman, said that Gudmundsson's ownership of the club is a personal investment not linked to Landsbanki and that his wealth is built on a diverse portfolio that includes construction, brewing, shipping, seafood production, property and media investments. The portfolio was estimated to be worth more than £1 billion last week, but considerably less after the plunge in share prices this week.
"It is, of course, a blow for him and his financial strength, but he has a number of other investments that are doing quite well at the moment, so there is no reason to fear that he will not honour his commitment to West Ham," Fridgeirsson said yesterday. "I don't think there's any reason to be too pessimistic. West Ham is a wonderful club and a well-run company.
"At the moment, we are not actively in the process of selling the club and as it stands there is not a need to do so. We haven't accepted any bids. There have been agents all around trying to get our attention, but we have turned them away. Gudmundsson is not going to take money out of the club but on the other hand these events have limited his options for further investment this year."
Gianfranco Zola has been told that he will not receive transfer funds in January and the West Ham manager will have to trim the squad of 34 by about ten players to raise money for signings. "Our manager feels it is not necessary for it to be of that size," Fridgeirsson said. "The club is standing strong. It is generating revenues."
Gudmundsson faces the further uncertainty of West Ham potentially paying' compensation to Sheffield United after the independent tribunal hearing over the Carlos Tevez affair, and he and his son, a billionaire, recently invested £150 million to honour a loan owed by XL, the travel company and West Ham's shirt sponsor, after its collapse. XL also owed £2 million to the club, who have not signed a replacement sponsor.
There was a boost for West Ham's bid to overturn the decision to award Sheffield United compensation after their relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has opened the door to it hearing the dispute by asking Sheffield United to consent to its jurisdiction or provide written reasons against it by Friday. West Ham are encouraged by the request because the court in Lausanne has, in other cases, immediately ruled out its power to adjudicate.
West Ham were ordered to pay compensation to the Yorkshire club, who have estimated that relegation cost them £30 million in income. The arbitration panel has adjourned its deliberation on the amount of compensation until December, but assessing it could take months. west HAm have argued that Sheffield United must validate the money that they lost. West Ham are also exploring the possibility of an appeal to the High Court and making representations to Fifa.

West Ham United statement

The CEO has clarified the situation regarding Bjorgolfur Gudmunndsson's ownership of West Ham United

West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury has issued the following statement following the news that Iceland bank Landsbanki has been placed into receivership.
Scott Duxbury said: "The position of Landsbanki has absolutely no effect on West Ham United and Mr Gudmundsson's ownership of the club.
"Mr Gudmundsson is an investor with a large portfolio, of which Landsbanki was just part. He remains as committed as ever to West Ham United and is not looking to sell the club."
"As has previously been stated, Mr Gudmundsson has invested £40m net in the playing squad to create a squad capable of challenging in the top half of the Premier League.
"Since his appointment, Gianfranco Zola has made it quite clear that his first-team squad is too large and needs to be reduced so he can effectively coach the team. Once this has happened and if the manager requires further players, then the club will acquire them.
"Mr Gudmundsson remains fully committed to the success of this football club

FULHAM : Premier Reserve League

Motspur Park
1-4 (Eyjolfsson)
7th October 2008

Stech
O'Neill
Miller
N'Gala
Eyjolfsson
Lee (Fry)
Stokes
Grasser (Montano)
Bajner
Stanislas
Edgar (Kearns)

Fulham too strong for reserves

Fulham took the lead just before half-time through Erik Nevland. Two more quickfire goals after the break from Seol Ki-Hyeon and Julian Gray put the home side three goals up. The visitors did pull one back through Holmar Orn Eyjolsson but Wayne Brown ensured the win for Fulham with a spectacular fourth.
Alex Dyer took charge of the side again following last week's 4-3 win over West Bromwich Albion and had to select from a youthful squad. Tony Stokes, the most senior player at 21, was named as captain with the remainder of the team all under 20. Fulham, in contrast, had five internationals in their ranks including an experienced strike force of Nevland and Seol.
Ten minutes before the interval Fulham thought they had taken the lead only for Nevland's effort to be ruled out for handball, with the striker being shown a yellow card for appearing to punch the ball into the net. A minute later though the hosts did take get on the scoresheet as Nevland slid in to convert a Seol cross.
The hosts, who had gone into the match bottom of the Barclays Premier Reserve League, put the game out of reach of their visitors with two goals within three minutes of the restart. A minute after half-time, Seol picked the ball up just inside the edge of the area, side-stepped his marker and beat Stech with a low, left-footed drive. Gray added a fourth a minute later when he slid in to convert a Seol cross.
The youngsters did not let their heads drop though and, buoyed by the ever-vocal N'Gala, rallied to try and get back into the game. Their attitude was rewarded when Stanislas played a short corner to Ryan O'Neill. The right-back's cross was inch-perfect and Eyjolfsson stooped to power a header in.
If Fulham's third goal was routine the fourth was anything but as Brown picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove forward into the West Ham United half. With one look, he unleashed a fierce 30-yard drive that bounced once before finding the far left-hand corner of the goal.
The fourth goal put the hosts out of sight, but again United's youngsters were not perturbed and continued to press forward in search of their second. It was to be in vain though as Fulham's extra experience saw them hold on to their lead.

CRYSTAL PALACE Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
0-0
11th October 2008

Street
Miller
Brown
McNaughton
Fry
Edgar
Lee
Okus
Kearns
Bajner
Abdulla (Montano)

Carr happy with clean sheet

Tony Carr was happy to see his youthful side stop a run of three successive defeats with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
The academy director was particularly pleased with how the Hammers coped with set-pieces against a physical Eagles team and also showed good fitness, despite several having been involved with the reserves in midweek. The lively Oliver Lee had the best of the home side's moments at Little Heath, spurning a good opportunity when a goal seemed certain. Among the unused substitutes was schoolboy forward Daniel Subuola and Austrian midfielder Georg Grasser, who had a good 70 minutes in the reserves 4-1 defeat at Fulham on Tuesday.
Carr said: "It wa a much-improved performance. We still need to be a little bit more clinical in front of goal. I thought we did enough in the second half to have won the game but what was pleasing was our all-round team performance and that we obviously kept a clean sheet.
"That was a plus and it was one step forward. We had to play players that had played in the reserves during the week. Considering all of that I thought it was a good result for us. I am disappointed we didn't win but it was a very good performance."

CHELSEA Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
2-4 (Abdulla, Hall)
18th October 2008

Street
Miller
Brown
McNaughton
Fry
Kearns (Hall)
Montano (Barrett)
Lee
Grasser (Okus)
Edgar
Abdulla

Derby defeat for U18's

The home team started and finished the scoring but in between Chelsea dominated and were full value for their victory. Despite the scoreline, academy director Tony Carr was pleased with the way his team regrouped after the interval, having gone in at half-time 3-1 down. Indeed, had his team taken one of a succession of good chances late in the contest they could have gone on to earn something from the game. Abdulla capitalised on a poor clearance to open the scoring from 25 yards on six minutes. However, within five minutes, Chelsea had equalised after a mis-placed pass by Georg Grasser was intercepted and Frank Nouble was able to score. The visitors then took the lead on 20 minutes when Adam Street came to clear a long ball forward but was beaten to it by the alert Fabio Borini.
It was three just after the half-hour mark through Jacob Mellis. Anthony Edgar could have pulled a goal back soon after but was denied by the woodwork. Despite regrouping well in the second half, Chelsea moved further ahead through Callum McNaughton's own goal but United were able to get a second consolation. In the 68th minute, half-time replacement Conor Okus surged forward allowing fellow substitute Hall - who made his England Under-16 bow last month - to mark his first game at this level with a fine goal. Lively forward Hall, still only 14, is tipped for a bright future and Carr described his goal as a "terrific achievement". His older team-mates Abdulla, Nick Barrett and Ollie Lee all went close after that and had any converted then it could have been an interesting finish but as it was Chelsea got the win their play deserved with the academy director calling them "worthy winners".

HULL CITY : Barclays Premier League

Kingston Comms Stadium
0-1
19th October 2008
Att: 24,896
Referee: C. Foy

Green
Faubert (Di Michele)
Neill
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble
Etherington (Sears)
Bellamy
Cole

London 0 - Hull 4

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

THE most famous musical export from Hull are the Housemartins, a band who sometimes walked on to the stage wearing their amber and black club shirts. Back in 1986 they released an album London 0 Hull 4.
And yesterday, courtesy of a cracking header from Michael Turner, this remarkable team made that prediction come true.
After beating Fulham, then completing stunning wins at Arsenal and Tottenham, Phil Brown's new boys heaped more capital punishment on the Hammers. Any Tigers fans who are today at work looking a bit dazed and confused have every right to be.
In something of a Premier League first, this game was delayed by 24 hours due to the presence of the Hull Pleasure Fair - Europe's biggest. Yet as the convoy of caravans and trucks left the patch of land behind the KC Stadium yesterday afternoon, the best ride in town just kept on going. Only this one doesn't make Hull fans want to throw up.
Exactly a decade ago, to this very day, they were the 92nd team in the League. Their manager Mark Hateley was struggling, the players were even worse and the ground was a tip. Relegation to the Conference was on the cards.
No fans here with their marbles intact will tell you they have a genuine hope of finishing in a Champions League spot. But with the passing of each game, and the collection of another three points, top-flight football at this gleaming stadium next season looks a certainty. There were no wonder strikes from Geovanni. Only a powerful finish from Turner a lad who, ironically, hails from London.
West Ham played the better football in the first half yet failed to make the most of a couple of decent chances and then backed off when Hull I got in their faces.

Obviously, recent results have helped, yet Brown's team are playing with a confidence you rarely see from promoted teams. Even as things were not clicking, there was no panic. A few minor adjustments and away they went. To have 17points after eight games is a terrific achievement and there is still something satishying to once again see Hull above both Arsenal and Manchester United in the table.
Herita Ilunga thought he had put them ahead when he flicked the ball away from Hull keeper Bo Myhill before scoring with a spectacular overhead kick. Myhill had released the ball from his hand and was about to give it the boot, yet Ilunga not only had his clever effort harshly scrubbed out but was also booked for dangerous play.
In some respects Ilunga was then fortunate as be went through tbe back of Dean Maraey with a sliding tackle but ref Chris Foy failed to show a second yellow.
The visitors attempted to use Craig Bellamy as much as possible and seconds before half-time he blazed wide. Still not match-fit, Bellamy gradually faded. Hull had offered little in the opening half — yet six minutes after the restart they moved in an aerial challenge and steered the ball past Robert Green. West Ham should have equalised seconds later when Carlton Cole hit the bar.
You waited for a West Ham onslaught but it never really came with Hull fans wishing they could play a London team every week.

ARSENAL : Premier Reserve League

Bishop's Stortford
1-0 (Stanislas)
21st October 2008

Lastuvka
Spence
Davenport
Collins
Lopez (N'Gala)
Mullins
Collison
Boa Morte
Stanislas (Stokes)
Sears
Reid (Harvey)

Stanislas settles reserve derby

A solitary Junior Stanislas strike was enough to ensure West Ham United a second consecutive home win in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South.
The young winger struck a superb volley in the 24th minute to give the home side all three points after their 4-3 success against West Bromwich Albion last month. Stanislas was one of only two players - Jordan Spence was the other - in the starting lineup without first-team experience. Arsenal, in contrast were dominated by talented teenagers, although in Fran Merida they posed a significant midfield threat.
In front of the watching Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke, the likes of Calum Davenport and James Collins in defence, Hayden Mullins and Luis Boa Morte in midfield and Freddie Sears up front all took the chance to impress. It was Stanislas who stole the limelight though with that sweet finish from Walter Lopez's crossfield ball midway through the first half. Lopez was replaced as a precaution at half-time after picking up a slight knock.
Reserve-team coach Alex Dyer was delighted with the attitude of the senior professionals. "They played well," he said. "They came with a good attitude. Even though they had a young team, the lads had the right approach and played some good stuff. We got the goal at a good time and there were some positive performances out

ARSENAL : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-2
26th October 2008
Att: 34,802
Referee: P. Dowd

Green
Faubert
Collins
Ilunga
Mullins
Parker (Boa Morte)
Bowyer (Sears)
Di Michele (Etherington)
Bellamy
Cole

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Arsenal capitalised on a poor weekend for title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United to secure maximum points from a hard-fought win at West Ham. Following Liverpool's victory at Stamford Bridge earlier on Sunday afternoon, and United's failure to beat Everton, Arsene Wenger's side knew just what was at stake as they looked to keep pace with the Barclays Premier League leaders.
The Gunners - fresh from a fine 5-2 Champions League trashing of Fenerbahce in Turkey - certainly had to dig deep for their win, which came courtesy of an own goal from Julien Faubert when he deflected a shot from substitute Emmanuel Adebayor late in the second half, which was harsh on inspired West Ham keeper Robert Green, before the African wrapped things up in stoppage time. Nevertheless, it is these such keenly-contested clashes which Wenger's young squad will have to come through if they are to have a say in the destiny of the title come May - and on Sunday's evidence, they could still just have the final word.
Arsenal were led once more by captain William Gallas, fit again following a thigh problem. However, both he and fellow France veteran Mikael Silvestre were given plenty to concern themselves during the opening stages by a busy West Ham frontline. After 10 minutes, it needed a fine tip over from Manuel Almunia to deny the lively David di Michele, who powered in a 20-yard drive which looked set for the top right-hand corner.
Arsenal were being out-manoeuvred in midfield, were Alexander Song, pushed forwards from defence, and Spanish maestro Cesc Fabregas were yet to strike up an understanding. Winger Theo Walcott had been anonymous, but burst into the game on 20 minutes. The England man turned his marker just inside the West Ham half before scampering away towards goal down the right. After riding two challenges on the edge of the box, he darted inside and unleashed a fierce drive which cannoned off the top of Green's crossbar.
West Ham - who were out to avoid a third straight league defeat - needed something to relieve the pressure as the half-hour mark approached. It came following a quick break when Craig Bellamy chased down a long ball ahead of Silvestre. The Wales striker drilled in a low, first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area - which Almunia deflected over with his legs. Bendtner chased what looked a lost cause on the left, before cutting inside to force another fine save from Green at full stretch.
After a low-key start to the second half, the visitors again maintained a spell of patient build-up. It was almost rewarded when Samir Nasri picked out Walcott on the right, and his low centre was put up over his own bar by the back-tracking James Collins. The West Ham defender then made a timely intervention to out-muscle van Persie as the Dutchman looked to get on the end of a long ball into the penalty area. As the hour mark passed, Bellamy got in down the West Ham left - but Gallas was on hand to scramble the loose ball away. Arsenal went close again when first Collins blocked Walcott's angled effort and then Van Persie's follow-up flew through a crowded six-yard box and hit Lee Bowyer.
With 25 minutes left, Wenger made a double change as Adebayor and Abou Diaby - who had played so well in Turkey - were introduced, replacing Nasri and Walcott. Green was having an inspired afternoon and made another fine one-handed save to keep out Van Persie's low, angled drive. When the England stopper was finally beaten by a stinging 25-yard free-kick from the Dutchman, his luck held as the ball cannoned off the base of the post and bounced away. Arsenal, though, finally got the breakthrough with quarter of an hour to go when Adebayor weaved his way into the area and hit a low shot back across goal. With Bendtner lurking in the six-yard box, the unfortunate Faubert stuck out a boot which diverted the ball past Green. Adebayor should then have done better when following up his own shot, only to stab over from close range. The Togo frontman eventually made sure of what could yet prove to be three vital points in an intriguing title race when he latched on to a long pass up field from Bendtner to round Green and smash the ball into an empty net. To compound the misery for West Ham, referee Phil Dowd showed striker Carlton Cole what seemed a somewhat harsh straight red card for a sliding tackle from behind on Song.

MANCHESTER UNITED : Barclays Premier League

Old Trafford
0-2
29th October 2008
Att: 75,397
Referee: P. Walton

Green
Faubert
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami (Boa Morte)
Bowyer (Sears)
Mullins
Etherington (Collison)
Di. Michele
Bellamy

Image courtesy of Anthony Hufton

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Newly-crowned FIFPro world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo offered an immediate reply to Sir Alex Ferguson's challenge to score 25 goals this season with a first-half double to sink West Ham. Ronaldo took his tally for the campaign to five, first profiting from Nani's precise cross before tapping home from two yards, an effort that owed everything to the genius of Dimitar Berbatov.
Manchester United could have had more, with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney both going close. But after Saturday's slip-up at Everton, the three points were all Sir Alex Ferguson wanted as his side look to keep current pacesetters Liverpool in view. In leaving out Rooney, Ferguson was omitting a man, one visit to Everton apart, at the top of his game.
The need to give Tevez a chance after sitting on the sidelines for virtually a month, was obvious. Some fans, though, questioned why Rooney was the man sacrificed. Others wonder why Berbatov was bought at all given last year's strikeforce proved to be a devastating combination at home and abroad. Berbatov has tried to answer the doubters with a flurry of goals and eye-catching assists. But none came close to his contribution after half an hour.
James Collins must have thought he was in control as he shadowed Berbatov to the by-line as the pair chased Anderson's pass. But the young Wales international was in for a shock. With a pirouette any ballet dancer would have been proud of, Berbatov turned, rolled the ball beyond Collins and was gone, hugging the white line before presenting Ronaldo with a tap-in. Even Collins must have felt like applauding. Having faced Arsenal at Upton Park on Sunday, Gianfranco Zola is quickly discovering management is not quite as easy as he found being a player. In his programme notes, Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the Italian maestro as his favourite overseas star, some accolade given the brilliance that has walked through Old Trafford's doors alone. If only Zola had someone with his instinctive brain and silky touch at West Ham. Almost daily his players are being linked with moves elsewhere.

England defender Matthew Upson is among that number, deservedly so judging by the way he threw his body in the way of so many United chances. Berbatov, Ronaldo and star man Nani were all denied by the centre-half. There was nothing Upson could do to deny Ronaldo his opener though, the Portugal superstar crashing home from eight yards after one of Nani's pinpoint crosses had rolled into his path. Tevez was eager to make an impression and he would have scored if his header from Patrice Evra's cross had been a foot either side of Robert Green rather than straight at him. Any faint hopes of a West Ham revival were dealt a grievous blow just before the break when Valon Behrami went down in agony with no-one near him. The immediate fear was a serious knee injury and the Swiss was in obvious pain as he left the field on a stretcher.
Zola might have been getting some much-needed advice as he strolled down the touchline in earnest conversation with Ferguson as the pair made their way to the dugouts. But the second period just brought more worries for the newly-installed Hammers chief. Tevez might have had a penalty when he was hauled down by Herita Ilunga before Nani's rushed his shot when Berbatov laid a neat pass and smashed it over. The introduction of Rooney and, for only his third appearance of the season, Michael Carrick merely illustrated the difference in standards Zola must now try to overcome. Rooney had gone for the bald look again and a delicate chip straight after his arrival might have shaved the crossbar if Robert Green had not touched it over. There was nothing delicate about Rooney's next effort, a thunderous shot from 30 yards that Green was forced to beat away.
The keeper might have expected to work harder when Patrice Evra set up Ronaldo but with a hat-trick beckoning, the winger's shot was disappointing. Not as disappointing as the volley Craig Bellamy fired into the stands though which must have made Zola wish he could pull his boots back on.

MIDDLESBROUGH : Barclays Premier League

Riverside Stadium
1-1 (Mullins)
1st November 2008
Att: 25,164
Referee: A. Marriner

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Faubert
Collison
Mullins
Boa Morte (Bowyer)
Bellamy
Sears (Etherington)

Image courtesy of Anthony Hufton

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Mido came off the bench to help sluggish Middlesbrough claim a share of the points from their Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham. The visitors had dominated large periods of the game with some enterprising play and had taken a deserved lead in the 21st minute when Hayden Mullins volleyed home. But second-half substitute Mido, a replacement for the lacklustre Afonso Alves, smashed a 83rd-minute free-kick past Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green.
Boro manager Gareth Southgate named an unchanged team for the third consecutive match while West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola made four changes from the side which lost 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Captain Lucas Neill was restored after he overcame a recent virus and Zola also gave Jack Collison a midfield berth while Luis Boa Morte and Freddie Sears were included. Middlesbrough started positively and Stewart Downing delivered a high ball into the area in the fifth minute but Neill was able to clear the danger. The lively Sears robbed Boro defender Andrew Taylor of the possession in the ninth minute and ran towards goal, but he could only screw his shot wide from a good position. Zola's side looked dangerous on the counter-attack and two minutes later Julien Faubert broke down the right flank and slid a low ball into the box, but Chris Riggott read the situation and intercepted before Sears could get a touch.
West Ham took a warranted lead in the 21st minute after Boa Morte broke down the left and fed the ball to Mullins who miss-hit his first attempt at goal. But the ball sat up and he made no mistake with his second effort to smash a volley past Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and into the top-right corner of the net from 10 yards out. Riggott was booked for a handball in the 33rd minute and Craig Bellamy whipped the ball into the penalty area from the resulting free-kick but Wheater was able to head the ball clear.

The Hammers continued to look dangerous on the break with the pace of Sears and Bellamy always looking a threat. Mullins almost added a second in the 40th minute when he lashed a long-range shot at goal which Turnbull watched fly just over the bar. West Ham goalkeeper Green was forced to make his first real save moments before the interval when he tipped over a cross-shot from Downing. Southgate replaced Wheater with Justin Hoyte after the half-time break to try to deal with the pace of the impressive Boa Morte. A tremendous piece of play in the 52nd minute almost saw Zola's side double their advantage. After neat build-up play, Bellamy was picked out by a deep cross to the right edge of the penalty area and his cushioned header dropped into the path of Collison. The 20-year-old midfielder drove into the box but could only strike his shot from near the penalty spot at Turnbull who had rushed off his line. Downing had been the home side's most effective player and his run in the 63rd minute culminated in a superb cross-field pass with the outside of his boot to set up a good chance for Gary O'Neil. Green, though, was equal to O'Neil's shot and parried the ball to safety before Southgate made his third change of the afternoon when he brought on Mido for Alves. A sluggish Boro finally came to life with 20 minutes left and had the ball in the net in the 79th minute through Hoyte. Taylor delivered the ball into the penalty area and Hoyte sprinted into the six-yard box to head the ball past Green but the assistant referee raised his flag to rule it out for offside. Boro equalised in the 83rd minute when James Collins tugged Mido on the edge of the penalty area as he attempted to win a header. The Egyptian took the resulting free-kick and drilled a low shot past the wall and into the bottom-right corner of the net. Mido then broke down the left edge of the box three minutes later and forced Green to make a smart save with a snap shot. Turnbull made a superb, close-range double save in injury-time from Collison and Lee Bowyer.

SOUTHAMPTON Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Staplewood
6-1 (Bajner 3, Kearns, Lee, Edgar)
1st November 2008

Street
Spence
Fry (Brown)
Eyjolfsson (Brooks)
McNaughton
Edgar
Abdulla (Okus)
Lee
Bajner
Grasser
Kearns

Bajner back with a bang

Balint Bajner enjoyed a stunning return to club duties with a hat-trick on Saturday having also scored a treble on international duty with Hungary.
The young striker, a summer recruit, had helped his country to qualify for the Elite round of the European Under-19 Championship at the end of last month, including a 16-minute treble in a 6-0 defeat of San Marino. He underlined his good form with a brilliant treble away to Southampton Under-18s -although the lively Northern Irish youth international Daniel Kearns was also deserving of the spotlight after a superb attacking display.
Tony Carr's team had been looking to bounce back after a home defeat by Chelsea last time but faced tough opposition in Southampton. Kearns opened the scoring with a strong run and deft finish over the keeper on the quarter-hour mark before Bajner doubled the advantage 20 minutes later after turning his marker and shooting low into the corner.
The Saints pulled one back ten minutes after half-time, a goal which gave no indication of the scoring spree to come as Bajner completed his hat-trick either side of an Ollie Lee long-ranger and Anthony Edgar wrapped things up with another drive from distance.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Premier Reserve League

Matchroom Stadium - Leyton Orient
0-2
3rd November 2008

Street
O'Neill
N'Gala
Spence
Widdowson
Kearns
Harvey
Reid (Lee)
Lopez
Stokes
Tristan (Bajner) (Edgar)

Tristan plays in reserves defeat

Diego Tristan has got his first competitive 45 minutes under his belt for West Ham United in a reserve derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Leyton Orient's Matchroom stadium. The Spanish striker was an unused substitute for Gianfranco Zola's first team on Saturday away to Middlesbrough and will hope to be in contention for this weekend's visit of Everton. He had a lively half, playing at the centre of a 4-3-3 with Daniel Kearns and Kyel Reid looking to support whenever possible. In a tight contest, chances were at a premium but he did get one

shot away late in the half - only to see it blocked and receive a kick to his foot in the process. Tristan made way at half-time to be replaced by Balint Bajner, fresh from his hat-trick for the Under-18s at the weekend. Kyel Reid was perhaps the most impressive of the visiting players but the home side - prompted by Adel Taarabt, Hossam Ghaly and Kevin-Prince Boateng - proved too strong. Charlie Daniels scored both Spurs' goals in the space of six second-half minutes. The first was a close-range tap-in after Street had parried Boateng's header and the second on the hour was a drive from distance.

EVERTON : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
1-3 (Collison)
8th November 2008
Att: 33,961
Referee: M. Halsey

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson (Collison)
Ilunga
Faubert
Parker (Di Michele)
Bowyer
Sears
Bellamy
Boa Morte (Etherington)

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Everton produced a stunning fightback to crush West Ham with three goals in an amazing five-minute spell at Upton Park. West Ham looked to be cruising to all three points when substitute Jack Collison scored on his home debut in the 53rd minute.
But an equaliser from Joleon Lescott in the 83rd minute was followed by a superb double from Louis Saha, who scored in the 85th and 87th minutes to crown an amazing late revival from the Toffees. Saha had almost gave the visitors the lead in the opening minute but his right-footed volley flashed just wide of Robert Green's left-hand upright. But the home side responded immediately with Scott Parker bursting through the midfield before unleashing a low 20-yard drive which Tim Howard pushed wide. But the early exchanges proved to be a false dawn with precious little excitement to warm the crowd on a wet afternoon.
The home side were dealt a blow after 15 minutes when defender Matthew Upson was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Collison. In the 19th minute Green had to be alert to deal with a low cross from Everton captain Phil Neville. Moments later Freddie Sears almost carved out an opening at the opposite end but the young West Ham striker lost control of the ball at the vital moment. West Ham defender Herita Ilunga wrestled Victor Anichebe to the ground in the 22nd minute but Mikel Arteta's free-kick from the right flank was easily dealt with. A counter-attack by the home side seconds later saw Sears put Craig Bellamy clear but the West Ham striker saw his shot deflected for a corner.

The game continue to ebb and flow and Jack Rodwell tried his luck for the visitors in the 23rd minute but his shot rolled harmlessly into the hands of the waiting Green. Most of West Ham's best moves were inspired by the hard-working Parker but they lacked a killer instinct in attack. Both Bellamy and Sears had plenty of the ball and when they combined again in the 28th minute, West Ham should have taken the lead. Sears crossed from the left wing and when Everton's defence only half-cleared the ball, Bellamy sent his 18-yard volley high into the crowd. The pair were beginning to form a vibrant partnership for the home side and with a bigger slice of luck, Sears would have opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Bellamy cleverly left Joseph Yobo floundering with a neat dummy on the left edge of the penalty area before delivering the perfect low pass for the onrushing Sears. However, Sears opted for power over placement and although his shot beat Howard it cannoned off the crossbar. With two minutes of the first half remaining, Leon Osman was presented with a clear shot at goal from 20 yards but the Everton midfielder could not hit the target. In the 56th minute, Jack Rodwell went close for Everton when he hooked his effort just wide of the upright from close range. Moments later West Ham replaced Luis Boa Morte with winger Matthew Etherington in a bid to give the home side more thrust in attack. In the 59th minute, the rampaging Bellamy was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Neville as West Ham increased the tempo of the game. However, Bellamy's subsequent free-kick was charged down by Everton's defensive wall. But West Ham did break the deadlock in the 63rd minute through substitute Collison. The goal was superbly set-up by a brilliant piece of individual skill from Parker who backheeled the ball into the path of the home debutant. With Everton's defence completely wrong-footed by Parker's brilliance, Collison took his time to curl the ball into the top corner. It was a memorable goal for the youngster who had never played at home for the first team until Upson's first-half injury presented him with the opportunity. The home side seemed to be in full control and were threatening to increase their advantage, with the pace of Sears and Bellamy a constant threat to the visitors. But Everton conjured up an amazing fightback in the last 10 minutes when Lescott planted a firm header beyond Green for the leveller in the 83rd minute. Worse was to follow for West Ham when a cross from Anichebe was fired home by Saha, with a slight deflection on his shot taking the ball past Green. The former Manchester United striker then repeated the feat, with a powerful low 20-yard shot bouncing past Green in the 87th minute to leave West Ham floored.

IPSWICH TOWN Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
2-4 (Edgar, Bajner)
11th November 2008

Loveday
Brookes
Brown
McNaughton (Madelski)
Fry
Okus (Hall)
Kearns
Lee
Bajner
Edgar
Grasser (Abdulla)

Carr looking for a reaction

The Under-18s started off brightly against Ipswich Town at Little Heath as Anthony Edgar put them ahead after five minutes with a goal from the edge of the box following a well-worked move. The home side were dominant, but Ipswich found their way back in and equalised from the spot, when a late defensive clearance forced goalkeeper Peter Loveday to come out from his goal and, in the wet conditions, clash with an Ipswich forward. Another goal for the away side came along shortly afterwards.
Carr sent on England Under-15 striker Robert Hall, who made an immediate impact by helping to set up his side's second of the day. He jinked and dribbled his way into the box, cutting the ball back for Balint Bajner to head home.
At 3-2, West Ham United were playing with more urgency, but it would be Ipswich who were to score again, breaking away from their hosts' pressure to score following a free-kick which was deflected in off Bajner for an own goal.
After the game, Carr said: "We were all very disappointed, especially as we had done so well the week before, with the 6-1 win over Southampton. We thought that would be our springboard, but it wasn;t to be and so we look to do better away at Charlton.

PORTSMOUTH : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-0
15th November 2008
Att: 32,328
Referee: M. Atkinson

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker (Mullins)
Collison
Sears (Etherington)
Cole
Bellamy

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

West Ham kept their first clean sheet in 25 matches but it was little consolation for manager Gianfranco Zola, who saw home fans walking out long before the end. West Ham bungled their chance to end a six-match run without a win with a sloppy first-half attitude which allowed Pompey to take a grip on the game. And even though Pompey boss Tony Adams would have been devastated at the sight of Lassana Diarra limping out of the contest early on, he would otherwise have been delighted with a game which saw the best chances fall to former Hammers striker Jermain Defoe. Portsmouth had to start without the injured Sol Campbell and Niko Kranjcar, who pulled out with a foot problem just before the start. But a midfield reshuffle, pulling Papa Bouba Diop in from the right and switching Nadir Belhadj from the left showed no sign of interrupting their rhythm in the first half, despite Diarra limping off after a challenge by Scott Parker. Defoe's appearance was greeted with a chorus of boos - he demanded a transfer just a day after West Ham were relegated in 2003 - but home fans gave David James, who left them six months later, a much milder reception. West Ham's early pressure briefly pushed Pompey back and the visitors had a big escape when Freddie Sears' cross clearly struck Sylvain Distin on the arm, only for the well-placed referee Martin Atkinson to wave play on. Within a minute West Ham's Herita Ilunga picked up possession on the left and curled in a lovely cross which the unmarked Cole just could not reach six yards out. Pompey could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Glen Johnson capped a penetrating run on the right by slipping a ball into the box for Defoe, who just got to it before goalkeeper Robert Green but could only hook it over the bar. Pompey pushed forward for a spell and Green was required to make a good save to deny another impressive run and shot from Johnson. Defoe then challenged for Diop's through ball which spun away into the path of Crouch, who looked certain to score until Ilunga's challenge did just enough to put him off. Zola brought on Matthew Etherington and Julien Faubert early in the second half but they were lucky not to be out of the game after two sublime moments by Defoe. In the 48th minute he took Traore's pass, left Lucas Neill trailing and fired a shot which forced Green into a brilliant save. Two minutes later he pulled a long clearance out of the sky with a fine first touch, shrugged off Matthew Upson and almost lobbed Green only for the goalkeeper to tip over the bar. Pamarot gave away a soft free-kick on the edge of the area but Bellamy's set-piece clattered back off the bar and James had to smother Jack Collison's follow up for his first real save in the 53rd minute. James was not troubled by tame efforts from Bellamy and Cole soon afterwards but the Hammers were seeing more and more of the ball and Pompey boss Adams brought on Kanu for the ineffective Crouch to try to turn the tide. The Nigerian nearly made all the difference, his clever ball setting up Defoe for another chance but this time, though he side-stepped Upson, his angle was too tight and Green again made the block.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC U18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Sparrows Lane
1-2 (o.g.)
15th November 2008

Street
Brookes
Brown
McNaughton (Modelski)
Fry
Kearns
Edgar
Lee
Abdulla
Hall
Montano (Bajner)

Youths lose out at Charlton

Tony Carr's youngsters went down to a narrow defeat at Charlton Athletic on Saturday morning, registering through an own goal.
The visitors found themselves 1-0 down after 26 minutes when the hosts' Tamer Tuna struck home from 12-yards. Two minutes later, Charlton extended their lead as Ben Godfrey nabbed his side's second of the day. It was a more resilient West Ham United that took to the field in the second half and continuing pressure saw the scoreline close, as they forced Charlton back and an own goal by Callum Christie saw them get on the scoresheet.
Although it was not enough to see the youngsters bring anything away from the match, Carr was pleased at the better performance after the break. He said: "We played very poorly in the first half but performed very well in the second, unfortunately it was just not enough to claw the two goals back."
It was the second straight defeat for the Under-18s after the 4-2 loss at home to Ipswich Town the previous weekend and they will hope to bounce back away to Fulham on Saturday.

FULHAM Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Motspur Park
2-0 (Edgar, Bajner)
22nd November 2008

Street
Modelski
Brown
Brookes
Fry
Okus
Edgar
Lee
Abdulla (Hall)
Bajner
Montano (Grasser)

Edgar and Bajner on target

Anthony Edgar and Balint Bajner struck second-half goals to give Tony Carr's team a deserved derby victory in west London. After two defeats in a row, the Under-18s returned to winning ways after Edgar struck early in the second half and Bajner converted a late goal on the counterattack. It was just reward for a polished performance that also saw a first start for Polish right-back Filip Modelski and another late run-out for England Under-16 forward Robert Hall.
Modelski is still only an Under-16 player at the club but already an established youth international with his country. In September, he helped Poland qualify for next spring's Elite round for the 2009 European U17 Championship. He played in the first two qualifiers that sealed Polish progress before sitting out the academic third. Modelski, like the versatile young Austrian Georg Crasser and Hungarian forward Bajner, is fitting in well at Chadwell Heath.
After a first half at Motspur Park that saw both teams have their moments without ever really threatening, the deadlock was finally broken after the interval when Edgar collected a cross from the left-hand side. He showed good footwork to create an opening before firing low through a crowd of players into the corner of the net.
The second came via a quickfire breakaway. The Hammers were defending a corner when Jordan Brown set Edgar away down the right-hand side. The goalscorer turned provider by picking out the on-rushing Bajner with a low cross and the in-form Hungary Under-19 striker slid in to score.

SUNDERLAND : Barclays Premier League

Stadium of Light
1-0 (Behrami)
23rd November 2008
Att: 35,222
Referee: M. Dean

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Faubert (Boa Morte)
Parker
Bowyer (Mullins)
Behrami
Bellamy (Di Michele)
Cole

Supporters Matchday Ticket Required

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Valon Behrami handed Gianfranco Zola a first Barclays Premier League victory in eight attempts as Sunderland suffered a third successive home defeat. The Switzerland international fired his side ahead with 20 minutes gone and could have made what followed far more comfortable had he not shot against the crossbar from just six yards on the stroke of half-time. But in the end, his contribution proved enough to win a game which the home side dominated for long periods, but failed to make the most of the chances they created. The Hammers had to defend for long periods, but in Matthew Upson and James Collins, had willing workhorses, while former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was at his irritating best in front of a disgruntled crowd of 35,222. Keane has seen and done most things in football, and little surprises him any longer. However, he headed for the dressing room at half-time having seen his side create more than enough chances to win the game, but lucky still to be in it. With recalled midfielder Andy Reid tormenting the Hammers down the left to provide a series of inviting cross for Cisse, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead. Cisse sent one header just over and another narrowly wide, and then drilled a right-foot shot into the side-netting. Reid landed a curling shot on top of Green's crossbar and Danny Collins forced a good save from the keeper four minutes before the break, and there was fury inside the Stadium of Light went Cisse went down on the edge of the box under James Collins' challenge and referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty

appeals. But in the meantime, Zola's men had taken the lead against the run of play. Reid was penalised for a foul on Lucas Neill wide on the right, and although Nyron Nosworthy cleared Julien Faubert's free-kick, Behrami picked up the rebound and drilled a low shot past Marton Fulop with the help of a deflection off Kenwyne Jones. Chances were few for the Londoners, but they should really have been 2-0 up in first-half injury-time after former Hammer Anton Ferdinand was left red-faced. The defender attempted to control a high ball on halfway when he should really have headed it and succeeded only in giving it to Bellamy. The Welsh international striker sprinted into the box and although he was forced wide as he attempted to round Fulop, he managed to square to Behrami on the edge of the six-yard box - only for the midfielder to fire against the bar. Keane's side returned determined to make the most of their escape, and they were appealing for a penalty again within two minutes when Cisse smashed the ball against Upson's arm from point-blank range - although Dean turned them down. The Frenchman was finding space with ease and headed wide once again from Phil Bardsley's 49th-minute cross, and Green was relieved not to be punished for losing out in an aerial battle with Jones five minutes later. Having spent 10 minutes pinned back inside their own half, the Hammers eventually fought their way into enemy territory and went close to a second goal with 56 minutes gone when Lee Bowyer headed just over. The former Magpie was in on goal again on the hour when he ran on to Behrami's pass, but Fulop smothered his cross with the blue shirts gathering. Dean Whitehead forced a smart save from Green with a glancing 84th-minute header, but Sunderland's fightback simply dwindled away to nothing.

PORTSMOUTH : Premier Reserve League

Upton Park
2-0 (Di Michele, Reid)
25th November 2008

Lastuvka
O'Neill
Davenport
Tomkins
Lopez
Stokes
Boa Morte (Harvey)
Reid
Di Michele
Tristan (Stanislas
Sears

Di Michele and Reid on target

At a freezing Boleyn Ground, a team containing ten players with senior professional experience swept aside a Portsmouth side that also had several notable names in their ranks including Lauren, Djimi Traore, Ben Sahar and David Nugent. Di Michele and Reid struck sublime first-half strikes to ensure the reserves made it three home wins in three, and reaffirmed the feelgood factor created by the first team's away win at Sunderland and the progress in training of Jonathan Spector, Mark Noble and Kieron Dyer.
The game sparked to life when Di Michele finished a slick move involving the three forwards Alex Dyer had deployed in his 4-3-3 formation just before the quarter of an hour mark. Reid won the ball on the left and fed Tristan, making his second appearance for the club at this level. His low ball into the area was expertly dummied by Freddie Sears before Di Michele dispatched it left-footed into the top-left hand corner. It was two 16 minutes later as a corner from Luis Boa Morte was half cleared to the edge of the area where Reid smashed it into the top corner. It was a superb strike that was no less than the 20-year-old midfielder deserved after an impressive opening half hour.
The hosts were dominant and a strikforce offering strength, guile and speed was causing the visitors from the south cost endless problems.. Tristan had the audacity and ambition to try his luck from the halfway line and Di Michele had several other half-chances to add to his tally. Only a last-ditch tackle from Malian international Traore denied the Italy striker when well placed and, a short while after, he almost converted a good assist by Sears.

LIVERPOOL : Barclays Premier League

Anfield
0-0
1st December 2008
Att: 41,169
Referee: P. Walton

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Faubert (Boa Morte)
Parker
Mullins
Behrami
Bellamy
Cole

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Liverpool again wasted a chance to take a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League as brave West Ham produced a minor miracle of their own at Anfield. It is 45 years since they have won at this stadium, so this first point in nine years at Liverpool was a fine achievement. West Ham have never been known for their defensive reliability at Liverpool, but they were magnificent as they stretched an unbeaten run to three games. At the back goalkeeper Robert Green, England defender Matthew Upson and Welshman James Collins stood defiant. And another Welshman, former Liverpool man Craig Bellamy, came close to breaking the deadlock with a 30-yard shot which crashed against a post.
Liverpool are back on top of the table, but by only one point, and this disappointing display follows hot on the heels of an identical result achieved by Fulham here in the previous home league game. The Reds dominated, but West Ham repelled the waves of attacks as they grabbed a crucial point in their own battle for survival. Liverpool called in veteran defender Sami Hyypia and former West Ham winger Yossi Benayoun, keen to take advantage of Chelsea's defeat by Arsenal 24 hours earlier. Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena replaced the injured pair of Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio, with Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano rested to the bench. West Ham, without a win at Anfield since 1963, brought in Hayden Mullins in midfield for ankle injury victim Lee Bowyer, in the only change from the side that won at Sunderland last time out. Mark Noble returned to the Hammers bench after a knee injury, while Diego Tristan made his first

appearance in the squad since he joined on trial two months ago. Liverpool had two early penalty appeals turned down by referee Peter Walton when both Benayoun and then Dirk Kuyt drove the ball at Herita Ilunga from close range. West Ham had looked nervy, and after 14 minutes Green raced from his line to punch weakly away. The ball fell to Albert Riera whose shot was blocked in the six-yard box by James Collins. Then from a right-wing corner, Hyypia rose to head narrowly over the bar. The Liverpool pressure increased and Mullins was booked after 19 minutes when he tripped Benayoun in full flow. Two minutes later another header from Hyypia was kicked off the line by Ilunga. West Ham's only shot until this point had been a weak long-range effort from Julien Faubert, scooped up by Jose Reina. But Liverpool kept plugging away, showing the sort of patience in such situations that Benitez called for after the stalemate against Fulham nine days earlier.Steven Gerrard worked his way in from the right and fired into the sidenetting, before Bellamy - on his return to Anfield after moving to West Ham 17 months ago - almost broke the deadlock. Bellamy picked up possession and unleashed a fine, swerving drive which crashed against Reina's right-hand post and bounced across goal to safety. Then Green made a fine point-blank save from Kuyt's header following Xabi Alonso's corner, two minutes from the break. Kuyt and Keane both saw shots go wide as Liverpool opened the second half on the attack. But Bellamy was still a danger for West Ham, and after running past Hyypia he was body-checked by Alonso, the Spaniard being booked. Then Green produced a stunning save to turn over a Benayoun drive, before Alonso volleyed fiercely over from a squared Gerrard free-kick. West Ham fancied their chances, breaking out of defence after 67 minutes and winning a corner. And when Bellamy curled it towards the near post, Carlton Cole headed inches wide. Liverpool then sent on Ryan Babel for Riera after 78 minutes, with West Ham by that stage hanging on as the pressure mounted. Hyypia headed just wide from a Gerrard corner, the Kop behind Green's goal demanding that Liverpool attack more. West Ham sent on Luis Boa Morte for Faubert with six minutes left. Green then produced another fine save from a close-range Kuyt effort following Gerrard's deep cross. Bellamy and Parker created a chance for Boa Morte on the break, but he sliced his effort wide. Babel then broke to see a shot deflected over.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : FA Youth Cup (Third Round)

City Ground
1-3 (Abdulla)
2nd December 2008

Street
Modelski
Brown
Brookes (McNaughton)
Fry
Kearns (Abdulla)
Okus (Grasser)
Lee
Montano
Edgar
Bajner

U18s Frozen out of cup

West Ham United will have to wait at least another year to lift their fourth FA Youth Cup after going down to a 3-1 third round defeat at Nottingham Forest. Two goals from striker Tim Hopkinson and a long-range special from Kieron Freeman were enough to send the FA Premier Academy League Group D side through on a freezing night at the City Ground.
Left-back Freeman, 16, opened the scoring with an opportunist 30-yard strike on 20 minutes, lashing home the bouncing ball after the visitors had only half-cleared George Thomson's left-wing corner. 18-year-old Hopkinson doubled the hosts' advantage 10 minutes after the break, stooping to nod past Adam Street via the inside of the post. Substitute Ahmed Abdulla did pull a goal back for the Hammers on 77 minutes with a neat lob, only for Hopkinson to make the tie safe for Forest just two minutes later.
.Defeat was harsh on Tony Carr's youngsters, who had dominated the early stages but failed to turn their possession and threat into an all-important opening goal. The Hammers forced no fewer than six corners in the opening 15 minutes, but the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was when Christian Montano's snap-shot deflected off Max Wright and kissed the top of the crossbar on its way over.

NORWICH CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
1-1 (Abdulla)
6th December 2008

Stech
Modelski
Brown (Barrett)
McNaughton
Fry
Lee
Kearns
Grasser (Okus)
Abdulla
Werndly (Montano)
Edgar

Abdulla earns academy Point

Ahmed Abdulla's second goal in a week ensured Tony Carr's men earned a creditable draw against Norwich City at Little Heath. Abdulla struck with a well-taken goal early in the first half, flicking in from Daniel Kearns' inswinging corner. The visitors had already taken the lead in similar circumstances, scoring with a headed goal from a corner kick. Carr had begun without Tony Brookes and Balint Bajner, with both picking up knocks in Tuesday's disappointing early exit from the FA Youth Cup after a 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest, when Abdulla scored the consolation.
As was the case at the City Ground, Oliver Lee, along with defender Matty Fry, was among the brightest performers in the Hammers' ranks - the midfielder rattling the crossbar in the second half in a lively display. Abdulla and Christian Montano also had good chances to get what would have been a precious victory in a game that also saw Jordan Brown needing to be replaced at half-time.
Plus points included a first start for Under-16 prospect Jack Werndly in place of the absent Bajner while Marek Stech dropped back into the U18 set-up with both Adam
Street and Peter Loveday unwell. Stech had been troubled by a slight groin problem of late but has trained fully in recent weeks and was a reliable performer between the posts as ever.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-2
8th December 2008
Att: 34,277
Referee: C. Foy

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Mullins (Di Michele)
Parker (Tristan)
Faubert (Noble)
Cole
Bellamy

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Ledley King scored his first goal in three years as Tottenham continued their revival under Harry Redknapp with victory at Upton Park. King, whose last goal came on December 12, 2005 in a 3-1 win over Portsmouth, met a cross from the electric Aaron Lennon and powered his downward header past Robert Green. Spurs wrapped up victory in the last minute with a long-range strike from Jamie O'Hara that takes them above West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on goal difference. Tottenham's win ended Green's run of three clean sheets but ensured another successful return to Upton Park for Redknapp, who was West Ham boss between 1994 and 2001 and has never lost on his old stamping ground as a visiting manager. Croatian midfielder Luka Modric returned to the Spurs side after recovering from a groin injury. Lennon's cross found David Bentley at the far post on the edge of the box but the shot was tame and did not stretch Green. Craig Bellamy was in a fiery mood. He took exception to a hefty challenge from Didier Zokora and the pair exchanged words and the odd shove before referee Chris Foy intervened with a word of warning. West Ham edged the first-half possession with Scott Parker busy in midfield and Bellamy energetic up front and at the heart of the Hammers' best attacking moments. He linked well with Carlton Cole, Valon Behrami and Hayden Mullins but for all their possession, West Ham could not open Tottenham up as their problems up front continue. They have now scored just once in four Premier League games. West Ham did have the ball in the net after 22 minutes, when Jenas turned Bellamy's corner past his own keeper, but it was scratched off because Lucas Neill was climbing all over the Tottenham midfielder. Behrami then latched onto

Carlton Cole's lay-off and closed in on the box, only to be hauled down from behind in an ungainly fashion by Bentley. The free-kick was teed up for James Collins whose low strike was deflected wide for another corner, which this time Heurelho Gomes punched confidently away. Bellamy then saw his shot blocked on the edge of the area before he pulled another across goal and wide of Gomes' right post. West Ham may have enjoyed the better of possession but Spurs had their moments. Modric's tricky run was halted by a determined challenge from James Collins and Lennon's deep cross found Bentley at the far post but his header did not test Green. Spurs upped the tempo just before half-time and were unfortunate not to go ahead after working two chances in as many minutes. Neill's clearing header fell straight to Bentley, who caught the half-volley clean and true but was denied by a brilliant diving save from Green, who punched the ball clear for a throw-in. Spurs kept the pressure on and Roman Pavlyuchenko stretched to meet a low cross from Lennon at the far post but he could only push the ball onto the post. Spurs continued to turn the screw after the interval as West Ham struggled to keep pace with the tempo. Lennon, their most dangerous attacking weapon, broke clear but was tracked all the way by Parker who pulled off a perfectly-timed challenge just as the Spurs winger prepared to shoot. Redknapp made his first change just 10 minutes into the second half and Darren Bent, replacing Pavlyuchenko, brought a new dimension to their attack. Spurs had a strong claims for a penalty when Ilunga raised his arms to block Vedran Corluka's cross but their appeals were waved away. Modric, Jenas and Lennon opened West Ham up with slick one-touch football but Bent, who had escaped Collins in the box, turned his shot wide before Zokora saw his low drive blocked by Green. But Tottenham's pressure told and it was Lennon who engineered the breakthrough with a delightful cross for King to power a downward header past the keeper's despairing dive. Zola sent on David di Michele and Diego Tristan in search of an equaliser and it almost paid off as the Hammers threw everything forward. Di Michele tried to squeeze space at the near post but was closed out and then West Ham were denied by a point-blank save from Gomes to deny the Italian after the ball had ping-ponged around the Spurs area. And as West Ham fans stood head in hands, Spurs broke straight down field and O'Hara sealed with victory with a long-range strike.

CHELSEA Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Cobham Training Ground
2-2 (Kearns 2, 1 pen)
12th December 2008

Street
Modelski
Brown
McNaughton
Fry
Barrett (Okus)
Kearns
Lee
Bajner (Montano)
Abdulla
Edgar (Subuola)

Kearns the key in derby

West Ham United twice came from behind to secure a well deserved point but will have left west London knowing they could have had all three. The Hammers enjoyed the better of an entertaining first half as several excellent moves created resulted in good chances but somehow, via a combination of good fortune and the woodwork, the scores remained level going into the break. Chelsea were better in the second period and took the lead just after the hour mark. The visitors continued to press and got themselves back into the game when Daniel Kearns equalised with six minutes to go only for Chelsea to take the lead again immediately. United hit back again though as Kearns claimed his second from the penalty spot with just three minutes remaining.
Bajner was paired with Ahmed Abdulla up front, the pair demonstrated their growing understanding as early as the fifth minute when Abdulla set up the Hungarian youth international, but his shot with the outside of the boot flashed wide.
Matthew Fry then became the first player to strike the frame of the Chelsea goal. A free-kick from just inside the Chelsea half fell to Bajner and his square pass was perfectly weighted for the centre half, who took one touch before driving the ball across the goalkeeper only to see it come back off the inside of the post.
Street had barely touched the ball for the first 25 minutes but showed he was still switched on when he saved smartly from Frank Nouble, who was clean through on goal.

CHELSEA : Barclays Premier League

Stamford Bridge
1-1 (Bellamy)
14th December 2008
Att: 41,675
Referee: M. Riley

Green
Neill
Upson
Davenport
Ilunga
Collison (Boa Morte)
Parker
Noble (Mullins)
Behrami
Bellamy (Di Michele)
Cole

Gianfranco Zola returned to Stamford Bridge and saw his West Ham side snatch a vital point which kept Chelsea off the top of the Premier League. Zola's struggling outfit had stunned Chelsea with a 33rd-minute opener from Craig Bellamy but Nicolas Anelka rescued the Blues with his 16th goal of the season five minutes after the break. It was Chelsea's fourth domestic home game without a win and their failure to take all three points cost them the chance to overtake Liverpool at the top of the table. Chelsea fans had given coach Zola and assistant Steve Clarke a rapturous welcome as they emerged from the tunnel to take their places in the visiting dugout. But West Ham soon found themselves under pressure from a home side determined to build on their midweek Champions League victory over CFR Cluj. In the sixth minute a superb combination between former West Ham players Joe Cole and Frank Lampard almost provided them with an opener. Cole looked set to score when Lampard's precise pass found him bearing down on the edge of the six-yard box, but his effort was deflected to safety by Scott Parker. Chelsea started the game at a frantic tempo and after Jack Collison had fouled Ashley Cole on the left flank, Lampard's 16th minute free-kick was headed wide by Alex. West Ham did exceptionally well to weather the early storm and in the 20th minute John Mikel Obi was booked for bringing down Carlton Cole in full flight. It gave Zola's side the chance to test Petr Cech with a free-kick some 30 yards out, but Mark Noble elected to chip the ball into the area and Michael Ballack headed clear. Chelsea's woeful home record took a turn for the worse in the 33rd minute when Zola's struggling side went ahead against the run of play and in controversial

circumstances. Noble looked to have used his arm before crossing the ball for Bellamy to fire the visitors in front from 12 yards. Ballack was incensed by Mike Riley's decision to allow the goal to stand and was shown a yellow card for protesting. West Ham, their confidence clearly boosted, enjoyed their longest spell of possession as the interval approached. In the 45th minute, Anelka finally tested Robert Green with an 18-yard shot that was dealt with comfortably by the West Ham goalkeeper. Chelsea were booed off at half-time and TV replays showed that Noble had used his shoulder to control the ball instead of his arm in the build-up to West Ham's goal. Scolari, clearly frustrated with Chelsea's lack of a cutting edge, replaced Ballack with Didier Drogba at the interval. Drogba hardly had time to get into the game before top scorer Anelka supplied the equaliser in the 50th minute. For once Chelsea's neat approach play paid off with Mikel and Drogba combining before Lampard chipped the ball neatly into the path of Anelka, who coolly slotted the ball underneath the advancing Green for his 16th goal of the season. Chelsea were now on top and when Matthew Upson failed to clear a cross, Lampard sent the rebound into Green's midriff from the edge of the penalty area. West Ham, for the first time in the game, had little option but to defend ever deeper. The visitors were happy to soak up the pressure on the edge of their own penalty area but that only invited Chelsea to try their luck from distance. In the 64th minute Lampard let fly from 25 yards and his dipping shot had to be held at the second attempt by Green. Three minutes later Green pulled off a magnificent save to deny Drogba after he had volleyed Lampard's corner towards the near post. Salomon Kalou replaced the lacklustre Joe Cole in the 73rd minute and his first contribution was to fire a 20-yard shot straight at Green. West Ham escaped in the 78th minute when Green punched a Lampard corner towards his own goal but it was headed off the line by Parker. However, Green was the hero seconds later when he flung himself across goal to keep out a header from Alex. Referee Riley then failed to award Chelsea a penalty when Lampard was tripped by Lucas Neill but it needed a superb save from Petr Cech at the other end to deny Carlton Cole an injury-time winner.

CHELSEA : Premier Reserve League

Bishop's Stortford
4-3 (Tristan 2, Sears, Harvey)
16th December 2008

Stech
Miller
Widdowson
Spector
N'Gala
Stokes
Harvey
Lopez
Kearns (Lee)
Tristan
Sears

Diego at the double

Diego Tristan's first goals for West Ham United ensured the Hammers will end 2008 second in Barclays Premier Reserve League South. The Spaniard netted twice as Alex Dyer's side clinched a thrilling 4-3 win over Chelsea on a freezing night at Bishops Stortford's Woodside Park. Tristan's 30th-minute opener was followed just four minutes later by a typically clinical effort from Freddie Sears. Former England Under-16 international Tom Harvey added a third with the best goal of the night, smashing in a fine first-time shot from 20 yards. An unlucky Jonathan Spector own goal, substitute Frank Nouble and Scott Sinclair's late penalty threatened to steal a dramatic point for the visitors, but the home side hung on.
Three of United's goals were created by Uruguay international Walter Lopez, who enjoyed a fine outing on the left wing. At the other end of the pitch, young Czech goalkeeper Marek Stech produced two superb saves to deny Morten Nielsen and Miroslav Stoch before the break.
The 459 hardy supporters who braved sub-zero temperatures on the Essex-Hertfordshire border were rewarded with an entertaining encounter between two sides who were both eager to play neat, passing football. However, it was an error from Blues goalkeeper Rhys Taylor that would lead to the hosts' opener.
The stopper's hurried, mis-hit clearance fell to Lopez 40 yards from goal. The South American dodged a challenge before finding Tristan, who showcased his undoubted talent by taking a touch and unleashing an unstoppable low drive past Taylor to register his first goal in a claret and blue shirt.
Just four minutes later, the Hammers doubled their advantage with a truly beautiful goal. Academy graduates Jack Widdowson and Harvey combined to release Lopez down the left flank. Again, the 23-year-old showed fine vision

to locate the unmarked Sears inside the Chelsea penalty area and the young striker made no mistake, taking a touch before calmly rolling the ball past Taylor. While West Ham were taking their chances, Stech was ensuring the visitors did not take theirs, blocking Nielsen's left-foot volley on 19 minutes and Stoch's low drive six minutes before the interval. The teenager was called into action again on the hour-mark, racing from his goal to deny Sinclair. In front of Stech, Spector - playing his first competitive match since April - and Bondz N'Gala - back from a loan spell with League One MK Dons - were solid, while the lively Daniel Kearns was also heavily involved, firing one first half effort narrowly off-target. After the break, Chelsea pressed hard, but Dyer's men refused to relinquish their 100 per cent home record. The Hammers looked to have made sure of a fourth win in four attempts with a sublime goal 18 minutes from time. Lopez and Sears combined to find Tristan on the edge of the penalty area. His neat flick fell to Harvey, who arrowed his shot into the top right-hand corner. Chelsea would not give up, however, and hit back twice in quick succession through Specter's unfortunate flick and substitute Nouble. First, Spector inadvertantly diverted Jeffrey Bruma's cross past Stech on 76 minutes. Then, with five minutes remaining, Nouble took advantage of Stech's heavy touch to roll into the unguarded net. However, the goalkeeper regained his composure just 60 seconds later to repel Stoch's fierce effort as the visitors pressed for a late equaliser. As Chelsea threw men forward, Harvey won a fine tackle on the right touchline before crossing for Tristan to head in his second from eight yards on 87 minutes. There was still time for Sinclair to fire home an added-time penalty after Spector had brought down Nouble, but the Hammers had done enough to climb four places in the standings

ASTON VILLA : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-1
20th December 2008
Att: 31,353
Referee: M. Halsey

Green
Neill
Davenport
Upson
Ilunga
Collison (Tristan)
Noble
Parker (Mullins)
Behrami (Bowyer)
Bellamy
Cole

Aston Villa moved into the top three of the Barclays Premier League after a slice of good fortune for James Milner earned them victory over West Ham. The winner at Upton Park came in the 78th minute after Milner's cross deflected in off Lucas Neill, with three points allowing Martin O'Neill's men to overtake Manchester United in the table. It may be one for the dubious goals panel, but it mattered little to Milner in a week where Fabio Capello suggested he would be the next Villa youngster to get an England call-up. O'Neill's young English players have given Villa fans real hope of breaking into the top four - but an American veteran in goal is also playing his part. Brad Friedel produced a string of saves to keep the scores level when the Hammers threatened through Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole. "They have plenty of pace and are very dangerous," wrote Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola in his programme notes, highlighting Villa's strengths - but he has speed in his own side through Bellamy. The Wales forward applauded Stiliyan Petrov when the Villa midfielder nutmegged him - for the rest of time he was stretching Villa's defence and creating space inside. His first effort came when he raced onto Neill's lofted pass - but the ball forced the Hammers striker into a wide angle and his shot was easily saved by Friedel. There was nothing straightforward about the American's save when Bellamy raced beyond the Villa defence to collect a pass from Herita Ilunga. Friedel stayed on his feet for as long as possible before parrying the finish. Villa's first threat came from Steve Sidwell, who drilled a low effort just wide of Robert Green's upright, then went even closer midway through the opening half after Gabriel Agbonlahor raced down the left and beat Neill for pace. The ball was pulled

back for Sidwell, with Mark Noble chasing back and doing enough to make the former Chelsea midfielder slice his finish wide. England winger Ashley Young then struck the post after being gifted possession by Scott Parker. The error allowed Young to take the ball around Green but he was forced slightly wide and the finish clipped the far post. Young also went inches wide with a free-kick, while Gareth Barry felt he should have had a penalty when he tussled with Neill shortly afterwards, but referee Mark Halsey waved play on. Bellamy's pace was West Ham's outlet. Neill sent him away on the right again and when the cross came over, Curtis Davies sliced towards his own goal and Friedel was required to tip over the crossbar. Friedel also parried a long-range effort from Valon Behrami after Davies had given the ball away cheaply. Villa broke at speed just before the half-time whistle, with Green forced into a double save - from Milner then Barry - to keep the scores level heading into the break. Zola's response at half-time was to haul off Parker and bring on Hayden Mullins to protect the defence. Bellamy could not get power on the first chance of the second half, then Matthew Upson and Neill were off target with headers when they met set-pieces. Zola made another change just before the hour mark when Behrami appeared to pick up a knock, with Lee Bowyer coming on. Former Hammers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who predictably was greeted by a chorus of jeers, then replaced Carlos Cuellar after the defender also got injured. Cole was presented with a clear-cut chance when Neill cut in from the right and floated a cross to the far post - but the striker got under the finish and headed over. Cole had another chance in the 64th minute after Bowyer had released Bellamy to cross from the left. Luke Young blocked Cole's first effort, then Friedel produced a reflex save to stop the second. Milner picked up a booking for tripping Ilunga, but he then earned Villa the winner 12 minutes from the end. Friedel saved a close-range effort from Calum Davenport to keep the visitors ahead.

PORTSMOUTH : Barclays Premier League

Fratton Park
4-1 (Collison, Cole, Bellamy 2)
26th December 2008
Referee: S. Bennett
Att: 20,102

Green
Neill (Faubert)
Davenport
Upson
Ilunga
Collison
Noble (Boa Morte)
Parker
Behrami
Cole (Tristan)
Bellamy

Jermain Defoe's missed penalty against his old club proved costly as West Ham romped to a vital win at Portsmouth to ease the pressure on manager Gianfranco Zola. Defoe had the chance to put Pompey ahead on the stroke of half-time but fired wide, allowing West Ham to capitalise with second-half goals from Craig Bellamy, who netted twice, and Carlton Cole. Nadir Belhadj had earlier given Portsmouth an early lead, but Jack Collison equalised to send the Hammers on their way to only their second win in 13 league games. It was a third straight defeat for Portsmouth boss Tony Adams, and only victory at his former club Arsenal on Sunday will prevent the wolves creeping to his door. West Ham had never won a Premier League game against Portsmouth but they dominated the early exchanges at Fratton Park. In the first minute Collison won a free-kick in a promising position after being scythed down by Sol Campbell but Bellamy, linked with a possible move away from West Ham in January, curled his effort high and wide. The early pressure did not produce a goal however, and Portsmouth settled their nerves with the opener after eight minutes. Left-back Belhadj started and finished a fine sweeping move, his cross-field pass finding Little, who launched a high cross to Peter Crouch at the far post. The striker deftly plucked the ball from the air and pulled back to Belhadj, who slammed home his second goal of the season. Collison's shot minutes later was deflected wide, but the midfielder made no mistake with West Ham's equaliser midway through the half. Cole latched on to Mark Noble's free-kick on the left and crossed low to Collison, whose first-time shot went through first the legs of Sylvain Distin and then an unsighted David James. The visitors have not scored more than one goal in a game for 12 league fixtures and their goalscoring problems were evident towards the end of the first half. Portsmouth enjoyed the better chances, with Defoe turning sharply before shooting wide and Crouch forcing a good reaction save from Robert Green with a far-post volley. Sean Davis' volley on the half-hour mark was even more impressive. The midfielder struck Belhadj's cross first time on the edge of the box, but Green was equal to it, blocking well with his legs. At the other end Mark Noble missed a sitter when, with James helpless out of his goal, he tried to chip a backpedalling Campbell who comfortably headed clear. Portsmouth were awarded a penalty just before the break when Neill fouled Crouch, but the spot-kick from Defoe, who has not scored in six games, smacked of a player lacking confidence and went wide of Green's right post. The hosts wasted no time in registering their first effort on goal after the interval. The Hammers made a hash of clearing out of their box and the ball fell to Crouch, who shot straight a Green from close range.
The England man was at it again minutes later but was off target this time, sidefooting over from Belhadj's cross, and Niko Kranjcar was equally wasteful when he blasted over from the right. West Ham responded with a close-range effort from Collison which James repelled, and from the resulting corner Matthew Upson's looping header clipped the crossbar. Defoe proved he was not dwelling on his penalty miss when he beat two players and raced into the box, but his fierce shot was caught by Green. The missed opportunities proved costly when Cole edged West Ham in front in the 69th minute. Bellamy crossed to Collison from the left and after the midfielder's shotcame back off the left post, Cole was well placed to stab home. Having taken so many games to score that elusive second goal in a match, it was ironic a third would follow minutes later for West Ham. Bellamy was put through one on one with James, and although the goalkeeper got a hand on the ball, the striker rounded him, composed himself and rifled home a high shot which beat Campbell on the line. Bellamy added gloss to the scoreline with his second goal late on, providing a neat finish to Luis Boa Morte's low cross in the 83rd minute.

STOKE CITY : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
2-1 (Cole, Tristan)
28th December 2008
Att: 34,477
Referee: M. Jones

Green
Faubert
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker (Tristan)
Collison (Mullins)
Boa Morte
Di Michele (Spector)
Cole

Thomas Lemon - Postal Covers

Stoke's miserable Christmas continued with a late 2-1 defeat at West Ham which saw Ricardo Fuller sent off for fighting with team-mate Andy Griffin. Abdoulaye Faye scored an early header to put the visitors ahead at the Boleyn Ground. But Carlton Cole scored his second goal in three days in the 51st minute to equalise, and then had a hand in the winner, his shot going in courtesy of a deflection off Diego Tristan. It gave manager Gianfranco Zola his second win in three days and propels West Ham up the league table, but in contrast Stoke have not won in six games and have slipped into the relegation zone. Shorn of the suspended Craig Bellamy, who scored twice in the 4-1 Boxing Day win at Portsmouth, West Ham's attack initially lacked sharpness. Zola also had to make three other changes because of injury, with Julien Faubert, David Di Michele and James Collins replacing Calum Davenport, Mark Noble and Lucas Neill. Stoke made two changes to the team which lost to Manchester United, with Griffin back after an ankle injury to replace the suspended Andy Wilkinson and Seyi Olofinjana brought in for Amdy Faye. West Ham have taken just one point from their last six home games, and their poor run at the Boleyn Ground looked set to continue when Stoke scored after four minutes. Fuller tested goalkeeper Robert Green after capitalising on a sloppy pass from Luis Boa Morte, and from the resulting corner an unmarked Faye headed home at the far post. Cole had a glorious chance to equalise immediately after the restart but sidefooted Jack Collison's left-wing cross wide, and Matthew Upson also headed wide in the

opening exchanges. Green had to stretch to catch Richard Cresswell's lobbed shot and at the other end Thomas Sorensen made his first save when he got down to comfortably stop Collison's low effort. West Ham spent long spells camped in and around Stoke's penalty area but a combination of inaccuracy and Sorensen's athleticism kept them at bay. He did well to claw Herita Ilunga's teasing left-wing cross away from the lurking Cole, who minutes earlier had volleyed way over the bar from just inside the box. The striker then wasted the Hammers' best chance of the half when he headed over following excellent work on the right from the diminutive Di Michele. As half-time approached, Boa Morte and Ilunga combined brilliantly on the left but the latter's cross blazed across goal, somehow evading a number of team-mates. Olofinjana had the first chance of the second half when he dragged a shot wide from distance, but West Ham resumed their domination soon after and scored a deserved equaliser in the 51st minute. There was an element of fortune as Cole controlled Scott Parker's chip into the box, the ball bouncing off a defender, but there was nothing lucky about the finish. Too often criticised for his profligacy in front of goal, Cole swivelled on the loose ball to curl a shot past Sorensen into the far corner. A moment of madness then followed as Stoke went back for the restart. Fuller and Griffin became embroiled in a heated exchange which descended into pushing and shoving and resulted in Fuller being sent off by referee Michael Jones for throwing a punch at his team-mate. Galvanised by their goal and unexpected numerical advantage, West Ham poured forward and could have gone ahead but Cole volleyed wide and Parker and Di Michele both fired over. West Ham continued to pressurise with Boa Morte's scuffed shot cleared off the line by Danny Higginbotham and Parker screwing a shot wide from outside the box. In a rare foray forward, Delap tested Green with a low shot, but a minute later West Ham finally breached the defence-minded Stoke when substitute Diego Tristan deflected in Cole's shot for the winner.

BARNSLEY : F.A. Cup (Third Round)

Upton Park
3-0 (Ilunga, Noble pen, Cole)
3rd January 2009
Att: 28,869
Referee: M. Oliver

Green
Faubert
Collins
Tomkins
Ilunga
Collison (Dyer)
Noble
Mullins
Boa Morte (Etherington)
Bellamy
Cole (Tristan)

Barnsley's dreams of another heroic FA Cup run were shattered at Upton Park as West Ham eased into the fourth round. The Tykes accounted for Liverpool and Chelsea to reach last season's semi-finals and 5,000 supporters travelled south hoping to witness more drama. But Barnsley had little answer to an efficient performance from the Hammers, who were 2-0 up by the interval with goals from Herita Ilunga and Mark Noble. Carlton Cole headed West Ham's third before Kieron Dyer was introduced off the bench for his first appearance since suffering a broken leg 17 months ago. For home boss Gianfranco Zola, Dyer's return to action is the equivalent of a new £6million signing and if West Ham can keep hold of Craig Bellamy, they promise to be quite a handful together up front. Bellamy was once again West Ham's creative heartbeat while Noble made an impressive return to the side after recovering from a virus. Zola named a strong side - resting only Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami, while Scott Parker was suspended - and they took the lead after nine minutes through Ilunga. Noble's floated free-kick fell to Ilunga at the far post and he had time to control the ball and slot home his first goal since joining West Ham from Toulouse in the summer. Barnsley came close to a swift reply when James Collins allowed Kayode Odejayi to steal in for a near-post header, which went just wide. Barnsley were struggling to deal with Noble's precise crosses and they were fortunate not to fall two behind when a scuffed clearance fell to Jack Collison, whose snap-shot flew past the post. Bellamy almost picked out a run from Noble and then Cole before escaping past two Barnsley defenders to whip in a dangerous low cross and earn a corner.

West Ham were closing down well, particularly out wide, but Barnsley midfielder Hugo Solace had better options than to shoot from 45 yards after spotting Robert Green marginally off his line. Bellamy was growing increasingly impatient with Julien Faubert - and told him so - after the French full-back twice failed to pick him out in space on the edge of the Barnsley box. West Ham scored their second seven minutes before the interval after Luis Boa Morte launched a swift counter-attack and Noble was fouled in the box by Mounir El Haimour having wriggled his way past the Barnsley defender. El Haimour was booked before Noble sent the penalty low and inside the right-hand post. Barnsley produced a spirited response and Hayden Mullins was booked for a foul on Odejayi as the Barnsley striker looked to profit from a rare piece of poor control from Noble. Green then endured a wobbly three minutes, landing Faubert in trouble with a poor clearance before dropping a corner but West Ham survived the late Barnsley pressure unscathed. Barnsley started the second half with their tails up, forcing four corners in quick succession. West Ham had to rely on a slice of luck after Green's save from a Diego Leon strike rebounded off the post and hit him on the head before going behind for a corner. Bellamy rifled an effort high and wide before Cole jinked his way to the edge of the box only to be muscled off the ball as keeper Heinz Muller closed down the space. Collison's fierce drive brought a solid save from Muller and Boa Morte should have done better to bring the ball under control after being picked out in space but the pace of the game had become laboured. Zola sent on Matthew Etherington to replace Boa Morte and he was involved immediately as Cole scored West Ham's third with a deft header. Etherington linked with Bellamy to work space out wide for Ilunga and Cole met the cross with a glancing header inside the far post.Zola then sent on Dyer, who was greeted with hearty cheers and almost marked his return to action with a goal but his blistering strike flew just wide from 25 yards. Dyer fizzed about up front, picking out Faubert with a through ball and offering a creative alternative to Bellamy. Barnsley almost pulled one back when Leon's 25-yard free-kick cannoned back off the bar but Collins was on hand to clear. Noble was then called on to block Jamil Adam's strike after Jamal Campbell-Ryce had jinked into the West Ham box. As the clock ticked into injury time, Dyer's volley dipped just over the bar. Zola will hope it was a sign of things to come.

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Barclays Premier League

St James' Park
2-2 (Bellamy, Cole)
10th January 2009
Att: 47,571
Referee: A. Wiley

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble (Mullins)
Collison (Boa Morte)
Cole
Bellamy (Di Michele)

Andy Carroll headed a priceless late equaliser to salvage a point for Newcastle at St James' Park as Joe Kinnear's men produced a hit-and-miss performance to just about keep the crisis talk at bay. Carroll, 20 last Tuesday, could hardly have picked a better time to grab his first league goal with the storm clouds lurking after Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole had cancelled out Michael Owen's early strike. A single point is hardly what the home fans expected and with a number of top stars still linked with the exit door Kinnear can still expect a mighty relegation battle until the season's end. But the sighs of relief were evident all around the stadium when Carroll, who had looked lively throughout, leaped highest to steer a deep left-wing cross from Damien Duff into the top of the net. Despite another fractious build-up week the home side had started well and Carroll had the first chance in the second minute when Owen created space for him to drive a shot into the legs of Matthew Upson. And the home side were closer in the eighth minute when Carroll glanced a right-wing cross from Damien Duff goalwards but James Collins headed clear despite appeals for a penalty. Owen had a superb chance to put Newcastle in front in the 13th minute after being fed by Jonas Gutierrez on the right and cutting a low shot across goal which clipped the base of Robert Green's left-hand post on its way out. But there early glimpses of the startling holes in the home defence with Bellamy seeing a 14th minute header bundled clear by Fabricio Coloccini after he had been left unmarked in the box. But when Owen got his opener it was well deserved, the striker fed on the left by Jose Enrique and advancing to the edge of the box before hitting a low right-foot shot past Robert Green. Newcastle should

have gone further ahead in the 25th minute after a fine right-wing cross by Duff reached Carroll at the far post but the striker mis-timed his jump for a simple close-range header. Then Bellamy came back to haunt his former club in the 29th minute when he nipped onto the end of a clever Scott Parker ball in the box before neatly lifting his shot over the advancing Given into the net. Kinnear's men almost regained the lead in the 34th minute when Geremi's long-range free-kick clattered into Collins and rebounded into the path of Gutierrez, who lashed a powerful effort into the side-netting. Then Carroll had a loud penalty appeal turned down in the 39th minute when he collapsed under the challenge of Collins in the box as the pair sought to deal with high ball into the box from Duff. The Hammers should have gone in ahead at the break when Neill sent Mark Noble clean through in the 42nd minute but his shot was parried by Given and Bellamy's follow-up from a tight angle found the side-netting. And the visitors were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty moments after the restart when Sebastien Bassong used his arm to prevent Bellamy reaching a loose ball in the box. Cole, anonymous in the first half, was coming more into the game and being afforded a ridiculous amount of space in the left channel, but the home side failed to heed a host of warnings. And Cole duly lashed the Hammers into a deserved lead in the 55th minute when he controlled a long ball from Herita Ilunga in the left side of the box and screwed a superb left-foot shot into the top corner. The busy Collins got in a fine saving challenge to deny Carroll a shot on goal just before the hour, then the apparently wantaway N'Zogbia was roundly booed when he was introduced in place of Geremi. Neill's blushes were spared in the 67th minute when he mis-kicked the ball into his own net from a Fabricio Coloccini cross only for referee Alan Wiley to blow up for a push by Taylor on Collins. But the home side clinched their equaliser in the 78th minute when Carroll jumped highest to meet a high cross from the right by Duff and steered the ball past a helpless Green.

ASTON VILLA : Premier Reserve League

Marston's Stadium
0-0
13th January 2009

Stech
Spence
N'Gala
Tomkins
Lopez (Jeffery)
Dyer (Eyjolsson)
Spector
Stokes (Harvey)
Payne
Sears
Tristan

Marek Stech enjoyed the best performance of his West Ham United career to earn the Hammers a hard-fought goalless Barclays Premier Reserve League South draw at Aston Villa. The Czech Republic Under-19 international goalkeeper, named in Gianfranco Zola's Premier League matchday squad for the first time at Newcastle United on Saturday, produced a series of stunning saves to keep the Villans at bay. The youngster, who turns 19 on 28 January, was equal to everything the home side threw at him at Hinckley United's neat Marston's Stadium.
United manager Alex Dyer named an experienced side containing four full internationals in Kieron Dyer, Diego Tristan, Jonathan Spector and Walter Lopez against a youthful Villa lineup. Under-19 internationals Stech, Jordan Spence and Freddie Sears were also involved from the start, while Josh Payne was back in central midfield following his successful loan spell at League One outfit Cheltenham Town. Table-toppers Villa were the better side for long periods, with Scotland Under-21 International Barry Barman pulling the strings in central midfield. Accordingly, it was the 19-year-old Glaswegian who had the game's first clear chance on four minutes, forcing Stech into an acrobatic save with a rising shot from 20 yards. The talented playmaker was also heavily involved in a 16th-minute move that ended with Dominik Hofbauer shooting straight at the Czech goalkeeper. At the other end, Tristan came close to giving the visitors the lead on three occasions before the break. First, on ten minutes, the Spaniard ended a lightning quick counterattack involving Stech, Tony Stokes and Dyer by forcing Taylor to scramble behind his fiercely hit long-range strike. Then, a minute either side of Hofbauer's chance, the 32-year-old flicked Lopez's right-wing corner narrowly over at the near post and forced Taylor into another smart stop from distance. The hosts, whose neat interplay in and around the Hammers penalty area caught the eye, thought they had taken the lead on 22 minutes. Sam Williams buried the loose ball after Stech had superbly pushed aside Tobias Mikaelsson's rasping shot, only to be denied by the assistant referee's offside flag. Villa went close twice more before the break, with the lively Marc Albrighton floating a speculative chip over the crossbar before Stech again did well to hold on to Andreas Weimann's low shot. Dyer made a change in both personnel and shape at half-time, replacing Uruguayan wing-back Lopez with striker Jack Jeffrey and reverting to a 4-3-3 formation. The alterations nearly paid dividends four minutes into the second period when Stokes was teed up by Tristan, but Taylor was equal to his well-struck shot from just outside the penalty area. Stech produced another superb save on 53 minutes, diving full-length to tip Albrighton's deflected shot around the post as Villa upped the pressure again. The hosts came close again 20 minutes later, but the goalkeeper was out smartly to deny Hofbauer. England attacker Dyer, who continued his comeback after 16 months out with a broken leg with a lively showing, was replaced by Holmar Eyjolfsson with 15 minutes remaining, while Stokes also made way for Tom Harvey. But the changes failed to halt Villa's charge. Thankfully, Stech continued to produce outstanding save after outstanding save to deny the home side victory.
The Czech Republic Under-19 international had to be at his very best 14 minutes from time, keeping Villa at bay twice in the space of less than 30 seconds, tipping Williams' powerful header over before gratefully clutching Shane Lowry's powerful effort to his chest. Tomkins then produced a fine last-ditch block to deny Weimann. The evening ended on a sour note for the Hammers as Payne was carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury late on, forcing United to play out the final eight minutes with just ten men.

SOUTHAMPTON Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
4-1 (Montano 2, Kearns, Okus)
17th January 2009

Loveday, Barrett, McNaughton, Fry, Brown, Kearns, Lee (Grasser), Okus, Monaton, Edgar (Werndley), Abdulla (Subuola)

Tony Carr was delighted to see his Under-18 side begin 2009 in style by beating Southampton 4-1 at Little Heath, but believes there is still more to come from the team in coming weeks. The West Ham United academy director watched on as goals from Christian Montano and Daniel Kearns sent the home side in 2-1 up at half-time. A further strike from Montano and one from Conor Okus set the Hammers on the way to a comfortable win. Carr was delighted with how his side responded after four weeks without a game. He said: "It's a great way to start the New Year. We were eagerly awaiting a game as the friendly game we had on last week was cancelled because of the frost. It was important to hit the ground running which we have done and I'm pleased." After the successful start, the thoughts of some of the youngsters will now turn to Tuesday's reserve team fixture against Fulham, although their involvement may depend on Gianfranco Zola's plans for next weekend's FA Cup fourth round tie against Hartlepool United.
"Looking ahead to the reserve game on Tuesday, it depends on how many senior players the manager wants. That will filter down to us so if it is the same team that they had last week then there won't be that many young ones featuring but if he holds one or two back for the cup game on Saturday that will open the door for one or two of the younger ones."

FULHAM : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
3-1 (Di Michelle, Noble [pen], Cole)
18th January 2009
Att: 31,818
Referee: P. Dowd

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble (Faubert)
Collison (Mullins)
Cole
Di Michelle (Dyer)

West Ham shrugged off the impending departure of Craig Bellamy to conclude Fulham's nine-match unbeaten Barclays Premier League run in emphatic style. Bellamy's replacement in the starting line-up, David di Michele, capitalised on an error by John Pantsil to give the Hammers an early lead. A magnificent 30-yard strike from Paul Konchesky against his former club levelled the score but the Fulham left-back then hacked down Carlton Cole, allowing Mark Noble to pounce from the spot. The impressive Cole completed the rout when he combined with Di Michele in the 76th minute, ensuring West Ham's fifth game without defeat and their fourth successive victory over Fulham. It was a lifeless match but the Hammers will be satisfied with a victory delivered against the backdrop of the latest controversy in Bellamy's career. Bellamy reportedly refused to play for the club on Friday after the Hammers denied him permission to talk to Tottenham. The Wales striker, the subject of bids from Spurs and Manchester City, was offered a new contract but rejected the offer and stormed out of the training ground. When Gianfranco Zola named his matchday squad for Fulham, Bellamy's name was missing - a move that would appear to signal the end of the 29-year-old's ill-fated 18-month spell in east London. Even missing their star striker, West Ham had enough to dispatch a side that arrived at Upton Park seeking to establish a new unbeaten Premier League club record. Instead, former Hammers defenders Pantsil and Konchesky handed their one-time employers victory on a plate. There was little sign of the defensive wobbles to come as Pantsil expertly dealt with an early lofted pass from Lucas Neill to Carlton Cole at the far post. But Pantsil soon blotted his copybook as he quickly turned from hero to

villain in the seventh minute. Neill produced an innocuous-looking cross that Pantsil should have dispatched into the stands, but instead opting to casually chest it down into the six-yard box. The alert Di Michele spotted the chance and immediately darted in behind the stranded Pantsil, passing keeper Mark Schwarzer and finishing from close range. Fulham had not conceded an away goal in the league for their last four games but their defence looked increasingly fragile as West Ham probed for a second. The Hammers' dominance left Upton Park stunned as the next goal went in against the run of play - scored by their former left-back Konchesky. Fulham defender Konchesky, having found room to manoeuvre out wide, looked up and unleashed a magnificent 25-yard drive past Robert Green that beat the keeper at the near post. Normal service resumed after Konchesky had silenced the home fans with West Ham dominating territory and possession. The Hammers saw a promising attack broken up by Dickson Etuhu, who was prominent as the second half got under way. Di Michele had the ball in the net in the 50th minute following an expert strike but he was correctly adjudged offside. Bobby Zamora blazed over the crossbar from five yards out as Fulham produced their most incisive passage of play so far in the game. But just as the Cottagers appeared to be gaining the ascendancy, disaster struck as Konchesky conceded a 59th minute penalty. The former England full-back was caught dithering as the last line of defence, allowing Carlton Cole to sneak in and steel the ball from his feet. Cole burst free into the box and Konchesky hacked him down from behind, resulting in an immediate penalty from referee Phil Dowd who was superbly positioned. Mark Noble slotted home the spot-kick and West Ham nearly extended their lead a heartbeat later as Cole's powerful shot whistled inches wide of the left post. West Ham ended the contest with 15 minutes to go, Di Michele capitalising on more hesitation in Fulham's defence to set up Cole.

FULHAM : Premier Reserve League

Woodfield Park
0-2
20th January 2009

Stech
Spector
Lopez
Eyjolfsson (N'Gala)
Tomkins
Dyer (Spence)
Mullins
Harvey (Hines)
Jeffrey
Sears
Boa Morte

Alex Dyer's reserve side ended their long run of home wins with defeat to Fulham at the Boleyn Ground. A quiet opening period was bought to life when Zoltan Gera opened the scoring for the visitors nine minutes before half time. Fulham striker Wayne Brown ensured an away win with their second just before the hour mark. The match began in a cautious manner with both teams seeming reluctant to attack although Julian Gray did test Marek Stech with a shot that the Czech youth international did well to palm around the post. The visitors seemed lifted and only the alert defending of Jonathan Spector and captain James Tomkins kept several attacks at bay. As the half wore on the Hammers began to settle, though, finding the rhythm that had served them so well at home this season. The strike pairing of Freddie Sears and Jack Jeffery were starting to threaten and only a crucial interception from Fulham captain Chris Smalling prevented a Walter Lopez cross from reaching Sears. Moments later it was Jeffery's turn to get involved as Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale completely misjudged a backpass to leave the United No9 with what looked like a certain goal. However, just as he was poised to shoot, Smalling intervened to make his second vital clearance in the space of five minutes. Fulham then took the lead on 36 minutes when Gera - one of six full internationals playing in white - beat Stech with a low right-footed drive from 20 yards. Two minutes later Kieron Dyer was replaced by England Under-19 international Jordan Spence in reserve team manager Alex Dyer's first change of the night. United nearly levelled with the last attack of the half when Luis Boa Morte - who had enjoyed an excellent opening period - played Lopez down the left and his smart cross was cleared from danger by Toni Kallio. It was to be the last action of fairly subdued first half. The Hammers were full of running in the opening exchanges after the interval but just seemed to lack that bit of luck in final third. Their frustration was compounded as Fulham doubled their advantage 13

minutes into the second period. A cross from the right was controlled on the chest superbly by Brown, who then evaded his marker before firing low and hard past the stranded Stech. Fulham sought to hang onto their lead by bringing on Matthew Saunders for Leon Andreasen on the hour and Dyer responded by swapping Tom Harvey for Zavon Hines, who was making his first appearance since recovering from a knee injury. The visitors continued to stifle everything United threw at them and the game was threatening to meander to its conclusion despite the home side's best efforts. Alex Dyer played his final card by bringing on Bondz N'Gala for Holmar Eyjolfsson as the Hammers fought to keep their 100 per cent home record in tact. With eight minutes remaining Sears nearly pulled one back, but his shot following a darting run was blocked behind by a Fulham defender. From the resulting corner, Spector's flicked effort crept just wide. There was just enough time for one last incident involving the American international as he tumbled down in the area, but the referee ruled no penalty. It was to be the final chance for United, who lose their 100 per cent record.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED : FA Cup (Fourth Round)

Victoria Park
2-0 (Behrami, Noble [pen])
24th January 2009
Att: 6,849
Referee: L. Mason

Green
Faubert
Collins
Tomkins
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble
Colliison (Boa Morte)
Cole (Sears)
Di Michelle (Mullins)

West Ham eased into the FA Cup fifth round as League One Hartlepool paid the price for a dreadful blunder by referee Lee Mason. In a dramatic conclusion to the first half, Switzerland international Valon Behrami fired the Barclays Premier League side into a 44th-minute lead, and they were then gifted a second in injury time by Mason's error. The official pointed to the spot after defender Michael Nelson had handled Carlton Cole's flick-on, although the incident clearly took place outside the penalty area. Mark Noble calmly converted from 12 yards as the bulk of a crowd of 6,849 at Victoria Park made their feelings abundantly clear. From then on, the Hammers never looked like letting their hosts back into the game, and dreams of a first ever trip to the fifth round in their centenary year evaporated for Chris Turner's men. For West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola, who won the FA Cup twice as a Chelsea player, the win extended his side's unbeaten run to six games and suggested there is life after Craig Bellamy at Upton Park. Pools went into the game having knocked Stoke out of the competition in the last round and West Brom out of the Carling Cup earlier in the season, and with high hopes of adding a third top-flight scalp. For 44 minutes, director of sport Turner will have been delighted with what he saw as they took the game to the Hammers and on more than one occasion threatened to take the lead. Indeed, had skipper Scott Parker not been as alert in his role on the line, Michael Mackay's header from a Matty

Robson corner might have crept inside the post. Winger Andy Monkhouse, playing on the right instead of his more accustomed position on the left, twice cut inside to fire off target as he and fellow wide man Robson prospered to provide strikers Joel Porter and Mackay with some decent service. The Hammers struggled to create anything of note, and their frustration was summed up six minutes before the break when Cole lunged in at goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett to spark a melee which resulted in yellow cards for him and full-back Herita Ilunga. However, his side finally made their mark as time ran down and took the lead with 44 minutes gone after putting together a fluent move. Behrami started the attack and eventually turned up on the end of it to fire home a left-foot shot after Jack Collison had made space for him inside the box. But if that was hard luck on the League One side, their fortunes were to take a further turn for the worse in injury time. There was little doubt that Nelson handled Cole's flick-on, but despite the offence clearly taking place a yard outside the box, referee Mason pointed to the spot. Noble needed no second invitation to blast the penalty past Lee-Barrett and rub salt into the wound. Pools returned knowing their hopes were forlorn unless they swiftly reduced the deficit, but the Hammers might have killed off the tie within three minutes of the restart. Lee-Barrett gratefully conceded a corner at his near post after Behrami had been allowed to run on to a loose ball inside the penalty area and cross, and James Collins might have done better with his header from the resulting corner. The Londoners were coping comfortably as Pools struggled to regain their momentum. However, the result would have been in doubt once again with 62 minutes gone had it not been for Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green. Midfielder Gary Liddle rose to meet Robson's driven cross from the left and powered a header towards goal, but Green threw out a hand to deflect his effort away. The near-miss seemed to revive the home side and they once again started to dominate proceedings, although too often they were forced to go for goal from distance, to little real effect. But Cole should really have cemented the win with 16 minutes remaining when he was played in by David di Michele. He tried to slide his shot past Lee-Barrett, but the goalkeeper got a touch to deflect it on to the post, much to the delight of Cole's detractors behind the goal. The home side battled valiantly to the whistle, but even the introduction of David Foley, the hero of the victory over Stoke, could not release the Hammers' stranglehold.

IPSWICH TOWN Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

(Away)
3-0 (Lee, Edgar, Abdulla)
24th January 2009

Loveday
Smith
McNaughton
Fry
Brown
Okus (Subuola)
Kearns (Werndly)
Lee
Abdulla (Grasser)
Edgar
Montano

Tony Carr's Under-18s coasted to a 3-0 win at Ipswich Town despite playing the majority of the second half with ten men. United started well are were unlucky not to be ahead within a minute as Danny Kearns' free-kick hit the inside of the post and bounced out. They were not to be denied for long, though, as 19 minutes later Ollie Lee gave them the lead when he drilled home an Anthony Edgar cut-back from 12 yards. The lead was doubled when a good move involving Kearns, Lee and Ahmed Abdulla set Anthony Edgar through with just the goalkeeper to beat and he prodded the ball into the back of the net. It was not to be all plain sailing for United, though, as they had Christian Montano sent off for a strong tackle ten minutes into the second half. This presented them with a different kind of challenge and it was one that they rose to admirably, putting their bodies in the way of everything Ipswich threw at them. After soaking up the pressure for most of the second half, Carr's side made sure of the win with a superb third with ten minutes remaining. Jordan Brown picked up the ball on the left and crossed for Abdulla and the striker finished with a spectacular overhead After the match, academy director Carr felt the experience of going a man down would help his young side's development. He said: "A clean sheet and terrific win that makes it two in a row after our winter break. "I think going down to ten men in the second half taught us that there are other aspects of the game that you have to perform in order to win. We had to work hard and chase the ball backwards and forwards. They had lots of possession but very rarely threatened because we defended deep and in numbers and full credit to the lads for keeping them out."

HULL CITY : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
2-0 (Michelle, Cole)
28th January 2009
Att: 34,340
Referee: H. Webb

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilungs
Behrami
Parker
Collison (Faubert)
Noble (Boa Morte)
Di. Michelle (Nsereko)
Cole

In-form striker Carlton Cole struck again as West Ham extended their unbeaten run with a comfortable 2-0 win at Upton Park against fast-fading Hull - who lost a sixth successive Premier League game. The former Chelsea trainee made it six goals in seven games to help the Irons consolidate their position in the top half of the table. Italian David Di Michele put the home side ahead in the first half, after Mark Noble's penalty was earlier saved by inspired Hull keeper Matt Duke. New signing Savio Nsereko came off the bench for the final few minutes, but by then the job was done. However, for Tigers boss Phil Brown - who gave new £5million midfielder Jimmy Bullard a debut in the second half - his hard work goes on to ensure the efforts of a fine opening to the campaign do not end in disaster. After a cagey opening, the match burst into life on 15 minutes. Noble's shot was deflected behind for a corner, which eventually dropped out to Jack Collison and his low strike was well saved a full stretch by Duke, making his first Premier League start of the season. The Hull keeper was left a spectator moments later when Di Michele unleashed a superb curling effort from just outside the box which came back off the inside of the far post. The Hammers were awarded a penalty, in the 21st minute, when Sam Ricketts was adjudged by referee Howard Webb to have bundled over Cole as the pair tussled in the six-yard box.

Noble - who spent a spell on loan at Hull in 2006 - drilled the ball towards the left corner, only for Duke to pull off a stunning save at full stretch. The hosts were soon back on the offensive. A quick punt up field suddenly released Di Michele ahead of the defence and into the left side of the Hull penalty area. However, the Italian made a complete mess of his first-time shot, dragging the ball horribly across goal and wide. Di Michele did better when he cut inside and drilled in a low shot which tested Duke. The ball was not properly cleared though and eventually Cole sent in a curling effort towards the right-hand corner. Duke made another acrobatic save - but this time could only push the ball out and it dropped right into the path of Di Michele at the far post, who smashed the Hammers ahead on 34 minutes. The goal had been coming for some time, and suddenly Hull were in danger of being over-run. The all-action Di Michele was again at the centre of things, this time combining with Cole to cross from the right. Collison arrived at pace in the six-yard box, but his first-time shot cannoned back off the near post. Cole should have made it 2-0 just before the break when he beat the offside trap to race clear into the Hull penalty area. However, Duke stood up well and made another fine block - before jumping to his feet and dashing back to clear the ball from off the line as it bounced towards the empty net. Although Hull started the second half well, they fell further behind on 51 minutes. A deep free-kick by Noble from the right channel floated over towards the far post. The ball dropped back for Di Michele. His low strike bounced off the foot of the upright and right into the path of Cole, who diverted it into the roof of the net. Tigers boss Brown had seen enough and made a double change, with Craig Fagan replacing Manucho and Bullard coming on for Geovanni. However, the damage was already done. Nevertheless, Bullard tested Green with a well-struck effort from 22 yards, which the Hammers keeper tipped around the post at full stretch. To their credit, Hull continued to try to take the game to the hosts, who were guilty of sitting far too deep. However, West Ham found more space as the match went on, with Cole and Di Michele both having efforts blocked. Duke touched a chipped effort from Noble over the bar, with the Hull keeper making another fine save from Julien Faubert before Savio was handed a cameo for the final four minutes.

ARSENAL : Barclays Premier League

Emirates Stadium
0-0
31st January 2009
Att: 60,109
Referee: S. Bennett

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble (Nsereko)
Collison
Cole
Di Michelle (Boa Morte)

Arsenal's Premier League frustrations continued as a determined West Ham held out for a goalless draw at Emirates Stadium. Abou Diaby saw an early header deflected onto the crossbar, and Emmanuel Adebayor missed two good chances in the second half, while even the introduction of leading scorer Robin van Persie from the bench could not conjure up a winner. The Hammers, who continued their unbeaten run, defended well as a unit throughout and were worth a share of the points. The Gunners, meanwhile, may have not lost in the Premier League since beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on November 30, but remain well adrift in the title race and, crucially, outside the top four. It was a bright start by the home side, who almost snatched an early lead when Diaby's header from a corner deflected off defender James Collins and onto the crossbar. West Ham - who became the first team to win at Emirates Stadium in April 2007 during their successful battle against relegation - continued to sit back and invite pressure. Samir Nasri was causing all sorts of problem with his pace down the left, and Nicklas Bendtner was only inches away from connecting with his cross into the six-yard box. The young Dane should have perhaps done better than to head wide when, in the 21st minute, he did get on the end of a deep centre from the busy French winger. There was a hold-up when Emmanuel Eboue needed treatment after being flattened in a challenge with Scott Parker. The much-maligned Ivory Coast midfielder limped heavily on his return to action, and was eventually replaced by Mexican youngster Carlos Vela with 10 minutes to go before half-time. Nasri moved into the middle as Arsenal looked to be more creative. However, while it continued to be one-way traffic, West Ham held their defensive line well. To their credit, Zola's men looked to counter attack as much as possible. Collins sent a header goalwards from a corner, which was knocked away by Gael Clichy on the far post. Arsenal again enjoyed a good spell following the restart after Hammers skipper Lucas Neill pushed over Vela on the left. The free-kick was sent deep towards the back post, where Bendtner knocked it down and Green punched out. Kolo Toure acrobatically hooked the ball goalwards over his shoulder, but Collins was on hand to head clear. Arsenal were on the offensive again when some quick footwork created space for Diaby on the edge of the penalty area, only for the midfielder to then drag his low shot wide. Denilson had two efforts blocked as Arsenal again threatened the West Ham goal. A quick counter attack released Bacary Sagna on the overlap down the right. His cross towards the near post was met by Adebayor, who slid in ahead of his marker, but could only guide the ball wide. Denilson pulled the trigger again from just outside the box, and his angled shot flew over the top corner. With 22 minutes left, Wenger turned to Van Persie - who has had a hand in every Arsenal goal this month - as the Dutchman replaced Bendtner. It was then West Ham's turn to make an attacking change when record signing Savio Nsereko went on for Mark Noble. Adebayor had another golden chance when picked out in the middle by Vela's cross from the left, but could only head the ball straight at Green. Vela was

booked for going down as he charged between defenders into the left side of the penalty box, which looked somewhat harsh. With seven minutes left, West Ham introduced former Gunner Luis Boa Morte for David Di Michele. Diaby was carried off following an awkward fall in a challenge with Savio and was replaced by Song. The Gunners pressed for a winner, but the visitors remained resolute to the final whistle during four minutes of stoppage time.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
2-1 (Edgar, Hall)
31st January 2009

Loveday, Smith, Brown, McNaughton, Fry, Edgar, Lee, Grasser (Okus), Monaton, Subuola (Hall), Abdulla

A goal at either end of the 90 minutes was enough to see West Ham United's Under-18 side continue their perfect start to 2009 with a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic. Tony Carr's team won their third consecutive FA Premier Academy League game in difficult, blustery conditions at Little Heath. The Hammers opened the scoring after just two minutes through Anthony Edgar. The Addicks, who had won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline in November, came back strongly and equalised on the half-hour mark, only for England Under-16 international striker Robert Hall to nick the three points with an opportunist strike with only three minutes remaining. Afterwards, Carr was delighted with his team's commitment and also the performances of a number of Under-16 squad members - namely strikers Subuola and Hall and fullback Miles Smith - called upon due to injuries to Balint Bajner, Filip Modelski and Tony Brookes. "It wasn't the best of games, I must admit. The wind played a massive factor and it did spoil the quality of the game to be honest. We scored very early from a Daniel Subuola cross and Anthony Edgar controlled and hit the ball low, right-footed into the goal. That was_one-nil, a really good start after two minutes. "We were bright for about ten or 15 minutes after that but Charlton had the better of the remainder of the half and equalised on about 30 minutes and made it one-one. In the second half the wind was at our backs and we really pressed them. They had the odd counterattack but it wasn't the best of games. "It looked as if it was going to peter into a draw. Their goalkeeper made two outstanding saves - one from Conor Okus and one from Miles Smith - that on a better day would surely have been goals. Christian Montano then put through-ball to Robert Hall, who had come on as sub, and the goalkeeper looked favourite to get it. He did get it at first but then, as he dived to the ground, he somehow let it out of his grasp and Robert swivelled on it and curled it into the net from an acute angle. We just nicked it in the 88th minute. "This time of year we're starting to blood some of the younger players so our squad will get younger as the season progresses. Miles, who made his debut last week at right-back, is a schoolboy. Daniel started his first game for us and Robert is a year younger at 15. "We were obviously pleased to win it even if it wasn't the best of games. We've now taken nine points from our last three games and it's pushed us right up the table to fourth place. We stuck in there and just about edged it on chances. It's a terrific start to the new year."

MANCHESTER UNITED : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-1
8th February 2009
Att: 34,958
Referee: P. Dowd

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami (Tristan)
Parker
Noble (Nsereko)
Collison
Cole
Di. Michelle

A rare right-footed goal from Ryan Giggs and a rather more predictable 13th consecutive Barclays Premier League clean sheet were enough for Manchester United to reclaim top spot. In a lacklustre game of huff and puff, with not much else in between, Edwin Van der Sar never looked in serious danger of being denied a British record for not conceding a goal that now extends to 1,212 minutes. But United looked equally unlikely to score either until Giggs stepped inside Carlton Cole, burst into the box and thrashed home a shot that was enough to end West Ham's impressive eight-match unbeaten run at Upton Park and edge closer to the championship triumph that will see the Old Trafford outfit match Liverpool's impressive tally. Hammers old boys Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick were given warm ovations but Carlos Tevez received an even louder burst of applause in recognition of his efforts in the Eastenders' survival fight two years ago, which continues to cause the Premier League so much grief. The hosts reserved their usual white-hot atmosphere for a United visit on 'Bobby Moore day', in recognition of a man who will shortly have to share top billing with David Beckham on 108 caps for England. That appreciation continued once the match started too, as Matthew Upson slid in on Giggs to execute a perfect tackle of which Moore himself would have been proud. By that point, Giggs had already sliced a volley wide in an encouraging start for the champions that also involved a couple of trademark piledrivers from Paul Scholes, one of which Cristiano Ronaldo turned goalwards, forcing Robert Green to make an impressive save. A brilliant passage of close control involving Giggs, Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov ended with the Bulgarian lashing a volley

goalwards that James Collins found himself accidentally in the way of. Another move of similar quality brought a Nemanja Vidic shot into the body of the same man and it seemed just a matter of time before United eventually made the breakthrough. Instead, with Upson outstanding and Scott Parker snapping into a series of tackles in midfield, the Hammers slowly got themselves a foothold in the contest. If ever there was a man needing to impress watching England coach Fabio Capello, it was Carlton Cole. Unfortunately, Cole turned like a giant barge as he collected Jack Collison's short pass with his back to goal. What seemed like a clear shooting chance quickly disappeared as Vidic and Ferdinand converged on the former Chelsea man, who seems set to win his first cap in Seville on Wednesday. Cole had earlier managed to gain half a yard on Ferdinand to reach David Di Michele's through ball but he is not the first striker in recent times to find van der Sar too big a wall to knock over. When the 33rd minute ticked by, van der Sar eclipsed the record of old Aberdeen stalwart Bobby Clark, who went 1,155 minutes of league action without conceding a goal during the 1970-71 campaign to claim that British record. The veteran Dutchman's goal was still intact when Di Michele was crowded out on the edge of United's penalty area and the loose ball fell to a marauding Lucas Neill, whose curling shot probably did not stretch van der Sar enough. It was a similar story for United, with Ronaldo in particular getting increasingly agitated with his team-mates, John O'Shea receiving one mouthful and even Sir Alex Ferguson getting a passionate response as the Scot made a point to Ronaldo on the touchline. Yet if the bad temper was taken as a sign United's focus was not fully wired in, West Ham got it horribly wrong. After Giggs had his corner half-cleared, Scholes swiftly spread the ball back to his long-time colleague. Cole flew in to make a tackle by the touchline. He failed, as did his Hammers team-mates, who expected Giggs to eventually transfer the ball to his generally lethal left foot. Instead Giggs struck it with his right, beyond a startled Green, and into the net.

MIDDLESBROUGH : FA Cup (Fifth Round)

Upton Park
1-1 (Ilunga)
14th February 2009
Att: 33,658
Referee: P. Walton

Green
Neill
Collins
Upson
Ilunga
Collison
Parker
Noble (Nsereko)
Boa Morte (Sears)
Di Michelle
Cole (Tristan)

West Ham full-back Herita Ilunga headed a late equaliser against Middlesbrough at Upton Park to earn a replay from their FA Cup fifth-round clash. Boro had led through Stewart Downing's first goal of the season and Gareth Southgate's men looked good value for their lead until Ilunga struck. The Congo defender has a taste for the cup - both his goals this campaign have come in the competition and it keeps alive Gianfranco Zola's hopes of winning the trophy as a manager. Zola had FA Cup pedigree as a player, winning it twice with Chelsea and beating Boro at Wembley both times, including getting the better of Southgate in the 2000 final. The Hammers also went into today's clash in good form - their defeat against Manchester United last Sunday came after eight unbeaten matches - but it was the visitors who took the initiative in the early stages. Boro boss Southgate was forced into a change of formation due to Marlon King being cup-tied, meaning Downing was employed in a central position in midfield. It was Downing who helped create the first chance, after Jack Collison lost the ball. Downing raced down the left flank, his cross was cleared as far as Adam Johnson and the midfielder dragged his shot wide. Another mistake, this time from David Di Michele, led to another Boro chance after 11 minutes. Didier Digard cut inside from the left and offloaded to Downing, whose shot from 20 yards went just past Robert Green's upright. The Hammers were hoping for a repeat of the 2006 season when they beat Boro on the way to the final - and before falling behind they applied pressure. Collison wriggled free on the edge of the area and laid the ball off, but Brad Jones was alert to the near-post shot from Mark Noble. Di Michele failed to connect with a scissor-kick, James

Collins forced a save with a long-range drive and a handball shout against David Wheater was turned down. Despite the encouraging attacks, it was Boro who took the lead in the 22nd minute. Gary O'Neil picked the ball up on the right flank and curled in a dangerous ball that Matthew Upson missed and Collins managed to allow to bounce through his legs, leaving Downing to stoop down and head home. O'Neil's right boot almost created a second goal but Robert Huth could not direct his header. West Ham attempted to reply and a dipping volley from Di Michele was just off target - but they received another blow when in-form England striker Carlton Cole was forced off with an ankle injury. Diego Tristan came on. Boro goalkeeper Jones kept his side on level terms with a save in the 38th minute. Luis Boa Morte had driven into the penalty area and Noble got a shot away, with Jones swatting away after being wrongfooted by a deflection. Collison then blasted the rebound over the crossbar. Di Michele got behind the Boro defence and squared the ball to Tristan - but the finish was ugly. Zola waited three minutes into the second half before bringing on Freddie Sears and taking off Boa Morte, with the former Fulham winger getting jeered by his own supporters. Sears had a shot from 25 yards that flew over the crossbar as West Ham attempted to find a way back into the match with a three-man strikeforce. Downing released Afonso Alves on the hour mark and the Brazilian's angled drive went wide of Green's post. Green was also down to parry an Alves effort shortly after. Downing could have added another but Green stopped a long-range drive hit with the England man's unfavoured right foot. Di Michele missed a glorious chance when Ilunga crossed and the Italian skied the finish. The leveller came after Savio Nsereko, on as a substitute, swung over a free-kick with seven minutes left and Ilunga headed in at the far post after Collins flicked on.

NORWICH CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Colney
1-1 (Lee)
14th February 2009

Loveday
Barrett
Fry
McNaughton
Sanchez
Kearns
Payne
Lee
Grasser (Okus)
Bajner (Subuola)
Abdulla (Edgar)

West Ham United's Under-18s made it six Barclays Premier Academy League matches without defeat against Norwich City at Colney. The Canaries took the lead against the run of play with just five minutes remaining, only for Oliver Lee to salvage a point for the Hammers with a neat 88th-minute finish. Academy director Tony Carr was disappointed that his players had not secured the victory that their performance had deserved, but happy to see his team extend their long unbeaten run. "I felt we were the better team throughout the 90 minutes but obviously we didn't convert that superiority into goals and it almost rebounded on us when they scored in the 85th-minute. "We missed good chances either because we delayed a pass or delayed a shot or made bad errors of judgement in vital positions and in the end it cost us. It's certainly a game we will look back on and think we should have won. "We were either passing when we should have been shooting or vice-versa and also missed a couple of good opportunities - one where they cleared it off the line and another when their goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Balint Bajner also had a great headed opportunity that he directed straight at the goalkeeper. They weren't all clear-cut chances but just opportunities where we didn't take the right decisions." It looked like the home side were on their way to victory when they scored through an untidy, controversial Nick Davey effort late on. Again, Carr said the Hammers had been their own worst enemies in gifting their hosts the lead. "Josh Payne, who was playing his first game for us in a long time due to his loan spell at Cheltenham Town and a knee injury, gave the ball away in our own half. Anthony Edgar got possession for us and then gave it back to them again. They took advantage and scrambled the ball in. Our defenders claimed it had not crossed the line, but the linesman gave it so it was a goal. "Thankfully, we got an opportunity and got our equaliser. Anthony came in on his right foot from the left and chipped the ball up to the far post. Josh laid it back square and Oliver Lee, with his back to goal, managed to swivel and back-heel it past the Norwich goalkeeper from very close-range to earn us a point. The match also saw highly-rated Spanish defender Sergio Sanchez, a regular in the Under-16 side, make his bow for the Under-18s.

BOLTON WANDERERS : Barclays Premier League

Reebok Stadium
1-2 (Parker)
21st February 2009
Att: 15,602
Referee: S. Tanner

Green
Spector (Sears)
Collins (Tomkins)
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble
Collison (Nsereko)
Cole
Di. Michelle

Club captain Kevin Davies steered Bolton closer to safety as he took his goal tally into double figures for only the second time since moving to the Reebok Stadium. The industrious striker made it 10 for the season in the 11th minute and his side appeared to be coasting after Matt Taylor's goal two minutes earlier. However, West Ham stormed back and Scott Parker gave them hope with a close-range finish but they were unable to claim the point that their possession perhaps deserved Bolton made the breakthrough following a splendid free-kick from Taylor. He curled his effort into the corner from 20 yards after Jack Collison had been penalised for a challenge on Mark Davies. The Hammers were left catching their breath again two minutes later when Bolton extended their lead. Johan Elmander, back in the side after a four-match abscence with a hamstring injury, showed neat footwork to carve out an opening for Kevin Davies. He took advantage to sweep the ball home and Bolton looked almost home and dry at that early stage. There was more misery for the visitors in the 15th minute when James Collins was stretchered off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He was replaced by James Tomkins. West Ham were anxious to get back in the game before half-time and David Di Michele found space at the back post 14 minutes later but dragged his effort wide. They launched a swift counter-atack seven minutes afterwards when Carlton Cole released Mark Noble with a delightful through-ball. Noble was clear on goal but instead opted to try to find a team-mate. It proved to be the wrong call as Gary Cahill was able to make the clearance with a degree of comfort. Then Di Michele scampered clear and drew Jussi Jasskelainen out of his goal but his finish was dreadful, the ball missing the target by a distance. The Hammers kept up the pressure and Cole got into a good position in the penalty area

but his effort failed to trouble Jaaskelainen. West Ham almost pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half when Taylor cleared Cole's effort off the line after Tomkins had headed the ball on. Bolton hit back and Taylor tested Green after Jlloyd Samuel had launched the ball forward. West Ham got their reward in the 66th minute when Parker scored after timing his run to perfection to get on the end of a cross from Jonathon Spector. It was no more than the visitors deserved for the work they had put in after conceding two goals in the first 11 minutes. Now it was Bolton's turn to look vunerable. West Ham maintained the momentum and Cahill cleared off the line from Di Michele's effort. There was another scare for Bolton in the 82nd minute when Jaaskelainen spilled a header from Cole, only to recover just in time. West Ham were running the show but ran out of time and slumped to their first defeat on the road in the Barclays Premier League in eight games. It was little wonder manager Gianfranco Zola looked a picture of bewilderment at the end of the game.

ARSENAL Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

London Colney
0-1
21st February 2009

Street, Barrett, McNaughton, Sanchez, Fry (Driver), Kearns,Lee,Payne (Grasser), Edgar, Bajner, Abdulla (Subuola)

Tony Carr's Academy side went down by the narrowest of margins away to league leaders Arsenal.The Gunners just edged the London derby to move eight points clear at the top of Group A of the FA Premier Academy League standings. The only goal of the game came courtesy of home captain Jay Emmanuel-Thomas just before the interval at London Colney and there was to be no way back for Carr's young charges. The loss brought to an end a six-game unbeaten run dating back to 6 December. Daniel Kearns and Balint Bajner had the best of the visitors' chances in the second half but Arsenal were always too strong. There were some real positives for Carr though, not least 16-year-old central defender Sergio Sanchez who has recently joined the club from Barcelona and he impressed alongside Callum McNaughton. Josh Payne also got a pre-planned 45 minutes to maintain his sharpness. Several of the Hammers side could be in action again on Tuesday night when West Ham United welcome Tottenham Hotspur for a reserve outing at Bishop's Stortford. Also likely to be on view is winger Junior Stanislas, who travelled with the first team to Saturday's game at Bolton Wanderers but is cup-tied and therefore cannot figure against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Premier Reserve League

Woodfield Park
1-3 (Edgar)
24th February 2009

Stech
O'Neill
Payne
Fry
Miller (McNaughton)
Edgar
Harvey
Grasser (Kearns)
Stanislas
Jeffrey
Hines (Bajner)

A hat-trick from Adel Taarabt saw Tottenham Hotspur complete a Barclays Premier Reserve League South double over West Ham United with a 3-1 success at Bishop's Stortford FC. Taarabt scored twice with powerful, precise finishes before adding a late penalty as Spurs came from behind to win following Anthony Edgar's well-struck fifth-minute opener. With the first-team in FA Cup fifth-round replay action at Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening, Alex Dyer sent out a youthful lineup against the Hammers' cross-London rivals. Dyer named no fewer than ten teenagers, with 20-year-old striker Zavon Hines the elder statesman in the side. Tottenham boss Clive Allen, the former West Ham striker, named former Portugal international Ricardo Rocha and the exciting Moroccan forward Taarabt in a similarly i inexperienced selection. With two such youthful teams on display, it came as no surprise that both sets of players appeared eager to impress from the opening whistle. The first half was thrill-a-minute as both goalkeepers - Marek Stech and Ben Alnwick - were kept busy by their opponents. For Spurs, Taarabt was an almost constant threat, unleashing shot after shot at the home goal. However, it was the hosts who were to open the scoring. The lively Junior Stanislas had already gone close with a 25-yard free-kick when Hines' right-wing cross hit Anthony Edgar on the back before dropping into the winger's path. The Under-18 regular made no mistake, lashing the loose ball past Alnwick from an acute angle to give West Ham the lead. The advantage was to last just five minutes, however, with Taarabt underlining his potential by running at the home defence before unleashing an unstoppable low drive from just outside the penalty area. Stech was given no chance by the African, whose shot arrowed into the bottom left-hand corner. With both teams throwing men forward at every opportunity, it was something of a miracle that the remainder of the first half was scoreless. For the Hammers, Stanislas is a constant threat, while Hines -

called up to the senior Jamaica squad for the first time earlier this month - gave the experienced Rocha a torrid time with his pace and movement. Edgar and Ashley Miller both tested Alnwick with low shots, while Tom Harvey was unlucky to see his shot blocked on the line by Daniel Hutchins. At the other end, Taarabt had no fewer than seven attempts at goal, only for a combination of Stech, captain Josh Payne, defender Matthew Fry, midfielder Georg Grasser and the forward's own wayward finishing to prevent him adding to his early strike. The second period was less incident-packed, but still produced more than enough excitement to enthral a sizeable crowd at Woodside Park. It was England Under-19 winger Stanislas, who has recently enjoyed a successful loan spell with League One Southend United, who almost created a winner for Edgar, only for the No 11 to shoot straight at Alnwick after being sent clear of the Spurs defence. Dyer chose to blood three more of the club's Under-18 side during the second half, with Northern Ireland youth international midfielder Daniel Kearns, central defender Callum McNaughton and Hungary Under-19 striker Balint Bajner all given the opportunity to shine. With the impressive Fry, who showed his versatility by switching to left-back late on, keeping tabs on Kudos Oyenuga, Tottenham no longer posed the threat they had during the opening 45 minutes. However, the talented Taarabt could not be kept quiet for the entire half and broke the Hammers' hearts with just six minutes remaining. There appeared to be little danger when the 19-year-old picked the ball up 40 yards from goal, but Taarabt had other ideas, cutting between Kearns and Harvey before unleashing a fierce left-foot shot that flew into the bottom left-hand corner. There was still time for Payne, who also impressed in a central defensive role, to work Alnwick again with a looping header from a curling Stanislas free-kick, but Spurs had the final say as Taarabt completed his treble - and a league double over the Hammers -from the penalty spot after McNaughton had brought down David Hutton. Despite the defeat, coach Dyer will take plenty of positives from the performance of his young side. Fry, Payne, Hines and Stanislas all caught the eye, while Stech had no chance with any of Taarabt's three goals.

MIDDLESBROUGH : FA Cup (Fifth Round Replay)

Riverside Stadium
0-2
25th February 2009
Att: 15,602
Referee: S. Bennett

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Noble (Collison)
Kovac (Tristan)
Cole
Sears (Di Michelle)

Stewart Downing turned in an inspired display as Middlesbrough shook off their relegation fears to book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the fourth successive year. The England international curled home a brilliant fifth-minute free-kick to get his side off to the perfect start, and was a thorn in West Ham's side throughout as the Teessiders claimed just their third win in 18 attempts in all competitions. Tuncay Sanli's 20th-minute volley gave Gareth Southgate's men breathing space, and both the Turkey striker and Jeremie Aliadiere, who also reminded the Riverside Stadium faithful of his ability with a fine individual display, had chances to kill off the Hammers long before the final whistle. Scott Parker passed up a glorious opportunity to give his side a foothold in the game when he shot inches wide on the hour, while substitute David Di Michele made life difficult for the home defence as time ran down. But having been denied victory at the first attempt by Herita Ilunga's equaliser at Upton Park, Boro were not about to succumb a second time and ultimately ran out comfortable winners in front of a crowd of 15,602 to book a trip to Everton in the last eight. Defeat on Teesside ended Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola's hopes of lifting the trophy he won twice as a player at the first attempt as a manager, but he could have few complaints. Boro will now turn their attention to Saturday's difficult clash with Liverpool as they attempt to end a run of 14 league games without a win. Southgate had insisted before the game that, contrary to the message apparently sent out by an "unfortunately-worded" letter to some of the Riverside regulars, that he wanted them to make as much noise as possible, while at the same time admitting his players needed to give them something to shout about. With goals having been at a premium on Teesside this season - they had scored only once in their last five games in all competitions and just one in their last nine Premier League outings - that may have looked like a tall order. But with 20 minutes of the game gone, the Teessiders had rediscovered their killer touch to put the Hammers firmly on the back foot. Record signing Afonso Alves was left on the bench as Southgate instead turned to Tuncay and Aliadiere in attack, but it was Downing who produced a top-drawer finish to get his side off to the perfect start. The England international, whose only other goal so far this season came in the first game, curled home a stunning free-kick to leave Robert Green grasping at thin air and edge his side closer to the last eight. Downing might have doubled his tally with 16 minutes gone when he ran on to Matthew Upson's criminally careless pass in-field, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. However, the second goal arrived just four minutes later when central defender James Tomkins, in his desperation to cut out Gary O'Neil's long ball to Aliadiere, succeeded only in hooking it into the path of Tuncay. The Turkey international, who had not scored since the first week of December, still had plenty to do, but he controlled his volley superbly to beat the stranded Green. West Ham responded briefly with midfielder Radoslav Kovac forcing a smart 23rd-minute save from Brad Jones but with Downing, Aliadiere and Tuncay giving the hosts the kind of cutting edge they have lacked so often this season, it was they who continued to dominate. They might have all but ended the tie as a contest five minutes before the break when Downing cushioned O'Neil's raking cross into Tuncay's path, but the striker lashed his left-footed shot high over the bar. Boro could have strengthened their position further within three minutes of the restart when full-back Justin Hoyte picked out Aliadiere inside the penalty area and he turned smartly to fire in a shot which flew just wide with the help of a crucial deflection off Tomkins. Di Michele, who had scuffed a volley within seconds of his arrival, turned provider on the hour to hand Parker a gilt-edged chance to drag his side back into the game, but he pushed his shot agonisingly wide of the post with just Jones to beat. But Green too had to be on his toes to keep Aliadiere out seven minutes later after Hoyte and O'Neil had combined to play him in. Matthew Bates and Tuncay both went close as time ran down, but the win had already been assured.

MANCHESTER CITY : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
1-0 (Collison)
1st March 2009
Att: 34,562
Referee: M. Dean

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami (Nsereko)
Parker
Collison
Kovac (Spector)
Di Michelle (Lopez)
Cole

West Ham's Jack Collison was the match-winner as Manchester City's European success in midweek was quickly replaced by familiar struggles in the Barclays Premier League. City dumped FC Copenhagen out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday but again saw their domestic ambitions dented by a lacklustre display at the Boleyn Ground, where Collison's 71st-minute effort sealed the points. Robinho was sorely off-form for City, drifting in and out of the game and tapping wide from two yards, but they nearly stole a point when Elano's 90th-minute free-kick clipped the post. Herita Ilunga almost created a breakthrough after eight minutes, cutting inside his man and curling a low ball into the penalty area. Carlton Cole was the target but he was just unable to make a connection and Given collected comfortably. Two minutes later, former Hammer Craig Bellamy, roundly booed by the home fans, found space for the first time and floated a cross towards the far post, forcing a corner. Scott Parker, meanwhile, earned a 10th-minute booking for a reckless challenge on Micah Richards. The England man left the field minutes later in favour of striker Felipe Caicedo, forcing a reshuffle. After 14 minutes, Robinho almost had the ball in the net from the daintiest of touches. A mistake by Matthew Upson gifted Stephen Ireland possession and when his cross was cleared Vincent Kompany volleyed for goal. His shot was weak but Robinho, given onside, flicked his boot at the ball and almost succeeded in steering it past the sprawling Robert Green. The Brazilian then missed a sitter in the 22nd minute. The hard-working Bellamy was the architect, breaking free on the left byline before cutting the ball across goal for Ireland. The midfielder dragged it first time to the far post where it fell to Robinho, who missed the target from just two yards. West Ham had the chance to reverse the pressure with a free-kick in a dangerous position but Radoslav Kovac, on his full home debut, headed high and wide from David Di Michele's fine delivery. With half an hour gone, a swift break from Valon Behrami created a shooting chance for Cole but he dallied over his attempt and ended up blazing over. It was Behrami's last contribution before leaving the pitch on a stretcher having twisted his knee attempting a tackle. But the Hammers continued to press, with Given again called upon when Di Michele hit a firm shot from 10 yards following some superb approach play around the City area. Just 90 seconds after the restart Collison was inches away from capping a fine West Ham move with the opener. The Wales international started the attack with some good, aggressive running, before passing to Cole and continuing his run. Cole found Di Michele with a crisp first touch and the latter's cross curled invitingly towards Collison. The angle was tough and he just failed to connect with an attempted volley and the danger was cleared. City fed the ball to Robinho on the right but, despite some customary stepovers, the enigmatic forward remained short on inspiration. Indeed, the hosts were still playing the better football, with another pacy attack - this time set in motion by Ilunga's neat back-heel - ending with Parker's goalbound shot being charged down. Robinho's disappointing day took another downturn in the 63rd-minute when he took responsibility for an inviting free-kick and promptly drove his effort straight into the stands. The home side's failure to create something clear-cut must have frustrated the fans but, predictably, Bellamy's substitution with 25 minutes to play gave them something to cheer. With 71 minutes gone, they were in even finer voice as they celebrated Collison's perfectly executed finish. Savio, on as Behrami's replacement, claimed the assist after his swerving effort forced Given to parry the ball back into the penalty box. But the finish was equally impressive as Collison lifted the rebound into the top corner with the side of his foot to beat the scrambling goalkeeper. Substitute Elano teed up Robinho with a clever back-heel as City tried to respond but once again his attempt flew wide. Caicedo was not having it any better, twice missing the goal from good positions. For the Hammers, injuries were now the chief concern, with Cole moving gingerly after turning his ankle. A late free-kick almost made it 1-1 when Elano's flighted effort struck the post via Lucas Neill's head, but West Ham held on.

WIGAN ATHLETIC : Barclays Premier League

JJB Stadium
0-1 (Cole)
4th March 2009
Att: 14,169
Referee: S. Attwell

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Collison (Spector)
Noble
Parker (Lopez)
Kovac
Di Michele (Nsereko)
Cole

Carlton Cole scored a wonderful winner for West Ham but it was card-happy referee Stuart Attwell who stood out. The official sent off Cole for a second bookable offence just three minutes after his first-half strike came from an incisive passing move. Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole was next to go when he was shown a straight red for diving into the back of Scott Parker. In all Attwell issued six yellow cards, not including Cole's first, and two reds in a niggly game which threatened to descend into a nasty affair at one point. It overshadowed the excellence of West Ham's goal - a rare bright spot on an evening where beauty came a distinct second to beast. The Hammers' victory allowed them to strengthen their hold on seventh place and left Wigan still looking for their first victory in eight matches. Had it not been for Cole's brilliance the Latics would have shaded the first half. Two fouls by Lucas Neill allowed by Amr Zaki and Mido to test goalkeeper Robert Green with early free-kicks. Green's counterpart Chris Kirkland did just enough to put off Cole as he raced on to Radoslav Kovac's defence-splitting through-ball, with the West Ham striker commendably staying on his feet instead of opting to throw himself to the floor in the penalty area. In the 28th minute Mark Noble tripped Cattermole after he skipped past a couple of challenges and he was booked. Cole followed into referee Attwell's book for a late tackle on Michael Brown. However, the striker made amends in impressive style in the 34th minute when he provided the finish to a slick passing move. Parker slid the ball into David Di Michele who exchanged passes with Noble before playing in Cole on the left of the penalty area and the striker opened his body before curling a shot beyond Kirkland and into the far

corner of the net. Just three minutes later, after Parker had been booked for raking his studs down Michael Brown's shin, Cole got himself sent off. His raised foot as Emmerson Boyce went to head the ball could have been construed as dangerous and Attwell produced a second yellow card and then a red, which then sparked a small confrontation between Parker and Brown which saw both cautioned. Wigan pressed for an equaliser and in first-half stoppage-time Mido headed Charles N'Zogbia's left-wing cross wide. Neill, who rode his luck in the first half, was booked in the 49th minute for going over the ball and into Cattermole. The Wigan midfielder then pressed the self-destruct button two minutes later when he jumped into the back of Parker and was shown a straight red card. Despite going down as though he was seriously injured, Parker was able to walk off the pitch and seemed to suffer few after-effects, but he did little to endear himself to the home fans when he appeared to make a spitting gesture towards the crowd behind the dug-out. Valencia was next into Attwell's book for obstructing Herita Ilunga in the 60th minute. Wigan's next chance again fell to Bramble after Boyce and Mido had knocked down N'Zogbia's corner but he blazed well over. With 14 minutes to go, Jack Collison, under no pressure from anyone, collapsed in agony as he tried to control the ball on the right touchline. Jonathan Spector was brought on to replace him while the youngster was still receiving treatment and he eventually departed on a stretcher with his right ankle strapped up. He was the second West Ham player to leave the field in such circumstances in successive matches after fellow midfielder Valon Behrami sustained a serious knee injury on Sunday. Valencia had a long-range effort saved by Green and Hugo Rodallega's overhead kick went wide as even six minutes of added time were not enough for Wigan to grab an equalise.

PORTSMOUTH Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
1-3 (Abdulla)
7th March 2009

Loveday, Smith (Packo), Driver, McNaughton, Sanchez, Barrett, Werndly (Moncur), Okus, Abdulla, Subuola, Montano

A youthful West Ham United Under-18 side went down to a battling 3-1 FA Premier Academy League defeat by Portsmouth at Little Heath. With the club's second-year Academy professionals being rested ahead of Monday's reserve team fixture at Arsenal, Tony Carr named a lineup containing a host of first-year professionals and schoolboys. Ahmed Abdulla put the home side in front but the visitors were to battle back and score three unanswered goals in the second half. Despite their relative inexperience, however, the Hammers took the lead through Abdulla on 16 minutes. The striker completed a sweeping move involving Nick Barrett and Jack Werndly by slotting the ball past Pompey goalkeeper Liam O'Brien. The goal was no more than West Ham deserved for dominating much of the opening half-hour against their older, bigger opponents from the south coast. Christian Montano fired two shots off-target before Portsmouth spurned a fantastic opportunity to level matters on 32 minutes. A fine turn took Gael Nlundulu clear of his marker before he slotted the ball through to Pares Cowan Hall, but the striker could only slice his shot wide after rounding home goalkeeper Peter Loveday. West Ham United went into the half-time break a goal to the good, but it would not be long after the interval before the visitors were back on level terms. Less than 90 seconds after the restart, to be exact. The equaliser came at the end of a flowing move involving Pompey captain Marlon Pack, left-winger Pablo Navas and Cowan Hall, whose clipped cross was headed in powerfully by the highly-rated Tom Kilbey from close range. Two minutes later, an almost identical move saw Kilbey through on goal again, only for Loveday to block well with his legs. West Ham hit back themselves immediately, but Danny Subuola could only fire a bouncing shot against the outside of the post after latching on to Callum Driver's lofted free-kick. Subuola was made to rue his miss on 54 minutes when Portsmouth took the lead in fortunate circumstances, Navas' cross flying over the head of Loveday before bouncing back off the inside of the far post and into the net via the unlucky goalkeeper. Having gone ahead, Portsmouth took control of proceedings and only the bravery of Loveday and a perfectly-timed challenge from left-back Driver prevented Hall from adding to the visitors' tally. West Ham continued to battle, however, and could easily have levelled the scores at 2-2 had O'Brien not done brilliantly to keep out two Callum McNaughton headers from Conor Okus corners. As the young home side tired in the closing stages, Portsmouth added the rubber stamp to their victory when Kilbey nodded in Pack's header with ten minutes remaining. Despite the final result, Carr and his staff will take great encouragement by the performance of his team against a Portsmouth side with considerable more experience than his own.

ARSENAL : Premier Reserve League

Underhill
1-0 (Miller)
9th March 2009

Stech, Miller, Fry, Lee, Eyjolfsson, N'Gala, Kearns,Grasser, Bajner (Okus),Abdulla (Montano), Edgar

Alex Dyer's youthful side earned a tremendous victory away at Arsenal on Monday night courtesy of Ashley Miller's solitary strike in the 72nd minute - but the win owed much to Marek Stech. The 19-year-old right-back Miller converted from close range after bright play involving Georg Crasser and substitute Christian Montano, seconds after he entered the game. Grasser picked out Montano superbly and he forced Arsenal keeper James Shea to parry his chipped effort into the path of Miller who was able to hook the ball into the net. The outstanding Stech then proved an unbeatable barrier and West Ham United hung on to claim the win. With captain Bondz N'Gala leading by example in front of him, the 18-year-old Stech was in imperious form at the Underbill home of Barnet, repelling the lively Arsenal attackers who had begun the brighter in a lively Barclays Premier Reserve League South contest. That said, the closest either side came to scoring in the first half was when Daniel Kearns crashed an effort on to the bar for the visitors just before half-time. Dyer had named a youthful selection with six of the starting eleven having played when the two clubs met for an Under-18 fixture last month - namely Matthew Fry, Oliver Lee, Daniel Kearns, Anthony Edgar, Balint Bajner and Ahmed Abdulla. Arsenal boasted the likes of 17-year-old midfield prodigy Jack Wilshere in their ranks and he always looked the most likely - however, he could not find the finishing touch. The game sparked into life on 70 minutes when Fry, filling in at full-back, surged down the left past three men before crossing deep to the back post. Kearns squared the ball for former Arsenal forward Abdulla but he could not keep the effort on target. It was Abdulla's last contribution as he made way for Montano. Moments later, the replacement forced that opportunity for Miller and Dyer's men were in front. It could have been two on 73 minutes when the outstanding Kearns tried his luck with a chipped effort that Shea just about clawed to safety. Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong had their moments before, on 82 minutes, Stech did well to save a lofted effort by Rhys Murphy. The three points lift the Hammers to third in the standings and mean a memorable double over the Gunners after a 1-0 home win in October.

CRYSTAL PALACE Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Copers Cope Road
4-1 (Bajner 2, Kearns, Lee)
14th March 2009

Loveday, Driver, Fry (Smith), McNaughton, Sanchez, Grasser, Kearns, Lee (Edgar), Bajner (Moncur), Montano, Okus

Balint Bajner scored twice as West Ham United eased to an impressive derby victory away to Crystal Palace in Group A of the Premier Academy League on Saturday. The Hungary Under-19 striker struck in between goals from Daniel Kearns and Oliver Lee to seal an impressive all-round team display that delighted Tony Carr. "It was a good performance and we played very well," he said. "We had a young team out again but fully deserved to win. I thought we were in charge for most of the game." The young Hammers took the lead on five minutes when the impressive Daniel Kearns cut inside off the right wing and ended up chipping the Palace goalkeeper with a delightful lobbed effort. The home side equalised on the half-hour although Carr felt his team were hard done-by on a foul that was not given in the build-up to the goal. The 18-year-old Bajner restored the away side's advantage though ten minutes before the interval with a header at the back post after good work by left-back Matthew Fry. Carr's team then took the game out of the Eagles' reach when Bajner pounced on a ball in from the left and shot low into the net. Lee wrapped things up late on after surging from midfield and striking the ball into the corner. Carr was also pleased to see the Under-16s in his squad get more U18 experience, such as 16-year-old centre-back Sergio Sanchez, who has joined the club from Barcelona, full-back Callum Driver and midfielder George Moncur. "It is pleasing to get the schoolboys on the pitch, they are getting great experience. I was also pleased for Balint to get the two goals, he had a good game and was a threat."

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-0
21st March 2009
Att: 30,842
Referee: M. Halsey

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson (Spector)
Ilunga
Noble (Boa Morte)
Kovac
Parker
Nsereko (Stanislas)
Di Michelle
Sears

West Brom came within inches of a victory at Upton Park that would have breathed life into their Barclays Premier League survival fight. Shelton Martis hit the bar at Upton Park and Jonathan Greening missed the clearest chance of a lifeless clash - and Tony Mowbray's men will consider the stalemate as two points dropped. The draw moved them six points from safety but it could so easily have been a first top-flight win in London after 10 failed attempts. Gianfranco Zola's men, on the other hand, missed the chance to get closer to sixth place. They also had the chance to win three league matches in a row for the first time since their unlikely relegation escape two years ago when Carlos Tevez guided them to safety. On the day that saga was declared over - with the Hammers and Sheffield United finally coming to an agreement - it looked like the Baggies were at the start of staging an amazing recovery. But in terms of entertainment, it was abysmal. Marc-Antoine Fortune, playing in attack on his own for the visitors, smashed an effort into the side-netting but that was the sum total of the early chances. The Baggies had gone eight previous games without a clean sheet so Mowbray tried a new centre-back pairing - Jonas Olsson returned from a knee injury and Martis was given his first top-flight start. Mowbray's selection appeared to tighten his defence, although it made for dull football. Predictably, the first talking point came from a set-piece, after Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green needlessly conceded a corner when the ball was drifting out for a goal-kick midway though the opening period. Chris Brunt's set-piece was aimed at the far post where Paul Robinson went to ground under a challenge from Lucas Neill - but referee Mark Halsey awarded a goal-kick. James Morrison created the first genuine chance of the match after Gianni Zuiverloon won the ball in midfield. Morrison charged forward, breezing past James Tomkins and Neill before Green bravely saved his finish. The hosts were merely looking to contain West Brom at this stage and the task was not made any easier when Matthew Upson was carried off on a stretcher after picking up an injury, with Jonathan

Spector coming on. Carlton Cole supplied 11 goals this season before picking up his second red card of the campaign - and Freddie Sears was given the chance to fill the void left by Zola's suspended first-choice striker. Hammers youngster Sears had an effort blocked by Martis and another deflected onto the roof of the net before the half-time whistle. Despite Sears' efforts, West Brom would have felt they had the better of the first 45 minutes - and they should have been ahead 10 minutes after the restart. Brunt made a yard of room for himself on the left flank and his cross was headed against the crossbar by Martis, with Green requiring treatment for a head injury he picked up while attempting to save. Savio Nsereko went on an exciting run but finished it with a shot that almost went for a throw, then he got booked for a sliding challenge on Morrison as the Baggies midfielder raided down the right flank. It was the last contribution the youngster made as Zola brought on Junior Stanislas for the final quarter, replacing the player he bought in a £9million deal in January. Greening was off target with his glorious opportunity with 19 minutes remaining, accepting Morrison's pass and waiting for Green to commit but chipping his finish over the crossbar.

ASTON VILLA : Premier Reserve League

Woodside Park
0-2
17th March 2009

Kurucz
Okus
Fry
N'Gala
Eyjolfsson
Kearns
Lee
Grasser (Sanchez)
Edgar
Bajner (Abdulla)

A youthful West Ham United fell to a Barclays Premier Reserve League South defeat by runaway leaders Aston Villa on a chilly night at Bishop's Stortford. Hammers coach Alex Dyer named an inexperienced lineup containing just one player 20-year-old striker Zavon Hines - with a first-team appearance for the club under his belt. Dyer also handed a competitive debut to Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz, who has joined West Ham from Ujpest FC on loan until the end of the season. West Ham's youngsters produced a spirited display in front of the watching Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke at Woodside Park, with Hines and Under-18 midfielders Oliver Lee and Georg Grasser looking particularly lively. However, it was Villa's Austrian Under-17 international winger Andreas Weimann who scored the opening goal of what was a slow-burner of a game, netting from close-range following a strong run and low cross from former West Ham striker Marlon Harewood ten minutes before half-time. In fairness, Weimann's strike was no more than Kevin MacDonald's side, who are now eight points clear at the top of the table, deserved at the end of a first half they largely dominated. Aside from the 17-year-old's goal, the impressive Kurucz also did well to thwart the goalscorer again a short time later, while Nathan Delfouneso and Togo midfielder Moustapha Salifou also went close to doubling Villa's advantage before the break. West Ham's best chance of the opening period fell to Balint Bajner after just five minutes, but the Hungary Under-19 striker was denied by a good low save from goalkeeper Elliott Parish following tricky build-up play from partner Hines. It was a much more even game after the interval, with both Hines and Under-18 winger Anthony Edgar going close to levelling matters. First, Hines dragged his shot wide of the near post on 64 minutes after robbing his marker. Then, just 90 seconds later, Edgar was unlucky to see his well-struck shot bounce back off a startled Parish. Earlier in the half, the hosts also had claims for a penalty turned down by the referee after Bajner's hooked effort appeared to hit a hand inside the 18-yard box. While West Ham, who employed a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation, posed a greater threat during the second 45 minutes, a

confident-looking Villa were always ready to spring forward themselves and could easily have doubled their advantage but for their own wayward finishing. Salifou could only fire weakly at Kurucz following a period of neat build-up play, while the Hungarian goalkeeper was also in the right place to gather England Under-19 striker Delfouneso's effort from Marc Albrighton's deep cross. The Villans' clearest opportunity, however, fell to substitute Dominik Hofbauer, but the 17-year-old Austrian could only scoop his shot over the crossbar after latching on to Salifou's inch-perfect pass. Dyer sent on forwards Ahmed Abdulla - a recent goalscorer for Tony Carr's Under-18s - and Cristian Montano in search of an equaliser, only for MacDonald's visitors to double their lead through former SK Sturm Graz youngster Hofbauer's 84th minute header. The visitors then.held on to secure a victory that all but guarantees them the Barclays Premier Reserve League South title. Youth team defender Sergio Sanchez, who has joined West Ham from Barcelona, was sent on for his reserve team debut with five minutes remaining, but the game was already up by then. For West Ham, there are still 12 points and a possible second-placed finish left to play for when Dyer's side return to action at Stoke City on Monday 30 March.

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Barclays Premier League

Ewood Park
1-1 (Noble)
21st March 2009
Att: 21,672
Referee: C. Foy

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Spector
Ilunga
Noble
Parker
Kovac
Boa Morte (Lopez)
Tristan (Payne)
Di Michele (Dyer)

Substitute Keith Andrews salvaged a point for relegation-threatened Blackburn at Ewood Park but Sam Allardyce's men will reflect on a missed opportunity to put more space between themselves and the drop zone. Andrews lashed home a right-footed shot from a tight angle in the 51st minute to cancel out Mark Noble's first-half opener for West Ham and set up a grandstand finish by the home side. But despite pinning the visitors back in their own half for long periods, chances went begging for Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen while El-Hadji Diouf had two efforts disallowed for offside. But Rovers at least showed plenty of resolve to bounce back from their Emirates Stadium mauling by Arsenal and with striker Roque Santa Cruz soon due to return their prospects of survival still look bright. The absence of Santa Cruz will have been noted in the opening stages with Rovers guilty of wasting too much possession up front and letting the Hammers off the hook in an otherwise bright start. Benni McCarthy saw an early effort blocked in the box by James Tomkins and there were also chances for Diouf and Roberts as the home side continued to press. The Hammers finally fashioned a shot on target in the 16th minute when Noble played David di Michele into space on the right and the Italian's sweeping shot was comfortably gathered by Paul Robinson. Robinson then had to race from his goal to beat Diego Tristan to a long ball by Di Michele as the Hammers showed signs of improvement against a Rovers team in danger of paying for their missed opportunities. The home side had a lucky escape in the 25th minute when Noble's cross from the right prompted a mix-up between Robinson and Chris Samba which

allowed the ball to spring free in the box with no visiting player lurking. Diouf thought he had put Rovers in front in the 31st minute when he hooked home a corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen but referee Chris Foy rightly ruled the Senegalese striker offside. The Hammers grabbed the opener in the 35th minute when Tristan's neat pass across the bx set up Noble to sweep a low shot across Robinson and into the corner of the net from the right. The home side replaced Andre Ooijer with Andrews at the break and almost grabbed an equaliser in the 50th minute when Roberts drove a goal-bound shot which struck Tomkins. But Rovers were level moments later when Pedersen's long throw caused problems in the Hammers box and the ball came to Andrews who fired home. With their confidence fully restored the home side continued to threaten, McCarthy flicking on a cross from the lively Diouf into the path of Pedersen, who crashed an effort just wide. Diouf netted his second disallowed strike of the game in the 62nd minute, prodding home at close-range after Green palmed a low McCarthy effort into his path, but once again he was clearly offside. Two minutes later Roberts flicked Pedersen's cross across the face of goal and the lurking Diouf was inches away from getting the touch he needed to finally make an effort count. Rovers pushed frantically for a winner with McCarthy's effort blocked almost on the goal-line and a rising effort from Roberts screwed off-target as the home side all but camped in the visitors' half.

CARDIFF CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
1-1 (Okus)
21st March 2009

Loveday, Smith, McNaughton, Sanchez, Driver, Kearns (Edgar), Lee, Grasser (Hall), Okus, Montano, Abdulla (Bajner)

Academy director Tony Carr was pleased with his young West Ham United side after they gained a valuable 1-1 FA Premier Academy League draw with Cardiff City at Little Heath on Saturday. With a number of Under-18 regulars involved in last Tuesday's Barclays Premier Reserve League South fixture with Aston Villa, Carr was again required to call upon a number of Under-16 players in defenders Miles Smith, Callum Driver and Sergio Sanchez as well as England Under-16 striker Robert Hall, who was named among the substitutes. The quartet all performed well as the Hammers took a first half lead through Conor Okus - one of eight Under-18s to appear against Villa at Bishop's Stortford - before a more experienced Cardiff team hit back to equalise after the break. Despite losing their lead, however, Carr was proud of his players. "It was a good point for us. We led through a goal from Conor Okus after 30 minutes and looked in little danger of conceding but, with them being a little bit older and stronger than us, as the game wore on they took control and scored an equaliser. We had three schoolboys in the back-four and another 15-year-old who came on as a substitute in Robert Hall. We were definitely inexperienced compared to Cardiff and taking that into consideration, I was very pleased with the result. "I think the younger players have come in with a bit of a spring in their step and it has been a bit more of a challenge for them. With the older lads, they have a lot more reserve team commitments now and for people like Ollie Lee, Danny Kearns, Conor Okus and Georg Grasser, this was their third game in a week after playing in the reserves against Aston Villa in midweek. Certainly the young lads are equipping themselves very well and preparing themselves well for next year." West Ham United's youth team return to action with a trip to MK Dons this Saturday, while many of Carr's young charges can also expect to receive the call to represent Alex Dyer's reserve side in next Monday's trip to Stoke City.

MILTON KEYNES DONS Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

MK Stadium
3-0 (Hall 2, Abdulla)
28th March 2009

Robert Hall struck twice as a very youthful West Ham United side featuring six schoolboys eased to an impressive away win at Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday. The England Under-16 striker, who is due to represent his country again next month, underlined his promise with two fine strikes in the second half after Ahmed Abdulla had opened the scoring soon after the interval. Hall, who does not turn 16 until October, has impressed whenever he has featured for the U18s this season. He now has four goals from seven appearances - although Saturday was only his second start. In difficult conditions, neither side looked like scoring during the first half of this FA Academy League inter-group encounter but it was a different story after the break. Colombian-born midfielder Cristian Montano combined with Hall to set up captain for the day Abdulla to score with a neat finish. Then, Hall struck his first midway through the half after good work again from Montano in tandem with Nick Barrett. The third goal was all about the young forward as he turned on the ball on the edge of the penalty area and rifled in an unstoppable shot. The win was particularly pleasing for Carr as he was without several of his regular Ul 8s because of Friday's reserve-team friendly at Chelsea - an impressive 4-2 success - and the second string's Barclays Premier Reserve League outing at Stoke City this coming Monday night.

Street
Smith
Driver (Werndley)
Craig
McNaughton
Sanchez
Montano
Barrett
Abdulla
Hall
Moncur (Subuola)

STOKE CITY : Premier Reserve League

Nantwich Town
2-0 (Edgar, Hines)
30th March 2009

Kurucz
O'Neill
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Fry
Okus
Lee
Edgar
Kearns
Bajner
Hines

Goals from Anthony Edgar and Zavon Hines on Monday night sealed another polished performance on the road for Alex Dyer's youthful second string. The homegrown Hammers struck in the second half to make it three games unbeaten on the road after a goalless draw at Aston Villa and a 1-0 success away to Arsenal. With goalkeeper Peter Kuracz well protected by a back four marshalled by Bondz N'Gala and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, Edgar strode forward just before the hour to score with a tremendous strike before Hines converted a late penalty he had earned. Dyer was particularly delighted with his team after several had also featured in a behind closed doors friendly against Chelsea on Friday. Edgar had scored with a delightful effort in that 4-2 triumph after coming on for Kieron Dyer to play at the attacking point of a midfield diamond. He played the whole 90 minutes in the same position against Stoke and linked up well with the tireless Balint Bajner and Hines.

SUNDERLAND : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
2-0 (Stanislas, Tomkins)
4th April 2009
Att: 34,761
Referee: M. Jones

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Noble
Spector (Collins)
Stanislas (Lopez)
Boa Morte
Di Michelle (Dyer)
Tristan

Junior Stanislas scored on his first start for West Ham as Gianfranco Zola's homegrown youngsters stayed in the hunt for European qualification. Stanislas, 19, broke the deadlock against Sunderland just before the break, then 20-year-old James Tomkins doubled the advantage after the restart at Upton Park. Hammers boss Zola had spoken on the eve of the game about his youngsters stepping up following injuries to Carlton Cole and Scott Parker - and they responded immediately. West Ham have always been proud of nurturing talent, back from the 1960s when they provided England with the players to win the World Cup. Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson are among the current England players who started at the club, and Zola has always said there would be more to come. Tomkins has been highly regarded for a while and Stanislas is now the next in the limelight. Victory moved West Ham back up to seventh in the table - which should be enough for continental football - and it leaves Ricky Sbragia's men in deep relegation trouble. While West Ham went into the match with thoughts on the Europa League on the back of five Premier League matches without defeat, the visitors had not won in five and were hovering above the drop zone. The signs were not good for Sbragia's men when Kieran Richardson, back from suspension, kicked the corner flag rather than the ball when he attempted to take an early set-piece. Despite that comedy moment, Sunderland did nearly take the lead when Grant Leadbitter was sent through by Djibril's Cisse's flick but Robert Green blocked the finish. Zola's men offered a threat through David di Michele, who controlled a ball with his shoulder before turning and firing a volley just wide. Di Michele, just after the half-hour mark, then scooped the ball over the Sunderland defence but Herita Ilunga looked

every inch the full-back he is with his sliced finish. It was no surprise that Di Michele played a part in the opener, two minutes before the break. The 33-year-old Italian helped the ball down the line for Luis Boa Morte to race into the area, and he provided a perfectly weighted pass just beyond centre-back Danny Collins. Stanislas tapped in and wheeled away to celebrate his first senior goal for the club. It was cruel on Sunderland, who were on the attack seconds before the goal. Green had turned away Cisse's powerful drive - which was going wide in any case - and West Ham launched their counter-attack from the resulting corner, catching out Anton Ferdinand and his team-mates. Ferdinand, who left West Ham at the start of the season, was given a warm reception from home fans on his return but his task in the second half was to dent his former club's European hopes and get his new team back on level terms. Phil Bardsley forced Green just after the restart with a near-post drive - but the visitors found themselves two goals behind in the 53rd minute. Diego Tristan's effort was tipped away for a corner and Mark Noble's set-piece was headed home by Tomkins, who had got in front of Ferdinand to net his first for the club. It could have got worse for the visitors but Craig Gordon made three saves in less than a minute. The first was from Matthew Upson's back-post header, then from Tomkins again when he met the resulting corner. The rebound eventually fell for Stanislas and the Scotland goalkeeper was down sharply to block his drive. Jonathan Spector was carried off on a stretcher after an aerial challenge, with James Collins coming on for his first club appearance since February. Spector's injury looked serious and caused a lengthy delay - but West Ham's concentration was not affected. Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones, on as a substitute, came close but could not get his side back in the game.

1st GOAL: Signed by Junior Stanislas

FIRST GOAL: Signed by James Tomkins

STOKE CITY : Premier Reserve League

Woodside Park
1-0 (Kearns)
7th April 2009

Daniel Keams scored the only goal as West Ham United moved up to third in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South in the final home match of the season. The Northern Irish youth international struck with just two minutes on the clock at the Woodside Park home of Bishop's Stortford. After being found eight yards from goal by the unselfish Balint Bajner, Keams, 17, took a touch before a neat finish with the outside of his right foot. Keams remained a danger all night - particularly from set-pieces but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. In truth, West Ham could have added to their goal difference as they dominated from start to finish against an equally inexperienced Stoke side on Tuesday night - with Zavon Hines unlucky not to register from a lively run-out. These two sides had met at Nantwich Town FC just over a week ago, when the Hammers ran out 2-0 winners. Peter Kurucz did not have a save to make all night while the back four stood firm, marshalled as ever by captain Bondz NGala and Matthew Fry, who had moved back inside after a recent run at left-back. Oliver Lee and Georg Grasser had full-back duties with both underlining their versatility while Conor Okus in the holding role offered plenty of protection. Holmar Om Eyjolfsson and Ryan O'Neill both missed out through injury. That solid base allowed Alex Dyer's attack-minded side to push on, with Hines and Keams swapping flanks at will while Anthony Edgar and Cristian Montano also got forward. Academy director Tony Carr was among the crowd along with midfielder Josh Payne, and the latter would have served as an incentive to all those on view about the potential route through from the reserves to the first team. Hines has already had a brief taste and began the contest with a surging run down the flank before firing in a menacing cross that was only just cleared. As the ball came back in, it was Bajner who found himself in a position to square from a tight angle into the path of the on-rushing Keams who made no mistake to score. Hines then twice crossed for Bajner but the Hungarian youngster was just unable to connect.

Kurucz
Lee
N'Gala
Fry
Grasser
Edgar
Okus
Montano (Abdulla)
Kearns
Hines
Bajner

On 21 minutes, Bajner capitalised on a defensive mistake before striding through on goal. Just as a shot seemed imminent, he squared for Cristian Montano to fire in an effort only for Stoke to regroup and get the ball away. Anthony Edgar, who hit a stunner against the same opponents eight days before in the reverse fixture, tried his luck on the half-hour but his effort fizzed just wide. The second half was again a story of home possession with the neat interplay continuing between Keams, Hines and Bajner but chances remained at a premium. Keams could have had a second seven minutes after the interval but could not keep his shot down before seeing a curling free-kick just miss the frame of the goal as the hour approached. At the back, Fry and ISPGala continued to keep Stake's forwards in check with relative ease. Montano had a spectacular effort on 67 minutes but it was straight at Tom Harrison.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Barclays Premier League

White Hart Lane
0-1
11th April 2009
Att: 35,969
Referee: M. Atkinson

Green
Collins
Tomkins (Nsereko)
Upson
Ilunga
Stanislas
Neill
Noble
Boa Morte (Dyer)
Tristan (Sears)
Di Michelle

Tottenham kept alive their hopes of European football thanks to Roman Pavlyuchenko's winner against West Ham at White Hart Lane. Pavlyuchenko scored within nine minutes of coming off the bench and his 14th of the season means the race for seventh place in the Barclays Premier League is hotting up. Such is the tightness of this season, Spurs have been fighting against relegation since Harry Redknapp's arrival in October but now could qualify for the Europa League. "The reality is we are not out of trouble yet," Redknapp wrote in his programme notes - but they are surely safe now. Redknapp spent seven years at West Ham and nurtured the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole but away fans still taunted their former manager, a bitterness that has also been fuelled by the Spurs manager remaining unbeaten against his old employers since leaving them. It added spice to a London derby that already had plenty of controversial recent history. Spurs had not been beaten by the Hammers since a mystery virus hit their squad three years ago and denied them a place in the Champions League. Both clubs are now chasing a place in next season's revamped UEFA Cup, although there was little in the way of first-half action that would have graced even Europe's second-tier competition. The main talking point of the first half was a trio of penalty shouts from the hosts being turned down. They felt they should have had a spot-kick 20 minutes into the contest when Robbie Keane's shot flicked up and struck James Tomkins' arm. Referee Martin Atkinson waved play on and did so again two minutes later when Keane went over in the penalty area under a challenge from Luis Boa Morte. The third appeal was turned down when David di Michele challenged Vedran

Corluka for the ball, with Atkinson deciding the tackle was shoulder-to-shoulder rather than a foul. Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green was called into action twice in a minute just after the half-hour mark. Tom Huddlestone, making his first league start since Boxing Day as Wilson Palacios was suspended, drove towards the block and unleashed a drive from outside the penalty area that required a save. When the ball broke for Keane, England stopper Green used his shoulder to save as the shot from the Spurs skipper was scuffed and moving unpredictably. Darren Bent then headed wide with the next chance for the hosts, just before Di Michele had one effort saved by Heurelho Gomes at the near post and another blocked by Jonathan Woodgate's knee. A foot problem for Jermaine Jenas flared up and he was replaced by Didier Zokora at half-time, who added bite in the midfield and picked up a yellow card for fouling Lucas Neill. Neill then got a booking himself for clipping Luka Modric. The Hammers enjoyed a spell of pressure and Redknapp's response was to introduce Russia striker Pavlyuchenko, who replaced Bent in attack. Pavlyuchenko immediately got his head on Huddlestone's free-kick but Green positioned himself perfectly. Green then launched the ball up field and found Di Michele, who raced through behind Woodgate and saw his finish saved by Gomes. Di Michele was in the thick of the acion and got himself booked for a foul on Aaron Lennon when the winger, with England assistant Stuart Pearce in the crowd watching, ran at the visitors at full throttle. Pearce will also report back to Fabio Capello on Green, who beat away Huddlestone's fearsome drive. There was nothing Green could have done about the 65th-minute winner. Modric received the ball with his back to goal but smuggled it through Neill and Matthew Upson to Pavlyuchenko. The Spurs substitute had to hold off James Collins before getting a shot away that went past Green and in at the far post. Kieron Dyer came on for the visitors and went wide with their best late effort, while Green tipped over a curling effort from Lennon and Keane had an effort cleared off the line by Collins.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Premier Reserve League

The Hawthorns
2-4 (Hines, Fry)
14th April 2009

Kurucz
Miller (O'Neill)
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Fry
Lee
Kearns
Grasser (Montano)
Bajner
Hines
Edgar

Goals from Zavon Mines and Matthew Fry were not enough as West Bromwich Albion proved too strong for a young West Ham United side on a soggy evening at the Hawthorns. The home side went into the break ahead after first Chris Wood and then Kim Do-Heon - via a wicked deflection - had given them a two-goal lead. West Ham United were a different proposition after the interval, however, and they got themselves back into the game when Hines prodded home the rebound after Dean Kiely could only palm away Balint Bajner's shot from the inside the area. The goal gave the Hammers a lift and they dominated for the next 15 minutes, only for Lateef Elford-Alliyu to snatch a third for the Baggies against the run of play. The same player then added a fourth for the home side with ten minutes to go. Fry got one back as the Hammers threatened a late revival, but it was not to be as West Brom held on for the win. Alex Dyer's side will be looking to end what has been an excellent season on a high next Tuesday when they conclude their Barclays Premier League South campaign away at Portsmouth.

ASTON VILLA : Barclays Premier League

Villa Park
1-1 (Tristan)
18th April 2009
Att: 39,534
Referee; R. Styles

Green
Tomkins
Upson
Collins (Dyer)
Ilunga
Neill
Boa Morte
Stansilas (Nsereko)
Noble
Di Michele (Sears)
Tristan

Aston Villa's faint hopes of securing Champions League football were dealt another blow as Diego Tristan grabbed a late equaliser for Gianfranco Zola's side. Villa had looked on course for their first win in 11 games when fit-again Emile Heskey broke the deadlock early in the first period. But Tristan levelled matters with six minutes remaining when he headed in a shot from Kieron Dyer which was going wide. It means Villa are still seven points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal - who are on FA Cup duty this weekend - and have now played a game more. They have taken just three points from the last eight league games and are without a home win since early January. Villa played with great fluency with stand-in skipper Gareth Barry instrumental in setting up wave after wave of attacks. His midfield partner Stiliyan Petrov and winger James Milner also made telling contributions while Heskey and John Carew always demanded close attention up front. But West Ham played their part in an end-to-end game with Mark Noble a key figure and Villa needed goalkeeper Brad Friedel to make a trio of fine saves before Tristan's late strike. The Hammers opened brightly and Friedel prevented them taking the lead after two minutes. Noble threaded a pass into the path of Junior Stanislas and his darting run took him through the heart of the Villa defence but Friedel managed to deflect his shot just past the post. Villa threatened seriously for the first time when Barry was only just wide with a glancing header from a Nicky Shorey centre. And in the 11th minute Heskey put Villa ahead. Barry broke down the left before picking out the run of Milner on the opposite flank, and his low centre was turned home at close range by the England striker. West Ham quickly

responded and Friedel again did well to block an effort from David Di Michele before James Tomkins fired the rebound over the bar. Green had to be alert to keep out a low drive from a narrow angle by Milner who then had a goal-bound drive blocked by Herita Ilunga. Noble became the first player to be booked in the 20th minute for a challenge on Barry. The game was full of goal-mouth action and Ashley Young's 20-yard drive clipped the outside of a post after his initial free-kick had been blocked by the defensive wall. Heskey almost struck for the second time when he intercepted a back pass from Noble and clipped his shot at full stretch against the post. Boa Morte was booked for ungentlemanly conduct after appearing to go down too easily when challenged by Barry on the edge of the Villa box. Then Ashley Young was yellow carded after eye-balling Lucas Neill who had brought down the Villa winger. Villa started the second half on the offensive and came close to doubling their lead within the first two minutes. Carew showed good skill before flicking his pass through to Heskey whose low shot was blocked by an alert Green. Luke Young had to be alert to take the ball away from the feet of Di Michele after he found half a yard of space inside the Villa box. Carew was not far off target with a near-post volley after good play by Luke Young to create the opening. But he should have doubled Villa's lead when heading over from Ashley Young's inswinging centre. Friedel protected Villa's lead by pulling off a fine save to deny Boa Morte at close range. But with six minutes left Tristan headed in a shot from Dyer which had been going wide.

COVENTRY CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Alan Higgs Centre
1-2 (Sanchez)
18th April 2009

West Ham United were narrowly beaten on Saturday when they travelled to Coventry City for an inter-group fixture in the FA Premier Academy League. Tony Carr's side had been in good form and went into the weekend on a three-match unbeaten run, having beaten Crystal Palace 4-1 and MK Dons 3-0 and drawn 1-1 with Cardiff City in recent weeks. However, they were to lose out 2-1 to the Sky Blues at the Alan Higgs Centre in Pinley, with 16-year-old Spanish defender Sergio Sanchez scoring his first goal at Ul 8 level. Sanchez had headed in the openerl midway through the first half but Callum Wilson and Sulliman Lellu, from the penalty spot, scored either side of the interval to give Coventry the win. Adam Street, who had no chance with the spot-kick, was busy in the second half and was grateful to see Coventry hit the bar with one good effort. Robert Hall suffered a facial injury late on but was given the all-clear after a precautionary trip to hospital. Many of Carr's squad formed part of Alex Dyer's reserve team for last week's 4-2 Barclays Premier League South defeat at West Bromwich Albion and will hope to be involved again this Tuesday. The second string take on Portsmouth away for the final fixture of the season. The U18 season concludes with home matches against Bristol City and Fulham before the trip to take on Tottenham Hotspur on 2 May.

PORTSMOUTH : Premier Reserve League

Westleigh Park
0-1
21st April 2009

Kurucz
Barrett
Miller (Brown)
Eyjolfsson
Fry
Kearns
Lee
Grasser
Edgar
Bajner (Monano)
Hines

West Ham United ended their Barclays Premier League South campaign in heartbreaking fashion with a 1-0 loss. Greece international striker Theofanis Gekas won the game for Pompey with a moment of magic just seconds from the end of the game, taking a touch on the edge of the Hammers' penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot drive past the helpless Peter Kurucz. Defeat was very harsh on the visitors, who could easily have won the game themselves. West Ham began much the brighter of the two sides on a warm, sunny evening on the south coast and could have taken the lead in just the fourth minute. Superb interplay from Daniel Kearns and Balint Bajner down the right wing was followed by Anthony Edgar lifting a neat pass over the Pompey defence to Hines, but the striker could only drive a rising shot across the face of Ashdowris goal. Edgar, twice, and Ollie Lee both saw shots blocked himself as the Hammers looked for the opening goal but it was not long before Portsmouth, with withdrawn striker Gautier Mahoto and left-back Andre Blackman to the fore, took the intiative. As Dyer's youngsters struggled to maintain possession in midfield, Pompey began to threaten fairly regularly. French 17-year-old Mahoto looked the home side's most likely scorer, smashing a volley narrowly wide of Kurucz's far post after Eyjolfsson had blocked his initial shot, then screwing an effort off-target after Gael Nlundulu's cross had deflected into his path off Fry. Central defender Luke Wilkinson should have scored for Portsmouth on 27 minutes, but he could only divert his header from Nlundulu's right-wing free-kick straight at Kurucz from six yards. Seconds earlier, Hammers left-back Ashley Miller had been booked for an untidy late challenge on Blackman. After Mahoto had again shot wide from a decent position, West Ham gradually worked their way back into the game, with Miller dragging a long-range effort wide after winning a fine challenge in the midfield, while the unmarked Bajner should have done far better when Kearns' cross dropped to him inside the penalty area. Three minutes after the break, Lee tested Ashdown with a rising 25-yard shot that the goalkeeper could only push around

the post for a corner, although it may have already been flying wide of the target. Hines wasted the first of a number of decent chances on the hour-mark, ghosting past right-back Tero Mantyla with a neat piece of skill but shooting wastefully wide of the near post instead of cutting the ball back into the path of his colleagues. Barrett became the second Hammer to be booked on 65 minutes for hauling back the lively Mahoto before Lee went close with a well-struck left-foot shot from 25 yards. Later, Eyjolfsson also saw yellow for a foul on Gekas. The game finally livened up again in the closing 20 minutes. First, Pompey substitute Nadir Ciftci gifted possession to Lee with his first touch. The midfielder fed Hines with a neat through ball, only for Ashdown to block the captain's shot with his legs. Seconds later, Gekas stung Kurucz's fingertips with a rising shot on the turn, showing a glimpse of the international class that has seen him score 14 times in 38 appearances for Greece. West Ham, who handed a reserve team debut to left-back Jordan Brown with 15 minutes remaining, continued to look the more likely winners and should have won the game with three minutes remaining. However, instead of finding the bottom corner of Ashdown's net, Hines could only drag his shot wide of the far post from 15 yards. Into the first minute of added time and Hines missed another superb chance, latching on to Montano's flick-on but delaying too long and allowing Wilkinson to block his shot behind for a corner.

CHELSEA : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-1
25th April 2009
Att: 34,749
Referee: M. Dean

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Boa Morte (Nsereko)
Noble
Stanislas
Dyer (Sears)
Tristan
Di. Michele (Kovac)

Chelsea warmed up for their Champions League clash against Barcelona with victory over West Ham courtesy of Salomon Kalou's winner and Petr Cech's penalty save. Kalou struck in the 55th minute at Upton Park but it needed Cech to save Mark Noble's penalty to keep them ahead and send them into European action in high spirits. The celebrations for Kalou's goal were marred by objects being thrown in the direction of Frank Lampard and John Terry, although that is hardly likely to affect a Chelsea team that are focused on ending their season with silverware. They started the weekend six points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United and Guus Hiddink, in charge until the end of the season, has given up hope on catching them. With that in mind, this match served to tee-up their clash at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, with Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack on the bench. Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes and, as he was suspended for the Barca clash, Jose Bosingwa was given a dry run in the position ahead of facing Lionel Messi. Luis Boa Morte was his sparring partner three days before the heavyweight clash in Spain. There were reunions in the dug-out and on the pitch, with Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke facing their former club. Both were poised to announce long-term deals at West Ham following a successful first season together, with West Ham still in the hunt for a place in the Europa League despite this defeat. For the visitors, midfielder Lampard was given his usual hostile welcome from West Ham fans who are still bitter after he left them in 2001, while Terry was not spared either. England's captain spent five years at the Hammers' academy

before joining Chelsea as a 14-year-old, and there were poisonous chants from the home fans towards the centre-back. It was Lampard who created the first chance, in the 16th minute, when he slid the ball through to Florent Malouda - but the Frenchman dragged his shot wide after racing through. Kieron Dyer, making his first start since August 2007, should have given the hosts a lead shortly after but he shot tamely at Cech after Diego Tristan had split the Chelsea defence. Lampard, with jeers ringing in his ears, had a few sighters on Robert Green's goal. One volley flashed wide, a second went straight at the West Ham goalkeeper and Noble bravely blocked another. Chelsea were applying pressure but almost fell behind just before the break. John Mikel Obi was needed to clear off the line when Tristan prodded towards goal after Noble's corner was nodded down by Matthew Upson and Cech was out of position. After that scare, the visitors were ahead 10 minutes after the restart. Lampard wriggled to the byline down the left and floated a cross to the far post, where Kalou took one touch before planting his finish into the empty net for his ninth of the season. Lampard and Terry celebrated in front of the Bobby Moore Stand and missiles were thrown towards them from the crowd, an incident the Football Association could now look at. Bosingwa was given a breather just before the hour mark, with Cole coming on at left-back, while Zola's response to falling behind was replacing Dyer and David di Michele with Freddie Sears and Radoslav Kovac. Nicolas Anelka should have doubled the lead when Juliano Belletti sent him through after Upson slipped, with Green rushing out to block the finish. Cole then shaved the crossbar after exchanging passes with Malouda. The Hammers were given their penalty 20 minutes from full-time when Herita Illunga's shirt was pulled by Kalou. Noble's penalty was struck well but Cech leapt to his left and tipped away the effort.

BRISTOL CITY Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
5-0 (Montano 2, Grasser, Kearns, Edgar)
25th April 2009

Street, Driver, Brown (Fry), McNaughton, Sanchez, Barrett, Kearns, Grasser , Abdulla (Bajner), Montano, Edgar (Okus)

Cristian Montano scored twice to top off a polished performance by the Under-18s in an inter-group FA Academy League encounter on Friday. The Colombian-born attacker opened the scoring before Georg Grasser, the Austrian Under-19 international midfielder, added to the advantage before the interval. The second half was dominated by the home team with Danny Kearns, Montano again and Anthony Edgar all finding the target for the young Hammers. Tony Carr said: "We had a lot of players back because the reserve season has endeded. Some played, some got a half and we were also able to rest the likes of Ollie Lee. It was a resounding win in the end. We could have won by a lot more but it was a resounding win and a lot closer in the first half than it was in the second. "Once we got the third it was a question of how many we were going to score. We had plenty of chances on what was not the easiest of days. It was sunny but very windy. We have got Fulham now on Tuesday and Spurs away on Saturday so we are hoping to keep a winning run until the end of the season."

FULHAM Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Little Heath
2-0 (Edgar [pen], Montano)
28th April 2009

Street, Sanchez (Abdulla), Driver, McNaughton (Lampe), Fry, Barrett, Lee, Edgar (Grasser), Okus, Bajner, Montano

West Ham United completed their complement of FA Premier Academy League Group A home fixtures with a 2-0 win over Fulham at Little Heath. A first-half penalty from Anthony Edgar and a header after the interval from Cristian Montano were enough to see Tony Carr's side beat their west London rivals on a cold and blustery Tuesday afternoon. The Hammers were the better side for the vast majority of the game and could have won by a wider margin had it not been for Fulham goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham. West Ham held the upper hand for much of the opening half against a Fulham side managed by former Cottagers midfielder Gary Brazil, but could easily have fallen behind on two occasions before Edgar's opener. First, on eleven minutes, right-back Karim Laribi cut inside Conor Okus before playing a one-two with Danny Hoesen and finding himself completely unmarked 12 yards from goal, only to stab his shot well over the crossbar. Eight minutes later, Hoesen ghosted past Matt Fry and Callum McNaughton, only to launch his shot well over the target when it appeared easier to score. Less than a minute later, Montano raced on to a through-ball, only to be denied by the shoulder of Foderingham, who had raced out of his penalty area. The game was held up for five minutes midway through the opening period when visiting midfielder Paudie Quinn had to be carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a leg injury. When play did resume, West Ham again took the upper hand and should have taken the lead on 37 minutes. Fry challenged Foderingham for a lofted Callum Driver free-kick, but when the loose ball dropped to the Hammers captain six yards from goal, his left-foot shot from six yards cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar rather than nestling into the completely unguarded net.
Thankfully for Fry, he only had two minutes to worry about his miss as Edgar confidently stroked West Ham ahead from the penalty spot. The lively midfielder had earned the spot-kick himself, being felled by a clumsy Sulaiman Bangura challenge after racing on to Driver's pass. Into the second half and West Ham could have doubled their lead on 48 minutes. Nick Barrett and Montano combined to release Okus, who forced Foderingham into a low save. The ball rebounded to Montano, but the striker could only send his shot into the ground and on to the face of the crossbar. Carr sent on defender Jack Lampe for McNaughton on 56 minutes before Barrett was booked for a late challenge. Left-back Driver was the next Hammer to be denied by Foderingham on the hour-mark before Balint Bajner forced the goalkeeper into another superb stop following superb build-up play from Montano and Edgar. From the resulting 63rd-minute corner, taken by Oliver Lee, Montano nodded in at the far post after Lampe had headed the ball back across the face of goal. Georg Grasser and Ahmed Abdulla were sent on for Edgar and Sergio Sanchez respectively as Fulham briefly threatened a rally through Hoesen, who twice dragged shots wide from promising positions. It was West Ham who finished the stronger, however, creating three further chances in the final five minutes. First, Grasser raced the length of the field, starting and finishing a move that also involved Okus and Abdulla before shooting wide of the far post with his left foot. Next, with a minute of the 90 remaining, Lampe caught Lee's left-wing corner flush on the volley, forcing Foderingham to tip the ball over. From the resulting corner, Bajner flicked the ball on at the near post, only for Fulham substitute Charles Banya to clear the ball off the line. Carr's youngsters complete their season by heading to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday morning. Spurs are top of Group B and need to win to hold off the challenge of Leicester City and Aston Villa. West Ham themselves have a chance of finishing second in Group A behind runaway leaders Arsenal, who have already been crowned champions.

STOKE CITY : Barclays Premier League

Britannia Stadium
1-0 (Tristan)
2nd May 2009
Att: 27,500
Referee: P. Wilson

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Stanislas
Noble (Lopez)
Kovac
Boa Morte (Collison)
Tristan
Di Michele (Sears)

Diego Tristan kept West Ham on the road to Europe by scoring the winner at the Britannia Stadium. The Spanish striker scored the only goal of a feisty match in the 32nd minute to leave Stoke stunned. It was just the result Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola was looking for in his bid to claim seventh place in the table. With relegation a slight threat, Stoke had different reasons why they wanted to extend their unbeaten home league record. But despite this defeat they should still have enough points on the board to secure their status. Stoke looked good in the first half and pushed forward in the ninth minute. Rory Delap picked out Ryan Shawcross with a long throw but his header was safely taken by Robert Green. Ricardo Fuller then found the net for the home side two minutes later after beating Green to the ball but his effort was disallowed for an infringement. The striker was left shaking his head in frustration but Tristan suffered a similar fate in the 14th minute. Delap launched another long throw in the 20th minute and Shawcross peeled away from his marker, only to head wide of the post. West Ham were struggling to string their passes together at this stage of the game as Stoke looked good going forward. However the visitors made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute from a set-piece. Tristan was celebrating after delivering a superb free-kick from 20 yards beyond goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. The foul was awarded after a challenge by Abdoulaye Faye on David Di Michele as he raced forward. It was only Tristan's third goal for the visitors in his first season at the club. Stoke responded and almost equalised in the 40th minute following a swift counter-attack. Matthew Etherington laid the ball off to Fuller, who had taken up a great position in the penalty

area. He looked odds-on to score but Green reacted well to take the ball off his toes as he prepared to shoot. Then Delap and Luis Boa Morte were booked after a tussle a minute before half-time and the match was becoming feisty with so much at stake. Lawrence thought he had won a penalty for Stoke in first-half stoppage time after a challenge from Radoslav Kovac only to get a yellow card for diving. Fuller then clipped a shot wide of the post in the 59th minute as West Ham again found themselves on the back foot. It was a good spell by Stoke, who were being urged on by a passionate home support. Fuller, though, was left nursing his bruises a minute later after coming off second best in a challenge with Matthew Upson. West Ham were playing some neat football in the middle of the park with Mark Noble and Kovac having a lot of possession. However they were finding it hard to break the opposition down after opening the scoring through Tristan. Di Michele took matters into his own hand in the 69th minute when he released Junior Stanislas but Shawcross made a crucial block. Stoke then came close to equalising in the 74th minute when Lawrence delivered a corner from the left. Faye powered in a header at the back post but Noble cleared off the line. They kept pushing forward but West Ham almost added a second only for Tristan to drag his effort from a good position.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Under-18 : F.A. Premier Academy League

Spurs Lodge
1-4 (Abdulla)
2nd May 2009

West Ham United Under-18s ended their FA Premier Academy League season with a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The first half ended goalless, only for Group B leaders Spurs to score four second half goals against the Hammers, who now look destined to finish either fourth or fifth in Group A. Ahmed Abdulla netted a consolation for the visitors, but Tottenham eased to victory at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell. Tony Carr's team completed their 28-match league campaign with ten wins, eight draws and ten defeats. West Ham's best results of the season came in the shape of a 6-1 win at Southampton in November, a 4-1 victory at Crystal Palace and a 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City at Little Heath on 24 April. The free-scoring Hammers notched 51 goals in 28 league games, conceding just 38. Tottenham's victory keeps them top of Group B with two matches left to play.

LIVERPOOL : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
0-3
9th May 2009
Att: 34,951
Referee: A. Wiley

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Boa Morte (Payne)
Noble
Kovac
Stanislas (Collison)
Di Michele (Sears)
Tristan

Steven Gerrard scored twice against West Ham to send Liverpool top of the Premier League and keep alive their slim title hopes. With Manchester United playing on Sunday, Rafael Benitez's men overtook them on goal difference - but time has almost run out and they only have two matches left. United have four games and may not need them all to secure the title, although the efforts of Gerrard has at least stretched them well into May. The 28-year-old's goals at Upton Park took his tally to 23 for the season, with Ryan Babel adding a late third to seal the win. Liverpool's hopes this season have been built on the firepower of Fernando Torres and Gerrard - and the pair combined after 76 seconds for the opener. Torres, back fit after a hamstring problem ruled him out of the win over Newcastle, received the ball in midfield but was given the time to turn and pick his pass, threading ball through to Gerrard beyond the Hammers defence. The hosts were claiming offside but James Tomkins had played Gerrard on, with the England midfielder taking the ball around Robert Green and finishing into an empty net. The early opener stunned the hosts, who kicked off knowing Fulham had won and Tottenham picked up a point earlier in the day in the race for the Europa League next season. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola believes four more points will see them secure seventh place - which will get them into Europe if UEFA grant them a club licence - and they had their moments after the setback of Gerrard's opener. As they attempted to find a way back into the game, Diego Tristan flicked a header at goal from Mark Noble's free-kick that required Jose Reina to save. They got a little closer just before the half-hour mark when Noble earned a free-kick

on the left and swung the set-piece into the danger area. Radoslav Kovac got in front of Reina to meet the ball but his header flew over the crossbar. Their progress was undone when Luis Boa Morte suffered a nightmare 30 seconds which resulted in conceding a penalty just before the break. He was furious that no free-kick was given when Javier Mascherano brought him down, then chased back to own penalty area and hauled down Torres when Yossi Benayoun scooped the ball through. Green saved Gerrard's spot-kick but the rebound fell to the Liverpool captain to tap home. David di Michele should have pulled a goal back when he seized on a mistake by Jamie Carragher. He raced through and got his feet tangled up as he tried to take the ball around Reina. It was a shocking miss and referee Alan Wiley rubbed salt in the wound by booking the Italian for diving. Boa Morte was trying to atone for own his first-half error after the restart but one powerful run was ended by Fabio Aurelio, earning the full-back a caution. Liverpool threatened to score a third, with Benayoun volleying over from Dirk Kuyt's cross and Torres looping a header just over the crossbar. The Hammers defence looked under pressure but Matthew Upson was exposed in a different way when he received a bloody nose - the centre-back had to strip down to his underwear on the sidelines to change his kit. Upson was among the players racing back when Liverpool broke on the hour mark, with the hosts saved by Green rushing out to block Kuyt's effort. Benayoun then exchanged passes with Torres before shaving Green's post with a drive. There were ironic cheers when Di Michele was taken off for Freddie Sears, as there were when Tristan put the ball in the net after clearly being offside. The visitors were able to keep out any genuine efforts and added a third through Babel with five minutes remaining. Kuyt crossed for his fellow Dutchman, Green saved the initial header but the rebound was tapped home.

EVERTON : Barclays Premier League

Goodison Park
1-3 (Kovac)
16th May 2009
Att: 38,501
Referee: P. Dowd

Green
Neill
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Collison
Noble
Kovac (Stanislas)
Boa Morte
Tristan (Cole)
Di Michele (Spector)

Louis Saha had a match to remember on the day his former club Manchester United secured the Premier League title. The Frenchman scored a brace in a comfortable victory against 10-man West Ham at Goodison Park. With Jo ineligible for the FA Cup final in two weeks, it was the ideal moment for Saha to stake a claim for a place at Wembley where they face Chelsea. West Ham made the ideal start and Radoslav Kovac gave them the lead before Saha equalised with a penalty after Tim Cahill had been tripped by James Tomkins. That resulted in Tomkins being sent off and the visitors imploded. Joseph Yobo put Everton ahead and Saha added a second. Everton had the majority of possession in the first half only to find themselves chasing the game. Saha dragged a shot wide of the post from the edge of the area after nine minutes having been set up by Steven Pienaar. Then Pienaar strode forward and unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards that went narrowly over the bar. Leon Osman should have given Everton the lead in the 13th minute but screwed his shot wide of the post after Marouane Fellaini had flicked on a cross from Lars Jacobsen. West Ham responded and Kovac split the defence to release Diego Tristan. He seemed surprised at the chance and goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to mop up. Osman tested Robert Green with a delicate chip in the 19th minute before West Ham took the lead with a goal out of nothing in the 24th minute. Kovac delivered a stunning effort from distance that flew into the corner beyond Howard. Czech Republic midfielder Kovac celebrated in style as it was his first goal for West Ham after arriving on loan from Spartak Moscow. Gianfranco Zola's side were growing in confidence and Tristan clipped a shot wide of the post in the 28th minute. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 38th minute when West Ham were reduced to 10 men. Tomkins tripped Cahill as he burst into the penalty area and was sent off. West Ham were outraged but Saha kept cool. He stepped up and sent Green the wrong way with his spot-kick to take his tally for the season to six goals. Everton took the lead in the 48th minute after some sloppy defending by the visitors. Yobo was left unmarked at the back post as Pienaar swung in the corner and rifled a shot into the net, the ball taking a slight deflection off Matthew Upson. Everton almost increased their lead two minutes later. Saha got on the end of Osman's cross but his header clipped substitute Jonathan Spector and came back off the post. Then Saha skipped away from Lucas Neill in the 62nd minute, only to see his shot go wide of the post. However West Ham suddenly launched two swift counter-attacks with Howard doing well to thwart Luis Boa Morte, then substitute Carlton Cole failed to get a decent touch in a good position. Everton extended their lead in the 76th minute with Saha's second goal of the game. He scored from close range following a cross from Pienaar, who had shown good skill to skip to the byline. Saha should have completed his hat-trick two minutes later but Green blocked his effort after he had been released by Cahill. The Frenchman was then given a standing ovation when he was replaced by James Vaughan in the 79th minute as Everton rounded off their home games with a comfortable victory before going on a lap of honour.

MIDDLESBROUGH : Barclays Premier League

Upton Park
2-1 (Cole, Stanislas)
24th May 2009
Att: 34,007
Referee: H. Webb

Green
Spector
Neill
Upson
Ilunga
Noble (Dyer)
Kovac
Collison (Di Michelle)
Boa Morte
Cole (Tristan)
Stanislas

Middlesbrough's relegation from the Barclays Premier League was confirmed after Brad Jones' blunder meant they lost 2-1 at West Ham. Gareth Southgate's men needed a big victory and for results to go their way but they failed to do their part, with Junior Stanislas' weak shot sneaking past Jones for the winner at Upton Park. Carlton Cole had given the Hammers a first-half lead but Boro were given encouragement when Gary O'Neil levelled and their relegation rivals were losing. After Stanislas struck there was a resigned attitude to Boro as their fate was sealed. Boro's stint in the top flight lasted 11 years and included a League Cup win and a UEFA Cup final appearance - but now they are heading for tricky away fixtures at the likes of Doncaster, Blackpool and Scunthorpe. Southgate has been undermined by a lack of goals from Brazilian flop Afonso Alves, who missed this clash through injury along with England winger Stewart Downing. Without them, the odds were stacked against Boro winning and getting the five-goal swing they needed to overtake Hull. The focus will now be on whether Southgate will remain as manager and whether players such as David Wheater, Downing and Tuncay Sanli will have to be sold. Southgate is considered one of England's brightest managerial prospects but this season has not found the goals or away points required to get out of trouble. This match summed up their problems. Southgate's young players are promising but they lacked the cutting edge needed. Adam Johnson wasted their first opportunity, blazing over when he was given time and room at the far post. Had that gone in, Boro may have been on course for the big win they needed. When the ball broke in the penalty area after Robert Huth

challenged Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green it fell to the wrong person, with Wheater hooking it over the crossbar. The Hammers were far more dangerous in front of goal, and Stanislas had struck the crossbar early on from 25 yards after Boro defenders jumped out of tackles. The opener came in the 33rd minute. Luis Boa Morte held the ball up and played Herita Ilunga down the left. The full-back's cross went between Justin Hoyte and Huth, then Cole sent the ball back in the direction it came - between the two defenders but this time into the corner of the net. Favourable scorelines were filtering through but Boro were not putting up a fight. Something had to give so Southgate took off Tony McMahon and Julio Arca at the break, with Josh Walker and Joe Bennett coming on. Boro were level within five minutes of the restart. Tuncay wriggled his way into the area but resisted the temptation to shoot, instead offloading to O'Neil who found the bottom corner with an angled drive. Parity lasted eight minutes thanks to Stanislas. Jack Collison had retrieved a lost situation with his endeavour, then got the ball back and found Stanislas 25 yards out. The youngster was encouraged to shoot from the crowd and by Boro's defenders backing away, with his shot lacking power but squirming past Boro goalkeeper Jones. It was a howler from Jones and he was determined to make up for it when he dived at the feet of substitute Kieron Dyer to prevent a third goal. The Hammers went in search of another, while Boro moved centre-back Wheater up front without reward.

Piczo