Newcastle United 0 West Ham United 1- match report

 

A second successive superb defensive display earned the Irons a first three points at St James’ Park since 1998 and hauled them up to the dizzying heights of 6^th in the Barclays Premier League table. It was yet another show of rearguard solidarity and military organisation from Sam Allardyce’s boys, as the midfield trio of Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Momo Diame conspired with a solid back four to shut out a previously prolific and highly dangerous Newcastle attack. Despite the thoughts of the BBC’s reporter Sam Sheringham, the contest was not “a dire game”- on the contrary, it was a hard-fought battle between two sides enjoying excellent starts to the season and with aspirations of top ten finishes.

The Magpies looked dangerous in the opening quarter of an hour and came close on a number of occasions, but West Ham rode their luck and began to take control of the game near the halfway point of the first half. High up in the upper echelons of the John Hall Stand, the travelling claret and blue army may well have thought it was going to be one of those days when first a highly dubious offside decision was made by the linesman against native Geordie Andy Carroll, and then winger Yossi Benayoun almost took the corner flag out with a horrible miscue on the edge of the penalty area. The forced substitution of England international Matt Jarvis ten minutes before half time did nothing to placate these fears.

However, as the half went on, the Hammers grew in confidence and influence, and gradually started to take control of the game. After a sustained period of pressure by the home side, the Irons broke away down the right flank, attacking the Gallowgate End. A ball aimed at the ponytailed head of Andy Carroll came out as far as Joey O’Brien, and the right back’s shot was turned in by Kevin Nolan who declined to celebrate at his old stomping ground- the Hammers’ skipper showing the class lacked by the home fans, who booed the every touch of Carroll- forgetting, perhaps, the leaked text messages from the striker immediately after his move to Liverpool, articulating that he had never wanted to leave Tyneside. Got to love the modern football fan.

After weathering a late Newcastle storm, culminating in former Hammer Demba Ba having a shot clawed off the line at point-blank range by Jussi Jaaskelainen, West Ham took their lead into the interval and strutted out determinately for the second half- no doubt some characteristic Big Sam wisdom on the subject of protecting a single goal lead still ringing in their ears.

As with the opening quarter of an hour of the first half, the Irons were perhaps fortunate to hold onto their lead, as a flurry of Newcastle corners came to nothing. However, this was largely down to the home side’s bizarre tactic of playing every corner short as opposed to getting it into the box and putting some pressure on the Hammers’ defenders, and a general toothlessness from the Magpies. Once again, the Newcastle pressure did not last for long and Carroll had a chance at the other end and produced a good one-handed save from Tim Krul. In the finish, the game petered out and the Irons ran out 1-0 winners, with tireless skipper Nolan’s goal proving to be the winner. The victory was all the more impressive after the Hammers had been forced into using all three of their substitutes; both Benayoun and George McCartney limping off midway through the second half.

To his eternal credit, ex West Ham boss- now Newcastle manager- Alan Pardew refused to blame his side’s midweek European exertions for the poor performance, facing up instead to the fact that his side lacked penetration and imagination to unlock the Irons’ defensive system. An on-song Newcastle would have undoubtedly caused West Ham’s back four a lot more problems, but that is to take nothing away from the Hammers’ second successive fantastic defensive display- and on this form, we are genuine contenders for a top ten finish. Something about counting, chickens and hatching however.. this is West Ham United we are talking about.

LINE UPS

Newcastle United: Krul; Santon, Simpson (Obertan ’79), Williamson, S Taylor; Ferguson, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez (Anita ’24); Cisse (Sh Ameobi ’45), Ba

Subs: Elliot, Anita, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Obertan, Sh Ameobi

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Reid, Tomkins, McCartney (Demel ’66); O’Brien; Nolan, Jarvis (Maiga ’34), Benayoun (O’Neil ’52), Noble, Diame, Carroll

Subs: Spiegel, Collins, Demel, O’Neil, Cole, Maiga, Hall

Man of the Match: Kevin Nolan, West Ham United

Attendance: 51,855

Referee: Mike Dean

Report by Alex Shilling

West Ham United 0 Manchester City 0- match report

Match report

West Ham United 0 Manchester City 0

A masterclass in defending from Sam Allardyce’s team yesterday gained West Ham a thoroughly well-deserved point against Premier League champions Manchester City, yesterday evening at the Boleyn Ground.

The Irons could even have taken all three points, had skipper Kevin Nolan’s early strike not been ruled offside- incorrectly, later replays suggested. However, a point from the champions is no mean feat and it is testament to the solid defensive framework and organisation that Allardyce has brought to the club.

 The last time that West Ham drew 0-0 with Saturday’s opponents was the first home match of the 2002/2003 season- which of course, ultimately ended in tears for the Hammers. That game summed up our entire season, and the point we gained there was less to do with any sound defending on our part and more to do with newly-promoted City’s woeful finishing. There could not be more of a contrast between that game and the next 0-0 draw between the two sides, ten years down the line.

United defended resolutely throughout against a multi-million pound strikeforce- so much so, that the ever-unpredictable City hitman Mario Balotelli was virtually eliminated from the game and resorted to skulking about the pitch like a child deprived of his favourite comic, until his manager substituted him halfway through the second half. The whole team managed that rarest of feats in modern football: defending as a unit, and there was much to be pleased about in the way that our boys pulled together. Particularly notable performances came from often maligned right back Joey O’Brien and right winger Matt Jarvis- the latter producing much of our attacking threat. Had it not been for a poor decision by the linesman four minutes in, the Irons could have been in what would have been classed as dreamland in previous years, but under Big Sam, what is simply the type of result we expect to get.

It was not as if City were lacking attacking threat; former Iron Carlos Tevez (who received a rapturous reception from the Boleyn Ground crowd as always and enacted his trademark ‘crossed hammers’ sign) and the brooding Balotelli constantly hustled and harried the Hammers’ back four. However, unlike the 3-1 home defeat to the visitors last time out against them at Upton Park, the verb ‘terrorised’ was not one being used in any match report on Sunday morning.

The effect of Andy Carroll is also still growing. Whilst the big striker’s critics can point to his poor recent scoring record in the Premier League (2 goals in his last 33 matches), they cannot deny the positive effect he has upon our frontline. Manchester City can boast arguably the strongest defence in the country but Kolo Toure, Kompany and co never looked entirely comfortable when confronted with the pony-tailed Geordie, who was unfortunate not to score with a clever bicycle kick after using his physical presence to create space for the effort.

Hammers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was, in actual fact, rarely tested by the City attack, such was the excellence of the defensive display going on in front of him- and when he was, he looked nothing other than completely comfortable and in total control. The most pleasing thing about the whole performance was the strong yet inflexible structure of the team- when Gary O’Neil came on to replace Momo Diame and Carlton Cole entered the fray for Carroll, the team completely retained its shape and the substitutes fitted seamlessly into the roles of the players which they had replaced.

 In the end, City had no answer to the claret and blue brick wall and had to settle for a point which made the home support a lot happier than the travelling Blues.

Report by Alex Shilling

Line ups

WEST HAM UNITED: Jaaskelainen; Reid, McCartney, Collins (Spence ’84), O’Brien; Noble, Jarvis, Benayoun, Noble, Diame (O’Neill ’71); Carroll (Cole ’77)

Subs: Spiegel, Spence, Chambers, O’Neill, Cole, Maiga, Hall

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart; Kompany, Clichy, K Toure, Nastasic; Nasri (Sinclair ’90), Barry, Y Toure, Dzeko, Tevez (Garcia ’84); Balotelli (Aguero ’69)

Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Sinclair, Garcia, Razak, Aguero

Attendance: 35,005

Issue #6 editorial

We've had our so-called "easy" start to the season and are comfortably placed in the top half of the table but now we've got to be prepared to see our boys struggle to pick up many points between now and New Year's Day. We welcome the reigning Premier League champions to Upton Park this weekend and although I'm not expecting a win, I do believe we can cause them more problems than we did in our last season in the top flight. The fact City have only kept one clean sheet this season in league bodes well for us.

After this tricky game, we've got Newcastle, Stoke, Spurs, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Brom, Everton and Arsenal - how many points do you think we should pick up from these games? I think, with our confidence high following a good start to the season, we can get 10 points which would give us 24 by Christmas. We will slip down the table but we'll be in a good position to kick on once 2013 greets us.

Now looking at this week's issue, we've got another brilliant mixed bag of opinion. Lucy Woolford kicks us off with her tale of The Curse of the Upton Park Strikers (pages 4&5), a chilling tale of our strikers struggling to find the net but that thankfully our midfielders are keeping us going. Jack Bowers has written a nice piece comparing the Man City we played in 2006 before they were taken over to the team we face today (pages 6&7) and Bill West ponders why the West Ham experience is more expensive than Man City (pages 8&9).
Loud and proud writer Brian Williams this week asks if we really need a billionaire like Man City has while both Vinny Ryan (pages 14&15) and Tales from the Seaside writer Jon Williams (page 24) call for the boo boys to quiet down and to get behind the side.
We've also got an exclusive interview with official club photographer Stevie Bacon (pages 16&17) as well as a very interesting article by Geoff Hillyer in which he debates whether or not he would welcome Rob Green back to Upton Park.

Finally we've got some cracking Opposition View articles this week with Man City and Newcastle fans talking to us about our games against them and their view of the mighty Hammers.

As always we have spoken to a West Ham Ladies player to get the inside track on what is going on with the Ladies (page 22) and Flashback editor Tom Baldwin takes a look at the last time we played City at home (page 13).
We really hope you like this issue. Enjoy the game at Upton Park. It's always great to see such talent on display and I know we can give them a good match.

COME ON YOU IRONS

David Blackmore, Editor

http://issuu.com/blowingbubbles/docs/issue6

Irons in international action

With no game for West Ham this weekend owing to the international break, there was nothing for us Irons to do but sit back with a cold beer, watch the action unfold and hope to Christ that none of our players got injured. With no fewer than six players involved, there was plenty of propsensity for the archetypal indirect West Ham disaster but fortunately, all the lads are heading back to E6 in one piece.

ANDY CARROLL continued his comeback from injury as he came on as a second-half sub in England's boringly comfortable 5-0 victory over San Marino; MOBIDA MAIGA helped Mali secure a place at the African Cup of Nations finals with the second goal in their 4-1 victory over Botswana; Hammers teammates GUY DEMEL and MOMO DIAME stood on opposite sides of the park as the Ivory Coast took on Senegal (the Ivorians led 2-0 until the game was abandoned in the 73rd minute because of crowd disturbances); whilst youngster KIERAN SADLIER started the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side's 5-2 win over Luxembourg and reserve goalkeeper RAPHAEL SPIEGEL was an unused substitute for the Switzerland Under-20 side's 2-2 draw with Poland.

All in all, a pretty unremarkable weekend's work for the off-duty Irons, and they head back to Chadwell Heath ahead of next weekend's match against Southampton in good spirits.

Reserves continue good form

West Ham reserves continued their good form in the newly-formed Barclays Premier Under-21 League last night, as they saw off a lacklustre Blackburn side. The Irons triumphed 2-0 in the finish, with goals from Paul McCallum and Matthias Fanimo. The latter was rewarded for his excellent form for the reserves with a first team debut against Crewe in the Capital One Cup at the end of August, and boss Sam Allardyce is sure to be keeping an eye on his performances as the season goes on and the depth of the squad is tested.

The Hammers have been in excellent form this season in the Under-21 league, picking up five wins and a draw from their first seven games, a 2-0 home defeat to Bolton at the start of September the only aberration, and currently are leading the table. Under the new Under-21 league format, the league stops after 30 November and all teams go into a 'second group stage,' from where a high placing can put a team in contention for the end of season play offs- so the scintillating start the Irons have made to the new season is particularly pleasing as they look to gain some momentum for the second group stage.

Injury woe for Vaz Te

Hammers striker Ricardo Vaz Te is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after falling awkwardly during yesterday's 3-1 home defeat to Arsenal. The 26 year old suffered a dislocated shoulder after a challenge with Gunners keeper Vito Mannone and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce confirmed that he wouldn't be fit for first team action until after the international break- and could be out for up to 12 weeks. The Portuguese will see a specialist in the coming days and the club will then be able to have a more exact estimate of his estimated recovery time. Vaz Te, his goal against QPR on Monday night aside, has been far from impressive in the Premier League this season after firing the Hammers to promotion at Wembley in May, and this injury could be a blessing in disguise for Allardyce as someone else must take up RVT's position on the right flank.

West Ham United 1 Arsenal 3- match report

An intriguing encounter, representative of all that is good about the Premier League, ended in defeat for Big Sam's boys yesterday at the Boleyn Ground, as an Olivier Giroud strike cancelled out Mohammed Diame's excellent opener for the Irons, before goals from Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla turned the game round for Arsenal.

In front of a sell-out crowd in East London- the Hammers' first for 19 months- Arsenal took control of the early proceedings and were thwarted on more than one occasion in the first quarter of the game by some last ditch West Ham defending and the considerable physical defending presence of striker Andy Carroll, on his return from injury. As with their 2-1 defeat at the Emirates to Chelsea the previous week, Arsenal dominated possession. Chances were few and far between for the Irons and largely came in the form of breaks away down the flanks by Matt Jarvis and Ricardo Vaz Te. It was from one of these breaks that the ball fell to midfield lynchpin Momo Diame on the left flank, about 25 yards from the Arsenal goal. Taking on the North London rearguard, the Senegal international opened up his body, but as the home support rose to their feet expecting a ball to the back post, Diame had other ideas and tucked a perfectly weighted shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The goal seemed to shock the visitors, and while West Ham attempted to use their lead to generate some momentum and get control of the game, the Gunners attacked even more ferociously than before, and only some more last-ditch defending, including great work from right-back Guy Demel, impressive against his former employers, preserved the Hammers' lead.

However, the pressure eventually proved too much for the Irons' defence, which eventually caved in as a sloppy giveaway of possession by man of the moment Diame led to yet another Arsenal break, and from Lukas Podolski's cross, Giroud got in front of the sluggish James Collins and opened his Gunners' account with a brave finish as goalkeeper Jaaskelainen came in to challenge.

Half time couldn't come soon enough for the Hammers and whatever Big Sam had said during the interval clearly had an effect as the home side were playing with a new desire, a new drive and were increasingly pushing Arsenal back into their own half, with Carroll causing the Gunners' defence a huge amount of problems in the air. The pressure, much like Arsenal's pressure in the first half, fashioned a number of opportunities, but West Ham couldn't profit, with several players wasting good chances- usually lethal skipper Kevin Nolan being the somewhat surprising worst culprit. Eventually, the Hammers were made to pay for their wastefulness with just under 20 minutes to go as substitute Theo Walcott tucked away a Giroud through ball with Collins again at fault, this time playing the England star onside as the rest of the back four stepped up. Spaniard Cazorla then compounded West Ham's misery with a beauty of a chip which left Jaaskelainen stranded. 3-1 was perhaps an unfair reflection on the Irons, who had enjoyed some dominance in the first 15 minutes of the second half and lost Vaz Te to a suspected dislocated shoulder with 25 minutes to go, but the signs are clear for all to see- West Ham have a long way to go yet before we can compete with the big boys.

Line-ups:

WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen; Demel (Tomkins '73), Collins, Reid, McCartney; Vaz Te (Taylor '64), Diame (Cole '82), Noble, Nolan, Jarvis; Carroll.

Booked: Reid, Diame, Taylor.

Sent off: none.

Subs: Henderson, Tomkins, Taylor, Benayoun, O'Neill, Cole, Maiga.

ARSENAL: Mannone; Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Gibbs (Santos '56); Arteta, Ramsey. Cazorla, Giroud, Gervinho (Walcott '61); Podolski (Koscielny '85).

Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Arshavin.

Booked: Gervinho, Walcott.

Sent off: none.

Attendance: 34, 974.

Report by Alex Shilling