WHUFC.com
08.12.2008
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Boleyn Ground
Monday 8 December
8pm
Referee: Chris Foy
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins (Di
Michele 73), Parker (Tristan 83), Faubert (Noble 58), Cole, Bellamy
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Davenport, Collison. Booked: Behrami,
Noble
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon,
Zokora, Jenas, Bentley (O'Hara 81), Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 54)
Subs not used: Cesar, Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng
Goals: King 68, O'Hara 90
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Tottenham take the spoils
WHUFC.com
A late double save from Heurelho Gomes was key to the visitors winning the
London derby
08.12.2008
West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United missed out on their chance to climb to ninth in the Barclays
Premier League table as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 2-0 win at the Boleyn
Ground.
Ledley King's 68th minute header and Jamie O'Hara's late long-range effort
were the difference between the two sides on an unseasonably warm night in
east London. The England defender scored his first goal in three years,
rising highest to nod powerfully past Robert Green, before midfielder O'Hara
made the game safe in the last minute.
Gianfranco Zola had named an unchanged team from the goalless draw at
Liverpool, while the Italian also selected the same seven substitutes -
including the fit-again Mark Noble and Spanish striker Diego Tristan.
The visitors had slightly edged the better of the chances in the first half.
After just 61 seconds, fine build-up play involving Roman Pavlyuchenko,
Aaron Lennon and David Bentley opened up a clear shooting chance for Luka
Modric, but the diminutive Croatian could only roll a weak shot straight
into Green's arms.
Then, three minutes before half-time, Lennon's low cross found Pavlyuchenko,
but the Russian striker could only divert his shot on to the post at
full-stretch. Bentley also called Green into action on 38 minutes, but the
England goalkeeper was equal to his well-struck effort, diving to his left
to push the ball behind for a corner.
The north Londoners continued to hold the upper hand after the break and
Green had already done well to keep out Didier Zokora's low shot when he was
finally beaten 22 minutes from time. Lennon crossed from the right touchline
and the unlikely figure of King rose to send a bouncing header past the
United goalkeeper, ending the 28-year-old's run without conceding a goal at
341 minutes and the defender's own 64-match wait to get his name on the
scoresheet.
Zola, who had earlier seen a Jermaine Jenas own-goal chalked off for an
infringement by Lucas Neill, sent on Noble and David Di Michele to immediate
effect. First, referee Foy turned down the Hammers' loud penalty appeals,
awarding only a corner after Benoit Assou-Ekotto had handled Bellamy's 75th
minute cross.
Then, less than 60 seconds later, Di Michele saw his powerful goalbound shot
blocked by Jonathan Woodgate. Tristan was sent on for his United debut with
seven minutes remaining as Zola added greater firepower in the search for a
late equaliser.
The gamble should have had the desired effect, only for Heurelho Gomes to
produce two stupendous saves to deny first Neill and then Di Michele an 89th
minute leveller.
Tottenham replacement Jamie O'Hara then rubbed salt in the Hammers' wounds
by, almost immediately, firing a rising 25-yard shot into Green's top-right
hand corner.
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Manchester United date change
WHUFC.com
The date of the Barclays Premier League game against Manchester United has
been switched
08.12.2008
Manchester United's visit to the Boleyn Ground has been moved to Sunday 8
February for live television coverage.
The match, originally scheduled for the previous day, will now kick-off at
4pm. West Ham United will be aiming for a third straight home win against
the reigning Barclays Premier League champions following 2-1 and 1-0
successes against them in the previous two seasons.
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Ladies' game postponed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies' game away at Portsmouth fell victim to the weather
08.12.2008
West Ham United Ladies' game against Portsmouth that was due to be played on
Sunday was called off because of a frozen pitch.
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League game was set to take place on the south
coast, but was called off after a pitch inspection. The postponement means
the team have now not played since they beat Billericay Town 15-0 in the
Essex Cup on 16 November.
The Hammers are next in action on Sunday when they have the small matter of
an FA Women's Cup third round tie away at local rivals Millwall Lionesses.
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West Ham 0-2 Tottenham
By Dan Warren
BBC.co.uk
Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara scored the goals which earned Tottenham victory
in a hard-fought derby against West Ham. Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko
hit the post just before half-time but defender King met Aaron Lennon's
cross on 68 minutes to open the scoring. West Ham almost levelled but
Heurelho Gomes made a fine double stop from Lucas Neill and David Di
Michele. From that chance, Spurs broke and substitute O'Hara fired in a
superb shot to seal the victory. The victory, manager Harry Redknapp's
fourth consecutive success at Upton Park, saw Spurs replace the Hammers in
15th place in the Premier League table. They certainly had the better
chances in the match, and should have taken the lead inside the opening
minute, but Luka Modric fired straight at Robert Green in the West Ham goal
after being set up by David Bentley. The Hammers had the ball in the net on
22 minutes as a corner went in off Jermaine Jenas, but referee Chris Foy had
already blown for a foul on the Spurs midfielder by Neill. West Ham
threatened again when James Collins fired a powerful low drive into the box,
but the ball was deflected away for a corner, and it was the visitors who
finished the half strongly. First, Bentley connected well with a loose ball
in the area and Green showed smart reflexes to push his goalbound shot wide.
Then Pavlyuchenko came agonisingly close as he stretched to prod Lennon's
penetrating low cross towards goal, only to see it rebound off the post to
safety, with Green well beaten. West Ham began the second half brightly,
with a Craig Bellamy cross forcing a less-than-convincing punch from Gomes,
and the Welshman also fired wide. At the other end, a powerful drive from
Modric was smartly stopped by Green while substitute Darren Bent - on for
Pavlyuchenko - sidefooted wide. The introduction of Bent seemed to give
Spurs more impetus and they enjoyed a spell on top, with Green having to
save after a surging run and shot from Didier Zokora. But it was not long
before Tottenham broke the deadlock as King rose to head Lennon's cross
down, with the ball bouncing up beyond the desperate reach of Green to give
the defender his first goal in three years. West Ham substitute Di Michele
came close to equalising shortly afterwards but Jonathan Woodgate blocked
his effort as he attempted to fire home through a crowded goalmouth. And Di
Michele came even closer as the Hammers pushed for an equaliser in a frantic
finish. Gomes was Spurs' hero, blocking shots from Neill and the home team's
substitute in quick succession. From the subsequent break, O'Hara found
himself in space 20 yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot to
seal victory.
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola on a perceived handball by Benoit Assou-Ekotto
when his side were 1-0 down: "It was a clear penalty when it was 1-0. The
referee is a human being, he can make mistakes. "Unfortunately for us it was
a disappointing game because it was one we all wanted to win. "I understand
the fans' frustration. We gave everything to make them happy."
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "I want to see West Ham win every week
[when they are not playing Spurs] but that was a great result for us
tonight. "We were good value and deserved to win even after missing some
great chances... Modric in the first minute and Pavlyuchenko hitting the
post. "We passed the ball well tonight at times and eventually we got the
goal."
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins (Di Michele
73), Parker (Tristan 83), Faubert (Noble 58), Cole, Bellamy. Subs Not Used:
Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Davenport, Collison.
Booked: Behrami, Noble.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora,
Jenas, Bentley (O'Hara 81), Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 54). Subs Not Used:
Cesar, Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng.
Goals: King 68, O'Hara 90.
Att: 34,277
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Tottenham's Aaron Lennon 7.37 (on
90 minutes).
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Zola keen to keep defender Ilunga
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is hoping to sign Herita Ilunga on a permanent
deal despite the defender reportedly describing the club as a "second-rate".
The 26-year-old Congolese defender is currently on loan from French side
Toulouse for the season. "He is totally committed to what he is doing here
and his answers were taken in the wrong way," said Zola. "He's happy to be
here and is looking to sign a contract with the club. He is a player I will
try to sign." Ilunga has made 12 appearances in the Premier League for the
Hammers since arriving at the start of September. Meanwhile, Zola also
insisted the club will not have to sell striker Dean Ashton or defender
Matthew Upson in the January transfer window. "Ashton and Upson are among
the best players we have," added Zola. "This club wants to progress so we
are not going to sell our best players. "This is what I am told by the club
and I trust the club 100%."
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West Ham Utd 0 Tottenham 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 8th December 2008
By: Staff Writer
Harry Redknapp came away smiling from his first trip to the Boleyn Ground as
Tottenham manager after his side took all three points thanks to two second
half strikes.
Redknapp - who won here on all three of his trips with Portsmouth - extended
his winning sequence to four games tonight thanks to late goals from King
and O'Hara, a result which lifts Tottenham above West Ham for the first time
this season and one which leaves Gianfranco Zola's side on the cusp of the
relegation zone.
United - who had failed to beat their local rivals in this fixture since
that memorable 2-1 win on the final day of the 2005/06 season - produced a
performance as bad as that which saw Alan Curbishley's team succumb 4-0 at
White Hart Lane back in March, and but for the post and some good work by
Rob Green that score could have been replicated.
United were simply dreadful on the night and simply outclassed by a team
that, despite showing a recent upturn in form, have still been struggling to
escape the relegation zone. On the evidence of tonight's showing however it
will be the Hammers with relegation worries come next May, not their
neighbours who are slowly easing their way towards mid-table obscurity.
Tottenham, who went into the game on the back of a disappointing home defeat
to Everton could have opened the scoring inside the first minute when recent
capture Modric fired straight into the arms of Rob Green after some good
work on the left flank by Lennon. It should have been a warning sign for the
Hammers but it was instead to prove a morale-booster for the visitors, who
went on to create the best chances of the half.
Former Blackburn winger David Bentley spurned yet another golden opportunity
seven minutes ahead of the break when an awful header by Lucas Neill set the
winger up with another great chance. Fortunately for Neill, Green was on
hand to divert Bentley's effort wide of the goal. However Green was nowhere
to be seen when Roman Pavlyuchenko's stoppage-time effort rebounded off the
far post to safety.
The Hammers had barely threatened Spurs' goal in the first half although
they were left scratching their heads when referee Chris Foy ruled out
Jermain Jenas' 21st minute own goal - from a Bellamy corner - as a result of
a supposed infringement by Lucas Neill; TV replays were inconclusive, at
best.
The second half started in a similar fashion with Tottenham controlling
play; an early change - Bent on for the disappointing Pavlyuchenko - gave
the visitors added spark and it wasn't long before Rob Green was once again
being called into action, making saves from Modric, Bentley and Zokora.
As the second half wore on a goal appeared increasingly inevitible, and so
it was no surprise when the deadlock was finally broken on 68 minutes
through Ledley King - scoring his first goal in three years (64 games) -
whose arrowed header did just enough to evade the despairing dive of Rob
Green, conceding his first goal in over five hours of play.
United, aided by a noisy home crowd rallied briefly and Carlton Cole tested
Gomes before the Hammers should have been awarded a penalty when Cole's
header was literally pushed away from goal by full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto,
with arms raised above head. Not so, according to referee Foy who simply
awarded a corner to West Ham - therefore agreeing that contact had indeed
been made by the Tottenham defender!
Gianfranco Zola, who looked hugely frustrated at his team's inability to
make inroads on the opposition goal tried to give them a lift by reverting
to his favoured 433 formation with the introduction of David Di Michele. It
was a tactic that nearly paid dividends when the Italian veteran was
presented with a chance to level the scores in injury time - however Di
Michele could only fire stright at Spurs keeper Gomes when aimed anywhere
else his shot would have almost certainly resulted in a dramatic equaliser.
As it was the ball rebounded to safety and within 30 seconds Tottenham had
put the game beyond doubt when Jamie O'Hara raced through to add a second
goal - also his first in the league this season. The Hammers, who had been
so well supported in the second half trudged off moments later to a chorus
of boos from sections of the home crowd; it is difficult to criticise those
who vented their frustration so vocally following such an insipid display.
For Zola's side it gets no easier - although he, at least, will be
guaranteed a warm welcome when his side visits Stamford Bridge to face
title-chasers Chelsea this weekend.
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Harry makes happy return
King and O'Hara earn the spoils in East London
Last updated: 8th December 2008
SSN
Man of the match
Ledley King - The Tottenham defender returned to the startling line-up with
a superb performance at the back to help his side keep their first away
clean sheet in the Premier League this season but, more importantly, he
scored the crucial first goal of the night with a towering header.
Moment of the match
Heurelho Gomes silenced his critics with a dramatic double save in the
closing moments of the match with the score still at 1-0 to Tottenham. First
he parried Lucas Neill's fierce drive before thwarting David Di Michele from
point blank range.
Attempt of the match
Without a doubt it has to be Jamie O'Hara's long-range effort which flew
past Robert Green and into the goal to seal all three points for Tottenham
at Upton Park.
Save of the match
Gomes' reflex stop to deny Di Michele in the closing stages kept Spurs'
noses in front before they secured the victory in dramatic fashion just
moments later when O'Hara fired home.
Talking point
Ball to hand or hand to ball? This question was asked twice during a frantic
clash in East London which saw West Ham's Herita Ilunga and Tottenham's
Benoit Assou-Ekotto both escape handball shouts inside their respective
areas in the second half.
Goal of the game
King's header was good but O'Hara's blistering drive from outside of the box
was worthy of gracing any stage and capped a convincing victory for Spurs.
Harry Redknapp made a triumphant return to West Ham United as Tottenham
Hotspur secured a 2-0 victory at Upton Park on Monday. The Spurs boss left
West Ham in 2001, moving on to two spells at Portsmouth, separated by a
stint at Southampton, before taking charge at White Hart Lane in October.And
on a first trip to East London with capital rivals Tottenham, Redknapp was
treated to a mixed reception before second-half goals from Ledley King and
Jamie O'Hara ensured the 61-year-old has yet to sample defeat on his old
stamping ground as a visiting manager. Spurs had the best chance of the
opening 45 minutes as Roman Pavlyuchenko turned an Aaron Lennon cross
against the post, while West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green had earlier denied
David Bentley. Redknapp, though, then saw his side take the lead in the 68th
minute as King - who had not scored in three years - rose above a crowded
penalty area to head a Lennon assist into the ground and up past Green.
West Ham, who handed Diego Tristan his debut in the closing stages, fought
back and Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto was fortunate to avoid a hand-ball claim
in the 18-yard area. In the final minute, Hammers forward David Di Michele
wasted a golden opportunity, firing straight at Heurelho Gomes from point
blank range, allowing Tottenham to break and substitute O'Hara fired in from
20 yards. Croatian midfielder Luka Modric returned to the Spurs side after
recovering from a groin injury and the visitors started well.
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 Pavlyuchenko stretched to meet a
low cross from Lennon at the far post but he could only push the ball onto
the post. Tottenham 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 Di Michele and 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 ricocheted 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.
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Zola bemoans penalty claim
Hammers boss upset ref failed to spot handball
Last updated: 8th December 2008
SSN
Gianfranco Zola feels West Ham were robbed of a penalty in their 2-0 defeat
to Spurs at Upton Park. The visitors were leading courtesy of Ledley King's
header when Benoit Assou-Ekotto appeared the handle the ball in Spurs'
penalty area. However, referee Chris Foy failed to point to the spot and
Harry Redknapp's side padded their lead thanks to Jamie O'Hara's late
effort. "It was a clear penalty when it was 1-0," stated Hammers boss Zola.
"The referee is a human being, he can make mistakes. Unfortunately for us it
was a disappointing game because it was one we all wanted to win." The
result leaves West Ham just three points above the drop zone and Zola
understands the fans' frustration. "I understand the fans' frustration. We
gave everything today to make them happy," he continued. "It is not as easy
situation for us, we know that. We will be working even harder than we have
been. We won't panic."
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Gianfranco Zola's West Ham side are in trouble By Neil Mcleman 9/12/2008
The Mirror
West Ham 0-2 Tottenham
West Ham's new sponsors SBOBET are a better institution to invest your
hard-earned cash in than an Icelandic bank right now. But you would not get
much of a better return if you gambled on Gianfranco Zola's side scoring a
hatful of goals at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Or any goal at all. The
Italian, a superbly graceful and creative forward, arrived at Upton Park in
September promising to play the game the West Ham way. No more
well-organised boredom like under the pragmatic Alan Curbishley regime - but
goals and thrills and spills. In his introductory Press conference, the
beaming Zola pledged to put the smile back on the face of the club and bring
the supporters to their feet. Thirteen games and seven defeats later, his
facial expression is more like a grimace. Three goals in the last nine games
tell their own story. The Hammers went 26 games without keeping a clean
sheet before Robert Green's goal was kept intact for three matches ahead of
last night's defeat.
But at the other end the problem has not been rectified. The Hammers are now
down in 16th place - three points off the drop zone - with Chelsea and Aston
Villa to come. "We will have to do something obviously," said Zola at his
post-match Press conference last night. "We are going to be working on that
and the strikers' confidence. We need to put it right. We knew we were
conceding to much. Now we know we have to start scoring."
Missing Dean Ashton is a big problem for the Hammers. But even with four
strikers on at the end last night, they could have played until Christmas
and not beaten Heurelho Gomes. That is dodgy Brazilian keeper Gomes, who
hardly had to deal with a crossed ball all night and was never put under
enough pressure to test his shaky nerves. And Zola seems to have a strange
obsession with the hardworking but onedimensional Carlton Cole. But he is
not helped if 'winger' Julien Faubert cannot cross the ball. But this was a
poor game and the half-hearted booing suited the game. It wasn't the
greatest debut for Setanta Sportsor SBOBET at Upton Park.
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Ledley is King at Upton Park
Evening Standard
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.
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Spurs manager Harry Redknapp's happy return to West Ham thanks to Ledley
King
West Ham United (0) 0 Tottenham Hostspur (0) 2
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley at Upton Park
Last Updated: 8:21AM GMT 09 Dec 2008
Ledley King was the unlikely hero in a dour London derby on Monday night,
the Tottenham captain scoring his first goal for three years. The last time
he scored, Spurs beat Portsmouth 3-1, in December 2005, in what was Harry
Redknapp's first game back in charge of the south-coast club. This time the
former England defender, his career wrecked by injuries, provided a valuable
goal for Redknapp while Jamie O'Hara's cracking last-minute effort confirmed
this most valuable of victories, allowing Spurs to leapfrog West Ham into
15th place. Having hovered over White Hart Lane for much of the season, the
storm clouds have blown from north to east London, to leave Gianfranco
Zola's West Ham in a precarious position. Just one win in his last 10
Premier League games suggests that Zola's introduction to management after a
splendid playing career is proving less comfortable than some predicted.
When Alan Curbishley left in early September, West Ham were fifth in the
league, and successive wins in his opening two games suggested Zola had the
same Midas touch as a manager that he was gifted with as a player. Not so.
Redknapp received a reasonable reception on his return to West Ham, until he
responded to chants from visiting fans with a wave. Now it is the turn of
Zola to make an emotional homecoming when he leads a side against a club
where he is still revered as a hero. Yet whether, on Sunday, Chelsea will
afford West Ham the room Spurs were allowed, particularly in the second
half, remains doubtful. Before the game, Redknapp had a warning for both
clubs. He said: "This is going to be the tightest Premier League in history.
One or two clubs will go down who nobody expects to, and we've got to make
sure it's not us."
This victory, and the nature of Spurs' second-half performance, went some
way to suggesting that West Ham are the more likely of the pair to be sucked
into a relegation dogfight. Redknapp recalled King, rested for the Carling
Cup quarter-final victory over Watford last week, and Luka Modric after a
four-match absence. The Croatian's presence had a greater influence on his
side, the midfielder beginning to regain the form he produced at Euro 2008
under Redknapp. Craig Bellamy shot wide from 15 yards early on, while at the
other end, David Bentley responded with a looping header that Robert Green
gathered easily. West Ham began to apply more pressure and they thought they
had scored when, from Bellamy's floated corner, the ball found the net via
Jermaine Jenas, but referee Chris Foy ruled it out for an apparent push by
Lucas Neill on the Spurs midfielder. The contact appeared to be minimal,
though there were few dissenters among the West Ham contingent.
The lively Bellamy then chased a long ball to the byline and just failed to
make contact as Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes floundered. West Ham had
dominated the first half before Green made a telling save to deny Bentley in
Spurs' first attempt of the night. But their second almost led to a goal
when, in the 42nd minute, Aaron Lennon crossed from the right and Roman
Pavlyuchenko pushed the ball against the foot of the left post. The second
half was three minutes old when West Ham threatened again. Neill's cross
caused Spurs problems and Julien Faubert attacked at the far post but, under
pressure from Vedran Corluka, he failed to make decent contact. Bellamy was
beginning to frustrate his own fans as he squandered a long-distance shot,
but the game was full of mistakes and the players showed considerably more
fear than flair. As the match went on these two sides, who are haunted by
the trepidation of relegation, appeared more determined not to concede
rather than score, though the half was just nine minutes old when Redknapp
gambled by replacing Pavlyuchenko with Darren Bent, and switching to a 4-4-2
formation.
West Ham, who survived a legitimate penalty appeal when Corluka's cross
appeared to hit the arms of Herita Ilunga, made a change of their own when
Mark Noble replaced Faubert. Moments later Bent squandered another good
chance, stearing Jenas'cross wide when he could have done better. Didier
Zokora's fine run ended with a shot well saved by Green, but he could do
nothing to prevent Spurs from taking the lead midway through the second
half. Lennon crossed from the right and King was allowed to rise above James
Collins and Matthew Upson, to send a downward header beyond Green. It was
the first goal conceded by West Ham in four games and a total of six hours
and 41 minutes. Gomes, the much maligned Tottenham goalkeeper, made a
tremendous double save from Neill and David Di Michele before Spurs broke
upfield. Their swift attacking move culminated in a fine finish by
substitute O'Hara, who unleashed an unstoppable left-foot drive into the top
right-hand corner.
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Wait Is Finally Over - The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN at Upton Park
Published: Today
LEDLEY KING is Tottenham's crock of gold after his first goal in three years
condemned West Ham to a bitter relegation struggle. The Spurs skipper
rattled the Hammers, who have won just once in their last 10, with a
68th-minute header before Jamie O'Hara sealed the win with a sensational
20-yard injury-time drive.
King, who still cannot train properly because of a long-term knee problem,
said: "We've climbed up the table but are still not out of it. "We are three
points off the relegation places. I didn't catch my header properly but
those are the sort of chances that go in and now we have to push on."
Tottenham's hard-fought victory at Upton Park, where Spurs manager Harry
Redknapp has won his last four games as the away boss, made it a miserable
night for Gianfranco Zola whose side were booed off. The West Ham boss was
looking for his team's fourth consecutive clean sheet but they blew up under
pressure and have now scored just three goals in nine games. He admitted:
"We will be working on the strikers' confidence but the main thing is not to
panic as we still have faith in ourselves. "We've not been giving too many
goals away but now we seem to have stopped scoring and I can understand the
frustration of fans. It's very disappointing for them but my team gave
everything. "It's not an easy situation for us but, in football, things
change quickly."
Redknapp refused to gloat on his return to one of the clubs he has managed
and insisted: "I'm as big a West Ham fan as anybody, except when they are
playing Tottenham. "It's a real shame Ledley has this knee problem. "He
trained for just 15 minutes on Sunday. I didn't think he'd play but he iced
it and told me he'd give it a go."
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Redknapp: 'If he was fit, Ledley would play for England'
By Simon Cass
Last updated at 7:39 AM on 09th December 2008
Daily Mail
Harry Redknapp continued a remarkable record against his former club West
Ham as second-half goals from Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara last night moved
Tottenham above their London rivals. Redknapp has now won on four occasions
at Upton Park against the club which sacked him seven years ago. But he
insisted West Ham's is still the first result he looks for. 'I want West Ham
to win every week when I am not playing against them,' said Redknapp, who
has not lost a game as an opposing manager during spells with Portsmouth,
Southampton and now Spurs. 'Believe you me, I am more West Ham than anybody.
It was a great result for us and it was a terrific performance. At half-time
I wouldn't have taken a point. I said that to the players. I thought there
was a win here for us.' Reserving special praise for his skipper King, who
scored his first goal for three years in his 250th start for Spurs, Redknapp
added: 'He is a fantastic player. 'If he was fit, he would be an England
player. Unfortunately his knee is a massive problem. It is such a shame.'
West Ham fans booed their side, who remain three points above the relegation
zone, while Gianfranco Zola bemoaned referee Chris Foy's decision not to
award a penalty for handball against Benoit Assou-Ekotto with the score at
1-0. 'The header from Carlton Cole was going clearly in the goal,' said
Zola. 'He (Assou-
Ekotto) has stopped the ball.'
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King's head fires Spurs success
West Ham United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
By Sam Wallace
Monday, 8 December 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
When Harry Redknapp finally relented and waved back to the Tottenham support
last night the first low boo rang out around Upton Park. It was the reaction
of a crowd who have loved and lost and now see a former manager spearheading
a revolution at Spurs that would make any struggling Premier League club
envious.
The first goal for Ledley King in three years, another brilliant late strike
from Jamie O'Hara and Redknapp chalked up his fourth win at Upton Park since
he left West Ham in 2001. The last time King scored, in December 2005, it
was against Redknapp's Portsmouth team. It has been that long coming but
then at the moment, Redknapp seems capable of anything, even conjuring goals
from his talented, injury-prone captain.
To the victor, the spoils. West Ham conceded 15th place in the Premier
League to Spurs who struggled in the first half and then dominated the
second. There were even two exceptional Heurelho Gomes saves from Lucas
Neill and David Di Michele shots just as Spurs were clinging to their lead
before O'Hara's late goal.
The excitement that built in the second half was not reflected in the events
of the first. Roman Pavlyuchenko struck a post in the last three minutes of
the half and by then it was as much as you could do to remember the last
decent effort from Spurs. That had come in the first minute when Luka Modric
had hit a limp shot straight at Robert Green when he should have done
better. For the 40-odd minutes in between, Spurs had been poor.
On the evidence of the first half you can see why Redknapp believes that new
recruits in January is non-negotiable if he is to make a decent go of moving
Spurs up the division this season. There was no serious bite in midfield,
not unless you count the clumsy tackle from behind by Didier Zokora on Craig
Bellamy in the first four minutes that had Bellamy threatening all sorts of
revenge.
Redknapp left out Tom Huddlestone to accommodate the return of Modric, who
dodged brilliantly around two West Ham defenders out on the right wing at
one point during the first half but there was precious little else from the
Croat.
Gianfranco Zola's team were brightest when Bellamy came short for the ball
in midfield and tried to get his side moving forward quicker. They had a
goal disallowed on 22 minutes when Jermaine Jenas deflected a corner from
Bellamy past Gomes and into his own goal. The referee Chris Foy appeared to
have given the decision for a foul on Jenas by Neill.
David Bentley and Aaron Lennon switched wings but neither of them got in
behind West Ham much. Bentley seems to labour under the misapprehension that
he has the pace to get away from defenders. Lennon, of course, does but he
got on the ball so rarely it was easy to forget that.
Pavlyuchenko did not even make it as far as the hour for Spurs, as he was
withdrawn from service to be replaced by Darren Bent, who immediately did
even worse than the Russian had with his first chance. It was a nice move,
Jenas out to Lennon, who cut it back sweetly for Bent to drag wide. Redknapp
needs a goalscorer who can bury chances like that without thinking twice.
Zola had also substituted the deeply unimpressive Julien Faubert for Mark
Noble, perhaps because he could see the game turning. After a promising low
cross early in the second half from Neill that Faubert failed to react too,
Spurs seized the initiative. They passed the ball better in midfield and
they did so about 15 yards further into West Ham territory than they had
managed in the first half. Even Zokora surged for about 30 yards and tested.
The goal for Tottenham came on 68 minutes, a simple move from Jenas in the
middle out to Lennon on the right. Restored permanently to the right wing,
Lennon had looked much more confident, although he was given way too much
time by Herita Ilunga to pick his spot and land the ball plumb on the head
of the rampaging King. The Spurs captain had made a decision to push forward
and rose well above Danny Collins to head past Green.
Disaster for West Ham, who had dominated the first half but had done nothing
to make it count. Carlton Cole had a header that seemed to brush Benoit
Assou-Ekotto's raised arm, and the substitute Di Michele tried to get a shot
off in a busy penalty area and was closed down by Jonathan Woodgate.
West Ham threw what they had left at Spurs and they came so close to an
equaliser, denied only by Gomes' double save. Seconds later, O'Hara, on as a
substitute, collected the ball and ran at the Spurs goal. His shot was
unstoppable, which is how Spurs under Redknapp feel most of the time.
Goals: King (68) 0-1; O'Hara (89) 0-2.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga; Faubert
(Noble, 58), Parker (Tristan, 83), Mullins (Di Michele, 73), Behrami;
Bellamy, Cole. Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Boa Morte, Davenport,
Collison.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-1-4-1): Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto;
Zokora; Bentley (O'Hara, 80), Jenas, Modric, Lennon; Pavlyuchenko (Bent,
55). Substitutes not used: Sanchez (gk), Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Booked: West Ham Behrami, Noble.
Man of the match: Woodgate.
Attendance: 34,277.
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Birmingham boss Eck confident of smooth deal for West Ham's Bowyer
09.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
Birmingham City are ready to bid for West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer. Brum
manager Alex McLeish is thought to be preparing a £1million bid for Bowyer
when the transfer window opens. But when former manager Steve Bruce tried to
sign him in 2005 from Newcastle, objections were raised about Bowyer by
Birmingham supporters who started an internet petition to persuade the club
to boycott the deal because of his character. Bowyer rejected Birmingham,
despite another outcry from fans in favour of the deal, with club officials
claiming the player was concerned for his personal safety due to the city's
large ethnic population. But it is believed that he is now one of a number
of players McLeish has targeted to strengthen the club's push for promotion
back to the Premier League. And it is felt unlikely that the doubts that
existed before would resurface. "Over the past few years Bowyer has been a
consummate professional," one source told the Daily Mail. The player's wages
could be an issue but financially-troubled West Ham may be keen to do a
deal.
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West Ham boss Zola delighted with Tzouroudis impact
09.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is convinced their injury problems are
over thanks to the arrival of Nikos Tzouroudis. Tzouroudis is head of the
medical team, with the result being players staying fit unlike last season
during Alan Curbishley's regime. Tzouroudis' appointment caused controversy
at the start of the season as he is not registered with the General Medical
Council (GMC) as required by the Football Association, so cannot sit on the
bench during match days. "We nearly have everybody back so people aren't
getting injured like they used to," Zola said. "It's another thing we're
improving and it's very important. "The players are working well and the
physios are doing a good job. When you are fit and well trained, it's very
difficult for you to get injured."
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West Ham boss Zola: Premiership clubs should give managers more time
09.12.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has called on Premiership clubs to show
more patience with their managers. "In football in this country it is very
difficult to set up a long-term project," he said. "It can be very difficult
for managers if it doesn't happen from day one. "You need to establish your
ideas. It is always a game after all and people need to take it like that."
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