WHUFC.com
West Ham United have strengthened their hold on seventh place in the Premier
League table
04.03.2009
Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic v West Ham United
JJB Stadium
Wednesday 4 March
7.45pm
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Full time: Wigan Athletic 0-1 West Ham United
97 min - Will the final whistle ever be blown?! Neill takes a throw-in and
Attwell brings proceedings to an end. What a superb result that is for the
Hammers, but the night has been tainted by the injury suffered by Collison.
96 min - The unlikely combination of Spector and Lopez almost lead to a
second for the Uruguayan, but a fine tackle denies him at the last. West Ham
have a corner and choose to keep the ball there.
95 min - Under two minutes left now and Wigan are throwing men forward in
search of an equaliser. Poor control from Valencia hands West Ham a
throw-in.
94 min - Another through-ball rolls through into the safety of Green's arms.
92 min - Savio is booked for time-wasting.
90 min - There are going to be six added minutes.
88 min - Parker is replaced by Walter Lopez.
87 min - Kirkland denies Noble with his legs after the midfielder had been
played in by Savio following a superb driving run from Parker.
84 min - Rodallega's over-head kick flies well wide.
82 min - Rodallega heads into Green's arms.
80 min - Melchiot rampages forward and crosses, but the ball ricochets off
Upson and Parker and into the arms of a grateful Green.
79 min - After prolonged treatment, Collison is carried off on a stretcher
down the tunnel.
78 min - Jonathan Spector is on for Collison, who is receiving treatment
from a team of paramedics. Meanwhile, Bramble is replaced by Ben Watson for
Wigan.
77 min - Shocking luck for Collison. He controls the ball on his chest
before collapsing in a heap on the touchline. It looks like his right knee.
76 min - That proves to be Di Michele's last involvement. He is replaced by
Savio. The on-loan Torino man has really put in a shift for his team
tonight.
74 min - Ilunga romps forward down the left and feeds Noble, who dummies
cleverly, only for Di Michele to send his first-time shot miles over the
top.
73 min - James Tomkins and Kovac have both been rock-solid tonight. Tomkins
has won numerous important headers and it was his interception that led to
Cole's superb goal. Meanwhile, Kovac has been all over the park and also
looked very strong in the air.
72 min - Another superb turn from Parker takes him away from Scharner, but
his flick is just too far in front of Collison or else the 20-year-old would
have been in.
71 min - Rodallega catches Upson as he runs on to Scharner''s through-ball.
70 min - Parker stings Kirkland's palms with a low shot that the goalkeeper
spills. Boyce mops up the rebound and clears the danger. Seconds later,
Figueroa's long-range effort is well held by Green.
68 min - Collison follows up a neat piece of skill by running on to Neill's
pass, but Boyce sticks out a leg to prevent the Wales international from
bearing down on goal. Just over 20 minutes to go and the Hammers are getting
stronger as the game goes on.
67 min - West Ham are inches away from making it 2-0. Di Michele spins away
from his marker brilliantly before swapping passes with Neill. The Italian
looks up and whips the ball into the danger area, but it is just too far in
front of a lunging Noble.
64 min - Wigan make two changes. Brown and Zaki are replaced by Paul
Scharner and Hugo Rodallega.
63 min - Bramble lashes miles over the top from Mido's knockdown.
60 min - Another booking, this time for Valencia for a foul on Ilunga.
Captain Neill takes advantage of the break to receive some words of
instruction from manager Zola.
59 min - I know there is still half-an-hour to go here, but if the results
stay the way they are up and down the country, West Ham will be four points
clear of Wigan and Fulham in seventh and just six points behind Everton.
58 min - Wigan are still marginally on top here.
56 min - Figueroa lashes a left-foot shot well over the crossbar from 25
yards.
55 min - The two sets of fans are right into this game. Meanwhile, Parker
rejoins the action.
53 min - Parker is taken to the touchline after a good three minutes of
treatment. He tries a short jog along the sideline before receiving another
check-up from the Hammers' medical staff.
51 min - Parker is left writhing in agony by Cattermole's challenge. The
midfielder is sent-off for a knee-high tackle on the England man. So it's
going to be ten against ten for the remaining 39 minutes.
50 min - Figueroa's fine cross-field ball finds Valencia, but the winger's
cross is atrocious and flies out on the full for a throw-in on the opposite
side of the pitch.
48 min - Neill is the fourth West Ham player to see yellow after a sliding
challenge on Cattermole.
48 min - Another corner for Wigan, this time as N'Zogbia plays the ball off
Neill. The January signing from Newcastle United crosses and Collison hooks
the ball clear.
47 min - Valencia crosses, Boyce flicks on but Bramble can only mis-control
the ball wide of the far post. That was a let-off.
46 min - West Ham are out first, followed by Wigan and finally referee
Attwell. Wigan get us under way and immediately force a corner off Upson.
Wigan Athletic 0-1 West Ham United
45 min - The half-time whistle goes.
45 min - There are going to be three added minutes. Mido glides a header
wide from N'Zogbia's cross.
42 min - Cattermole twists and turns on to his left foot before firing a low
shot wide of the far post. West Ham could do with the half-time whistle
here.
41 min - Wigan are on top here. Valencia hammers a low cross against
Ilunga's shins and the ball goes out for a corner. N'Zogbia crosses and
Boyce flicks a header well wide of the far post.
40 min - Close call for Wigan as Mido heads Valencia's near-post cross on to
the post and out for a goal-kick.
37 min - From joy to disbelief for Cole, who is sent-off for a challenge on
Boyce. The striker appeared to have his eye on the ball all the way. The two
teams are engaged in a melee as the sets of players disagree over the
decision. After two minutes of messing about, Brown is booked. Parker
appeared to be particularly unhappy with the midfielder's role in Cole's
dismissal.
36 min - Parker is the third West Ham player booked for a challenge on
Brown.
34 min - GOAL! Cole scores an absolute belter of a goal. Tomkins wins the
ball in midfield and feeds Ilunga, The left-back passes to Parker, who finds
Di Michele. The Italian plays an instant one-two with Noble before laying
the ball off to Cole, who curls a delightful shot into Chris Kirkland's far
corner.
32 min - Parker does brilliantly to spin away from three Wigan players. The
fans respond with a rendition of 'Super Scotty Parker'. Seconds later, Di
Michele's attempted curler hits Collison, who is standing in an offside
position.
30 min - Upson does well to hold of Mido as he attempts to latch on to
Zaki's chip and Green is out to mop up the danger.
29 min - Cole follows his team-mate into Attwell's notebook after bringing
down Michael Brown. 30 seconds later, Upson's header falls to Cattermole,
but his low shot flies harmlessly wide.
27 min - Noble picks up his sixth yellow card of the season for a late
tackle on Lee Cattermole.
26 min - West Ham are starting to take control of this game. Another neat
piece of interplay ends with Ilunga clipping a ball over the Wigan defence,
but it is just too strong for Di Michele.
24 min - Titus Bramble receives a talking to from referee Stuart Attwell for
a foul on Cole.
23 min - A lovely turn sees Di Michele spin away from his marker, but he
runs into Collison as he shapes to shoot and the chance evaporates.
20 min - There is great hilarity in the press box at the irony of it snowing
in the first Wets Ham fixture since the Premier League reverted back to
using the white ball after four months of playing with a yellow one.
Meanwhile, Di Michele is penalised for being offside.
17 min - A first sight of goal for Cole as he races on to Collilson's
through ball. The big striker knocks the ball past Kirkland but it rolls out
for a goal-kick. That was a decent chance.
16 min - After what seems like an eternity, Mido strikes a low, powerful
shot that Green does well to keep out. The ball squirms away, but Green
reacts quickly and pushes the ball away from the on-rushing Antonio
Valencia. The England goalkeeper then rises high to claim the resulting
corner.
15 min - Neill is penalised again for a challenge on Zaki in a dangerous
position just four or five yards outside the penalty area. This one is in a
more central position, though.
13 min - The Wigan fans obviously like Zaki. They have already sung two
different tunes in honour of their leading scorer.
11 min - Neill is penalised for barging into Amr Zaki about seven yards
outside the penalty area. The Egyptian picks himself up and curls a
free-kick over the wall, forcing Robert Green to tip the ball over the
crossbar. A superb Upson header clears N'Zogbia's corner.
8 min - Not much goalmouth action so far...
6 min - A lovely turn by Parker sparks a spell of sustained possession for
the Hammers that only ends when Di Michele curls a left-foot shot well wide
of the target. Noble, Kovac, Cole and Lucas Neill were all involved in what
was a promising passage of play.
5 min - Cole latches on to Di Michele's pass, but Emmerson Boyce gets back
to challenge and the chance is lost.
4 min - The lively N'Zogbia leaves Kovac for dead with a nifty drop of the
shoulder, only to hoof his pass to Mido out for a goal-kick. The snow has
virtually stopped.
3 min - After a couple more hairy moments, Ilunga clears to Mark Noble, but
his attempted through ball to Carlton Cole is overhit and floats out for a
goal-kick.
2 min - Just for a change, the travelling Hammers are outsinging their
hosts. Herita Ilunga's loose clearance leads to Charles N'Zogbia forcing a
corner off Lucas Neill. The Frenchman takes and Radoslav Kovac heads clear.
1 min - Scott Parker and David Di Michele kick-off...
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Kovac,
Collison, Di Michele, Cole. Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, Spector, Payne,
Stanislas, Sears, Savio
Wigan Athletic: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia,
Cattermole, Brown, N'Zogbia, Zaki, Mido. Subs: Pollitt, Edman, Watson,
Scharner, Rodallega, Kapo, SIbierski
Gianfranco Zola has made just one change to the West Ham United side that
beat Manchester City 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, replacing the
injured Valon Behrami with Mark Noble, who missed the weekend fixture
through a one-match suspension. Teenagers Josh Payne and Junior Stanislas
retained their places on the substitutes' bench.
The two teams are going through their pre-match warm-ups on the pitch here
at a chilly JJB Stadium. The stands are not exactly full, but there are
still 15 minutes to go until kick-off, after all.
Wigan has miraculously escaped the snow that has fallen on large areas of
the north today. Nearby Blackburn has seen a covering of the white stuff,
while the M62 motorway over the Pennines has been hit by the severe weather
too.
West Ham United like playing at the JJB Stadium. On six previous visits, the
Hammers have tasted victory four times and drawn once. Wigan's only home win
over West Ham came last season, when Kevin Kilbane's first half header was
the only goal of the game.
The pitch here at the JJB looks in really good nick and should really suit
West Ham's slick passing style of football. A win tonight and the Hammers
would go four points clear of their opponents. Of West Ham's other closest
rivals, Fulham entertain Hull City, while Bolton Wanderers are at Stoke
City.
Just a few short minutes until kick-off now and we await the entry of the
two teams...and here they come!
The JJB is not exactly full tonight. West Ham have brought well over 1,200
supporters to what is their third long away trip in the space of 11 days.
I spoke too soon - it's snowing!!
Lucas Neill and Mario Melchiot exchange handshakes with each other and
referee Stuart Attwell. The two teams swap ends, with Robert Green last to
take up his position.
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Match Report
WHUFC.com
Date:
04/03/2009
Venue:
JJB Stadium
Attendance:
14169
Referee:
S Attwell
Carlton Cole's first-half goal was enough to win a lively encounter at the
JJB Stadium on Wednesday as both teams had players sent off.
The visitors opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Cole
finished a slick passing move, before being controversially sent off minutes
later for a second bookable offence. The game finished with ten on each side
as Lee Cattermole was dismissed for a challenge from behind on Scott Parker
shortly after half-time.
Gianfranco Zola was forced into one change from the team that won 1-0
against Manchester City, with Valon Behrami away in Italy having his knee
injury assessed, Mark Noble returned from a one-match suspension to take his
place, with teenagers Josh Payne, Junior Stanislas, Freddie Sears and Savio
again among the substitutes. Wigan Athletic welcomed back Antonio Valencia
and Mido from the side that had lost to a last-minute goal at Chelsea.
Wigan started brightly and forced Robert Green into early action as two
free-kicks from near identical positions 25 yards from goal threatened. The
first, on eleven minutes, from Egyptian striker Amr Zaki had to be helped on
its way over the crossbar, before Mido forced the England shot-stopper to
palm another set piece around the post five minutes later.
United then gave the home side a warning of what was to come as good play
between Noble and Jack Collison saw the Wales midfielder thread the ball
through for Cole to chase. He beat Titus Bramble for pace but Chris Kirkland
came out to close him down well and the chance was gone.
Noble was the first player to be cautioned after catching Lee Cattermole
with a late tackle and then Cole followed his team-mate soon after for a
sliding tackle on Cattermole's central midfield partner Michael Brown.
The game then exploded into life in a frantic five-minute spell, which
started with the Hammers taking the lead on 34 minutes with a sublime,
one-touch passing move. Di Michele played a one-two with Noble before
flicking the ball to Cole and the England striker made no mistake with a
superb right-footed finish low into the net.
Two minutes later Parker became the third West Ham player to be cautioned in
the first half after catching Brown with a high tackle, before Cole was
dismissed after referee Stuart Attwell adjudged him to have caught Emerson
Boyce with a high foot. The half-time break soon arrived and with it a
chance for the teams to regain their composure as the manner of Cole's
dismissal seemed to rile both sets of players.
The interval was clearly not enough for Cattermole as seven minutes after
returning to the pitch he was dismissed after his coming together with
Parker. Consequentially Attwell elected to call both sets of captains over
for a talk in an effort to cool the simmering tensions.
It had the desired impact on the mood, although Antonio Valencia was shown a
yellow card for bringing down Herita Ilunga. Wigan manager Steve Bruce made
his first two changes by bringing on Hugo Rodallega and Paul Scharner for
Brown and Zaki.
Chances were few and far between as the real action was going on in
midfield, with both teams demonstrating their commitment to edging ahead of
their opponents in the battle for a European place. Radolsav Kovac, in
particular, was dominant in the air and on the floor to help keep the
Hammers on top.
Zola made his first change with 14 minutes to go by bringing on Savio for Di
Michele - who had worked tirelessly to cover for Cole's departure - before
being forced to replace Collison with Jonathan Spector after the midfielder
went down with what looked like a knee injury.
There was still time for the late addition of Walter Lopez for the
ever-impressive Parker and a booking for substitute Savio in a game full of
high drama and incident.
The result will surely be a significant boost to Zola and his team as they
look to cement seventh place in league table - and with it the possibility
of a UEFA Europa League spot next season. And no doubt they will be looking
to make it three Premier League wins on the spin when West Bromwich Albion
visit the Boleyn Ground a week on Monday.
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Seventh heaven for Zola
WHUFC.com
The manager was delighted with the way his team strode to victory in a
gritty contest at Wigan Athletic
05.03.2009
Gianfranco Zola has spoken of his pride at his players' battling performance
after they earned a second 1-0 win in four days and consolidated their hold
on seventh place.
The West Ham United manager saw the impressive Carlton Cole finish off a
flowing passing move with the only goal of a lively duel with Wigan Athletic
in the 34th minute but was then dismayed to see him sent off three minutes
later for his second yellow card. The England striker was harshly penalised
for raising his foot to intercept a high ball in front of a defender.
Cole's red card - which will rule him out for two matches - was not the only
low note with Jack Collison going off with a suspected medial ligament
injury in his knee, although he was able to walk away from the JJB Stadium.
Despite those negatives, nothing could take away from what was a
professional performance after a weekend win against Manchester City that
sets the club up for a thrilling ten-game finale to the season.
"It's an important win and a very well-deserved win," said Zola, who had
nine players under 23 in his squad. "I think that until we got the goal and
until Carlton Cole got sent off the team played a fantastic match. More than
just to get the three points, to see the players play like this makes me
feel very pleased and very proud. The build-up to the goal was magnificent.
One or two touches and pass-and-move, it was very, very good."
On the Cole dismissal which prompted him to visit referee Stuart Attwell's
room straight after the match, Zola said: "For me it was not a reckless
challenge. Carlton Cole didn't even look at the defender. He just went for
the ball. I have seen him do it so many times. He is so good at controlling
the ball in those situations. He didn't want to cause any damage. For me it
was too much.
"Understand me, I don't want to be too critical of the referee. We are here
to help the referees because they are human beings like us and they can make
mistakes. We need to support them because they are a very important part of
the game. Until the red card] it was a game where both of the teams were
trying to play. It was a magnificent game of football up to that moment.
Then it got a little bit more spicy but that's it, as simple as that."
Wigan themselves finished with ten men when Lee Cattermole saw red for a
tackle from behind on the outstanding Scott Parker. The latter's
contribution earned yet more plaudits from Zola, with the No8 driving the
team on before making way to a standing ovation late on from the terrific
travelling support that braved snowy conditions.
The manager said: "Scott Parker is a player who gives everything, He gives
his soul when he is on the pitch. He never goes back on a challenge, it is
as simple as that. Players like that are committed and involved in every
situation."
Such individual displays - set alongside the likes of Cole and the maturing
James Tomkins - contributed to a team triumph that left the manager in no
doubt his team can push for a seventh-place finish - especially with the
next two games against teams in the bottom three in West Bromwich Albion at
home and Blackburn Rovers away.
"Why not? We are there. We are ambitious and we know that it is not an easy
achievement but the players are enthusiastic and enjoying what they are
doing so why not? We want to improve day-by-day and take it from there."
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Cole speaks to WHUTV
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole gives his post-Wigan Athletic thoughts including on his red
card exclusively to WHUTV
05.03.2009
Carlton Cole has given his post-Wigan Athletic thoughts exclusively to WHUTV
- and you can log on now to see them in full as well as all the match
highlights.
The England striker was at the centre of an eventful evening at the JJB
Stadium. He scored the only goal of a 1-0 victory when he finished off a
tremendous free-flowing passing move with a sublime strike. Cole then saw
red soon afterwards for a second yellow card that left both managers and
most neutrals thinking he was hard done-by.
Cole said: "I just watched the replay and I thought it was a well-taken goal
but the build up play to it was fantastic. Tomka won the ball on the halfway
line, there was some quick one-touch passing and I was at the end of it. I
didn't realise how good the goal was until I saw the replay."
On the red card, the 25-year-old said: "I am so sad I can't play in the next
two games. I don't know what the referee saw. He made a decision and he
stuck by it and I got sent-off It was backs against the wall for us but the
boys played brilliantly. They got their man sent off and we were comfortable
from then on."
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Youngsters in England frame
WHUFC.com
There could be up to four West Ham United youngsters involved in England's
Under-20 game with Italy
05.03.2009
West Ham United could be well represented when England take on Italy in an
Under-20 friendly in west London on 31 March.
The likes of James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Junior Stanislas and Freddie
Sears could all be in the frame for the 7pm match at Loftus Road which will
herald the start of preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup taking place in
Egypt later this year. England will be coached by Noel Blake, who was part
of the U19 set-up that reached last summer's European Championship. The
Azzurrini are also through to the finals.
All who took part in the UEFA event in July will still be eligible for the
FIFA finals - being played between 24 September and 16 October - as well as
those making waves at U19 level this season. Blake said: "We have some very
good players in this age group, the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Freddie Sears
and Andy Carroll up front, James Tomkins and Ciaran Clark and Sam Hutchison,
if fit, in defence.
"All of the lads who were involved in the U19s last season could be involved
and we feel we have a decent pool of players to pick from. We feel that if
we get all of the players we would like, we could do quite well." Other West
Ham United players that may feature at the 24-nation finals include Savio
(Germany), Balint Bajner (Hungary) and Adam Street (Canada) although the
latter team have yet to qualify.
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Wigan 0-1 West Ham
By David Ornstein
BBC.co.uk
Carlton Cole's superb first-half strike proved decisive as West Ham cemented
seventh place with victory over Wigan in an ill-tempered encounter. Cole
finished a fine passing move with a curled finish but three minutes later he
was sent off for a second booking. Wigan saw Mido's header hit a post before
Lee Cattermole was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Scott Parker. Mark
Noble had two chances to extend West Ham's lead in a dour second half as the
booking count rose to eight. Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola will be
delighted with the result but the evening ended on a sour note for him when
Jack Collison was stretchered off with a knee injury, although the Italian
said afterwards it may not be too serious. For Wigan, the defeat extends
their winless run to eight matches and, although they remain eighth, the
Latics have now failed to score in six of their last eight games. Worryingly
for boss Steve Bruce, who was able to call upon Antonio Valencia and Mido
for the first time in almost a month, his side rarely looked like scoring
despite their positive start. The all-Egyptian strike force of Mido and Amr
Zaki worked tirelessly to occupy the attentions of Matthew Upson and James
Tomkins, allowing wingers Valencia and Charles N'Zogbia to cut inside with
probing through-balls and incisive runs. But in the opening stages, Wigan's
only clear-cut chances came from free-kicks as Zaki and Mido saw an effort
apiece ushered to safety by West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green. On the rare
occasions that West Ham managed to keep possession they posed a genuine
threat, one counter-attack ending with David di Michele scuffing a shot wide
and another seeing Cole let down by his touch after being put through by
Collison. With their focus almost solely on bursting forward, Wigan were
allowing their opponents an increasing amount space and time, which proved
costly as West Ham opened the scoring in spectacular fashion.
Parker, Mark Noble and Di Michele were all involved in an intricate
one-touch move that ended with Cole pulling away from Titus Bramble,
collecting Di Michele's pass and curling a delicious strike past Chris
Kirkland. Unfortunately for Cole, his evening would last just three more
minutes. Having already been cautioned for upending Michael Brown, the
25-year-old received a second yellow card for a high foot on Emerson Boyce.
The dismissal, and ensuing melee, seemed to divert West Ham's attention and
they could have conceded before half-time when Mido headed Valencia's
right-wing cross against Green's near post. Wigan made a bright start to the
second period but their hopes of mounting a comeback were dented when
Cattermole received his marching orders for a dreadful tackle on Parker.
Moments earlier, Lucas Neill had only received a yellow card from referee
Stuart Attwell for a horror lunge on Cattermole.
The quality of football from then on was poor but, as Wigan pushed for an
equaliser, West Ham had a number of chances to extend their lead. Noble
narrowly failed to convert Di Michele's low centre before he was foiled by
Kirkland after being put clear by substitute Savio. At the death, Jonathan
Spector squared for Walter Lopez to bear down on goal but Maynor Figueroa
intervened with a tremendous last-ditch tackle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Wigan manager Steve Bruce:"The game was ruined as a spectacle. Carlton Cole
shouldn't have been sent off. Referee, use a bit of common sense. It had the
makings of a decent game but how he sends someone off in the first half for
something as petulant as that I don't know. "Lucas Neill should have been
off the pitch for his tackle, which was horrific. I have no complaints about
Cattermole, he was stupid and silly but he was incensed - and he has a good
right to be. "I feel a bit sorry for him because in my opinion Mr Attwell is
not ready to step up to the plate."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "We have to understand the referee is a
human being and can make mistakes. He needs our support. You can have a bad
day but we need to support them as they are here to help the game. "Neither
of Carlton Cole's challenges were bad tackles at all. Cattermole's was a bad
tackle on Parker, as was Lucas Neill's on Cattermole. Lucas wanted to go for
the ball, he caught the man but it was a bad tackle. "We are very serious
about Europe, as we proved today. The players love what they are doing,
they're enjoying their football and as a manager I feel lucky."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble (Watson 78), Figueroa, Valencia,
Brown (Scharner 64), Cattermole, N'Zogbia, Mido, Zaki (Rodallega 64).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Edman, Sibierski, Kapo.
Sent Off: Cattermole (52).
Booked: Brown, Valencia.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Collison (Spector 78),
Noble, Parker (Lopez 88), Kovac, Di Michele (Nsereko 75), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Sears, Payne, Stanislas.
Sent Off: Cole (37).
Booked: Noble, Cole, Parker, Neill, Nsereko.
Goals: Cole 34.
Att: 14,169
Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Robert Green with 7.35 (on 90
minutes).
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Collison back by April?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th March 2009
By: Staff Writer
Jack Collison could be back in action within a month - despite appearing to
suffer an horrific injury during last night's 1-0 win at Wigan. The
20-year-old midfielder appeared to suffer a similar fate to that which
effectively ended Valon Bahrami's season late on in last night's game when
he lost his footing on the touchline with no other players around him,
twisting his leg awkwardly in the process. Collison is due to undergo a scan
to determine the extent of the injury later today - although early reports
suggest that the damage may not be as severe as was initially feared. He
left the JJB Stadium on foot last night - unlike team mate Behrami last
weekend who was taken immediately to hospital - and early suggestions are
that the Welsh international may have suffered medial ligament damage,
which, depending on the severity, could keep him out from anywhere between
one and three months. Meanwhile Behrami is expected to get the results of
his recent scan later today; whilst the player has publically expressed his
view that his season is over West Ham will examine those results before
making any announcement.
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Zola on ... Wigan
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th March 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola looks ahead as the Hammers take one more small step towards
European qualification ...
On a Goal of the Season contender...
I was really buzzing when it happened. I think the build-up was fantastic
and the finish on the same level. I'm pleased because the team deserved that
as they were playing very well and just a goal was missing. But you could
smell it in the air and it was very important for us.
On referee Stuart Attwell...
We have to understand that the referee is there, he's a human being and
sometimes they can make mistakes. He needs our support for the time and it
happens that you might have a bad day, you might make a decision that's not
accepted by the opposition but they are there to do a job and we need to
make sure that they are comfortable with the job they do.
On Carlton Cole's dismissal - and Lucas Neill's yellow card...
I think it was too much. I thought neither the first or second [Cole]
challenges were bad tackles at all. Unfortunately the referee saw them that
way. The red cards? For Cattermole I think it was a bad tackle - as was the
one by Lucas Neill on Cattermole again. All I can say having spoken to him
[Lucas] is that it seems he wanted to go for the ball. he just touched the
ball but as he was sliding he caught the man. It was a bad tackle anyway.
On Cole's potential ban....
That's the reason I went to talk to him [the referee]. I just said that
knowing Carlton Cole he's not a man who makes bad tackles. All I said is
that he didn't even look at the man, he had his eyes on the ball all the
time so I think the second one was a little bit too much.
The referee said that from his position it looked bad, simple as that. But
he accepted my explanation and said he will have a look later and decide
[whether to reverse the decision]. I said sometimes even if you make a
mistake you can still go back [on it]. It's up to him, he will have a look
and he will decide.
On Jack Collison...
We were worried because it looked very bad and he was in so much pain. But
I've had a chat with him and the doctor just now and it doesn't look that
bad so hopefully it's not going to be too serious.
On qualifying for next season's Europa League...
I can assure you we are very serious about it, as we proved today. The
players enjoy what they are doing, they're playing really well and for the
moment they deserve what they have.
The players love what they are doing and they are enjoying their football.
There's nothing better than that, it's a great feeling to have a team that
are enjoying what they're doing. They work hard, and as a manager I feel
lucky.
* Gianfranco was talking to the BBC.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bruce: this can't keep happening
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th March 2009
By: Staff Writer
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has called for calamity referee Stuart Attwell to be
dropped after he booked eight and sent off two in last night's 1-0 home
defeat to West Ham.
Bruce, talking to the BBC after the game was scathing in his appraisal of
Attwell, who has been at the centre of a string of controversies this
season.
The Latics boss - who watched his team slip to their first home defeat in
four months - claimed that Atwell 'ruined' the game, whilst pleading for the
Premier League to drop him form their referee's list.
"He's runied the game as a spectacle and got the major decisions, the key
ones wrong," stormed Bruce. "Carlton Cole, a little bit of common sense,
he's put his foot up but he's never trying to kick anybody or intentionally
hurt anybody. A little talking to would have been enough, keep 11 against 11
as that's what we all want to see.
"It was a good game up until then, the first 35 minutes. West Ham were
excellent and as good as any team that's come here. They caused us all sorts
of problems, got a really good goal and it was a good game that would have
been interesting to see ... then the whole thing turns on its head, they're
down to ten men and just want to defend - which is obvious.
"And then the second half the big tackle is Lucas Neill's tackle, and having
seen that [again] that is a horror tackle which breaks people's legs. I
don't want to speak about other players but they're the ones that you want
to protect your players from and he's let that go because he's made a
mistake with Carlton Cole. He's under pressure.
"For me Cattermole's one, that decision was right - but for the whole game
we're talking about Mr Attwell's decisions and unfortunately for me, he's
got them all wrong and that can't keep happening.
"He [Cattermole] was silly; he's a young lad, dives into the challenge and
got caught up in the whole thing," added Bruce. "He'll go home tonight and
have to learn for it, from being stupid. We've told him that and he was
downright silly, but it wasn't half as malicious as Lucas Neill's that's for
sure.
"I was convinced at the time that that was the red card of the evening and
they're the ones that the referee's have got to get spot on. Never mind
people 'high footing', two yellow cards ... he's got it totally wrong and I
hope that he learns from it as well - but I think it's a little bit too
early for the feller, I have to say that.
"He keeps getting these big decisions wrong and the last thing I was to do
is talk about referees. West Ham deserved to win, for me they were the
better team but the whole game and the whole spectacle was ruined by the
referee.
"Once West Ham went down to ten men we struggled. I don't think that, had we
been playing 'til midnight, we would have scored. We just missed that
cutting edge."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola gives Attwell backing
Hammers boss says refs are human and make mistakes
Last updated: 5th March 2009
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola refused to criticise the referee after the
Hammers beat Wigan 1-0 in a game which both sides finished with ten men.
Carlton Cole was sent of by referee Stuart Attwell for two yellow cards,
while Lee Cattermole received a straight red for a tackle on Scott Parker.
Attwell also issued six yellow cards, not including Cole's first, but failed
to send off Lucas Neill for what was arguably the worst tackle of the
evening on Cattermole. But Zola was sympathetic towards the official
afterwards, despite thinking Cole should not have been sent off. "I told the
referee I didn't think it was a reckless challenge, Carlton didn't even look
at the defender - he just went for the ball," he said. "He didn't want to
cause any damage and it (the sending off) was too much. "The referee is a
human being and they make mistakes and we are here to support them. "We
explained it to each other at the end of the game. He said he thought it was
a reckless challenge." Before he was sent off, Cole got the winner in the
34th minute, finishing off a sublime one-touch Hammers' passing move. Zola
said: "It was a very, very good build up and the finishing was even better
so a very good goal - I think the way we were playing, we were just missing
the goal so it was very good discipline."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole tastes joy and despair
Cole scores winner before being sent-off, while Cattermole off for Latics
Last updated: 4th March 2009
SSN
Man of Match: Scott Parker. Pulled the strings in the West Ham midfield
before being replaced late on. He was booed by Wigan fans after Lee
Cattermole was sent off but the Wigan player can have no complaints.
Moment of the match: Carlton Cole's sending-off. West Ham were on top at
this point but his dismissal meant Wigan could get back into the game.
Attempt of the match: Mido hit a free-kick low and hard early on, forcing
Robert Green into a save to his left. The keeper then had to push the ball
out under pressure for a corner.
Save of the match: The double save by Green mentioned above.
Talking point: Should Cole have been sent-off? His challenge was high but
his red card seemed harsh and change the course of the game.
Goal of the game: Cole's winner finished off a superb one touch move by the
Hammers. Parker passed to David Di Michele who passed to Mark Noble who
passed back to Di Michele who fed the ball to Cole who scored first time
into the net - it ripped the Latics apart.
Carlton Cole scored a wondergoal and was then sent off as West Ham beat
ten-man Wigan at the JJB Stadium. Cole got the winner in the 34th minute,
finishing off a sublime one-touch Hammer's passing move which ripped the
Wigan defence apart. But the England striker's joy changed to despair just
three minutes later when he received his marching orders for a high
challenge on Emmerson Boyce - his second yellow card of the game. But Wigan
were themselves reduced to ten men in the second period as Lee Cattermole
was sent-off for a crunching tackle on Scott Parker as the Hammers held
firm. The result means West Ham have pulled four points clear of the Latics
in the chase for Uefa Cup qualification via the league. Referee Stuart
Attwell's card-happy antics will be the main talking point - as well as the
two red cards, Attwell issued six yellow cards, not including Cole's first,
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.
Early on, two fouls by Lucas Neill allowed Amr Zaki and Mido to test
goalkeeper Robert Green with 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 confrontation between Parker and Brown which saw
Brown 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 a
late and high challenge on Cattermole - his studs were showing and he was
lucky not to be sent off. But Cattermole pressed the self-destruct button
two minutes later when he jumped into the back of Parker and was shown a
straight red card. Valencia was next into Attwell's book for obstructing
Herita Ilunga in the 60th minute, before a chance fell to Titus 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 equaliser.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole fires Hammers before burning out
Wigan Athletic 0 West Ham United 1
By Jon Culley
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Independent.co.uk
If Steve Bruce is right and Wigan have reached the defining point in their
season, their prospects are not as good as he had probably hoped. Last
night, in a bad-tempered contest of two red cards, his side failed to score
for the sixth time in eight games and surrendered an unbeaten home run that
began in October. "Uefa Cup?" Bruce responded, with a bemused look when
asked where the result left Wigan's ambitions. "Ask a silly question..."
But that was not the issue troubling the Wigan manager. Rather it was the
performance of the referee, Stuart Attwell, he of the phantom goal and other
oddities, whose policing of the game, in Bruce's view, reflected his lack of
experience.
The 26-year-old official sent off West Ham's Carlton Cole after 37 minutes,
having already booked him for bringing down Wigan's Michael Brown from
behind. Cole's second offence - trying to use his foot to win a ball high
enough for Wigan's Emmerson Boyce to go for with his head - was careless at
worst.
The decision incensed West Ham, in particular Scott Parker, who had to be
restrained from confronting Brown, who appeared to encourage the referee to
take the action he did. Thereafter, Attwell was under pressure. Early in the
second half, he showed West Ham's Lucas Neill only a yellow card for what
Bruce described as a "horrific tackle" on Lee Cattermole, but then dismissed
Cattermole for scything down Parker.
"I feel a bit sorry for him because in my opinion he - Mr Attwell - is not
quite ready," Bruce said. "If he had used a bit of common sense, Carlton
Cole should never have been sent off. But by doing that he has put himself
under pressure and when it came to the big one - Neill's tackle on
Cattermole - when a decision needed to be made, he has not done it. And that
was the kind of challenge we need to stamp out."
Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, was more sympathetic than Bruce
towards Attwell's performance. "For me the red card for Carlton was too
much, it was not a reckless challenge," he said. "But referees are human
beings and I prefer to support them rather than criticise."
The dismissals overshadowed the quality of Cole's goal, his 10th of the
season, scored three minutes before his red card after the match's best
move, a slick exchange of one-touch passes involving Parker, Mark Noble and
David di Michele, whose ball to Cole was curled beyond the reach of Chris
Kirkland. "It was a great goal that deserved to win any match," Bruce said.
Certainly, Wigan had no answer to it. They had gone close twice in the early
stages but once behind could find no way through. "It was a important win
and we deserved it," Zola said. "We are in a position to go for a place in
Europe and we will try to do it."
Zola said he hoped an injury to Jack Collison, West Ham's midfield prospect,
would prove less serious than it appeared when he was carried off 15 minutes
from time, having twisted his right knee.
Goal: Cole 34 (0-1).
Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble (Watson, 77),
Figueroa; Valencia, Brown (Scharner, 63), Cattermole, N'Zogbia; Zaki
(Rodallega, 63), Mido. Substitutes not used: Pollitt (gk), Edman, Watson,
Kapo, Sibierski.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Collison
(Spector, 76), Kovac, Parker (Lopez, 87), Noble; Di Michele (Nsereko, 75),
Cole. Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Payne, Stanislas, Sears.
Referee: S Attwell (West Midlands).
Booked: Wigan Valencia, Brown; West Ham Neill, Noble, Parker, Cole.
Sent off: Cole (37); Cattermole (52).
Man of the match: Parker.
Attendance: 14,169.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bruce: Attwell not ready for Prem
TeamTalk
Steve Bruce accused referee Stuart Attwell of ruining the game in Wigan's
1-0 home defeat to West Ham which saw both teams reduced to 10 men. The
Latics boss felt the Warwickshire official - the youngest in the Premier
League at 26 - was not the required standard for the top flight. Attwell,
who awarded the infamous "ghost goal" in Watford's game against Reading
earlier this season, spent one year in the Football League before being
promoted to the Premier League panel last summer. On Wednesday night he
sent off Carlton Cole, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Michael
Brown, for a second yellow card when he raised his foot as Emmerson Boyce
went to head the ball in the 37th minute. Lee Cattermole, who just moments
earlier had been clattered by Lucas Neill, was dismissed in the 50th minute
for lunging into the back of Scott Parker's legs. Bruce was unimpressed by
the official's performance. "The game was ruined as a spectacle. Carlton
Cole shouldn't have been sent off. Referee - use a bit of common sense," he
said. "It had the makings of a decent game but how he sends someone off in
the first half for something as petulant as that I don't know.
"I feel a bit sorry for him because in my opinion Mr Attwell is not ready to
step up to the plate." The Wigan boss had no issue with Cattermole's
dismissal but was incensed Neill was not dismissed for his challenge on the
midfielder moments earlier. "Lucas Neill should have been off the pitch for
his tackle, which was horrific," he added. "But because Mr Attwell has put
himself under pressure from sending off Cole in the first half, in the
second half, when the major decision needs to be made, he hasn't made it.
"That is the one we want to stamp out because that tackle is a horror
tackle. "I have no complaints about Cattermole, he was stupid and silly but
he was incensed - and he has a good right to be."
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola was more sympathetic towards the official. "I
told the referee I didn't think it was a reckless challenge, Carlton didn't
even look at the defender - he just went for the ball," he said. "He didn't
want to cause any damage and it (the sending off) was too much. "The
referee is a human being and they make mistakes and we are here to support
them. "We explained it to each other at the end of the game. He said he
thought it was a reckless challenge." The sendings-off and general
proliferation of yellow cards totally overshadowed the one shining moment
with Cole's goal three minutes before his dismissal a textbook example of
short, sharp passing. Parker slid the ball into David Di Michele who played
a one-two with Mark Noble before playing in Cole on the left of the penalty
area and he opened his body before curling a shot beyond Kirkland and into
the far corner of the net.
The closest Wigan came were two first-half free-kicks from Amr Zaki and Mido
which forced Robert Green into saves. "We huffed and puffed and I couldn't
fault their effort but if we had been there until midnight we wouldn't have
scored," said Bruce. "I have no complaints about the result, I thought West
Ham were the better team and their goal deserved to win any match, it's
probably goal of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan 0-1 West Ham: Neill and Parker accused of sparking red card mayhem
By Mirror Sport 5/03/2009
West Ham stars Scott Parker and Lucas Neill were on the receiving end of
Steve Bruce's fury last night after a scrap for a place in Europe almost
turned into all-out war.
But the blame for the mayhem at the JJB was placed firmly at the door of
rookie referee Stuart Attwell by the Wigan boss. Bruce agreed with opposite
number Gianfranco Zola that Carlton Cole did not deserve to be sent off in
the first half for a second yellow - a high kick at Wigan defender Emmerson
Boyce. But Bruce DID feel that Neill should have been shown straight red for
a horror lunge at Lee Cattermole who was himself sent off minutes later for
a foul on Parker. And Hammers midfielder Parker should also have been
dismissed for going after Michael Brown in the chaotic seconds following
Cole's 37thminute red card. Bruce said: "I feel a bit sorry for him because
Mr Attwell at the moment is not quite ready to step up to the plate too
often, with those type of decisions. "The whole game was turned on its head
and ruined because Carlton Cole shouldn't have been sent off. "Then, in the
second half, Lucas Neill should have been off the pitch because his tackle
was horrific. That's the one thing we want to stamp out because that tackle
was a horror tackle. "I have no complaints about Cattermole's sending off,
he was stupid, silly. He was incensed but you shouldn't react like that
although he has a good right to be incensed. "That tackle was a horror show
but there had been an under-current from the first sending off. "West Ham
obviously accused Browny of trying to get him sent off then Scott Parker,
who already had a yellow, rampaged around and incited everything else."
The Cole red card came three minutes after his winner and what a winner it
was - goal of the season, claimed Bruce. Parker found David Di Michele who
exchanged passes with Mark Noble and laid the ball off for Cole who curled
an unstoppable shot past Chris Kirkland. Three minutes later, Cole went in
high - if accidentally - on Boyce and both teams squared up with West Ham
blaming Brown for trying to get their man sent off and Parker having to be
prevented from attacking him.
After the break, Neill reestablished the tone of malevolence with a high
lunge at Cattermole which earned him a 51st minute booking but which should
have brought him a red card. response was as predictable and obvious as any
other event on the night. Minutes after Neill's assault on him, Cattermole
outdid his rival with a flying, two-footed assault at the legs of Parker.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola leapt to the defence of his men, understandably
in Cole's case, less so in Parker's. "Scott is a player that gives
everything, he gives his soul when he is on the pitch and he never goes back
on a challenge," said Zola. "Players like that are committed and involved in
every situation.
"But everybody was upset by Carlton's sending off. It wasn't a reckless
challenge. I'm sorry for Carlton, he didn't deserve that." The Hammers also
lost midfielder Jack Collison to an ankle injury near the end.
Wigan: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 7, Boyce 6, Bramble 5, Figueroa 6, Valencia 8,
Brown 5 (Scharner 63, 5), Cattermole 4, N'Zogbia 5, Mido 7, Zaki 6.
West Ham: Green 7, Neill 5, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 6, Collison 5
(Spector 78), Noble 7, Parker 5 (Lopez 88), Kovac 6, Di Michele 8 (Savio 75,
6), Cole 5.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Attendance: 14,169
MAN OF THE MATCH (Carlton Cole (West Ham)
VILLAIN OF THE MATCH Carlton Cole (West Ham)
NEXT THREE GAMES
WIGAN Sat Mar 14: Sunderland (a) Prem, Sun Mar 22: Hull City (h) Prem, Sun
Apr 5: Everton (a) (Prem)
WEST HAM Mon Mar 16: West Brom (h) Prem, Sat Mar 21: Blackburn (a) Prem, Sat
Apr 4: Sunderland (h) (Prem)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wigan 0 West Ham 1
The Sun
From DAVID FACEY at the JJB Stadium
Published: Today
CARLTON COLE provided a rare moment of quality to settle this ugly clash -
then earned himself a sending-off and a ban. The Hammers hitman's classy
finish would have graced any game - but both teams should hang their heads
in shame after this nasty, ill-tempered affair. Rookie ref Stuart Attwell's
display was nothing to be proud of either - and Wigan boss Steve Bruce
accused him of ruining the game with his "needless" dismissal of Cole for
two bookings before the break. The sendings-off of Cole and Lee Cattermole
sparked ugly, nose-to-nose melees that threatened to boil over into mass
brawls. And the match got the referee it deserved, with over-hyped,
over-rated Attwell looking increasingly bemused. Six other players were
booked, and the sublime move that resulted in Cole's 34th-minute winner was
totally out of character with the rest of this distasteful contest. If two
teams are prepared to kill each other for the chance of finishing seventh,
maybe an extra Europa League spot is not such a good idea.
Cole was the first man dismissed, three minutes after rounding off a
glorious passing move with a brilliant, curling shot. He went for a second
bookable offence, showing his studs chest-high as Emmerson Boyce stooped to
head the ball. That sparked the first melee, with Scott Parker and Lucas
Neill racing to confront Wigan's Michael Brown.
The other mass bust-up erupted when Cattermole was shown a straight red card
seven minutes into the second half for a wild two-footed lunge at Parker. A
couple of minutes earlier West Ham skipper Neill had scythed Cattermole down
with an equally shocking hack. Yet there was no sign of bad feeling before
Cole's dismissal and Latics boss Bruce put the blame squarely on Attwell,
the 26-year-old who has been controversially fast-tracked to Premier League
status. Bruce said: "It wasn't a sending-off, for goodness sake. There was
nothing in it, and the referee needed to show some common sense. "But I'm
afraid Mr Attwell, in my opinion, is not quite ready. And the undercurrent
all stemmed from that sending-off. "That dismissal also meant the ref
painted himself into a corner, and when Lucas Neill came in with an horrific
tackle on Lee Cattermole he only produced a yellow. "I've got no complaints
about Cattermole being sent off. "He deserved to go, but he was incensed at
the tackle on him - and I have to say, he had every right to be incensed.
The tackle on him was a horror show. "We saw Scott Parker rampaging around
whenever the cards came out, and I took off Michael Brown to prevent a
second yellow. "But the game was ruined as a spectacle by that early red
card."
West Ham chief Gianfranco Zola was more sympathetic towards Attwell. He
said: "He is human and he makes mistakes like we all do. We must try to help
referees. But I did ask him why Carlton Cole had been sent off. He said it
was a reckless challenge, but he was going for the ball. "Until then there
was no reason for the game to turn out the way it did. Both teams wanted to
play football, but it just got more and more spicy."
STAR MAN - JACK COLLISON (West Ham)
Wigan: Kirkland 5, Melchiot 5, Boyce 6, Bramble 5 (Watson 5), Figueroa 6,
Valencia 6, Brown 5 (Scharner 5), Cattermole 2, N'Zogbia 5, Mido 6, Zaki 5
(Rodallega 5). Subs not used: Pollitt, Edman, Sibierski, Kapo. Sent off:
Cattermole (52). Booked: Brown, Valencia.
West Ham: Green 6, Neill 5, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 5, Collison 7
(Spector 5), Noble 5, Parker 5 (Lopez 5), Kovac 6, Di Michele 6 (Savio 5),
Cole 4. Subs not used: Lastuvka, Sears, Payne, Stanislas. Sent off: Cole
(37). Booked: Noble, Cole, Parker, Neill, Savio.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upson admits no West Ham contract talks
05.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United defender Matthew Upson admits he's yet to hear from the club
about a new contract. Asked if he had been approached about a contract
renewal, Upson replied: "No idea. I haven't heard a thing. I believe other
players may have been in touch but I may be next on the list, who knows.
When that moment comes we'll sit down and have a chat."
The former Arsenal player stopped short of committing his future to the
club, but he revealed he was enjoying his football under Gianfranco Zola. He
added: "I'm happy with the way things are going. I'm enjoying my football so
we'll see what happens."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham defender Upson hits out at Wigan tackling
05.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United defender Matthew Upson hit out at the aggression of Wigan's
players after victory last night. Upson claimed Wigan's players were too
zealous in their approach and that Lee Cattermole's challenge on Scott
Parker warranted a red card. Upson said: "The lads were a little bit
incensed with a couple of the tackles that went in and studs were raised.
And Cattermole's tackle? Well, he went in aggressively and he didn't win the
ball. He cleaned Scott out but didn't touch the ball so the referee didn't
have much of an option. "Coley's (Carlton Cole) sending off spoiled the
game a little bit. Carlton didn't take his eye off the ball the whole time.
If the defender ducks down and decides to head it, Carlton can't help if his
foot's the same height and I don't think he really caught him."
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