Sunday, November 29

Daily WHUFC News - 29th November 2009

West Ham United 5-3 Burnley
All the action as it happened as West Ham United took the spoils in an
eight-goal thriller
28.11.2009

Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Burnley
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 28 November
3pm
Referee: Chris Foy

Full time - Well thankfully it was and hopefully the Hammers' second home
win of the season will give them confidence going into the game with
Manchester United next Saturday.

95 min - GOAL! Eagles takes another tap in to make it 5-3. Surely that must
be the last of the action?

94 min - Stanislas takes the resulting free-kick but it hits a Burnley
defender straight in the chest.

92 min - Well is could have been six but Caldwell pulls Hines down as he was
just about to get onto his short backpass. Jensen is not happy with the
decision and is booked for going to have a word with the assistant.

90 min - Five minutes of added time here.

87 min - Big shout for a West Ham penalty as Carlisle tangles with Hines in
the area. Replays suggest the Burnley defender did get enough on the ball to
make Foy's decision not to award a spot kick correct.

85 min - Ilunga is the first player to go into Chris Foy's notebook for a
late tackle on Elliott.

81 min - Green helps them do that as he gets down quickly to turn an Eagles
free-kick around the post.

79 min - Well it is not often I am unsure what to write but this really has
been an incredible match. West Ham were cruising at 5-0 but those two
Burnley goals have given the away side a glimmer of hope. The Hammers seemed
to have steadied the ship and need to just see out the last ten minutes.

77 min - Final change as Collison makes way for Julien Faubert.

75 min - GOAL! Well it is almost a carbon copy of the first as Fletcher
prods in another cross from the left.

73 min - Ouch! For the second week in a row Parker literally puts his head
on the line as he jumps up to block an Eagle's set piece. The home fans
loved that.

70 min - Another change for Burnley as Alexander makes way for Kevin
McDonald.

67 min - GOAL! Burnley pull one back as Fletcher turns in Eagles' cross.
Surely no more than a consolation though?

66 min - Well we still have another 23 minutes to go so the question is what
will the final score be? One thing you cannot say is that West Ham's games
have been short of goals.

64 min - GOAL! Parker's through ball puts Jimenez into the area and he just
beats Jensen to the ball. The substitute claims the ball for himself and
duly beats the Dane from 12 yards for his goal for West Ham United.

63 min - Penalty to West Ham.

60 min - Zola makes another change with Franco making way for Jimenez.
Franco is given a rousing farewell as he makes his way off the pitch and my
word does he deserve it.

58 min - A couple of big chances for Nugent but he cannot take either of
them. First he sliced a shot wide from the edge of the area before putting a
free header over Green's crossbar.

55 min - Owen Coyle is obviously worried about how bad this could get and
makes two changes, swapping Jordan and Blake for David Nugent and Christian
Kalvenes.

51 min - GOAL! Stanislas takes the kick and Franco is on head to use a
combination of his head and shoulder to force the ball home. Surely now that
must be game over. I know the home support among the 34,003 inside the
Boleyn Ground today will be hoping so.

50 min - Not much to report so far in the second half but Hines is showing
some good running as usual to put the Burnley defenders under pressure. The
England Under-21 international has just forced Stephen Jordan into giving
away another free-kick, this time on the right-hand side.

48 min - Other than that one change it is as you were for the second half.
The away support certainly seem to have lost some of their voice after West
Ham's superb first-half showing.

46 min - We are underway in the second half and Cole's penalty right at the
end of the first was to be his last contribution as he has made way for
Hines.

Half time - One word. Brilliant. After a couple of chances at both end in
the opening stages, the Hammers have taken control of this game. Now they
must keep their concentration for the next 45 minutes to secure their second
home win of the season.

45 min - Franco takes a blow to the head and stays down for a moment but
following a bit of treatment he is back to his feet.

45 min - We will have at least three more minutes at the end of the half.

43 min - GOAL! Cole steps up and puts it straight down the middle to make it
three.

42 min - Penalty to West Ham. Spector is brought down in full flight by
Robbie Blake and the Hammers have a chance to make it three before the
break.

40 min - Parker makes another great challenge to stop Burnley in full
flight. The No8 has been one of a number of stand out performers in the
opening 45 minutes.

38 min - He is and gets a huge cheers as he re-enters the playing field.

37 min - After the high of getting the second, the is a moment of concern
now as Cole is down following a challenge with Jensen. He is back on his
feet after a couple of minutes and looks like he should be OK to carry on.

34 min - GOAL! Stanislas makes it two. The England Under-21 international
picked up Franco's brilliant through pass and after Brian Jensen had saved
his first effort, he picked out the far corner of the net superbly to double
the home side's lead.

32 min - Noble, Zavon Hines and Frank Nouble have all been sent to warm up
by Zola.

27 min - Parker shows his attacking prowess once more and his ball forward
with the outside of the boot allows Cole to turn on the gas. The England
striker looks like he could have the run on his markers so West Ham should
try to make use of that.

25 min - West Ham are not looking to sit back though and Franco goes close
with another header from Ilunga's cross.

23 min - Now based on recent games, West Ham will need to keep it tight at
the back. That was not the case there as a good move from the visitors saw
Elliott fire over the bar when well placed.

18 min - GOAL! West Ham take the lead and it is all down to the quick
thinking of Parker. Wade Elliott brought him down in the centre circle and
the Hammer of the Year quickly got to his feet to take the free-kick towards
Collison. Stephen Jordan tried to play him offside by got his timings all
wrong, giving Collison a clean run on goal and he made no mistake from the
edge of the area. Great start for the Hammers.

15 min - Brilliant defending from da Costa as he makes a vital sliding
tackle on Chris Eagles just as he was poised to shoot. The challenge gives
the visitors another corner but Spector is there this time to head clear.

12 min - So close! Some brilliant play from Franco as he collects a pass
forward before feeding Collison. The midfielder's return ball into the box
was headed onto the crossbar by the Mexican before bouncing to safety. That
move really deserved better.

9 min - Another corner to Burnley as Steven Fletcher backheels the ball into
Stanislas. Clarke Carlisle meets the set-piece with a powerful header but
Parker is there to hack the ball off the line.

6 min - Back at the other end and Andre Bikey has just fired straight at
Robert Green from the angle. The ball hit the England international in the
chest and bounced back out to Bikey but his second effort was blocked by
Manuel da Costa.

4 min - First opening of the match and West Ham should really have taken the
lead there. A strong burst forward from captain Scott Parker saw him feed
Guille Franco. The Mexican slipped a pass on to Collison but his cut back
was just too far in front of Cole.

3 min - West Ham look to be playing a straight 4-4-2 with Collison on the
right and Stanislas on the left of midfield.

2 min - An early touch for Danny Gabbidon as he keeps tight to Steven
Fletcher to pinch the ball off his toe.

1 min - The home side get us underway and they will be attacking the Sir
Trevor Brooking stand in the first half.

2.59pm - The teams are being read out and Tyrone Mears' name gets a clap
from the Boleyn Ground crowd. The defender spent a season in east London
before moving to Derby County in 2007.

2.55pm - 'Bubbles' begins and the players make their way out. The home fans
seem to be in good voice today and will be hoping the Hammers can pick up
their second home win of the season.

2.45pm - The players are out getting warmed up and we have just 15 minutes
to go until kick-off. Burnley look to have brought a decent number of fans
down from Lancashire as they look for their first away win of the season.

2.27pm - It is turning into quite a chilly day in east London but so far the
heavy rain predicted has failed to turn up.

2.15pm - It will be interesting to see how the Hammers line up today with
two central midfielders who usually like to sit in front of the back four
starting. It may be that Zola decides to use a flat midfield four with Jack
Collison and Junior Stanislas providing support on the wings.

Good afternoon from the Boleyn Ground.

The teams are in and Gianfraco Zola makes three changes from the 3-3 draw at
Hull City last weekend. Jonathan Spector comes in for Julien Faubert at
right-back, while Matthew Upson's hamstring injury sees Danny Gabbidon move
to the centre of defence with the fit-again Herita Ilunga returning at
left-back. Radoslav Kovac replaces the injured Valon Behrami in midfield.
James Tomkins and Mark Noble return to the bench, but the match has come too
soon for Kieron Dyer following his return from a hamstring injury.

Burnley remain unchanged for the fifth straight match.

West Ham United: Green, Spector, da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Collison
(Faubert 77), Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Franco (Jimenez 60), Cole (Hines 46)
Subs: Kurucz, Tomkins, Noble, Nouble

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan (Kalvenes 55), Eagles,
Alexander (McDonald 70), Bikey, Elliott, Blake (Nugent 55), Fletcher
Subs: Penny, Duff, Gudjonsson, Thompson

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Zola on a high
WHUFC.com
Despite a nervy finish, Gianfranco Zola understandably preferred to
emphasise the Burnley positives
28.11.2009

Gianfranco Zola was only just able to draw breath on Saturday evening after
seeing his side come out on top in an another sensational high-scoring
encounter. West Ham United raced into a five-goal lead within an hour but
just as people were racing for the history books, Burnley scored three times
to ensure another tense finish. After the 3-3 draw at Hull City last
weekend, Zola joked that he was not sure his body could take much more. Next
Saturday, he has the small matter of the visit of Manchester United to
contend with when perhaps he could be forgiven for wishing for a goalless
draw. Zola will worry about that in the days to come but first he praised
his players for their part in an eight-goal thriller that left them a win
away from mid-table. "What a game," he said. "Very good for my heart as
well! It was an entertaining game. I would have preferred to have conceded
two less goals than that but you can't have everything. "Right now we are
very good going forward but we just need to keep a little more of the
balance when we are defending. It was three points and we have got to be
happy about that."
Scott Parker continued his rich vein of form with a sensational performance
in the middle of midfield alongside the recalled Radoslav Kovac. The Hammer
of the Year set up Jack Collison's opener and had a huge impact at both ends
of the pitch for the hosts. The performance had the assembled press pack
once again championing Parker's international credentials. "I know it is not
the first time I have said that in his position he is one of the best. He
has to keep playing like this and many good things will happen for him and I
will support him."
Guillermo Franco was another that caught the eye for Zola's side, setting up
Junior Stanislas to make it two before grabbing the goal his performance
deserved just after the break with a header from a Stanislas free-kick.
"Guillermo has been outstanding and gave us balance and a lot more. Today he
was outstanding. A quality player and he is getting physically better. His
quality has surprised everybody and he is getting better and better."
The manager paid tribute to the work done by CEO Scott Duxbury and technical
director Gianluca Nani to secure his services ahead of the likes of South
American champions Estudiantes de La Plata. "They have done very well and
signed him in the last minute and is proving to be a very good and positive
player for us."
Carlton Cole got the Hammers third from the penalty spot and it turned out
to be his last contribution as he was withdrawn at half-time. The England
international had earlier been involved in a collision with Burnley
goalkeeper Brian Jensen. "We don't know yet it is too early to say. He has a
problem with his knee and we have to wait to assess him. Hopefully he won't
be too bad."
While it was likely the crowd that created an electric atmosphere will have
gone home happy but exhausted, Zola knows his side must tighten up
defensively before the visit of the champions next Saturday. "I wouldn't
like to concede goals but they all came when we were 5-0 up and we switched
off a bit that was disappointing thing. We switched off too early and that
was it. "It was a moment that we were very fragile at the back. I take a lot
of positives from this game. We scored another five goals and are going
forward very well and that is a good point for us."
Of a home win that made it just one defeat in six, Zola added: "We lose and
it's negative, draw it's negative and win and it's negative, score five
goals and its negative. We have to find a bit of both. We should be cheery
as it was a great game, scored five goals and should be happy."
"Today I don't want to worry as we scored more than the opposition. I know
we have to get better in that. We focus on that and will improve. "I would
like sometimes to find a positive thing. If you keep looking at everything
under the microscope you will always find something wrong. I want to only
see good things. We will keep working on the faults we have but it is a good
time to celebrate."

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Hammers hit five
WHUFC.com
West Ham United got the better of Burnley in a game full of goals at the
Boleyn Ground
28.11.2009

West Ham United 5-3 Burnley

West Ham United came out on top in an eight-goal Barclays Premier League
thriller with Burnley at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Hammers, who
have now lost just once in six league matches, stormed into a 5-0 lead
shortly after the hour-mark, only for Owen Coyle's side to launch a furious
late comeback. Saturday's result was the first time West Ham had won 5-3
since Oxford United visited in the old Division One in November 1992, and
lifted the Hammers to within five points of the top half. The goals were
shared around. Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas put West Ham two clear
before Carlton Cole netted the first of two penalties for the home side.
After the break, Guille Franco bundled in a fourth before Luis Jimenez
slammed in the second spot-kick to put the Hammers five clear. At 5-0 down,
Burnley launched a stirring fightback, but Steven Fletcher's brace and Chris
Eagles' added-time finish were not enough to deny the hosts a second home
league win of the season. Gianfranco Zola's free-scoring side have now
netted 21 times in their last ten league matches, but it was Burnley who
threatened first on Saturday. Scott Parker had to be at his best to clear
Clarke Carlisle's downward header off the line on nine minutes. The
midfielder was equally alert in setting up Collison's opener nine minutes
later, jumping up after being fouled by Wade Elliott before clipping a quick
free-kick to the midfielder, who steadied himself before beating Brian
Jensen. In between, the willing Franco had clipped the giant Dane's crossbar
with a brave header from Collison's cross.
Jensen was picking the ball out of his net again shortly after the half-hour
mark. Stanislas latched on to Franco's neat pass and, after seeing the
goalkeeper block his initial effort, calmly slotted the ball between Jensen
and his near post. It was three 90 seconds before the interval when the
rampaging Jonathan Spector was clipped by Robbie Blake, and Cole side-footed
home the resulting penalty. Into the second half and West Ham continued to
hold the upper hand, extending their lead when Mexico forward Franco
converted Stanislas' vicious free-kick from close-range on 51 minutes.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle sent on striker David Nugent in an attempt to
salvage something from the game, only for the once-capped England striker to
miss two glorious chances within a few minutes of coming on.
He was made to pay by fellow substitute Jimenez on 64 minutes, when the
Chilean picked himself up after being felled by Jensen and easily converted
from the penalty spot. Amazingly, conceding a fifth goal appeared to
galvanise the visitors, who came into the game having picked up just one
point from six away league matches. Scotland striker Steven Fletcher, who
had ploughed a lone furrow up front before Nugent's arrival, was the
beneficiary in the shape of two neat finishes from Eagles' crosses.
Burnley's miserable afternoon was almost complete two minutes into
added-time when Hines was impeded by Steven Caldwell, and the Scott was
sent-off by referee Chris Foy for a professional foul. There was still time
for Eagles to snatch a late third for the ten men, slotting Tyrone Mears'
low centre past a helpless Robert Green.

Despite their second-half problems, the Hammers recorded their second home
league win of the season, Zola and his players will go into next Saturday's
visit of champions Manchester United hopeful of making that three.

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West Ham 5 - 3 Burnley
BBC.co.uk
By Nabil Hassan

Goals from Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco and a penalty
each from Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez saw West Ham defeat Burnley.
Collison broke the offside trap to find the net from 12 yards before
Stanislas beat Brian Jensen from a tight angle. Cole and Jimenez both
scored from the spot either side of Franco's header. Steven Fletcher twice
tapped home from six yards, while Burnley captain Steven Caldwell was sent
off late on before Chris Eagles's sidefoot made it 5-3. The victory, only
their third Premier League win of the season, pushes West Ham clear of the
bottom three.
Despite the emphatic nature of the final score it was Burnley who started
and finished the brighter of the two teams. But for all Burnley's early
endeavour it was the Hammers who scored first. Moments after seeing Franco
head against the bar the home side took the lead through the impressive
Collison. The Welshman beat the offside trap to latch on to Parker's quickly
taken free-kick before slotting underneath Jensen from 12 yards out.
Franco's endeavour up front was a problem for the visitors throughout the
first half and the Mexican was unlucky to see his header fly just over the
bar. West Ham continued to press and late into the half they doubled their
lead. It came from Stanislas, who broke the Burnley offside line to latch
on to Franco's intelligent pass and while his first shot was saved from
Jensen, he found the net from a tight angle via the far post with the
rebound. And Burnley's first half misery increased just before the break
with Cole finding the net from the penalty spot - his seventh league goal of
the season - after Robbie Blake had brought down the marauding Jonathan
Spector. The Hammers brought on Zavon Hines at the break for Cole - who had
been injured earlier in the game after a collision with Jensen - and they
soon increased their lead. It came from Franco who headed Stanislas's
free-kick from the right flank past Jensen from six yards out for 4-0.
In an attempt to get back into the game Burnley brought on David Nugent but
the striker wasted two golden opportunities in quick succession. But it was
the substitution of Jimenez for Franco that made the more meaningful impact.
Parker was allowed too much space in midfield and he found Jimenez with a
defence-splitting pass but as he latched on to the ball he was brought down
by the onrushing Jensen. Jimenez picked himself up to slot home the penalty
but just as the Hammers pressed for a sixth, Burnley grabbed a lifeline.
Eagles, who was one of Burnley's better performers on the day, found room on
the left and his shot across goal was tapped home at the far post by
Fletcher. The goal sparked life into the Clarets, who soon after made it 5-2
with a goal that was almost a carbon copy of the first.
Eagles again found space on the left, and after working his way into the box
he crossed for Fletcher at the far post who slotted under Green and into the
net.
The former Manchester United winger then hit the post with a 25-yard
free-kick as Burnley sensed an opportunity to get back into the match. Late
on Caldwell was red carded for hauling down Hines but Burnley scored again
with Eagles side-footing Tyrone Mears's cross from just inside the box. But
despite late pressure the Hammers held out to secure only their second home
win of the season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "It was an entertaining game, although I
would have preferred to have conceded fewer goals - but you can't have
everything. "Right now we are very good coming forward, we just need to keep
the balance when we are defending. We switched off too early. But we wanted
the three points today, and we have to be happy with that. "I will take a
lot of positives from this game - we scored another five goals. Going
forwards we are doing very well."

Burnley boss Owen Coyle: "We were the architects of our own downfall. "We
gifted some soft goals, and made individual errors at the wrong time. "I am
loath to criticise officials, because I know how difficult the job is, but
there were some big decisions which went against us, like on the second goal
when Franco controlled the ball with his arm. Is the third a penalty? I
don't know. "On another day, maybe they will go for us."

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West Ham's Carlton Cole taken to hospital for knee scan
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have confirmed that Carlton Cole has been taken to hospital for a
knee scan following the 5-3 Premier League win over Burnley at Upton Park.
Cole, 26, was involved in a collision with Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
The England striker scored his seventh goal of the season from the penalty
spot, despite receiving earlier treatment for the knock. "It is too early to
say but hopefully it's not going to be too bad," said Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola. The news is a blow for West Ham as Cole had just returned
from a hamstring strain against Aston Villa on 4 November. However the
forward, signed from Chelsea in July 2006, is now set for a scan. Earlier,
the Hammers emerged with the three points against Owen Coyle's side in an
exciting encounter, with Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco
and another penalty from Luis Jimenez adding to Cole's strike.

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West Ham Utd 5 Burnley 3
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th November 2009
By: Staff Writer

West Ham went goal crazy at the Boleyn this afternoon - although the win was
soured somewhat by yet another late defensive collapse. Gianfranco Zola's
side surged into a 3-0 half time lead before extending their advantage to
five just after the hour mark. However three late Burnley goals - the last
coming with the visitors having been reduced to ten men - did little to
assuage worries regarding United's leaky defence. In complete contrast to
the last campaign, the Irons have had few troubles scoring goals but cannot
stop conceding them either. In their last eleven games, Zola's team have
conceded at least twice on TEN occasions - and three on no less than five
occasions. But the reason West Ham aren't floundering at the bottom of the
Premier League - albeit not far from it - is that they just can't stop
scoring either. With 15 goals coming from their last six games the Irons -
beaten only once during that period - are doing just enough to keep their
heads above water. With the news that Matthew Upson was being forced to sit
this one out Gianfranco Zola was forced into yet another defensive
reshuffle. Danny Gabbidon, ineffective at left-back last weekend was moved
intot the centre with Herita Ilunga returning on the left. Julien Faubert
was replaced at right-back by Jonathan Spector whilst Radoslav Kovac came in
for the stricken Valon Behrami.

Burnley were millimetres away from opening the scoring after nine minutes
when Clarke Carlisle climbed above Danny Gabbidon to nod a corner goalbound.
Not for the first time, Scott Parker was on hand to clear Carlisle's effort
from the line.

But that was as near as Burnley got for the next hour as the Irons went goal
crazy, scoring five times in just 46 minutes - the first of which came from
Jack Collison who was expertly picked out by the aforementioned Parker from
a dead ball situation. Parker, fouled some 30 yads from goal picked the ball
up and delivered it instantly to the alert Collison who slipped it beyond
Brian Jensen to make it 1-0.

West Ham doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Junior Stanislas latched
on to a superb through ball from Guillermo Franco. The youngster saw his
initial effort saved at point blank range before rifling the rebound behind
a poorly-positioned Jensen into the far corner.

The final goal of a breathtaking first half came two minutes from the break
after Spector was brought down following a pacy burst into the penalty box.
Carlton Cole, without a goal for the Irons since scoring at Sunderland last
month smashed home the resulting penalty to give United a commanding half
time advantage.

Fears of yet another second half collapse were dispelled - albeit briefly -
when Franco earned his reward for a strong performance, nodding home a
Stanislas free kick from close range six minutes into the second period.
Luis Jimenez, who had been on the field for just five minutes having
replaced Franco then converted West Ham's second penalty of the day on 64
minutes after he himself had been felled by the clumsy Jensen to make it 5-0
- United's first five-goal haul in the Premier League since beating Derby
5-0 at Pride Park two years ago this very month.

But once again the Irons switched off having earned themselves a comfortable
lead, and somehow managed to concede three goals in a dreadful final
half-hour. With a number of players guilty of switching off, the Clarets
took full advantage - starting with Steven Fletcher who made it 5-1 three
minutes after Jimenez had scored what turned out to be West Ham's final goal
of the day; Fletcher tapping home a low cross from the left by Chris Eagles,
easily Burnley's best player of the day.

Eight minutes later it was 5-2 when Fletcher scored a virtually identical
goal with West Ham's central defensive partnership of Da Costa and Gabbidon
at sixes and sevens. Yet again Rob Green looked far from convincing -
although that was perhaps understandable given what was going on in front of
him.

With the game on the verge of entering injury time Burnley were reduced to
ten men when Steven Caldwell received his marching orders having pulled down
substitute Zavon hines on the perimeter of the penalty box. Hines, who had
latched on to Caldwell's weak back pass was favourite to reach the ball
before Jensen but Caldwell saw to that by tugging the young striker's shirt
- a fairly clear professional foul.

Having conceded goals against ten men Fulham, Arsenal and Sunderland already
this season it was therefore no surprise when ten men Burnley added a third
goal in the fifth minute of added-on time; the provider turned goalscorer as
former Manchester United winger Eagles beat an apoplectic Green from close
range.

So despite having scored five for the first time in two years - not however
in record time, for more on that click here - most fans left the game
feeling a little disappointed having seen the Irons once again capitulate
having gained a strong foothold in the game. Although the three points are
most welcomed at this current time and keep the Irons above the relegation
zone, the defensive errors that are littering West Ham's game simply have to
be eradicated, and soon.

Worries regarding the club's ownership and perilous financial situation are
clearly having an effect on the team, but with the likes of David Gold and
Tony Fernandes present at the game today one can only hope that a positive
resolution can be reached soon.

West Ham United 5 Burnley 3: Match Facts

West Ham United: Green, Spector, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Collison
(Faubert 77), Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Franco (Jimenez 60), Cole (Hines
46).
Subs not used: Kurucz, Tomkins, Noble, Nouble.
Goals: Collison (18), Stanislas (33), Cole (pen, 43), Franco (51), Jimenez
(pen, 64).
Booked: Kovac (54), Ilunga (84).

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan (Kalvenes 55), Eagles,
Alexander (McDonald 70), Bikey, Elliott, Blake (Nugent 55), Fletcher
Subs not used: Penny, Duff, Gudjonsson, Thompson.
Goals: Fletcher (68, 74), Eagles (90+5).
Booked: Jensen (90).
Sent off: Caldwell (90).

Referee: Chris Foy.
Attendance: 34,003.

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Burnley Hammered in goal-fest
Burnley's Caldwell sees red in dying minutes of defeat
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN

Man of the match: Scott Parker was in imperious form in the middle, flying
into tackles and setting up the first goal.
Goal of the match: The opener was well taken by Collison, after excellent
thinking from Parker to play him in from a quick free-kick.
Miss of the match: David Nugent missed two great chances with his first two
touches of the ball after coming on as a substitute.
Moment of the match: The third goal really killed the game off and Blake
will rue his challenge on Spector that gave away the penalty.
Talking point: Burnley's complete ineptitude to play the offside trap. It's
back to the training ground for Owen Coyle's side.

West Ham secured a vital win at home to Burnley in a remarkable 5-3
goal-fest at Upton Park. The Hammers were cruising at one point after going
5-0 up, but Owen Coyle's Clarets kept fighting right to the end and pulled
three goals back in the last 25 minutes. It was not a good day for either
defence in East London, as Jack Collison opened the scoring on 18 minutes as
Burnley went to sleep, and the same happened just after the half-hour mark
as Junior Stanislas doubled the lead. Carlton Cole added a penalty two
minutes before half time after Robbie Blake brought down Jonathan Spector,
before Guillermo Franco and another penalty from Luis Jimenez put the result
beyond doubt. But two well-worked goals from Steven Fletcher and an injury
time strike from Chris Eagles ensured it was not all easy going for the home
side, although Steven Caldwell was sent off in the dying moments for a tug
on Zavon Hines.
The visitors had actually started well and West Ham looked nervy at the back
as England keeper Robert Green spilled a near-post strike from Andre Bikey
and Eagles, the former Manchester United trainee, whipped over a cross from
the right which flew through the six-yard box. The Clarets - who have won
five times at Turf Moor, including victory over Manchester United - almost
took the lead on nine minutes when Clarke Carlisle's downward header from a
corner was cleared off the line by Scott Parker. West Ham were then denied
by the woodwork after Franco's header from Collison's cross came off the top
of the bar, and eventually took the lead on 18 minutes.

Caught cold

Parker's quickly-taken free-kick caught the Burnley defence cold as Collison
beat a static offside trap to run clean through and slot past Brian Jensen.
Before Burnley could recover, West Ham doubled their lead on 34 minutes as
the busy Franco slipped a reserve pass through to Stanislas on the right.
The England Under 21 winger looked to have missed his opportunity when
Jensen made a smart save at his near post - only for the Burnley keeper to
get his angles all wrong from the rebound, as Stanislas guided the ball
inside the far post. West Ham had a penalty just before the break when
Jonathan Spector charged on to Radoslav Kovac's pass and into the right side
of the area, before being brought down by Robbie Blake. Cole - still limping
after needing treatment for a foot injury - stepped up to drill in the
spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season. The England striker, who had
just come back from injury, was replaced by youngster Hines for the start of
the second half, with West Ham making it 4-0 on 50 minutes. Stanislas
whipped a free-kick from the right across the six-yard box, where Franco got
in front of the Burnley defenders to head home. Burnley substitute David
Nugent missed two golden chances in quick succession to pull a goal back for
the visitors, before referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot once again after
Chile forward Jimenez was brought down by Jensen as he dashed into the right
side of the penalty area.
Jimenez, on loan from Inter Milan, stepped up to take the spot-kick himself,
and lashed it into the right corner for his first West Ham goal. To their
credit, Burnley kept going - and at least had something to show when
Fletcher netted a late double, both after good work from Eagles, whose
long-range free-kick then struck the post. Burnley, though, finished with 10
men when, in stoppage time, Caldwell was shown a straight red for pulling
down Hines, before Eagles netted a third.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola - Win was tainted
Hammers boss admits late goals tarnished performance
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola thinks the 5-3 win over Burnley could have
been 'much better'. The Hammers went 5-0 up against the Clarets at Upton
Park and were in total cruise control, but some sloppy defending and
lethargic play allowed Owen Coyle's side to score three times in the last 25
minutes.
Jack Collison put the home side in front after the energetic Scott Parker
played him in well from a quick free-kick. Zola's side then went clear
thanks to goals from Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco and a penalty apiece
for Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez, before a brace from Steven Caldwell and a
late strike from Chris Eagles gave Burnley some pride. The Hammers boss was
pleased with his side's cutting edge in the final third, although bemoaned
their poor performance towards the end of the game "It could have been a
fantastic day. It's been, somehow, a very good day for us, but it could have
been much better," he told Sky Sports. "I think at a certain point we tried
to make it complicated and something that we need to improve because you
can't score five goals every time to win the game. "To be fair to my players
they gave everything until 5-0, and then physically they went a little bit
down and we thought the game was over. "Also, Burnley had a lot to give and
they caused us a few problems. "It's a good victory for us, it's important
to get the feeling of three points at home, it makes a big difference for
us."
Asked why he thought his team took the foot off the gas, Zola added: "I
think a bit of fatigue, a bit of they (Burnley) played quite well. "Anyway,
it is three points for us which is the most important thing - I don't want
to make the wrong thing that we are not here celebrating. "It could have
been better, certainly we need to make sure that that doesn't happen
anymore. "But on the other hand we were quite good going forward. We are
very good coming forward right now, I thought Guillermo (Franco) again was
outstanding today. "But the whole team, the defence and the midfield was
really good as well. There are a lot of things that are going very well,
some others not working as well. It's down to us to sort them out. "It was a
very good win. We did need to win this game and we've done quite well."
West Ham now move out of the bottom three in the Premier League with the
win, and are just three points behind the Turf Moor outfit. Asked whether he
was concerned that a comeback was on the cards, Zola remarked: "No, no I
don't think it was going to happen today. It could have been easier for us
but we can learn from this and do better next time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coyle unhappy with referee Foy
Clarets boss criticial of decisions
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN

Burnley manager Owen Coyle was disappointed with referee Chris Foy in the
aftermath of the defeat to West Ham. The Clarets went down 5-3 at Upton Park
and Coyle criticised the official for not getting important decisions
correct throughout the game. West Ham twice scored from the penalty spot and
were cruising at 5-0 before a spirited Burnley fought back to score three
times in the last 25 minutes. Coyle was unhappy at Foy although he did
concede that his side had played poorly and conceded sloppy goals. "I'm
loathe to start speaking about the officials but what I would say was anyone
who watched the game, please you be the judge of it - of what you think went
on," he told Sky Sports. "I was certainly disappointed by one or two things.
I know it's a difficult task so we'll leave it at that. "But again we made
some poor decisions ourselves, defensively, my players. They know - I've
spoken to them at length. "We can't, at this level, continue to give away
goals. We know we're effective when we go forward, we know we can pass and
move the ball as well as anybody, I believe. "But we have to obviously brush
up on that and we didn't do it today. Again, some decisions went against us,
sorry, big moments in the game. "I certainly felt that Franco had handballed
(for the second goal) when the ball was thrown in and controlled it with his
arm. I thought that was a free-kick, it wasn't given, and Brian made the
save and maybe we could have reacted to it better.
"The fourth goal I thought was our free-kick and it was given against us.
But having said that we still have to defend it when it comes in. "I just
felt we came out on the wrong side of some of decisions today, hopefully on
another day we'll get a little bit of favour for us, although it's not
happened too often." Burnley started the game extremely well and were on top
before West Ham took the lead through Jack Collison. Coyle thought that his
team did not deserve to be behind by five goals, feeling the Clarets
controlled large periods of the match "It probably sounds bizarre to say it,
but I think if somebody was to watch the entirety of that match you'll know
that was never a 5-3 scoreline against us," he added. "For huge periods of
that game we've controlled the game, passed the ball really well, scored
three goals, if truth be told we could have had seven or eight on the day.
"Having said that I'm annoyed obviously at the goals we conceded, one or two
contentious decisions.
"Any goal changes the course of a game, there's no doubt about that. I mean
their first goal was a quickly-taken free-kick with Scott Parker who, to be
fair to West Ham, I thought was an outstanding player on the day, I mean a
really gifted player. And we made a poor decision. "It is an unhappy away
day because we came here to get all three points and as strange as it
sounds, being 5-0 down in the game, you see yourselves we controlled the
first half prior to West Ham scoring the goal and then they got their tails
up. "We offered an awful lot to the game. We showed unbelievable courage and
bravery at 5-0 down because it's easy to feel sorry for yourself. "But we
didn't, we scored three goals and in that period we could have had a few
more to add to that.
"The courage and bravery that my lads show, they do it on a game-to-game
basis and we know we're on a learning curve and trying to evolve and get
better at this level, and there's things we can brush up on."
Burnley captain Steven Caldwell was sent off in the last minute for a foul
on Zavon Hines, and Coyle was also annoyed at that decision. He said: "The
lad (Hines), from my take on it, certainly careered into the back of him and
it's a double blow - one to concede the free-kick and obviously to have my
captain suspended."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 5 Burnley 3: Match Report
West Ham Till I Die

How on earth is it possible to leave a game you have won 5-3 feeling utterly
deflated? Only at West Ham, eh?

For once in our lives we got the rub of the green, despite yet another awful
performance from the match referee. We were thoroughly outplayed in the
first 15 minutes, when we barely strayed over the half way line. How on
earth we ended the first half 3-0 up I defy anyone to explain. Maybe we
would have deserved to shade it by one goal, but 3? don't make me laugh.
However, in our predicament, we'll take what we can get.

And what we got were two very dodgy penalty decisions – and we didn't get
two other cast iron penalty shouts. Jack Collison's opener was a great goal,
and clinically taken. At first sight it looked offside but the linesman
played a blinder. It wasn't. Stanislas's goal was either incredibly skilful
or very lucky, depending on your point of view. Up to that point he had
contributed absolutely nothing to the game, but the mark of a good player is
to sniff a goal when you're having an off day. It was nice to seem him
desperate to take both penalties too.

Prior to the first penalty, Carlton Cole had suffered a very bad injury and
most of us thought he wouldn't make it back on the pitch. I was horrified to
ssee him grab the ball to take the penalty a few minutes later, but he
banged it home and has now scored 7 in 13 this season. It is also worth
bearing in mind that in his career at West Ham he has a strike ratio of
better than 1 in 3 (23 in 66).

After the break we carried on where we left off with Guillermo Franco
grabbing a sniffer's goal, getting on the end of a superbly struck cross. In
the first half he was unlucky not to score with two bullet headers and all
round he had a brilliant game. It was after he went off in thw 65th minute
that our collapse started. Zola presumably took him off in order not to risk
him picking up a knock.

Just prior to that Luis Jimenez scored his first goal from the penalty spot,
after he was brought down – or dived, depending on your viewpoint.

After that we went to pieces. Chris Eagles was a constant menace throughout
the game and was by far and away Burnley's best player. He gave Spector a
fearful time down the left and his goal at the end was no more than he
deserved. Burnley's two previous goals had come from left wing low crosses
which Stephen Fletcher got on the end of. Our defending was truly woeful.

But the main praise must go to Scott Parker who seems to get better and
better with every game. I have never given a 10 to anyone before, but he got
as close as anyone can. All he lacked was a goal. Franco was my second best
player with Da Costa third. He looks a real prospect. Sadly the same cannot
be true of Kovac, who had a truly terrible game apart from one superb low
diagonal cross field pass towards the end of the first half.

To score five goals with what looked like our weakest lineup of the season
was a feat. OK, we need to shore up defensively, but this performance showed
why we can be confident that we will not be relegated. If Cole and Franco
can develop their strike partnership and the midfield can chip in with goals
like they did today we can all look forward to the rest of the season with
optimism.

Green 7
Ilunga 6
Spector 5
Da Costa 8
Gabbodon 6
Kovac 3
Parker 10
Collison 7
Cole 6
Franco 9
Stanislas 6
Jimenez 6
Hines 4
Faubert 6

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CLARET AND BOOS FOR HAMMERS
West Ham 5 Burnley 3
The News Of The World
By Rob Shepherd, 28/11/2009

IT'S come to something when at the end of a 5-3 win there are groans, moans
and even a few boos from the stands. But that was the initial reaction of
some West Ham fans despite their best win of the season so far. What should
have been a morale-boosting, resounding victory weirdly ended up seeming
like a defeat when the whistle blew. It was only after a minute's reflection
that there was a ripple of applause, but it was hardly ecstatic as they had
seen their team end up clinging on despite taking a five-goal lead in the
63rd minute. Yes, clinging on. If there had been just a few more than five
minutes of stoppage-time, Burnley could have gone on to win it. Seriously.
That's how much Owen Coyle's men were dominating - and how badly West Ham
had slumped and how desperate they were for referee Chris Foy's final
whistle. "How much more time do you think you needed to win it?" Burnley
boss Owen Coyle was asked. "About five minutes," he smiled. "But I tell you
what, it was bizarre, because even at 5-0 down we didn't feel we deserved
that. It was certainly no reflection of the game."
It wasn't but, when the dust settled and all the late drama was put aside,
it was still a significant victory for the Hammers as they strive to turn
around their poor start to the season, move up the table and make sure they
are not dragged into a battle for Premier League survival. The trouble is
the way it finished diluted what should have been a massive confidence boost
for the club. As Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola said: "We should be cheering.
We scored more than the opposition and got three points. That is the game.
Today is to celebrate. "People are negative when we draw, negative when we
lose and now negative when we win! But, yes, it wasn't good for my heart -
but I guess it was great entertainment." He is right - it was.
Burnley started the strongest and almost took the lead in the 10th minute
when Clarke Carlisle rose and met Robbie Blake's corner with a thumping
close-range header. But midfield general Scott Parker, who was West Ham's
outstanding driving force, cleared off the line. That proved a turning point
as Burnley's defence collapsed away from Turf Moor yet again. The warning
was posted in the 12th minute when a lack of concentration by centre-halves
Carlisle and Steven Caldwell allowed diminutive Mexican striker Guillermo
Franco to leap above them and loop a header, which bounced off the bar. Six
minutes later, the Hammers started their goal spree. It was sharp thinking
by Parker to take a quick free-kick after being tripped by Wade Elliott. But
sloppy defending by the Burnley back four saw them caught flat-footed and
square as the Hammers skipper clipped the ball in behind. Jack Collison
appeared to time his run perfectly as full-back Stephen Jordan stood and
stared with his arm raised, pleading for an offside flag which never came,
and the Welsh ace calmly side-footed past keeper Brian Jensen.
In the 33rd minute another simple through ball beyond the last man from
Franco undid Burnley because they defended the line far too high. Junior
Stanislas nipped in, shot poorly straight at Jensen but, from the rebound,
he cleverly tucked the ball in at the far post from an acute angle. Burnley
were again caught on their heels at the back two minutes before the break.
Radoslav Kovac speared in a low through ball, which overlapping right-back
Jonathan Spector latched on to before he was clumsily brought down by Blake.
Carlton Cole rattled home the penalty. But the Hammers striker failed to
appear for the second half, having picked up a knee injury. Initially that
did not seem a problem. Franco, who displayed some impressive touches,
nipped in at the near post to head in a low Stanislas free-kick.
And 13 minutes later, substitute Luis Jiminez managed to win a penalty as he
tumbled over Jensen. The Chilean converted the spot kick - the 25th away
goal Burnley have conceded this season. But after that Jiminez failed to
offer the front line the focal point Cole or Franco had given. And with
David Nugent on to give striker Steve Fletcher proper support, West Ham
found themselves on the back foot and badly missing the injured Matthew
Upson. Nugent missed two great chances in quick succession but, in the 68th
minute, Fletcher turned home a Chris Eagles cross. And six minutes later,
Fletcher again converted from close range following an Eagles assist. West
Ham went 2-0 up in recent trips to Hull and Sunderland - only to end up
drawing. Surely they could not let a five-goal lead slip? Judging by Zola's
anxiety, he was not entirely convinced.
But after a few close shaves, the Hammers seemed home and dry when last man
Caldwell was sent off for fouling Zavon Hines in injury-time. Yet, within
seconds, Eagles scored another from close range. Zola concluded: "We're a
bit fragile in defence at the moment." No kidding. Manchester United come to
Upton Park on Saturday. If the Hammers defend like this they will need a
five-goal start to stand any chance.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham coming to terms with the fact the Matthew Upson will be sold
By Rob Draper, Mail on Sunday Chief Football Writer
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 28th November 2009

Even West Ham sources now accept Matthew Upson will be allowed to leave in
January if they can get the right money for him, something that has long
been evident as failed Icelandic bank Straumur stay in control of the club.
Liverpool remain the most likely bidders, though with their own financial
difficulties, they are likely to wait until the summer to secure Upson at a
reduced £5million fee, when he has just one year left on his contract. If
there are no serious Premier League takers, West Ham still insist they will
not be forced to sell the likes of Carlton Cole and Rrob Green. But with
Harry Redknapp in the market for a new goalkeeper and with his initial
choice David James struggling with injury, it will be intriguing to see
whether West Ham would be able to resist am £8m offer for Green, the man
likely to be England's No 1 at the World Cup. West Ham are searching for new
buyers, but the most credible candidate, Air Asia's Tony Fernandes, has
cooled his interest for now, meaning the club must hope they are not
marketing a Championship club for sale come May.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guillermo Franco exceptional in eight-goal thriller
West Ham 5 Burnley 3
Times Online

IT IS a sign of West Ham United's straitened circumstances that their chief
executive and sporting director took salary cuts to fund the acquisition of
Guillermo Franco. The joy for manager Gianfranco Zola is that his superiors
invested well. In the Mexico international the indebted Hammers have found a
striker capable of keeping them in the Premier League.
Franco was exceptional in this crazily open game, constantly exploiting the
manifest weaknesses of Burnley's back four. He made one goal, scored another
and generally ensured that West Ham could continue their own profligate
defending.
"Guillermo has been outstanding for us," said Zola of a player signed from
Villarreal on the last day of the summer window. "He gave us balance. His
quality has surprised everybody, including myself. He's getting better and
better."
The doyen of playmaking midfielders in his former career, Zola employed no
such thing in a utilitarian 4-4-2 topped by the bullish Franco and Carlton
Cole. The emphasis was on steadying a defence that had shipped 20 goals in
nine preceding league games.

The nausea did not disappear. Andre Bikey waltzed into the box to fire two
shots at Robert Green; Clarke Carlisle had a header cleared off the line.
Burnley were the better side until it was the turn of their defence to be
tested.
Franco was finding space between the centre-backs, planting one header
against the bar, another just over. Scott Parker won a free kick close to
halfway, grabbing the ball on his descent and recovering his feet to launch
it swiftly forward. As his teammates stepped up, Burnley's Stephen Jordan
dropped back to play Jack Collison onside to finish.
The lead doubled when Jordan again misread his the line from the left flank,
allowing Junior Stanislas in for another one-on-one with Brian Jensen, who
saved one shot but was suckered by a second. Next came an unnecessary
penalty, Jordan allowing Collison to cut inside him before Robbie Blake
knocked over the winger. The shot by Cole, suffering knee pain from an
earlier Jensen challenge, was weak yet evaded the keeper's dive.
It got worse. With the fleet- footed Zavon Hines on for Cole at half-time,
the home side won a free kick, Franco steaming ahead of any markers to
pummel home Stanislas' diagonal delivery. Jensen dived wildly at Luiz
Jimenez's feet, granting the substitute a penalty with which to score his
first West Ham goal. If an over-eager flag from the referee's assistant and
Chris Foy's oversight stopped Hines from winning third and fourth spot
kicks, there was to be no clean sheet for the home defence.
Twice Chris Eagles manufactured space down the left and crossed to the back
post. Twice the ceaseless Steven Fletcher muscled in to convert. In stoppage
time, the Scotsman's stepover granted Eagles one of his own. How much longer
before they levelled? "Probably about five minutes," smiled Owen Coyle,
finding fault with all of West Ham's goals but losing no faith in his team.
"We'll win games away from home, hopefully at Portsmouth next week." It
doesn't matter how bad your defence is, there's always Avram Grant's to look
forward to.
Star man: Guillermo Franco (West Ham)
Yellow cards: West Ham: Kovac, Ilunga Burnley: Jensen
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 34,003
WEST HAM: Green 7, Spector 6, Da Costa 6, Gabbidon 7, Ilunga 6, Collison 7
(Faubert 78min), Kovac 6, Parker 7, Stanislas 6, Franco 8 (Jimenez 59min),
Cole 6 (Hines 46min)
BURNLEY: Jensen 6, Mears 6, Carlisle 5, Caldwell 5, Jordan 4 (Kalvenes
55min), Alexander 6 (McDonald 70min), Bikey 6, Eagles 7, Elliott 5, Blake 5
(Nugent 55min), Fletcher 7.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 5 - 3 Burnley
ESPN

Gianfranco Zola's men recorded only their third Premier League win of a
difficult campaign after three goals in the first half put them in command.
Jack Collison capitalised on some static defending to race on to Scott
Parker's free-kick and fire the Irons ahead on 18 minutes. Junior Stanislas
slotted home a second, before Carlton Cole converted a penalty as Burnley
were made to pay for poor defending after what had been a bright start by
the visitors when Clarke Carlisle's header was cleared off the line. It was
damage limitation for the Clarets - who have just one point from seven away
matches on their return to the top flight - after the hard-working Guillermo
Franco headed in a fourth on 51 minutes. However, there was still time for
substitute Luis Jimenez to net another penalty after he was brought down by
keeper Brian Jensen to give the Irons a morale boost ahead of next week's
visit of champions Manchester United. Steven Fletcher's late double gave
Burnley some consolation, before Steven Caldwell was sent off during
stoppage time and Chris Eagles then netted a third. The visitors had
actually started well and West Ham looked nervy at the back as England
keeper Robert Green spilled a near-post strike from Andre Bikey and Eagles,
the former Manchester United trainee, whipped over a cross from the right
which flew through the six-yard box. The Clarets - who have won five times
at Turf Moor, including victory over United - almost took the lead on nine
minutes when Clarke Carlisle's downward header from a corner was cleared off
the line by Parker.
West Ham were then denied by the woodwork after Franco's header from
Collison's cross came off the top of the bar, and eventually took the lead
on 18 minutes. Parker's quickly-taken free-kick caught the Burnley defence
cold as Collison beat a static offside trap to run clean through and slot
past Jensen. Before Burnley could recover, West Ham doubled their lead on 34
minutes. The busy Franco slipped a reserve pass through to Stanislas on the
right.
The England Under-21 winger looked to have missed his opportunity when
Jensen made a smart save at his near post - only for the Burnley keeper to
get his angles all wrong from the rebound, as Stanislas guided the ball
inside the far post. West Ham had a penalty just before the break when
Jonathan Spector charged on to Radoslav Kovac's pass and into the right side
of the area, before being brought down by Robbie Blake. Cole - still limping
after needing treatment for a foot injury - stepped up to drill in the
spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season.
The England striker, who had just come back from injury, was replaced by
youngster Zavon Hines for the start of the second half, with West Ham making
it 4-0 on 50 minutes. Stanislas whipped a free-kick from the right across
the six-yard box, where Franco got in front of the Burnley defenders to head
home.
Burnley substitute David Nugent missed two golden chances in quick
succession to pull a goal back for the visitors, before referee Chris Foy
pointed to the spot once again after Chile forward Jimenez was brought down
by Jensen as he dashed into the right side of the penalty area. Jimenez, on
loan from Inter Milan, stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, and lashed
it into the right corner for his first West Ham goal. To their credit,
Burnley kept going - and at least had something to show when Fletcher netted
a late double, both after good work from Eagles, whose long-range free-kick
then struck the post.
Burnley, though, finished with 10 men when, in stoppage time, Caldwell was
shown a straight red for pulling down Hines, before Eagles netted a third.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was happy to finally enjoy that winning
feeling again after watching his relegation-battlers move clear of the
bottom three as Burnley were beaten 5-3 at Upton Park. "It was an
entertaining game, although I would have preferred to have conceded fewer
goals - but you can't have everything,'' said the Hammers boss. "Right now
we are very good coming forward, we just need to keep the balance when we
are defending. We switched off too early. But we wanted the three points
today, and we have to be happy with that. "I will take a lot of positives
from this game - we scored another five goals. Going forwards we are doing
very well. Come on - if we lose it is negative, if we draw it is negative,
we score five goals and win, and it is still negative. "We should be
cheering. It has been a great game, and we have scored five goals. We must
all enjoy it. We scored more goals than the opposition, and that is the most
important thing. "We know we have to get better in defence, but if you keep
watching everything under the microscope, you will always find something
wrong. I want to see good things, and we will keep working.''
Zola revealed Cole, who had just come back from injury, was set for a scan
on his knee. "It is too early to say how bad it is. We have to wait a bit to
assess him,'' said the West Ham boss, "Hopefully it is not going to be too
bad.''

Burnley manager Owen Coyle said: "We were the architects of our own
downfall. We gifted some soft goals, and made individual errors at the wrong
time. I am loath to criticise officials, because I know how difficult the
job is, but there were some big decisions which went against us, like on the
second goal when Franco controlled the ball with his arm. Is the third a
penalty? I don't know. On another day, maybe they will go for us. But at
5-0, it would have been really easy to feel sorry for ourselves and hide.
However, they showed tremendous bravery and courage to score some tremendous
goals. It was another learning curve for us. "We need to brush up on the
individual mistakes, because you will not get away with it against the
quality the Premier League holds. We will take our medicine, continue to
work hard and look to get better because we have the players who can pick up
points.''

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Five-star performance by West Ham as Burnley comeback falters
David Lacey at Upton Park
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 November 2009 17.15 GMT

Goals were going cheap at Upton Park. Only West Ham could take a 5-0 lead
and still leave their supporters anxiously awaiting the final whistle. The
three Burnley scored in the last 23 minutes spared Owen Coyle's side another
severe mauling in London, where they had lost 5-0 to Tottenham at the end of
September, but again they paid heavily for a series of naive errors usually
punished at Premier League level.
"We gave away soft goals," Coyle said afterwards. "There's no getting away
from it. I'd rather be beaten by a bit of quality rather than shooting
ourselves in the foot." This was a bit hard on the winners and Coyle did
make a point of singling out West Ham's Scott Parker as the game's
outstanding player. Yet he was right when he declared that the 5-0 lead West
Ham built up in just over an hour did not reflect the pattern of play.
Burnley have lacked points away from Turf Moor this season yet have retained
a sense of attacking adventure. They have also acquired a habit of defensive
misadventure. The game offered an accurate résumé of their form on the road;
a bright, positive start that looked like seizing the initiative from a West
Ham side whose home form has been frail, followed by sluggishness at the
back that found Burnley 3-0 down by half-time.
Upton Park feared a familiar tale was about to unfold when Chris Eagles and
Robbie Blake began to turn West Ham's defence on either flank with Wade
Elliott and Steven Fletcher lurking dangerously through the middle. A goal
for Burnley in the ninth minute, when Clarke Carlisle met Eagles's corner
with a firm downward header that Parker cleared off the line, would have
been a just reward for Burnley's positive approach. Defensively, however,
they remain ingenues at this level, forgetting everything and learning
nothing. The free header from Guillermo Franco that hit the Burnley bar
after 11 minutes proved a portent.
Time and again West Ham caught Burnley square and slow at the back with
well-judged through passes matched by equally well-timed runs. Parker began
the deluge after he had been brought down by Elliott. The midfielder had
barely got to his feet when he surprised the opposition with a quick
free-kick that found Jack Collison striding past the defence to beat Brian
Jensen.
The rest was equally elementary. Twelve minutes before half-time Franco sent
Junior Stanislas clear with only the goalkeeper to beat. Jensen blocked the
first shot but was out of position when Stanislas gathered the rebound and
found the net from a narrow angle.
A limping Carlton Cole having further increased West Ham's lead with a
penalty after Blake had brought down Jonathan Spector, Upton Park sensed a
rout once Franco, with a free header, and Luis Jiménez, with another
penalty, this time after he had been brought down by the goalkeeper, took
West Ham's total to five and apparently out of reach.
Strange are the ways of football teams, and suddenly West Ham's defence
borrowed some of their opponent's sloppy habits, allowing Fletcher to score
twice for Burnley in the 68th and 74th minutes, both goals following low
centres from Eagles that found the scorer sauntering through a petrified
forest of defenders.
West Ham never looked in danger of losing after establishing a huge lead,
but their porous defence was in evidence as they allowed Burnley in to fray
the nerves.
The dismissal of Steven Caldwell in stoppage time after the Burnley captain
had brought down a goal-bound Zavon Hines just outside the penalty area
spared West Ham further discomfort, but still enough time remained for
Eagles to end Burnley's afternoon on a note of optimism by meeting a low
cross from Tyrone Mears with a simple finish.
"At the moment we are very frail at the back," Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham
manager, admitted. "If you keep looking under a microscope you will always
find something wrong."

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West Ham United 5 Burnley 3: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic
and Sunderland at the DW Stadium on Saturday Nov 28 2009.
Telegra[h.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 4:59PM GMT 28 Nov 2009

West Ham United scored five goals for the first time under Gianfranco Zola
to secure only their second home win of the season against Burnley. But
after relinquishing two-goal leads against Sunderland and Hull in recent
weekes, they showed they have to score a considerable number of goals to
make certain of the points. Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas gave West Ham
the early advantage before Carlton Cole converted a 43rd minute penalty.
Guillermo Franco continued the rout soon after the interval before Luis
Jimenez scored West Ham's fifth from the game's second penalty. Steven
Fletcher's two late goals and another in added time from Chris Eagles made
for a nervous finale. But Burnley finished with 10 men after Steven Caldwell
was sent off in added time, for a professional foul on Zavon Hines. The game
began in lively fashion yet it was Burnley who look most likely to open the
scoring before Collison's 18th minute goal.
In the fifth minute Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, blocked a shot
from Andre Bikey with his chest and then Chris Eagles delivered a dangerous
cross but there wsa nobody available to convert. Soon afterwards Clarke
Carlisle was denied when his solid header, from an Eagles corner, was
cleared off the line by Scott Parker, the West Ham captain. But West Ham
responded positively, firstly when Collison's cross was headed against the
cross bar by Franco and, secondly, when Collison scored. The goal was a
touch cruel on Burnley, but they were caught out by the quick thinking of
Parker. The midfielder was fouled by Wade Elliott and he took the kick
immediately, his ball catching Burnley's defence by surprise and dropping
invitingly to Collison, who finished with ease.
And seven minutes later Herita Ilunga offered Franco the chance to add a
second but the Mexican international's header dipped just over the cross
bar.
The pressure continued with Parker shooting over before the second goal, in
the 34th minute. Franco chested the ball down before sending Stanislas
through and, after his first attempt was blocked by Burnley goalkeeper Brian
Jensen, then midfielder was successful with the rebound from an acute angle.

And with three minutes of the first half remaining, Burnley's Robbie Blake
brought down Jonathan Spector and Carlton Cole converted the kick for his
seventh goal of the season.
Having relinquished two-goal leads against Sunderland and Hull in recent
weeks, the crowd were relieved to see a third. But Cole, injured before the
penalty, failed to emerge for the second half, with Zavon Hines his
replacement. And within seven minutes of the re-start, West Ham scored their
fourth and again it came from a free-kick. Stanislas's kick was weighted
perfectly and Franco caught the Burnley defence out with a low header.
Burnley made a double substitution with David Nugent and Christian Kalvanes
introduced, but it was West Ham who continued to control affairs and in the
64th minute substitute Jiminez, having been upended by Jensen, converted the
game's second penalty. Eagles set up Fletcher twice, in the 68th and 74th
minutes, provoking closing nerves but the goals were of little consolation
for Burnley, who had Caldwell dismissed before Eagles claimed Burnley's
third.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Saturday, November 28

Daily WHUFC News - 28th November 2009

Burnley match preview
WHUFC.com
All of the early team news and statistics ahead of Saturday's Barclays
Premier League game
27.11.2009

Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Burnley
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 28 November 2009
3pm
Referee: Chris Foy

• West Ham United return to league action for the first time since the 3-3
draw with Hull City last weekend. The Hammers have lost just once in their
last five games but know a win over Burnley is important before the visit of
champions Manchester United next weekend.

• West Ham are looking for their second home league win of the season,
having triumphed 2-1 against Aston Villa on 8 November. The Hammers also
beat Millwall 3-1 in the League Cup in August.

• West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola said: "I am very encouraged by the
desire in my squad and I can sense that we are very close to be where we
want to be. We are out of the bottom three and a victory on Saturday will
help us to focus on the next step. We just need to keep working and the
rewards will come our way. I can feel it, I can sense it."

• Saturday's meeting will be the first between the sides since a
Championship match in April 2005 and the first in the Premier League.

• West Ham have enjoyed an excellent run of form against the Clarets, with
seven wins and two draws from their last nine meetings. That run means you
have to go back 31 years to find Burnley's last victory over their hosts on
Saturday - a 3-2 win at Turf Moor on September 1978.

• When asked if West Ham's league position surprised him, Burnley manager
Owen Coyle said: "Nothing surprises me in this Premier League. It is so
competitive. You only have to look just now with Everton down in amongst the
group of teams - although David Moyes will sort them out and they will
finish well up the league. Nobody would have expected that but it is because
of injuries and that can happen to anyone in this league."

• Burnley will be looking for their first away win of the season having
picked up just one point from their first six away games.

• West Ham United go into the weekend's game in 17th place, with eleven
points from 13 matches. Burnley are six points and seven places ahead but
have a goal difference of minus ten - six worse than the Hammers.

• This will be the 71st league meeting between the clubs, West Ham have won
25 with 16 draws.

Last time out

Saturday 21 November
Barclays Premier League
Hull City 3-3 West Ham United

West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Gabbidon, Collison.
Parker, Behrami (Hines 60), Stansislas, Franco (Jimenez 70), Cole
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Daprela, Kovac, Nouble
Goals: Franco 5, Collison 11, Da Costa 69

Saturday 21 November
Barclays Premier League
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Jordan, Carlisle, Bikey, Caldwell, Eagles (McDonald,
69), Alexander , Elliott, Blake (Gudjonsson,81), Steven Fletcher (Nugent,75)
Subs not used: Thompson, Duff, Penny, Guerrero
Goal: Caldwell 9

Last meeting

The last meeting between the two sides was a 1-0 win to the Hammers at Turf
Moor on 5 April 2005, when Teddy Sheringham got the only goal seven minutes
from time.

The teams that day were:

Burnley: Coyne, Sinclair (Grant 87), McGreal, Cahill, Camara, Oster (Valois
83), Micah Hyde, O'Connor, Branch (Duff 75), Bowditch, Akinbiyi
Subs not used: Roche, Jensen

West Ham United: Walker, Ward, Repka, Ferdinand, Powell, Newton, Reo-Coker,
Mullins (Fletcher 76), Noble (Etherington 76), Sheringham, Harewood (Zamora
85)
Subs not used: Bywater, Williams
Goal: Sheringham 83

Head to head

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)

5 April 2005 Burnley 0-1 West Ham United (Championship)
28 August 2004 West Ham United 1-0 Burnley (Championship)
2 March 2004 Burnley 1-1 West Ham United (Championship)
18 October 2003 West Ham United 2-2 Burnley (Championship)
2 September 1980 West Ham United 4-0 Burnley (League Cup)
26 August 1980 Burnley 0-2 West Ham United (League Cup)

Overall record v Burnley (all competitions) W29 D16 L29

Next up

West Ham United welcome champions Manchester United to the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday 5 December. Burnley travel to the south coast to play Portsmouth on
the same day.

Referee

• Saturday's referee will be Chris Foy

• Not to be confused with the Australian actor of the same name, Foy will be
taking charge of West Ham United for the fourth time this season.

• The 47-year-old official was the man in the middle for the Hammers'
opening-day 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 3-1 loss at Manchester
City and the 2-2 home draw with Arsenal, when he appeared as a late
replacement for Steve Bennett.

• Foy, who was born in St Helens, Merseyside, has been a Barclays Premier
League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of
assistant referees in 1995.

• In 2007, Foy officiated the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning
to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for
Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff City.

• Foy has also served as referee in two of Burnley's league matches this
season - a 3-1 home win over Sunderland and a 3-2 defeat by Blackburn Rovers
at Ewood Park.


West Ham United

• West Ham United will be hoping to continue the run of form that has seen
them lose just once in their last five games.

• The Hammers' minus four goal difference tells its own story when compared
to the teams around them in the league table. Indeed, the east Londoners
have lost by more than one goal just once in the league this season - the
3-1 defeat at Manchester City in September.

• Hanging on to leads is crucial if they are to pick up their second home
win in three games. Three times they have failed to convert a two-goal lead
into a win so far this season.

• West Ham have scored 19 goals this season with nine different scorers
registering. Carlton Cole leads the way (six), with Matthew Upson (two),
Guile Franco (two), Alessandro Diamanti (two), Manuel da Costa, Mark Noble,
Zavon Hines, Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas also registering.

• Cole is West Ham's top scorer this season with six goals in 12 league
games. The England striker has scored 13 goals in 24 Premier League games
since Boxing Day 2008, all from open play.

• Diamanti has more assists (three) than any other West Ham player.

• Noble has put in more crosses (15) than anyone else for the Hammers.

• If selected, it will be Cole's 100th start in the league.

• Noble is in line to play his 100th game for the club, if selected.

• Junior Stanislas celebrated his 20th birthday on Thursday, while Radoslav
Kovac turned 30 on Friday.

• West Ham United's record home win over Burnley came on 26 August 1968,
when a Martin Peters goal and braces from Geoff Hurst and Trevor Brooking
secured a 5-0 win that briefly sent the Hammers to the top of the table.

Burnley

• Burnley will be looking for their first away maximum of the season at the
seventh time of asking. However, their solitary point away from Turf Moor
came in their last away game - the thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City
on 7 November.

• They have managed just five goals away from home with three arriving
courtesy of the stalemate at Eastlands.

• Their home form is a different story, with five wins and a draw from their
first seven at Turf Moor.

• Defender Graham Alexander is the Clarets' top scorer in the league this
season with four goals to his name. Alexander has scored three penalties -
the joint highest in the league along with Frank Lampard.

• If the full-back makes it five on Saturday, it will be the 100th league
goal of his career.

• Burnley's record win at the Boleyn Ground came on 31 May 1947, when they
left east London with a 5-0 victory.

Team news

• Gianfranco Zola has had some good news on the injury-front in the run up
to the game with Herita Ilunga and Kieron Dyer among those back in full
training. Dyer particularly will be in his thoughts after scoring twice in
the reserves' 5-2 win against Stoke City on Tuesday.

• Herita Ilunga, James Tomkins and Mark Noble are also in contention after
returning to full training. Alessandro Diamanti misses out as he has not
recovered from his hip problem in time.

• Matthew Upson is ruled out with a hamstring injury so Scott Parker is
likely to deputise as captain.

• Fabio Daprela, Holmar Eyjolfsson and Frank Nouble were among others who
also caught the eye for the reserves at Bishop's Stortford and may be
considered for the game. Josh Payne also played after returning from a loan
at Colchester United and Bondz N'Gala is back from his temporary spell at
Scunthorpe United.

• Luis Boa Morte (knee) is continuing his individual rehab programme and is
still some months from a return. He has been back at Chadwell Heath this
week. Dean Ashton and Calum Davenport have no date set for a possible
return.

• Burnley are expected to name the same squad that faced Aston Villa last
time out.

(More team news to follow later on Friday)

Old boys

• Burnley defender Tyrone Mears played six games during a one-season stay at
the Boleyn Ground in 2006/07, before being sold to Derby County in July
2007.

• Other players to have represented both clubs include Reg Atwell, Frank
Birchenough, Herman Conway, Tommy Green, Walter Pollard, Jack Tresadern and
William Jenkinson.

General info

• For ticket information, click here.

• Saturday's weather forecast is for heavy rain showers and a top
temperature of 9C.

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'It's a big opportunity'
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola is backing his players to chalk up a home win over Burnley
on Saturday
27.11.2009

Gianfranco Zola believes his West Ham United side have a 'big opportunity'
to start climbing the Barclays Premier League table on Saturday. The Hammers
host Burnley, who have picked up just one point on their travels this
season, losing five of their six matches away from Turf Moor. Zola has also
been boosted by the return of the fit-again Herita Ilunga, Mark Noble and
James Tomkins to his squad, while Kieron Dyer is also eager to be involved
after netting twice on his return to reserve-team action in midweek. The
West Ham manager knows the Lancastrians' visit to the Boleyn Ground
represents the perfect chance for his players to kick-start their campaign.
"It's a big opportunity for us. We need to get a victory in our ground. It's
been a while since we had a victory so it's important, we know that. If we
keep playing the football the way we're playing right now and improving
certain things, we have a good chance."
While Noble, Tomkins, Ilunga and Dyer could all be involved on Saturday,
Zola will be without captain Matthew Upson, who injured a hamstring in
training. Scott Parker will skipper the side in the England defender's
absence. "Unfortunately, Matthew Upson had a problem the other day in
training and he's not going to be available. On the other hand, we have
Gabbidon who is back and did very well for us the other day, and Mark Noble
and James Tomkins will both be available again. "Matty is not going to be
able to play, but Kieron Dyer is available. I haven't decided yet, but it's
good that he's coming back. He's an important player and a quality player so
it's good to have him back and available. "He's available but I'm not saying
he's going to play. I don't want to put pressure on him. He's been out for a
long time. The other day he did very well with the reserves, but that's it.
It's good for me to have him available. "I saw him very positive. He came
back and he is bright and now he needs to train a lot because he has to be
able to play at this standard for a long period. You can only get that by
training every day and every week."
Whoever lines up in Zola's starting eleven on Saturday, the manager believes
his players will be spurred on to victory by the disappointment of
relinquishing a 2-0 lead in last weekend's 3-3 draw at Hull City. "I don't
think it looked like we gained a point from the game. It looked like we lost
two, because after we equalised we had two clear chances to win it.
"Obviously, we think we should have been celebrating a victory last week,
but I believe it will give them more focus in certain moments of the game.
"I know, on a couple of occasions, we didn't handle it very well. We should
have had more control of the game, and I'm assuming that will give them the
focus when those moments come again and they will handle them better. "It's
simple. We were 2-0 up and had to be more in control of the game."
While Burnley's away form has been indifferent, they have picked up 16
points from a possible 21 at home. With that in mind, Zola knows his players
cannot afford to be complacent this weekend. "They are a good team. They
play well. I saw them playing against Manchester City [where they drew 3-3]
and was positively impressed by them. "They have a good squad. They like
passing the ball. I believe it will be an entertaining game. It is a team
that also plays differently than the normal ones because they try to play a
different kind of football with a lot of passing - very similar to what we
do. It should be an interesting game."
Zola has been impressed by the approach adopted by last season's
Championship play-off winners under Owen Coyle. Despite being aged just nine
days younger than the Hammers boss, the 43-year-old Irishman turned out for
Burnley's reserves earlier this season, leading Zola to joke that Coyle had
nearly inspired him into making his own playing comeback. "I know he's doing
a good job and I also know he played in a game, so he gave me an idea! I'm
only joking. I'm sure he's fitter than me! "It's good. He's doing very well.
He's got his team playing good football and he's getting results. It's good
to see managers that encourage their teams to play football and make it
entertaining. I wish he would have success, but not on Saturday!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Franco the brave
WHUFC.com
Guille Franco talks exclusively about his Scottish roots in Saturday's
official matchday programme
27.11.2009

Guille Franco has expressed his love for English football after making a
strong start to his West Ham United career. The Mexico striker has impressed
in recent weeks, linking play superbly and netting twice in his last four
Barclays Premier League matches. In an entertaining interview with
Saturday's official matchday programme for the visit of Burnley, Franco also
revealed his family's Scottish ancestry. The 33-year-old, whose full name is
Guillermo Luis Franco Farquarson, told how his grandfather collected kilts
and other items relating to the Farquharsons, a historic clan who hailed
from the Scottish Highlands. With his British heritage, it should be no
surprise that Franco has settled quickly into life at the Boleyn Ground.
"I'm delighted to be here. It is not easy for a player to come to the
English league and adapt quickly and win a starting place but I feel happy.
I'm feeling physically strong and that's helped me. I'm playing matches, as
I'd hoped to do, so things are going well personally. I've scored twice and
hopefully there'll be more to come."
Franco also spoke of his admiration for strike partner Carlton Cole and his
success with former clubs San Lorenzo, Monterrey and CF Villarreal.
Saturday's matchday programme is packed with exclusive interviews, features
and photographs. Former Hammers midfielder Adam Nowland talks about the day
he shot down Burnley, top scorer Cole reveals his ambition to maintain his
hot start to the season, while Radoslav Kovac picks his Dream Team and Frank
Nouble is Talking Football. Readers can also catch up with Hammers fan Alex
Walkinshaw, better known as Inspector Dale Smith in The Bill, and Siobhan
Dillon, the celebrity stylist who shot to fame by designing a West
Ham-themed basque for pop star Katy Perry. For all this and more, pick up a
copy of Saturday's matchday programme, which will be on sale in and around
the Boleyn Ground, priced £3.50.

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FA Cup draw awaits
WHUFC.com
The third-round draw will be held on Sunday with the ties set to be played
in the first weekend in January
27.11.2009

West Ham United will learn their first opponents in this season's FA Cup
when the 2009/10 third-round draw takes place on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers will be ball No42 in the hat when Olympic great Sir Steven
Redgrave and England women's football star Kelly Smith conduct proceedings
from around 3.55pm at Wembley. The third round will be played on the weekend
of 2/3 January 2010, with this stage seeing all Premier League and
Championship clubs enter for the first time.

Gianfranco Zola's men reached the fifth round last season, having knocked
out Barnsley and Hartlepool United before coming unstuck after a replay at
Middlesbrough. West Ham won the famous old competition in 1964, 1975 and
1980 with next May marking 30 years since the last time the Hammers got
their hands on the trophy.

Draw numbers

1 Arsenal
2 Aston Villa
3 Barnsley
4 Birmingham City
5 Blackburn Rovers
6 Blackpool
7 Bolton Wanderers
8 Bristol City
9 Burnley
10 Cardiff City
11 Chelsea
12 Coventry City
13 Crystal Palace
14 Derby County
15 Doncaster Rovers
16 Everton
17 Fulham
18 Hull City
19 Ipswich Town
20 Leicester City
21 Liverpool
22 Manchester City
23 Manchester United
24 Middlesbrough
25 Newcastle United
26 Nottingham Forest
27 Peterborough United
28 Plymouth Argyle
29 Portsmouth
30 Preston North End
31 Queens Park Rangers
32 Reading
33 Scunthorpe United
34 Sheffield United
35 Sheffield Wednesday
36 Stoke City
37 Sunderland
38 Swansea City
39 Tottenham Hotspur
40 Watford
41 West Bromwich Albion
42 West Ham United
43 Wigan Athletic
44 Wolverhampton Wanderers
45 Northwich Victoria or Lincoln City
46 Northampton Town or Southampton
47 Hereford United or Colchester United
48 Tranmere Rovers or Aldershot Town
49 Kettering Town or Leeds United
50 Gillingham or Burton Albion
51 Wrexham or Swindon Town
52 Brighton & Hove Albion or Rushden & Diamonds
53 Rotherham United or Luton Town
54 Milton Keynes Dons or Exeter City
55 Brentford or Walsall
56 Carlisle United or Norwich City
57 Accrington Stanley or Barnet
58 Oxford United or Barrow
59 AFC Bournemouth or Notts County
60 Stockport County or Torquay United
61 Cambridge United or York City
62 Bath City or Forest Green Rovers
63 Port Vale or Huddersfield Town
64 Staines Town or Millwall

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Hammers duo help England
WHUFC.com
England U16s won the Victory Shield thanks to the efforts of Blair Turgott
and Matthias Fanimo
27.11.2009

West Ham United youngster Blair Turgott was the match-winner as England beat
Scotland to claim the Victory Shield for the ninth successive season. The
Young Lions lifted the Under-16 crown at Tynecastle In Edinburgh on Thursday
after Turgott scored on the hour mark. England had needed to come from
behind after Jack Grimmer put Scotland in front midway through the first
half. Arsenal's Zak Ansah quickly levelled and after that it was all England
with Turgott and his Hammers club-mate Matthias Fanimo behind most of the
visitors' best work.
Turgott and Fanimo had both scored in the previous 2-0 win against Northern
Ireland and it was no surprise when the former found the winning goal,
although a point would have been enough to secure the trophy. England had
won the previous eight editions with Robert Hall having been part of last
season's U16 set-up and past teams including the likes of Trevor Brooking,
Joe Cole and Glen Johnson

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Sadlier aids Irish
WHUFC.com
Kieran Sadlier helped Republic of Ireland's U16s to a 3-3 friendly draw with
Czech Republic on Thursday
27.11.2009

West Ham United striker Kieran Sadlier helped the Republic of Ireland
Under-16s to a 3-3 friendly draw with Czech Republic on Thursday. The
Academy youngster played the full 80 minutes as Ireland were pegged back by
a last-minute equaliser at Kingspan Century Park in County Monaghan. Sadlier
was a threat throughout, winning a penalty that strike-partner Mickey
Drennan converted to put the hosts 2-1 up. Drennan, who plays for
Kilkenny-based Evergreen FC, netted a hat-trick, only for Czech substitute
Lukas Julis to score an equaliser with the last kick of the match. The match
was the second of a friendly double-header between the two nations. Ireland
won 2-1 in County Louth on Tuesday, when Sadlier was not involved.

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Kieron back with a bang
WHUFC.com
Kieron Dyer is hopeful of a first-team return after making a goalscoring
impact for the reserves in midweek
26.11.2009

Kieron Dyer is eager to help West Ham United climb the Barclays Premier
League table after playing a starring role in the 5-2 reserve-team win over
Stoke City. The England midfielder returned from a hamstring injury to score
twice in Tuesday evening's win at Bishop's Stortford. Dyer showed no
ill-effects from his recent lay-off, producing a performance full of pace
and intent in front of the watching manager Gianfranco Zola and first-team
coach Steve Clarke. Having come through unscathed, the 30-year-old hoped to
be involved in the first team, perhaps as soon as when Burnley visit the
Boleyn Ground this weekend. "Obviously I needed the run-out and it was good,
especially for young lads having an experienced player like myself out
there. It went really well. I scored two goals and looked quite sharp so
hopefully it gives the manager a poser."
Dyer was the experienced head in a young side featuring forwards Terry Dixon
and Frank Nouble and midfielder Danny Kearns, who scored a goal apiece.
At one stage during the first half, Dyer went to the touchline to speak to
namesake Alex, the reserve-team manager, about making a slight tactical
change. Moments later, the Hammers took the lead through a smart finish from
Kearns. "I was in the hole but we needed to stretch them so I changed
positions with Terry Dixon for a bit to stretch them. I was using my
tactical nous there! "I was just pleased to get a run out, like I said. My
hamstrings felt good so hopefully I'll feature at some stage. Obviously the
manager needs as many fit and experienced players as possible and I'm just
glad I can be back because we need to push up that table."
Dyer missed an early portion of the season with leg muscle injuries, but he
hopes those problems are behind him and he can regain full match-fitness in
the near future. "I had a good pre-season under my belt. I know I had the
problem after the first game of the season against Wolves, but I had that
good base of a pre-season and, although I'm not 100 per cent, I felt sharp
and quick and that's a good sign for the future."
While Dyer was pleased with his own progress, he was also impressed with the
performance of his young team-mates, and predicted bright futures for the
likes of Dixon, Nouble, Kearns, Edgar, defenders Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and
Fabio Daprela, along with goalkeeper Marek Stech. "I went and watched the
lads in the friendly against Ipswich and they were lacking a bit of belief
and confidence and got murdered. This time, they showed belief and hunger
and played a Stoke team that had a number of first-team players in their
squad, so to beat them 5-2 is a testament to them. "You only have to look at
Zavon Hines, Junior Stanislas, Josh Payne and Jack Collison to see the
gaffer is not afraid to put in the youths. If they keep playing like that,
I'm sure they'll be pushing into the first-team squad at some point."

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Fan support inspires Faubert
WHUFC.com
A return to the Boleyn Ground this weekend has given right-back Julien
Faubert plenty of belief
26.11.2009

Julien Faubert will hope to line up against Burnley on Saturday afternoon
and has no doubt the fans will once again play their part. The full-back
believed a win would be the perfect result to build on last week's 3-3 draw
at Hull City. "We need three points at home and we need to take three
points," he said. "We need to be strong at home. If we win or lose then last
week will be like a defeat. We have to win at home to make it feel like the
point at Hull was worthwhile."
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a renaissance this campaign after a loan spell
at Real Madrid in the second half of last season. Faubert returned fitter
and fired up to show the Hammers faithful what he can do. He has proved a
positive force up the right flank and is looking forward to hearing the team
roared on again by the home support. The Frenchman added: "I know that the
fans are great every time we play. When we are away the fans are there and
it is good to have the fans behind us. I have never heard a whistle and that
is West Ham, which is why I am very happy to play here."
Looking back to last weekend's topsy-turvy encounter at the KC Stadium,
Faubert said the team needed to learn the lessons. "I am happy that we came
back to draw but to win the game we needed to score four goals," he said.
"When you play away you have to be strong and to keep the shape. We are
happy we got one point but frustrated because we knew we could have taken
three."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Burnley
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 28 December Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score &
highlights on Match of the Day

West Ham captain Matthew Upson is out after picking up a hamstring injury,
with Danny Gabbidon set to replace him. Alessandro Diamanti is out with a
hip injury, but Kieron Dyer (hamstring) scored twice for the reserves and
James Tomkins (groin) may also return.
Burnley boss Owen Coyle has no new injury concerns so may opt to play the
same team for the fifth straight week. Long-term absentees Jay Rodriguez
(ankle), Chris McCann and Martin Paterson (both knee) remain missing.
________________________________________
West Ham
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Diamanti (hip), Dyer (hamstring), Tomkins (groin)
Injured: Ashton (ankle), Boa Morte (knee), Davenport (leg), Upson
(hamstring).

Burnley
Suspended: None Doubtful: None
Injured: McCann & Paterson (both knee), Rodriguez (ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW
Grease was the word the last time a Burnley side beat West Ham. The Clarets
emerged 3-2 winners at Turf Moor in September 1978 - the same month John
Travolta and Olivia Newton John became household names in the UK as Danny
and Sandy. Burnley are freshmen in this season's top flight but have
adjusted well to life at high school with their slick passing style, winning
five out of seven home games. It has been a different story on their travels
however, with a maiden Premier League away win still the one that they want.
Owen Coyle knows only too well that his side need to start adding to their
solid home form with valuable away points if the Clarets are to enjoy
guaranteed summer nights in 2010 as a top-flight club.

West Ham have thrown two-goal leads away twice in the last three weeks,
which has left Gianfranco Zola with tears on his pillow. The Hammers have
exactly the same number of points from 13 games as they did when they
flunked their exams during their relegation season of 2002/03. Gianfranco
Zola's side urgently need to get points on the board quickly to ensure
lightning does not strike twice.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham completed a league double over Burnley during the 2004/05
campaign, the last time the two clubs were in the same division.
• The Clarets have not won in their last six league visits to Upton Park.
Their only victory in their last 17 league matches at West Ham was 1-0 in
old Division One in October 1973.
• This fixture has averaged 3.4 goals per game in 74 all-time matches.

West Ham
• Gianfranco Zola's side started the season with clean sheets in two of
their opening three games. They have since conceded 21 goals in 10 league
matches.
• West Ham have scored two goals or more in five of their last six league
games, yet have won only one of them.
• If he plays, Mark Noble is set make his 100th league appearance for the
club.

Burnley
• Owen Coyle's side have lost both Premier League trips to London this
season - 3-0 at Chelsea, 5-0 at Tottenham.
• The Clarets are bottom of the Premier League away table with just one
point from 18 and a goal difference of minus 15. Hull have also managed just
one away point to date.
• If selected, Wade Elliott will be making his 400th league appearance with
Andrew Bikey set for his 50th Premier League match.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Ham
Cole: 6 goals (6 league); Stanislas: 3 goals (1 league)

Burnley
Fletcher: 6 goals (3 league); Alexander: 4 goals (4 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Dave Bryan
Fourth official: Phil Crossley

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
West Ham (D3-3 v Hull, a): Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Gabbidon,
Collison, Parker, Behrami (Hines 60), Stanislas, Franco (Jimenez 70), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Kurucz, Kovac, Spector, Ilunga, Nouble.

Burnley (D1-1 v Aston Villa, h): Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan,
Alexander, Bikey, Eagles (McDonald 69), Elliott, Blake (Gudjonsson 81),
Fletcher (Nugent 74). Subs Not Used: Penny, Duff, Thompson, Guerrero.

MOST RECENT MEETING
Burnley 0-1 West Ham (5 April 2005)
West Ham scorers: Sheringham 83

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Dyer ready for West Ham comeback
BBC.co.uk

Former England midfielder Kieron Dyer is nearing a first-team return for
West Ham after being out with a hamstring injury since the end of September.
Dyer, 30, scored twice for the reserves in Tuesday's win over Stoke and
could feature against Burnley on Saturday. "It went really well. I looked
quite sharp so hopefully it gives the manager a poser," he told the club's
website. Dyer has only started four games for West Ham since signing for £6m
from Newcastle in August 2007. Just 10 days after making his debut, the
former Ipswich player was stretchered off with a broken leg in the Carling
Cup match at Bristol Rovers. Dyer was out for 17 months, and later suffered
a further stress fracture. There were fears for his career, but West Ham say
Dyer has continued to train hard in an effort to get back into the first
team. He starred in the 5-2 reserve team win over Stoke at Bishop's
Stortford on Tuesday, watched by Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola and assistant
Steve Clarke. His return is a boost for Zola, whose side are lurking
immediately above the relegation zone with 11 points from 13 matches. "The
manager needs as many fit and experienced players as possible and I'm just
glad I can be back because we need to push up that table," said Dyer. Dyer
has been capped 30 times by England and was in the national squad for both
the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

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Upson out of Burnley test
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 27th November 2009
By: Staff Writer

Club captain Matthew Upson could be out of action for several weeks after
suffering a hamstring injury in training. Upson, who succeeded the outgoing
Lucas Neill as club captain during the summer sustained the injury earlier
this week and as well as missing out against the Clarets, could also miss
the forthcoming clashes against Man Utd, Birmingham, Bolton and Chelsea.
Despite the loss of Upson, Gianfranco Zola's defensive options have been
boosted by the return of Danny Gabbidon, who played out of position at left
back against Hull last weekend but will almost certainly replace Upson on
Saturday afternoon. Gabbidon - the KUMB.com Player of the Year in 2005/06 -
has missed the best part of the last two seasons with an ongoing hip injury
but is close to reaching full fitness once again. Meanwhile there is further
good news regarding Kieron Dyer, who is also looking to be involved with the
first team again this weekend having come through Tuesday's 5-2 reserve team
win over Stoke unscathed. "Obviously I needed the run-out and it was good,"
Dyer told whufc.com. "It went really well. I scored two goals and looked
quite sharp so hopefully it gives the manager a poser."

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Quashie's parting shot
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th November 2009
By: Staff Writer

Nigel Quashie has accused West Ham of treating him unfairly. The midfielder
joined MK Dons on loan earlier this week but still couldn't resist taking a
swipe at the club that has paid him in excess of £1million in wages for each
of the last three seasons - during which he has made a total of eight
appearances.
"I want to enjoy my football somewhere where I feel wanted by the boss - and
by someone who knows how to handle players and get the best out of people,"
he told the Milton Keynes Citizen. "The situation at West Ham is that I came
back in the summer, got fit, played in their pre-season matches but then
ended up with the kids every day. But I was playing quite well in the
reserves and the reserve team manager was happy with me. "Gianluca Nani,
the director of football, was also happy with me and the DVDs were passed
along to the first team. They could see I was playing well, yet I was told
to remain back at home and pick up my wages. "It hurts because I am telling
the utmost truth and I've done nothing wrong. I was treated very unfairly."
Quashie, who has joined the Dons on loan for the next six weeks admitted
that the step down in class would be new ground for him, whilst adding that
his main aim is getting some much-missed match practise under his belt. "My
general plan is to get fit and start enjoying playing once again because I
don't enjoy just sitting at home," he added. "I just need to try and get a
few games under my belt and I want to be as professional as I can. "I want
to be respectable to the other players at the football club. I haven't
played at this level of football before but it is something I have to accept
at this moment."

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Zola urges Dyer caution
Hammers boss wary of risking midfielder too soon
By Chris Burton Last updated: 27th November 2009
SSN

Gianfranco Zola insists Kieron Dyer will not be rushed back into first-team
action, despite West Ham's current troubles. The midfielder, who has seen
his career plagued by injuries, is back in contention for Saturday's home
date with Burnley. He has been sidelined since September, unable to help the
Hammers out of an early season slump which has left them languishing towards
the foot of the table. In fact, the former Newcastle man has started just
four games for West Ham since moving to the capital in August 2007. Zola
knows Dyer must be handled with care if he is to perform at his best, but
the Italian has warned that he will not risk the 30-year-old unnecessarily.
"He's an important player and he's a quality player. It's good to have him
back available," Zola said.
"When Kieron Dyer is fit he can bring something different but what we don't
want right now is more setbacks. "I don't want to put pressure on him. He's
been out for a long time. I'm seeing him very positive, he's bright and he
just needs to train a lot and be able to play to his standard for a long
period.
"I don't think he will start (against Burnley) but I have yet to make a
decision." Zola has also sought to play down any talk of Dyer forcing his
way back into the England fold ahead of next summer's World Cup, with the
Hammers boss keen for the experienced playmaker to work his way back to full
fitness before setting any long-term targets. "That's (the World Cup) still
a long way off," he added. "I think he should take it easy. The most
important thing for Kieron is to remain fit as long as possible so he can
get his form back, and then everything else will come later."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Burnley preview
Hammers hoping for a reversal in fortunes on home soil
Last updated: 27th November 2009
SSN

PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 2-1
SKY BET odds: West Ham 5/6, Draw 2/1, Burnley 7/2
One to Watch: Carlton Cole

West Ham will want to start edging away from trouble when they entertain
Burnley on Saturday. The Hammers currently occupy a standing outside of the
Premier League's bottom three, but only goal difference is keeping their
heads above water. A dismal record on home soil has been their undoing so
far, with only one victory taken from six fixtures at Upton Park. Gianfranco
Zola's side have also been leaking goals at an alarming rate, conceding at
least twice in eight of their last nine games. One statistic which does side
in their favour, though, regards Burnley's record in games between the two
sides. Burnley have won none of their last nine meetings with the Hammers in
all competitions. Owen Coyle's side have also struggled on their travels
this term, and are yet to claim an away success in the Premier League. They
have conceded 20 goals in their last five fixtures away from Turf Moor, an
average of four per game. Burnley have, however, gone unbeaten through their
last three top-flight fixtures, allowing them to lodge themselves in the
relative safety of mid-table.
Welcome returns
West Ham could welcome Kieron Dyer back into the fold this weekend, with the
midfielder making impressive progress in his recovery from a hamstring
problem. Alessandro Diamanti (hip) and James Tomkins (groin) could also be
available to Zola following recent spells on the sidelines. Calum Davenport
(thigh) and Dean Ashton (ankle) remain long-term absentees, while Luis Boa
Morte is not expected to play again this season after suffering a cruciate
knee ligament injury.

Settled side
Burnley boss Coyle is pondering selecting the same starting XI for the fifth
consecutive match. The Clarets travel to East London with a settled side and
no major injury concerns. Burnley's only absentees are due to long-term
problems, with midfielder Chris McCann and forwards Jay Rodriguez and Martin
Paterson all scheduled for a return around Christmas.

Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Ilunga, Upson, Gabbidon, Faubert, Stanislas, Parker,
Collison, Behrami, Cole, Franco.
Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Eagles, Mears,
Bikey, Elliott, Blake, Fletcher.

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Dyer could face Clarets
Midfielder hopes to help struggling team-mates
Last updated: 26th November 2009
SSN

West Ham could soon be boosted in their fight for Premier League survival by
the return to full fitness of injury-plagued Kieron Dyer. The midfielder has
not played since the end of September after suffering a setback in his
recovery from a hamstring problem. But Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola may be
able to select Dyer for this weekend's match against Burnley after the
30-year-old came through a reserve game unscathed. "My hamstrings felt good
so hopefully I'll feature at some stage," Dyer told the club's official
website. "Obviously the manager needs as many fit and experienced players as
possible and I'm just glad I can be back because we need to push up that
table." Dyer missed the majority of last season, Zola's first in charge,
after sustaining a broken leg.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola set to splash the cash this Christmas... on Katy Perry
lingerie for his wife
Published 05:00 28/11/09
By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

Fear not West Ham fans - boss Gianfranco Zola has set his sights on
splashing the cash this Christmas. The Hammers boss is eyeing up a £300
piece of Katy Perry Lingerie for his darling wife after the pop star showed
off her claret and blue basque at the recent MTV Music Awards. Stunning
Perry wowed the watching world when she slipped on the little number for
boyfriend and diehard Hammers fan Russell Brand with the comedian's nickname
splashed across her backside. And Zola says he might even be persuaded to
slip something special into his missus's Christmas stocking. "I don't know
if I'll buy it yet but I'll see," said the little Italian. "I have to see
first what it looks like and then I will decide."
Zola, whose side have won just twice in the league this season ahead of
today's ome clash with Burnley, has also warned his underperforming stars
they could be in line for embarrassment. Asked about threatening his players
with wearing women's underwear, the Italian laughed hard at the idea of
Carlton Cole in a corset and claimed, "That would be a good idea!"
The Hammers take on Burnley in dire need of three points having won just
once at Upton Park this season. And Zola reckons his team are failing to
show their potential after insisting his side should be challenging further
up the table. "We are a good team and in my opinion we can reach a higher
level," he added. "It is down to us to find those things on the pitch that
will produce points and confidence which will give us the strength to get
there. "I believe in this team - it is a side that can be a very good team
in the Premier League but we need to find a way to show everybody how good
we can be."
Scott Parker will captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Matthew
Upson, but Zola reckons the England defender will be back in action sooner
rather than later after suffering a hamstring strain. He added: "Matthew had
a problem with his hamstring. It was in training on Wednesday. We should
know something more on that today."

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WEST HAM: ROBERT GREEN'S GOLDEN HANDSHAKE
Daily Star
28th November 2009 By Sami Mokbel

DAVID GOLD will make Robert Green's uncertain future his top priority if he
pulls off his dream West Ham takeover. The mega-rich tycoon will step up his
proposed buyout next week ­after rejecting a deal to buy ­Crystal Palace.
Palace chairman Simon Jordan held informal talks with Gold about the
possibility of an Eagles takeover. But the ex-Birmingham City ­co-owner has
studied the Selhurst Park club's ailing finances and poor ­infrastructure
and decided it is too much of a long-term project considering he is 72 years
old. Now Gold will press ahead with his ­Upton Park bid and will make
resolving Green's contract dispute his first task. East London-born Gold
wants to be in charge at the Hammers before the start of the January
transfer window so he can have a say in the comings and goings. The
29-year-old England keeper is ­stalling on a new Hammers deal, sparking
speculation he wants to leave. Arsenal and Tottenham are both ­waiting in
the wings and Gold wants to settle the keeper's future once and for all. The
shrewd businessman will seek ­assurances from Green over his long-term
commitment to the club. If he does not get those guarantees Gold will have
no option but to put the England star on the market.
Gold – who played for West Ham as a schoolboy – will want the highest
­possible fee for Green if he is to leave and will make him available in the
summer if he feels the club can't thrash out a new deal for him. Green is
unlikely to be sold in January as Gold knows the former Norwich man will be
vital to the club's hopes of staying in the Premier League. The major
stumbling block over Gold's proposed takeover remains the price. Gold is
unwilling to pay CB Holdings' (the Hammers' Icelandic owners) £120m asking
price. If his attempts to buy West Ham end in failure then Gold will turn
his attentions to Charlton. Boss Gianfranco Zola admits he is ­fretting
about his defence as he awaits news on Matthew Upson's injury. The Hammers,
who are at home to Burnley today, fear the England man's hamstring problem
could rule him out for weeks. Results of a scan are ­imminent but an absence
of just two weeks would see Upson, 30, miss four crucial matches. One is at
home to ­Manchester United and two are relegation ­six-pointers away to
­Birmingham and Bolton. Zola said: "We hope ­Upson won't be out for too
long. It's disappointing but what can I do? "He is our captain and an
important player but we have to face reality and try to find a solution."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kieron Dyer close to West Ham comeback
ViewLondon.co.uk

West Ham United midfielder Kieron Dyer could make only his fifth start for
the club on Saturday after completing a reserve game unscathed. The
30-year-old has been out since September with a hamstring injury but scored
twice in a 5-2 West Ham reserves win against Stoke City and could feature in
the Hammers' Premier League clash with Burnley on Saturday. The former
England midfielder has made only four starts for the East London side since
transferring from Newcastle United for £7 million in August 2007 but is
hopeful of featuring at Upton Park this weekend. "Obviously I needed the
run-out and it was good, especially for young lads having an experienced
player like myself out there," Dyer, who suffered a broken leg shortly after
making his debut for the Hammers, told the official West Ham website. "It
went really well. I scored two goals and looked quite sharp so hopefully it
gives the manager a poser."
A returning Dyer, who has 30 caps for England, would be gratefully received
by West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, whose side are languishing in 17th with
only 11 points from 13 matches. "The manager needs as many fit and
experienced players as possible and I'm just glad I can be back because we
need to push up that table," the midfielder commented.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Burnley
ESPN
Updated: November 27, 2009, 3:59 PM UK

Matthew Upson will miss West Ham's Barclays Premier League home match
against Burnley after suffering a hamstring injury in training. Fellow
centre-back Danny Gabbidon, fully fit after an abdominal injury, should take
the place of the England international at the heart of the defence, with
midfielder Scott Parker taking over the captain's armband. Forward
Alessandro Diamanti is still out with a hip problem but James Tomkins and
Mark Noble have been declared fit by manager Gianfranco Zola. Winger Kieron
Dyer has returned to fitness after a hamstring injury and played for the
reserves on Tuesday but is unlikely to feature. Zola insists Dyer will not
be rushed back into the first team despite the club's perilous position near
the foot of the Barclays Premier League. It is the latest attempt by the
former England midfielder to revive a career that many believe is grinding
to a halt owing to the sheer number of injuries he has suffered in recent
years. Dyer has only started four matches for the Hammers since joining from
Newcastle in August 2007. He scored twice for the reserves in Tuesday's 5-2
win against Stoke and is pushing for a first-team recall in tomorrow's
league match against Burnley at Upton Park. But Zola maintains he will take
things slowly. "He's an important player and he's a quality player. It's
good to have him back available,'' Zola said. "When Kieron Dyer is fit he
can bring something different but what we don't want right now is more
setbacks. "I don't want to put pressure on him. He's been out for a long
time. I'm seeing him very positive, he's bright and he just needs to train a
lot and be able to play to his standard for a long period. "I don't think he
will start but I have yet to make a decision.''
West Ham are desperate to claim all three points this weekend as they look
to pull clear of relegation trouble. "It's obviously a big opportunity for
us,'' Zola added. "We need to get a victory. It's been a while since we had
a victory so it's important and we know it. "If we keep playing the way we
have been playing and improve on certain things, we have a good chance.''
Burnley manager Owen Coyle is pondering selecting the same starting XI for
the fifth consecutive Barclays Premier League match. The 11th-placed Clarets
travel to east London with a settled side and no major injury concerns.
Burnley's absentees are due to long-term problems with midfielder Chris
McCann and forwards Jay Rodriguez and Martin Paterson all scheduled for a
return around Christmas. Defender Tyrone Mears returns to former club West
Ham hoping he will soon be eligible for England. Stockport-born Mears has
been tipped for a surprise international call by his club manager Owen Coyle
but he is currently unavailable due to erroneously playing for Jamaica nine
months ago. The 26-year-old featured for the Jamaicans, then coached by
former England international John Barnes, against Nigeria at Loftus Road in
February despite having no links to the Caribbean country. Former Hammer
Mears was under the impression his estranged father was from Jamaica but has
since discovered possible links to Sierra Leone. Now he is attempting to
have his international cap rescinded in the outside chance he catches Fabio
Capello's eye in World Cup year. "The problem is I am registered with FIFA
as a Jamaican player, which shouldn't have happened,'' said Mears "I don't
qualify for Jamaica. You have to hold a passport to play for a country.
"Because it was a friendly I was told it wouldn't count and I didn't think
it was a big deal but apparently it is. "I've spoken with lawyers and we've
written to FIFA and I think everything's going to be sorted out. At the
minute I couldn't play for England. "I have to send some information to the
FA and once they've signed off everything it should be fine, so it should
happen in the next few weeks. "It is not really a big topic on my mind, the
important thing is that I keep performing well for Burnley.''
The Clarets are yet to win outside their Turf Moor stronghold but have been
buoyed by the point claimed at Manchester City last time out. "It's
important that we go down there and play as we know we can,'' said Mears.
"It's going to be hostile. The fans down there make it tough for the away
teams. "The main thing for us, though, is that the manager creates an
atmosphere of no fear. He wants you to go out and enjoy yourself and give
everything. "We are getting better away from home but but it's not about the
performances, it's about the points.''

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This continued Chamakh talk just doesn't add up
Date: 27th November 2009 at 11:31 am
Author: GUEST BLOGGER

Football FanCast guest columnist Luke Riley cannot understand what the fuss
is with regards to Marouane Chamakh. If there was an award for the most
overrated and most sought after player of the past 12 months then Marouane
Chamakh would win it hands down. Quite what the fuss is about the Bordeaux
striker, I will never know, and anyone who has seen him play, like I have on
numerous occasions, will know there is not much substance to him and
certainly no justification as to why he warrants the attention and interest
that he does from the Premier League clubs that have been touted.

I think you can count on the one hand the amount of clubs that haven't been
linked to the Bordeaux striker, with Arsenal, West Ham and Sunderland
reportedly the most interested. All clubs quoted their admiration of a
striker, who is an extremely poor Teddy Sheringham at best, and why Arsene
Wenger has since ruled out a January move, you do sense that one of the
other two will perhaps reaffirm their interest in Chamakh when the window
opens.

Chamakh has come out once again and reiterated his desire to move to the
Premier League, claiming that perhaps a move will be beneficial for
Bordeaux, so they are in a position to get some sort of fee as he will be
available on a Bosman free at the end of the season. While it will be seen
as an admirable gesture on behalf of the striker as it could jeopardise
potential riches in the summer, it is clear that Chamakh is desperate to
move to England and prove himself in what is a far superior League
technically and a lot quicker to the one he faces in Ligue 1. In my view he
will be out of his depth in the Premier League, but I guess time will tell.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Millwall and West Ham learn of FA hearing
28.11.09 | Ian Ferris

The Football Association has set a date for early January to hear the
charges brought against West Ham United and Millwall for the crowd trouble
which marred their Carling Cup tie on 25 August, with each club intending to
mount a robust defence, reports The Guardian. West Ham face four charges and
Millwall have to contend with three, both clubs facing one apiece of racist
abuse by their supporters – against the West Ham striker Carlton Cole and
the Millwall forward Jason Price – during the game, which West Ham won 3-1
after extra time. The clubs also face accusations that they failed to
ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and
provocative behaviour, and a failure to ensure the fans did not throw
missiles. West Ham face a further charge of failing to ensure their
supporters did not enter the field of play. It is thought that each club
feel they did as much as possible to ensure a match which was always likely
to be a potential flashpoint went off without trouble. Part of their defence
will involve proving the lengths they went to.

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