Wednesday, August 17

Daily WHUFC News - II 17th August 2011

Colchester 2-2 West Ham United XI
WHUFC.com
John Carew and George McCartney feature as Pablo Barrera scores twice for
the development squad
17.08.2011

COLCHESTER UNITEED v WEST HAM UNITED XI
WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST 2011
WALLACE BINDER GROUND, MALDON
KICK-OFF: 1pm

Final score - Colchester United 2-2 West Ham United XI

90 minutes - Colchester have a chance right at the death, but McNaughton
makes a fantastic block before Cowler helps the ball over the crossbar. The
referee blows for full-time before the corner can be taken, so a draw it is.
Post-match reaction will follow shortly on whufc.com.
89 mins - Not long to go now and it looks odds-on that we're going to have
to settle for a draw here. So, John Carew has made his debut and George
McCartney got through 75 minutes unscathed. Both looked fit and strong and
should be challenging for a first-team place soon. More options for manager
Sam Allardyce and that can only be a good thing.
86 mins - The corner is too deep, but McNaughton retrieves the ball. Moncur
crosses from the left, but it's too high and goes behind for a goal kick.
85 mins - Unlucky. Hall breaks down the right and crosses for Sears. The
striker nearly picks out the England Under-18 star, but his backheel is cut
out inside the area. Moments later, West Ham win a corner.
81 mins - West Ham are pushing hard for a late winner here. They are playing
some neat football, but it just won't fall for them in the Colchester
box...yet.
77 mins - Good running from Nouble to get himself goal-side of the defender
and win a corner. It's taken short to Hall, but his cross is cleared.
75 mins - McCartney gets a rest as he is replaced by a trialist, while Sam
Cowler is on for Boffin in goal for the remaining 15 minutes.
74 mins - Sears crosses and the ball is headed only as far as Stanislas. He
shoots, the ball hits a defender and spins just wide. The corner comes to
nothing.
73 mins - Wally Downes is with Hendon in the technical area. Good to see the
first-team coach taking a strong interest in many of the players who could
be the future of the club.
71 mins - The young Hammers have found their stride now and are looking more
threatening. A nice one-touch move ends when McCartney's cross is headed
clear from inside the penalty area.
67 mins - West Ham win a pair of corners in quick succession, but neither
Nouble nor McNaughton can direct their headers on target. Colchester make a
change, with the No9 being replaced.
65 mins - Colchester are coming on strong now. First, McNaughton makes a
diving block, then Boffin has to be alert to collect a well-struck shot in
front of his face.
60 mins - GOAL! This time it is West Ham's turn to relinquish a lead
quickly. Colchester's No10 slams a low shot between Boffin and the post from
the corner of the box. Fine finish.
58 mins - Faubert, Sanchez, Barrera, Piquionne and Carew go off, with
Wearen, Driver, Abdulla, Moncur and Robert Hall coming on in their places.
Sears and Nouble are now up front. Wearen is at centre-back.
57 mins - GOAL! Barrera bags his second of the game following good work from
Piquionne. The striker beats a man and cuts the ball back. Carew lets it run
and Barrera finishes left-footed from 12 yards.
57 mins - Hendon is preparing a whole host of substitutes. I presume the
plan was for some of the senior lads to get an hour.
56 mins - West Ham have been well on top since the break, but they haven't
fashioned a clear opportunity as yet. Barrera is probing down the right, but
has twice seen crosses cleared, while Nouble's cut-back was easily smashed
upfield from inside the Colchester penalty area.
54 mins - Captain McNaughton has looked strong this afternoon. He has led
his team well, too, organisingly and communicating well with his team-mates.
52 mins - The players are giving their all in this game. Faubert and
Piquionne have both loudly chastised themselves for poor passes. There is
competition for places in Sam Allardyce's side and everybody wants to be
part of it.
49 mins - Carew flicks-on McNaughton's clearance in typical style, but
Nouble can't latch on to the loose ball. Piquionne then crosses high towards
Nouble, but the goalkeeper claims under pressure from the young forward.
47 mins - Piquionne clears the corner at the near post. West Ham break after
McNaughton steps in and Stanislas picks up a loose ball, but his low shot is
well off-target.
46 mins - Carew and McCartney are both back out there as Colchester get the
second half underway. In fact, Ian Hendon has not made any changes.
Colchester attack from the kick-off and McCartney heads behind for a corner.

Half-time score - Colchester United 1-1 West Ham United XI

45 mins - As the 45th minute ends, the referee blows for half-time.
44 mins - Good strength by Carew to hold off his marker and shoot on the
turn, but the Colchester goalkeeper's handling is sound as he dives to his
right. I wonder if the Norway international will appear again after the
break?
41 mins - Piquionne beats one man and draws another before trying to slip in
Sears. A defender gets a foot in and it's a corner. Barrera's delivery is
not great and Colchester clear to Stanislas, who slices his volley and the
hosts again get the ball away.
38 mins - Ooof! Colchester come within a lick of paint of going ahead for a
second time, but the No14's shot cannons back off the angle of post and bar
and flies all the way out for a throw-in.
35 mins - Piquionne and Faubert combine down the right, but the latter's
cross is too high for Carew. Shame. Seconds later, a long ball from Sanchez
is mis-controlled by a Colchester defender, but Barrera's cushioned volley
is off-target.
32 mins - Stanislas takes the corner short and receives the ball back from
McCartney. His cross is volleyed behind again. The second corner is also
cleared back to Stanislas, whose cross is too high and goes behind.
31 mins - Super stuff from Nouble, who chests the ball down from Carew
before galloping down the left and collecting the return pass. He beats his
defender and crosses. The ball is headed behind.
30 mins - After a rather frenzied opening period, the game has calmed down a
bit now.
29 mins - Apologies for the slight mis-communication on the website earlier.
West Ham are playing Colchester United, but the game is taking place at
Maldon Town FC.
27 mins - Great stuff from McCartney, controlling with his head before
bursting forward 40 yards. He cuts the ball inside for Sears, who takes a
touch, loses his man and unleashes a fierce shot that the goalkeeper does
well to turn over the top. The corner is headed clear by the blond No3.
26 mins - Piquionne beats the goalkeeper to a through ball but is forced
wide. He controls, finds Nouble and the striker feeds Barrera. The Mexican
tries to beat his man on the edge of the box, but is tackled.
25 mins - Carew looks lively. He is dropping deep to link-up the play
regularly. In fact, he appears to be playing slightly behind Piquionne at
times. It's a 4-1-3-2 formation I think, with Stanislas sitting in front of
the back four.
24 mins - This is good end-to-end stuff. Colchester come close twice in
quick succession. First, a cross from No3 is volleyed by No10 straight at
Boffin, then No14 in midfield shoots from 30 yards, and again the Belgian
makes the stop.
22 mins - Good work from Piquionne this time, winning the ball in midfield
before making 30 yards and shooting from 25. Colchester's goalkeeper makes a
safe save low down in the centre of his goal.
20 mins - West Ham attack again through Sears and then Piquionne. He has two
men to pick out in the box in Barrera and Carew, but is challenged as he
enters the penalty area. Hands on head for the Frenchman.
17 mins - GOAL! West Ham break down the left before the ball is worked
across the face of the box to Barrera. He runs at his man on the outside
before drilling a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom
left-hand corner. That's a good finish from the Mexico winger.
16 mins - Two chances for Colchester to double their advantage. First, the
No3 heads across the face of goal, then the No9 sees his shot charged down
by Faubert.
15 mins - Piquionne instructs Sanchez to try to pick out Nouble with long
diagonal passes. The Spaniard does just that, but Colchester's right-back
wins the header with ease.
12 mins - GOAL! Colchester's No8 springs through the middle, latches on to a
slide-rule pass and calmly tucks his finish high past Ruud Boffin and into
the roof of the net. Colchester lead.
9 mins - I'm afraid I don't have the Colchester team as a team sheet wasn't
available before kick-off. West Ham have a very attacking XI out there, with
Stanislas and Sears in central midfield, Nouble wide left and Barrera wide
right.
7 mins - The West Ham United XI lineup is now at the bottom of the page.
Meanwhile, West Ham win a free-kick 25 yards out in a central position.
Stanislas takes, but he curls his shot wide of the left-hand post.
4 mins - So close to an opening goal for the Hammers as McNaughton volleys
Barrera's corner against the crossbar. The ball clips the woodwork and
bounces over the top.
3 mins - Barrera's cross is volleyed out for a corner by Colchester's No5.
1 min - Carew has his first run in claret and blue, but his pass for Barrera
is mis-placed.

12.56pm - We have kicked-off early here in Essex, with Carew and Piquionne
getting things under way

Welcome to the Wallace Binder Stadium in Maldon, Essex for a
specially-arranged behind-closed-doors match for West Ham United. Ian
Hendon's development squad has been strengthened by new recruits George
McCartney and John Carew. The Hammers also have Julien Faubert, Abdoulaye
Faye and Frederic Piquionne in action, after their appearances off the bench
in the 4-0 win at Watford last night.

West Ham United XI: Boffin (Cowler 75), Faubert (Driver 58), McCartney
(Trialist 75), Sanchez (Wearen 58), McNaughton, Barrera (Hall 58),
Stanislas, Sears, Nouble, Piquionne (Moncur 58), Carew (Abdulla 58)

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Vinny's Watford Report
Vinny 10:05 Wed Aug 17
West Ham Online

Watford 0 West Ham United 4

A tentative start to the season burst into life for West Ham as they came
away from Vicarage Road with a comfortable victory and a dominating
performance as Watford were brushed aside easily. This was a wonderful
result and one which should send out a clear message to the rest of the
Championship that West Ham are not here to make up the numbers or just to
challenge for the play offs. We are here to win the league and this sort of
display was a joy to see.

After beating Doncaster in the previous game, you could have been forgiven
for not being too convinced of our prospects given that we made hard work or
a poor and injury ravaged Doncaster team. But that win seems to kicked us
into life and whilst Watford themselves are not a great team you cannot take
away how well we played and how much better we were.

The game did have a few key moments such as a great save from Robert Green
in the first half to keep it at 1-0 and the timing of the second goal on the
stroke of half from (super) Joey O' Brien gave us comfort going into the
second period. Players played their part and defensively we were excellent.
Watford struggled to get near our midfield and to see the statistics point
out that we had a whopping 70% possession should tell you all you need to
know about how we controlled the game from start to finish.

Whilst it was a fantastic night on the pitch, in the stands it was equally
as brilliant with nearly 4000 West Ham fans packed behind the goal making as
much noise as possible from the first whistle to the last. It felt like such
a long time since the fans had been this joyous in watching an away game. I
don't really care what division we are in when it comes to enjoying an away
day. Seeing your side win on the road is always a great feeling as to do it
like we did just made it even more special.
This hopefully is the beginning of some good form as we look to bounce back
to the Premiership at the first attempt. Certainly if we are able to keep
hold of all our players going into September then we really do have a great
opportunity to do so.

The Team

Sam Allardyce made one change from the side who started at Doncaster and
that was Carlton Cole making his first start of the season as Fredrique
Piquionne dropped to the bench. Also on the bench were Julien Faubert and
Pablo Barrera. This saw Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas ommited from the
squad.

First Half

Straight from the Kick Off we looked up for the challenge ahead. Watford had
won the toss and had elected to change ends which saw us kick towards our
support during the first half. After a couple of minutes Carlton Cole won a
free kick which was blasted towards goal from around 40 yards out by Matthew
Taylor and off a Watford defender for a corner kick. The resulting corner
was swung in by Taylor and met in the area by the head of James Tomkins and
this header went past Scott Loach in the Watford goal to make it 1-0 to the
visitors after just 3 minutes.

Having missed the Doncaster game I was delighted to be able to celebrate a
goal as it seems so long since I was able to do so. It was just what we
needed to keep the momentum from the supporters going. Watford were trying
to get on the ball and get back into the game but were given very little
time on the ball when in possession and the amount of midfielders we had on
the pitch seemed to serving their purpose even from a very early stage.

From our attacking point of view Cole was having some joy against the
Watford defenders and seemed to be winning the majority of headers which is
not something we can say about Cole too much. Cole won another free kick
this time more central and closer to the area. Taylor again stepped up to
take the free kick and although his attempt did get over the wall it was
well wide of the goal in a disappointing set piece.

Watford were attempting to get forward in numbers and get the ball into our
area quickly but most of the time and their best chance of the half and
indeed only real chance of the game came on the 15 minute mark when Sordell
cut inside and hit a good shot with this right foot which was tipped over
the bar by Robert Green in what was an excellent stop.

Cole forced another corner which was again taken by Taylor. This caused
havoc in the area as Tomkins won the header again. It came out to Nolan who
flicked the ball back over his head when Cole met the ball with a glancing
header which seemed to be heading into the path of Winston Reid for a tap
in, but the defender couldn't reach the ball and it trickled wide.

The hosts were still working hard to get the ball into our area and cause us
some problems and although down the left they were looking better, when the
crosses were put into the box they were easily snuffed out by one of the
multiple players we had swarming about. They came close to getting the
equaliser when a corner was met by the head of striker Iwelumo but Green was
equal to it and the ball was eventually cleared.

A great counter attacking move saw Kevin Nolan set Matthew Taylor away down
the left and his cross to the back post found Jack Collison unmarked but
instead of controlling the ball or even put it back into the area towards
Cole he attempted a shot from an impossible angle and it went well wide.
There were times in the first half where we would play some very neat
football and watching Noble and Nolan stroke the ball about was very nice to
watch. The long ball game was not something we seemed to have in mind for
every attack and the one touch football was certainly apparent.

One minute was added on by the referee at the end of the first period and
with time just about up we would manage to score again from nothing to send
up into half time even happier. Full back Joey O'Brien picked up a loose
ball around the half way mark and burst forward. He got into the area beat
around four players, got a bit of luck as he powered his way through and hit
a low left foot shot past Loach to make it 2-0 with a quite brilliant
finish.

Any concerns the fans may have had about our lack of constant attacking were
soon evaporated by that goal which goes to show again what a fine line it is
between a good performance and a supposedly bad one.

2-0 up away from home at half time – you couldn't really ask any more than
that.

Second Half

It was a slow start to the half as Watford looked to try and get that early
goal to give them some confidence and put us on the back foot. But our
defence was standing strong and even after a few early long throws into the
area we did not look as though we were going to buckle any time soon.
Sordell saw his low shot matched by Robert Green but the save was not clean
and it bounced off his body and away for a corner.

Taylor forced a corner and of course took it and the ball hit Tomkins and
nearly fell to Winston Reid but Watford managed to scramble the ball away
before a finish could be applied.

We kicked into 'keep the ball' mode and started spraying passes about
without them doing much in the way of going forward. The 'Ole's' could be
heard from the away support as we looked to frustrate the home side who
could not get near us. We really looked a far superior outfit at this moment
and whilst some fans may have wanted us to go gung ho , I was pleased at how
professional the side were looking.

For me up until this point James Tomkins was by far and away our man of the
match so it was not great to see him forced off with injury. He seemed to be
holding his hamstring area, which I hope, doesn't keep him out for very
long. Replacing Tomkins was summer signing Abdoulaye Faye who was making his
debut for the club. He went straight to centre half alongside Reid.

Two minutes later on the 70th minute mark the game was wrapped up as we
scored our third goal. Some nice quick passing saw Nolan attempt to slide
the ball through but this hit of a defender but luckily into the path of
Ilunga who had continued his run and his cross was met by Carlton Cole who
had the easiest of tap ins to make it 3-0. It was good to see Cole get off
the mark in his first start of the season as we are going to need at least
one of our strikers to score some goals this season. I'm sure I even caught
Big Sam celebrating that goal. A few minutes later Allardyce took off Cole
and replaced him with Piquionne.

Just a minute after that we made our final sub of the evening with Jack
Collison coming off and being replaced on the right wing by Julien Faubert.
The first booking of the evening game on the 81st minute mark when a lovely
turn and spin by Piquionne saw John Eustace take him out with an ugly
challenge. Kevin Nolan should have had his second goal of the season when a
cross was headed down by Piquionne into his path but his shot from just a
few yards out went over the bar.

The fans continued to belt out songs right up until the final whistle with
chants of 'Don't Go Greeno' being sung in the direction our goalkeeper. No
injury time was announced as we entered the 91st minute but the icing was
put on the cake during this minute as we scored a fourth. A long ball
forward saw Faubert control the ball well and flick it back to Scott Parker
who strode forward and curled a lovely left foot shot past the keeper to
make it 4 -0. A fitting end to a rampant West Ham performance and I
personally can count on one hand the amount of times I have seen West Ham
score four goals away from home.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
Had to make a few stops and made one excellent in the first half which kept
us in the lead. Fumbled a few shots but nothing which caused us too many
problems. The fans were very vocal in their support for Green and I would
hope he would be here this time next month.

Joey O' Brien
Super Joey O'Brien (as he is now known to me) was super. Strong in the
tackle, great going forward, good distribution, and a brilliant goal. So far
he is proving to be an excellent signing and this was a really good
performance from the Irishman.

Winston Reid
Despite having the relatively young centre back pairing of Tomkins and Reid
they both performed really well and did not give Watford a sniff. Reid was
dominant in the air and on the whole he was good with his passing although
he does struggle when clearing with his left foot.

James Tomkins
I believe he was our best player. He just won everything he seemed to go for
and even got himself on the score sheet. It was a shame he had to come off
midway through the second half and he will be a big loss if out for any
significant time. Tomkins continues to impress me and is one of my favourite
players at the club.

Herita Ilunga
There are still a few lapses in concentration but Ilunga played well for the
majority of the game and got an assist for the third goal which was
converted by Carlton Cole. He worked well with Taylor down the left and I
thought it was Ilunga who actually the more effective going forward.

Jack Collison
Of all our players he was the least involved in the game. He was playing out
on the right wing and has neither the skill or pace to get past his man.
When he cut inside he did play some nice one touch football with the rest of
the midfielders and like all our midfield he was willing to put his foot in.
He has been out of the game for a while so needs games to build up his
fitness and on that basis I would keep him in the side for the next game.

Scott Parker
I thought he had a pretty low key first half in which he didn't go in for
challenges hard enough and some of his passing was wayward. He controlled
the game in the second half and made some good tackles and interception. He
seemed to be everywhere during that second period and it was not too much of
a shock to seem him stride forward and score a really good goal.

Mark Noble
Watford could not get to grips with the quick passing of our midfield and
Noble was often at the heart of it. He sprayed some nice passes around and
his movement was better than in recent game which is important given how
packed our midfield is. Did have a couple of chances to shoot but opted for
the pass instead. I would like to see him get more shots off as he has good
technique and I have always believed he should be scoring more goals than he
does.

Kevin Nolan
Another busy performance from Nolan who put himself about and made a number
of challenges to break up play. He did not have much joy going forward and I
only recall one chance he had to score which was in the second half which he
should have done better with. A good display nonetheless and he is becoming
a very important player for us.

Matthew Taylor
I didn't feel he really go going as most of our play was concentrated down
the middle and with the pitch being small he never seemed to have enough
space to run into. His corners were a constant threat and having the quality
of delivery he possesses is a real asset to the side.

Carlton Cole
His first half performance was decent enough and he did win quite a lot in
the air and forced a number of free kicks, corners and throw ins. He had one
half chance to score in the first half in which is first touch was actually
quite good but he has no pace to beat a defender. He did of course get off
the mark with a simple tap in but they all count and we need him in those
areas to score goals such as these. Whilst Piquionne may look more skilful,
Cole continues to show that he looks more likely to score than the French
forward.

Subs Used

Abdoulaye Faye (on for Tomkins 67 mins)
Making his debut for the club Faye looked a beast in the air and I think he
won every header that went near him.

Fredrique Piquionne (on for Cole 74 mins)
Not for the first time when coming on as a sub he looks sharp and dangerous.
At the time there were some tired legs out there he looked skilful and
forward thinking.

Julien Faubert (On for Collison 75 mins)
Sharp again can be used as a description as Faubert played quite well in his
15 minutes on the pitch. He was clearly desperate to get on the ball and his
control and lay off led to Parker's goal.

Subs Not Used: Boffin, Barrera

Bookings: Noble

Man Of The Match: James Tomkins

Watford: Loach, Dickinson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley, Yeates, Eustace,
Jenkins, Forsyth, Sordell, Iwelumo
Subs: Gilmartin, Deeney, Bennett, Mirfin, Massey

Attendance: 14,747

Overall

You could argue that perhaps I am getting a little carried away seeing that
we were playing a team who are likely to be in a relegation battle this
season but we can only beat what is in front of us and I have grown tired of
feeling gloomy about West Ham and will jump on any positive result. Whilst
this doesn't mean we have achieved anything yet we must take heart from this
display and this result which should give players and fans alike confidence
and belief that we are going to do well this season. I want us all to into
every game confident that we are going to win and I am aware that the
Cardiff game knocked the stuffing out of a lot of us but with these recent
victories I am going into the Leeds game convinced we will do well.

Next Game – Leeds United, Sunday 21st August 1.15pm

The last time we were in the Championship we did not have too much joy
against Leeds, losing at their place and only managing a draw on a Friday
night in which Luke Chadwick scored. This time around we are a much stronger
side than Leeds and this hopefully will show in the way we will apply
ourselves. Leeds themselves are going into this game having beaten Hull 4-1
at Elland Road so they will also be confident of getting something from the
game. I hate Sunday games and despise 1.15pm Kick Off.

Our last home game may not have gone very well but with the last two games
giving us six points I am hoping we can continue to build and keep picking
up points.

Sam's Comments

"If you have got good footballers you play good football, don't you," he
said, when asked about the way his team dominated the contest. "If you have
got good footballers, we need to let them show their attributes, after they
have earned the right to play. Once you get that right then you can go and
play the kind of football we played in the second half."

"It doesn't get much better than that. The pleasing thing for me is how we
have won the game. There is no doubt that the quality of our goals, all four
goals, was something to be admired. We withstood the early pressure from
Watford and obviously the goal helped, but it was how we defended. We never
let Watford get a sniff tonight."

We have seen some outstanding finishing tonight which we didn't see against
Cardiff. We then had Kevin Nolan's goal against Doncaster but we had some
sloppy finishing after that. We have got everything tonight. It is not often
you see all the team playing at their best. I hope it can get better but i
wouldn't have thought they can get much better.

"It was a wonderful run from a lad [O'Brien] I have known for many years who
everyone else has forgotten about. He has come to West Ham and that goal
will do him the world of good, as it has for us.

"He is finally coming to terms with the fact he can be a top grade
footballer again. Six months or 12 months ago, he thought his career was
finished. He thought it was over before it had even started. Now look at
him. He is so glad to be back, playing football and that is a great reward
for all the effort he put in over pre-season."

"I was very pleased with Carlton. I got performance in possession and I got
good movement. A lot of our midfield play could go forward then off Carlton
and then come back and go into wide areas. And then start creating and
sliding little balls down the side."

"For us to win two games on the trot is obviously thrilling and now the
pressure comes on the players not to waste that effort they have put in and
ability to gain six points away from home. To slip up again now against
Leeds as we did against Cardiff [on the opening day] is something we do not
want to do.

"We have really got to work on being patient and as skilful and as clinical
as we were tonight. If we can do that against Leeds we are going to cause
them lots of problems."

"When you do what you do tonight confidence floods back and it flows into
the players. They play football to win football matches and when they do
that they are happy ... if you breed confidence, you breed a winning
mentality. At this early stage of the season , I hope that has started
already and that it continues."

Season 2011/12 Scorers and Bookings

Kevin Nolan - 1 (1 League)
James Tomkins - 1 (1 League)
Joey O'Brien - 1 (1 League)
Carlton Cole - 1 (1 League)
Scott Parker - 1 (1 League)

Yellow Cards

Mark Noble - 1

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QPR are poised to make an £8million offer for Scott Parker
Ken Dyer
17 Aug 2011
Evening Standard

Scott Parker scored his first goal of the season as West Ham recorded
back-to-back away wins for the first time since 2007 - but it could be his
last in the claret and blue shirt with Queens Park Rangers poised to make an
£8million bid for the England midfielder. Malaysian businessman Tony
Fernandes plans to make Parker his first marquee signing once his takeover
of QPR is confirmed. Parker is keen to return to the Premier League with
Euro 2012 on the horizon while Fernandes, a self-confessed West Ham
supporter, wants the 2011 Player of the Year to boost manager Neil Warnock's
squad. Tottenham are also preparing a bid for the 30-year-old but West Ham
value the player at more than twice the £3.5m their London rivals are ready
to offer. Should Parker go, West Ham could turn their attention to
Newcastle's controversial star Joey Barton, who the north-east club have
said can leave on a free transfer. West Ham, meanwhile, moved up to third
place in the Championship following their 4-0 win at Watford. Defender James
Tomkins, who could miss Sunday's match at home to Leeds with a hamstring
strain, headed the Hammers into the lead last night and full-back Joey
O'Brien added a second just before half-time. Carlton Cole and Parker added
two more in the second half and manager Sam Allardyce said: "The pleasing
thing is the way we won the game. "The quality of our goals, after we
withstood the early Watford pressure, was a pleasure to see. "We played some
great football in the second half and that was because we had earned the
right to play. That was the most pleasing thing for me - seeing off the
opposition threat by defending well early on and then punishing them to the
hilt by picking out the right passes."

O'Brien's goal was his first since January 2005, when he went on loan to
Sheffield Wednesday from Bolton. "He's a lad I've known for many years but
everyone else has forgotten about," added Allardyce. "That goal will do him
a world of good because it will tell him he can become a top grade player
when, a few months ago, he thought his career was over before it had even
started. "Look at him now, he's so glad to be back playing football and that
goal was a reward for all the efforts he's put in during pre-season."

O'Brien, who played under Allardyce at Bolton, said: "I don't score many
goals and it's great to be back and playing again. It's been a horrible
couple of years, what with three operations and some of the top specialists
telling me I might not play again. "I had to face the reality that, at the
age of 23, I might have to look at doing something else with my life but
hopefully it's all behind me now and I can get back to playing regularly
with no aggravations. "There have been some dark times and I've put a lot of
lonely hours in the gym but hopefully, with the work I still do now with the
medical staff at West Ham, they will help keep me out there on the pitch."

Watford played well enough in the first half and only a superb save by
Robert Green prevented them from equalising through Marvin Sordell. West Ham
were comfortable in the second half, though, and Watford manager Sean Dyche
soon pointed out their quality. He said: "One of their players earns more
than our entire squad! "Usually, when you spend that amount of money, you
are going to get quality. They could have done something similar against
Cardiff and Doncaster and it was just unfortunate for us they were clinical
tonight. "For me, they will go on to win the Championship."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Barton set to go under the Hammer as West Ham renew bid for Toon bad boy
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:14 AM on 17th August 2011
Daily Mail

West Ham are set to renew their interest in Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton.
Barton is available on a free transfer, and Sam Allardyce is keen to reunite
the 28-year-old with Kevin Nolan at the heart of West Ham's midfield. The
former Manchester City midfielder would be forced to take a pay cut from his
current £80,000-a-week wages. A move to the Championship club also hinges
on the future of wantaway midfielder Scott Parker. Parker, who scored in
West Ham's 4-0 rout at Watford on Tuesday night, is desperate to seal a move
back to the Premier League. But his current pursuers, which include
Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal, have so far failed to meet West Ham's
£8million valuation of their star midfielder.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Burnley close in on West Ham United striker
10:10am Wednesday 17th August 2011
By Suzanne Geldard »
Burnley FC reporter
Guardian Series

BURNLEY are today expecting to make West Ham United striker Zavon Hines
their second signing this week. The Clarets were last night awaiting the
results of Hines' knee scan before finalising the deal, which is thought to
be worth £250,000. I understand the 22-year-old got the all-clear from a
regulation medical yesterday, and has agreed personal terms. However, the
club was keen to seek clarification, through a scan, that old injuries that
have curtailed his progress would have no bearing on the England Under 21
international in the future. Hines missed much of the 2008/09 season with a
knee injury, and underwent knee surgery after the following campaign ended
prematurely for the Jamaica-born front man. He recovered to make 15 first
team appearances for the Hammers last season – six of them starts, including
four in the Premier League. I understand Burnley manager Eddie Howe looked
into bringing Hines in on loan towards the end of last season, but West Ham
wanted to keep him for the relegation run-in. But now he is on the verge of
swapping the claret and blue of West Ham for the claret and blue of Burnley,
and Howe will be looking forward to adding the striker's pace, athleticism
and Premier League pedigree into the squad. Hines refused to sign a new
contract at Upton Park in the summer, but his age means he would command a
fee under the Bosman ruling. Burnley captured fellow forward Danny Ings from
Bournemouth on Monday. It is possible Burnley's transfer dealings may not be
over this week as they continue in their bid to sign defender Ryan Shotton
from Stoke City, although their involvement in the Europa League qualifiers
may lead to their pursuit extending into next week.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss delighted with Watford win
10:33am Wednesday 17th August 2011

By Simon Mail »
Guardian Series

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes his players performed close to their
best after thrashing Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road. The Hammers recorded
consecutive away wins for the first time in four years and climbed up to
third in the Championship table. Allardyce said: "We've got everything right
tonight and for me it's not often you see all your team play what is
probably the best they can play. I hope it can get better but I wouldn't
have thought they can get much better than they got tonight. "When you do
what we did tonight then confidence flows back into the players. You play
football to win matches. "When you win football matches they're happy and
when you lose then you get sad and lose confidence very quickly. In the same
mode you breed confidence when you breed a winning mentality.
"Winning games in the way we did tonight can do a lot for that winning
mentality. At this early stage of the season I hope it's started already and
it continues. I'm not quite sure yet but I hope it does."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hines set to move north in claret and blue swap
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:55 PM on 16th August 2011
Daily Mail

Burnley are poised to sign Zavon Hines from West Ham but will have to pay
compensation for the 22-year-old. The striker had rejected a contract at
Upton Park but because of his age the Hammers are still due a training fee.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Tomkins - Injury latest
London24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
9:25 AM

Hammers defender James Tomkins is battling to be fit for Sunday's Upton Park
showdown against Leeds United. West Ham centre half James Tomkins looks set
to miss Sunday's Championship clash with Leeds United at Upton Park after
hobbling off during Tuesday night's thumping 4-0 victory over Watford. The
22-year-old defender suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by debut
boy Abdoulaye Faye after 67 minutes and manager Sam Allardyce thinks he may
not be ready for Sunday's televised game. "It was a hamstring injury,"
confirmed the West Ham boss. "It might not be too bad, but he might not have
enough recovery time for Sunday."

Tomkins opened the scoring after just three minutes at Watford, heading home
Matt Taylor's corner to get the Hammers off to a perfect start. And
Allardyce was full of praise for the young defender. "He's been outstanding
in both boxes and tonight he's scored one that he has threatened to do in
the last two games. "He had one cleared off the line against Cardiff, had
another good header against Doncaster and tonight he's got the ball rolling
by scoring from our first corner."

With Tomkins struggling, Faye is likely to make his first start against
Leeds United, but it brings the question of cover at centre half to the
fore, something that Allardyce is monitoring. "I think we might and could
run into problems because if one is injured and then another gets injured we
have got little cover in that position," said the boss. "But it is one of
those things that you have to deal with in the Championship.If it runs
through till after the deadline, I have the good fortune in this division
where I can use an emergency loan and it may be a question of us using
that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham produce stylish 4-0 win at Watford
Evening Standard 17 Aug 2011

Carlton Cole and Scott Parker were on target to help West Ham to victory at
Watford and make it back-to-back wins in the Championship. Sam Allardyce
gave Cole his first start of the season and the striker, who is still
expected to leave before the end of the month, grabbed his first goal since
February. England midfielder Parker, another player whose future remains
uncertain, put the seal on a convincing display late on. The unlikely
figures of defenders James Tomkins and Joey O'Brien had put West Ham two up
at half-time. The relegated Hammers won only two away games all last season,
but they have matched that tally after just two road trips this term.
They beat Doncaster with a fifth-minute goal on Saturday, and opened their
account even earlier at Vicarage Road. Matt Taylor's free-kick was turned
behind at full stretch by Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach, and when Taylor
swung in the corner Tomkins planted a firm header inside the far post after
two minutes. Former Bolton midfielder Taylor was inches away from doubling
the lead when he curled a free-kick over the wall and inches wide. But
Watford looked dangerous themselves early on and Marvin Sordell's turn and
shot forced a fine save from Hammers keeper Robert Green. Hornets skipper
John Eustace then shot straight at Green from close range following a
corner, and Chris Iwelumo put the rebound over the top. West Ham should have
gone further ahead on the half hour when Mark Noble played Taylor's corner
back across goal and centre-half Winston Reid, from all of three yards out,
poked the ball wide. The visitors got stronger as the first half drew to a
close strongly with Noble fizzing a cross narrowly out of the reach of Kevin
Nolan, Jack Collison heading Parker's cross over and Loach denying Cole. And
their pressure told in added time when O'Brien, another of Allardyce's
ex-Bolton brigade, burst forward from the halfway line, reached the penalty
area and drilled a low shot across Loach and into the far corner.

Watford are still looking for their first win of the season, but there was
no way back for the hosts after Cole tucked in number three in the 70th
minute. Left-back Herita Illunga crossed and Cole was on hand to sweep the
ball past Loach. Parker wrapped up the victory with a classy finish from 20
yards in stoppage time as the duo sent a timely reminder to one or two
top-flight clubs with the transfer window closing in a fortnight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Soccer star's bill for fly-tipping
Evening Standard 17 Aug 2011

West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne has been ordered to pay £449 prosecution
costs after admitting fly-tipping. The French footballer drove from his home
in Stapleford Abbotts, Essex, to the village of Stapleford Tawney three
miles away to dump rubbish in 10 black bin bags, two recycling bags and a
cardboard box on a grass verge, Harlow magistrates heard. Residents told
Epping Forest district council about the rubbish and investigators traced it
back to Piquionne's home.
The player, 32, was given a 12-month conditional discharge. The court heard
that he left the rubbish near a wheelie bin and may have been confused by
the British system of waste disposal.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 17th August 2011

Watford 0-4 West Ham United
Tomkins, O'Brien, Cole and Parker all hit the net as the Hammers win
convincingly at Vicarage Road
16.08.2011

WATFORD v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
TUESDAY 16 AUGUST 2011
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM


Final score - Watford 0-4 West Ham United

94 mins - That's it. West Ham have won on the road for the second time in
four days. That was a fine performance from the Hammers at both the front
and the back. They thoroughly deserved their win and scored some fine goals.
Big Sam will want more, but as things stand West Ham are up to third in the
table ahead of Wednesday's matches. Don't forget to visit whufc.com and
watch West Ham TV for exclusive post-match reaction and highlights. It's
Leeds next on Sunday - get your tickets here.
93 mins - In all the excitement, I missed how many added minutes we're
having. West Ham and their fans are loving this stuff, with the latter
singing '4-0 to the Cockney boys'. They look superb, almost filling the
stand to my right - all 3,736 of them in a crowd of 14,747!
91 mins - GOAL! PARKER! Just into added-time and O'Brien's pass picks out
Piquionne. He feeds Faubert, who feeds Parker. He takes a touch, looks up
and curls a low shot into the bottom corner with his left foot. That's a
collector's item!
90 mins - Sordell is a good player, but he won't get his goal tonight. A
cross is too strong and O'Brien picks up possession...
90 mins - Watford have a corner. Don't make me look an idiot, please! Taylor
wins it and Green holds safely above his head.
88 mins - And finally, the last time West Ham kept two clean sheets in
successive away league games was at Sunderland and Liverpool in
November/December 2008. So there.
87 mins - Stat-time again. The last time West Ham kept two clean sheets in
successive away games was at Hartlepool United and Arsenal in January 2009.
86 mins - Nolan is booked for a foul on halfway.
85 mins - Nolan holds his head in disbelief. Piquionne's cross is headed by
Taylor and hits a Watford player before dropping to Nolan six yards out. He
shoots on the turn, but screws his shot over the top.
85 mins - West Ham last kept two clean sheets in the league in succession in
March 2009, when they kept three in-a-row against Manchester City, Wigan
Athletic and West Bromwich Albion.
84 mins - Parker nearly puts the icing on the cherry on the cake, or
whatever the saying is! He shoots from 35 yards and the ball clears the bar
by inches and thuds into the pole holding up the net.
81 mins - Piquionne races down the left and is unceremoniously taken out by
Eustace, who is booked. Loach claims Faubert's high free-kick.
78 mins - Deeney is wearing some rather flash yellow boots. Nice. Meanwhile,
the away fans call for a wave from Big Sam and the manager obliges. It's
been a good few days to be a West Ham supporter. Victory tonight would be
back-to-back away wins for the first time since December 2007, and the
biggest away win since a 5-0 success at Derby County the preceding month.
75 mins - Collison is off and Faubert is on.
74 mins - A change from Big Sam - Cole off and Piquionne off. Watford
replace Yeates with Troy Deeney.
73 mins - Allardyce celebrated that goal with proper gusto, pumping both
fists on the touchline and roaring like a lion! Get in there! Meanwhile,
Sordell shoots low and Green is there with an easy save.
70 mins - GOAL! That should be that. Nolan slides to shoot and the ball hits
a defender and runs into the path of the on-rushing Ilunga. He cuts it back
and Cole is there to tap in from six yards.
69 mins - The Hornets are carrying more of a threat as I said, but they
can't find a clear chance. Forsyth comes in off the left flank to try to get
something going. He shoots but it's weak and easy for Green low down.
68 mins - Tomkins is coming off. He is limping slightly as he makes his way
to the touchline to be replaced by Abdoulaye Faye. This is Faye's debut, of
course!
67 mins - West Ham have just lost their way a little bit here and Watford
have got a bit of a head of steam up. A cross from the right is headed clear
by Tomkins from inside his own six-yard box. The Hammers need a spell of
possession inside their opponent's half.
62 mins - Watford have not created much in the last few minutes. Doyley
lifts a high diagonal ball into the box, it is headed down but Green is
quick off his line to claim.
59 mins - West Ham are playing the better football here and the away fans
are enjoying it. A few 'Oles' from the travelling supporters as Noble,
Parker and Tomkins combine to get the ball safely back to Green.
56 mins - Chris Iwelumo is replaced by No27 Gavin Massey.
55 mins - Taylor lets out a cry of frustration. He had got in behind Doyley
but his cross for Collison is too close to Loach, who catches in front of
his face. West Ham looking strong here and are pushing for a third goal.
53 mins - Cole does well wide left before Ilunga finds Taylor. He looks up,
but his cross for Collison hits Doyley and goes behind. Taylor crosses and
the ball hits Tomkins on the head and nearly falls for Reid, but Watford
scramble it away.
51 mins - West Ham come forward through Parker but his pass for Cole is cut
out. Parker wins it back and Noble works it wide left to Ilunga, but his
stabbed cross flicks off the head of Mariappa into the arms of Loach.
49 mins - The crowd is announced as 14,747. Among them are an outstanding
3,736 West Ham fans. Superb following. The dangerous Sordell nearly silences
the travelling hordes by shooting low and hard. Green gets his body in the
way and the ball spins behind for a corner. The delivery comes over from the
Watford left and Nolan clears.
46 mins - Tomkins concedes a throw, Dickinson hurls it in and O'Brien clears
for another throw. The left-back hurls it over again but the ball hits a
Watford player and rolls harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
46 mins - Taylor and Parker get the game back up and running and a suddenly
fairly dark Vicarage Road.
That's Joey O'Brien's first goal since he netted for Sheffield Wednesday
against Swindon in League One on 8 January 2005!! He was 18 then, and he's
now 25! It's also the third of his senior career as he also netted for the
Owls against Hull on 8 December 2004.

Half-time score - Watford 0-2 West Ham United

48 mins - After about 30 seconds more, referee Mr Whitestone blows for
half-time. Well, 2-0 to the good and two fantastic goals. I doubt Sam
Allardyce would ask for more than this, but then again he is a hard
task-master and he will demand more from his players after the break.
47 mins - GOAL! WHAT A GOAL! Joey O'Brien picks up the ball on halfway and
runs at the Watford defence, taking on about five defenders before slotting
the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with his left foot.
46 mins - Into the one minute of added-time... Taylor crosses and Iwelumo
heads clear.
45 mins - Noble breaks up a Watford attack before Parker slides in Cole.
Taylor sticks with him and Loach comes out to make a great save low to his
left. Corner.
44 mins - Cole is penalised and Parker picks the ball up. Forsyth doesn't
like it and the two have a bit of a disagreement before the referee and
Nolan split it up. Referee Dean Whitestone has a word with both players.
43 mins - Collison wins a corner down the right off Dickinson. Taylor can
deliver with pace and quality. Can Tomkins net another one? He can't, but
Collison could have done, but his header from Parker's cross loops high and
lands on top of the net.
41 mins - That is fantastic football - perhaps the best spell of the season.
Nolan, Collison and O'Brien are involved before Noble curls over a cross
that is just too high for Cole.
38 mins - Nolan and Taylor combine superbly down the left and the latter is
away. He sends a deep cross over the head of Dickinson, but Collison chooses
to shoot first-time from a ridiculous angle. The ball flies well over the
top and behind for a goal kick.
34 mins - Watford have another corner - their fourth - as Ilunga slices the
ball behind. The corner comes into the near post where Iwelumo and Cole dive
for the ball. Iwelumo wins it, but his header is kept out by Green low down.
Cole needs the physio on after that one.
32 mins - Watford are certainly looking threatening here themselves. West
Ham are struggling to keep possession for long periods. Ilunga has to be
alert to block Sordell's shot behind. Cole heads the corner clear, but the
Hornets pick up the ball again. Sordell is there again, cutting in from the
right and shooting, but his low effort is easy for Green diving low to his
left.
29 mins - Sordell shows some serious pace to leave Parker behind and then
drives past Tomkins before cutting the ball back - behind Iwelumo! Ilunga
clears his lines. Watford come again, but O'Brien is in the right place to
volley powerfully upfield.
28 mins - The visiting supporters are making plenty of noise. Meanwhile,
Faye and Piquionne are out for a stretch on the touchline in front of us.
25 mins - Green's long pass causes havoc and Cole forces a corner. Tomkins
wins it, then Nolan hooks the ball back into the box, Cole flicks on and
Reid should score, but his effort slides wide of the post. Massive 'Ooooh'
from the away fans.
24 mins - Yeates is a tricky customer and the former Colchester and
Middlesbrough man loses Noble before crossing from the left, but Green is
there again to claim the high ball.
22 mins - Cristian Montano makes his first league start for Notts County
tonight, but the Magpies are 1-0 down at home to Tranmere Rovers in League
One. Olly Lee is also in action for Dagenham & Redbridge at home to Paolo Di
Canio's Swindon Town. That one is goalless.
20 mins - Faubert and Barrera are out to warm-up on the touchline as Tomkins
deals with two high balls into the penalty area. He has been imperious so
far tonight.
19 mins - Watford are looking dangerous here. A through ball threatens to
embarrass Tomkins and Green, but it spins forward just enough for the
goalkeeper to claim right on the edge of his box.
16 mins - The first corner is initially cleared before O'Brien scrambles the
ball behind again. The second delivery is met flush by Eustace and hits
Sordell. The ball bounces back to Jenkins, but he can't control his volley
from eight yards and the ball flies high over the top.
15 mins - Green might get his name sung too after that save! Yeates loses
his marker and picks out Sordell. The No20 turns and loses Tomkins before
curling a shot towards the top corner that the goalkeeper does well to palm
over the top at full-stretch.
15 mins - The travelling fans are going through their full repertoire of
hits. Cole, Nolan and Parker have all had their names sung already!
14 mins - Watford are struggling to contain Cole. He is fouled again 25
yards out. Taylor curls his shot over the wall after 30 seconds of build-up,
but it's wide.
12 mins - Tomkins makes a bit of a hash of a bouncing ball and Sordell picks
up possession. He runs inside and then tries a reverse pass for Iwelumo, but
the Scot doesn't read it and the ball rolls slowly through to Green,
shepherded by three West Ham defenders!
11 mins - Noble tries to pick out Taylor with a long diagonal pass. It looks
inch-perfect, but Doyley does well against the No14 and nips in to clear the
danger. He tries to pick out Sordell himself, but Reid and Parker are there
to deal with it.
10 mins - The Hammers win another corner... Taylor delivers and Mariappa
heads powerfully clear at the near post.
9 mins - A deep cross comes over from the Watford left and Forsyth times his
jump well to get above O'Brien, but his header flies well over the top. West
Ham break and Cole's header leads to Doyley sending a horrifc back-pass that
Loach can only slice out for a throw.
7 mins - That's only Tomkins' second senior goal following the one he got in
a 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground on 4 April
2009! That too was a towering header.
6 mins - It's been a breathless start here at Vicarage Road. Sordell has a
low and speculative shot from the corner of the box but it's weak and an
easy catch for Green in front of his goal.
4 mins - Watford try an audacious shot from the kick-off but it flies well
over Green's goal. Moments later, the Hornets come again but O'Brien and
then Parker and Reid deal with the danger.
3 mins - GOAL! TOMKINS! Taylor sends the corner over from the West Ham right
and Tomkins rises high and mighty and powers a downward header past Loach.
Fantastic start again for the Hammers.
2 mins - Cole wins a free-kick about 40 yards out and Taylor tries his luck,
sending a low shot towards the bottom right-hand corner. Loach somehow
pushes it around the post. Corner.
1 min - The long throw is only half-cleared to Yeates 25 yards out. He
drives the ball low through a crowd and Green holds the ball at the second
attempt.

7.48pm - Watford kick-off and quickly win a throw deep inside West Ham's
half.

7.47pm - A bit of Blur as Watford have a huddle. They break away and we're
nearly ready to go...

7.46pm - We're going to kick-off a bit late. This is one of seven npower
Championship fixtures being played tonight. Should West Ham win and a few
other teams fail to pick up three points, the Hammers could climb well
inside the top-ten. Meanwhile, the sun has mercifully disappeared behind the
stand.

7.44pm - Watford use Z-Cars as their entry theme, just like Everton. It's no
'Bubbles' but it is a decent tune! For those of you too young to be aware of
Z-Cars, it was a British TV series that ran between 1962 and 1978 starring
Gerald Blake. It was a police drama. Don't you just love the internet!

7.43pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains and respective No4s John
Eustace and Kevin Nolan...

7.38pm - The sun is really low in the sky to my right, meaning I can't
actually see the goal at that end of the ground! However, I shall soldier on
and do my best... Anyway, West Ham's players have returned to their dressing
room as kick-off rapidly approaches. There is just one survivor from West
Ham's most-recent visit to Vicarage Road for a Carling Cup tie in September
2008 - Mark Noble. Julien Faubert started that day, but is on the bench
tonight, while 2008 substitutes Robert Green, Herita Ilunga and Jack
Collison all start tonight.

7.35pm - Meanwhile, the away end is filling up rapidly ahead of kick-off -
this photo was taken at about 7.15pm and it's a lot fuller now!

7.30pm - Among the West Ham fans here tonight is 12-year-old Joe Waterman
from Wanstead, who also happens to be the Hammers' mascot!

7.10pm - Chairman David Gold and manager Sam Allardyce enjoy a quiet moment
at the mouth of the tunnel. The sun is shining brightly here at Vicarage
Road, with the first of the 4,000-odd West Ham fans attending tonight's game
starting to congregate in the stand to my right. Walking through the town
centre earlier this evening, there are Hammers EVERYWHERE!

7pm - Watford are unchanged from Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Derby County.
The Hornets line up as follows -

Watford: Loach, Dickinson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley, Yeates, Eustace,
Jenkins, Forsyth, Sordell, Iwelumo
Subs: Gilmartin, Deeney, Bennett, Mirfin, Massey

6.45pm - West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has made just one change from
the side that defeated Doncaster Rovers 1-0 on Saturday - Carlton Cole
replacing Frederic Piquionne in attack. On the bench, Pablo Barrera and
Julien Faubert come in for Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas.

West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Ilunga, Tomkins, Reid, Noble, Parker,
Nolan, Collison, Taylor, Cole
Subs: Boffin, Faye, Barrera, Faubert, Piquionne

Good evening and welcome to Vicarage Road for tonight's npower Championship
fixture between Watford and West Ham United. The Hammers are seeking back to
back away league victories for the first time since December 2007, when Alan
Curbishley's side won at Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough. Nearly four
years on, new boss Sam Allardyce led his side to their maiden win of the
2011/12 season courtesy of a 1-0 success at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
Watford, meanwhile, have yet to record a win this term, having drawn at
Burnley and lost at home to Derby County in their opening two league
fixtures. Both clubs saw their Carling Cup first-round ties postponed due to
a lack of police resources following the civil unrest across the country
earlier this month. Tonight's match represents West Ham's first visit to the
Hornets' nest since Watford scored a 1-0 Carling Cup victory on 23 September
2008. West Ham's most-recent victory at Vicarage Road came in the shape of a
2-1 Championship success on 8 May 2005 - three weeks before the Hammers
gained promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs.

Watford finished 14th in the Championship last term, but have lost manager
Malky Mackay - replaced by Sean Dyche - winger Will Buckey (to Brighton &
Hove Albion for £1m), striker Nathan Ellington (to Ipswich Town on a free
transfer), winger Don Cowie (to Cardiff CIty for free) and highly-rated
striker Danny Graham (to Swansea City for £3.5m). Dyche has brought in some
new faces, including centre-back David Mirfin from Scunthorpe United,
full-back Carl Dickinson from Stoke CIty, midfielder Craig Forsyth from
Dundee, winger Mark Yeates from Sheffield United and Scotland striker Chris
Iwelumo from Burnley.

Team news-wise, West Ham have Julien Faubert back from a hamstring problem
suffered against Real Zaragoza on 30 July. John Carew and George McCartney
have not been considered for selection. For Watford, only long-term knee
injury victim Stephen McGinn is unavailable. The two starting XIs should be
made available at around 6.45pm and will be announced first here on
whufc.com and on the club's official twitter feed here.

Watford: Loach, Dickinson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley, Yeates (Deeney 73),
Eustace, Jenkins, Forsyth, Sordell, Iwelumo (Massey 56)
Subs: Gilmartin, Bennett, Mirfin

West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Ilunga, Tomkins (Faye 68), Reid, Noble,
Parker, Nolan, Collison (Faubert 75), Taylor, Cole (Piquionne 74)
Subs not used: Boffin, Barrera

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'It doesn't get much better'
WHUFC.com
The manager was full of superlatives after a superb away showing at Watford
on Tuesday
16.08.2011

Sam Allardyce was full of praise for an "outstanding" team display as the
Hammers racked up a 4-0 win away at Watford on Tuesday night. Well-taken
goals from James Tomkins, Joey O'Brien, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker saw
off the Hornets at Vicarage Road and made it back to back away wins for the
first time since December 2007. It was the perfect follow-up to the 1-0
weekend win at Doncaster Rovers and witnessed by a travelling army of nearly
4,000 supporters. Once Tomkins scored with a towering header on three
minutes, the visitors never looked back but Allardyce was keen to stress his
players had to win the battle before they could switch on the cruise
control. "If you have got good footballers you play good football, don't
you," he said, when asked about the way his team dominated the contest. "If
you have got good footballers, we need to let them show their attributes,
after they have earned the right to play. Once you get that right then you
can go and play the kind of football we played in the second half."

The three points took the Hammers up to third in the fledgling npower
Championship table, but more than the points on the board and the excitement
building for Sunday's visit of Leeds United, the performance was what most
energised the manager. "It doesn't get much better than that. The pleasing
thing for me is how we have won the game. There is no doubt that the quality
of our goals, all four goals, was something to be admired. We withstood the
early pressure from Watford and obviously the goal helped, but it was how we
defended. We never let Watford get a sniff tonight."

Allardyce admitted that after the first couple of games he had wondered
about his team's firepower, but he was left in no uncertain terms as the
shots rained in, particularly after the break and it could have been more.
That said, Robert Green was singled out for special mention for a key save
from the lively Marvin Sordell when the Hammers held only a one-nil lead.
"We have seen some outstanding finishing tonight which we didn't see against
Cardiff. We then had Kevin Nolan's goal against Doncaster but we had some
sloppy finishing after that. We have got everything tonight. It is not often
you see all the team playing at their best. I hope it can get better but i
wouldn't have thought they can get much better."

The manager was also keen to afford a word or two for O'Brien, who surged
forward from right-back to strike the "killer blow" on the stroke of
half-time. "It was a wonderful run from a lad I have known for many years
who everyone else has forgotten about. He has come to West Ham and that goal
will do him the world of good, as it has for us. "He is finally coming to
terms with the fact he can be a top grade footballer again. Six months or 12
months ago, he thought his career was finished. He thought it was over
before it had even started. Now look at him. He is so glad to be back,
playing football and that is a great reward for all the effort he put in
over pre-season."

There was also mention for Cole, who slid in the third after an unselfish
pass from Herita Ilunga to mark his first start of the season in style. "I
was very pleased with Carlton. I got performance in possession and I got
good movement. A lot of our midfield play could go forward then off Carlton
and then come back and go into wide areas. And then start creating and
sliding little balls down the side."

Parker wrapped things up with a superb left-footed strike in added time,
with an assist for Julien Faubert on his own first run-out of the campaign
after a hamstring problem. The manager tipped all his men to build on the
performance when they welcome Leeds, who themselves won 4-1 on Tuesday night
against Hull City, on Sunday. "For us to win two games on the trot is
obviously thrilling and now the pressure comes on the players not to waste
that effort they have put in and ability to gain six points away from home.
To slip up again now against Leeds as we did against Cardiff [on the opening
day] is something we do not want to do. "We have really got to work on being
patient and as skilful and as clinical as we were tonight. If we can do that
against Leeds we are going to cause them lots of problems."

It remain to be seen if, by the weekend, the majestic Tomkins can overcome
the hamstring niggle he suffered that led to Abdoulaye Faye's debut off the
bench but the manager preferred to finish on the positives rather than the
negatives. "When you do what you do tonight confidence floods back and it
flows into the players. They play football to win football matches and when
they do that they are happy ... if you breed confidence, you breed a winning
mentality. At this early stage of the season , I hope that has started
already and that it continues."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0 - 4 West Ham
BBC.co.uk

West Ham recorded back-to-back away wins for the first time since December
2007 by thrashing Watford. James Tomkins opened the scoring for the Hammers
with a powerful back-post header from Matt Taylor's corner. Joey O'Brien
prodded home after bustling his way into the penalty area, before Carlton
Cole slotted home Herita Ilunga's low cross. And Scott Parker added the
fourth late on to leave Sean Dyche still searching for his first win as
Watford boss.

The Hornets almost went ahead in the first minute when Robert Green fumbled
John Eustace's long-range drive, but the England keeper recovered to beat
Marvin Sordell to the rebound. The visitors soon took the lead when Taylor's
corner, which he had earned when his sweetly struck 30-yard free-kick was
deflected around the post, was met by the head of Tomkins at the back post
and found its way to the opposite corner of the net. Watford crafted chances
of their own, Mark Yeates' through ball released Sordell, whose goalbound
effort produced a fine reflex save from Green and Eustace kept the Hammers
keeper working with his stooping header from a Yeates corner. But the
visitors continued to be a threat, with Winston Reid and Cole going close
before Jack Collison and O'Brien combined well for West Ham's second. It
looked like the chance had passed when Collison was closed down while
cutting in across the penalty area, but the ball broke nicely for him and he
placed the ball past Loach. Watford started the second period brightly with
Green fumbling a Sordell drive around the post, but the Hammers struck back
when Kevin Nolan, playing in a forward role, was able to find Ilunga, who
fizzed in a low cross which Cole converted to notch his first goal of the
campaign. And Parker, who had given a warning of what was to come with an
off-target effort, completed the rout in injury time with a tidy finish from
the edge of the area.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tomkins faces anxious wait
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 17th August 2011
By: Staff Writer

James Tomkins will undergo tests today to determine the extent of the damage
caused by the injury sustained against Watford. The 21-year-old defender,
who has enjoyed a storming start to the 2011/12 campaign limped off after 68
minutes of last night's 4-0 win at Vicarage Road - a win that catapulted the
Hammers into the top three of the Championship. And speaking after the
game, manager Sam Allardyce admitted that he could be set to lose the
England under 21 defender for an as-yet-unknown length of time. "The only
downside [to the game] is it's looking like a hamstring injury for James
Tomkins," he revealed. "He's been outstanding since I've been here. "But of
course Abdoulaye Faye stepped in and got a little taste of what's to come -
and he did very well."

Although some hamstring injuries can heal within a fortnight, a worst-case
scenario could see Tomkins benched for up to six weeks - a period that
covers at least six matches, including potentially both the first and second
rounds of the Carling Cup. Yet despite the potential loss of the
Basildon-born youngster, Allardyce is clearly confident that the former
Senegalese international - with whom he worked with at both Bolton and
Newcastle before both arrived in east London during the summer - can step up
to the plate.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce on... Watford
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th August 2011
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce revealed that he was delighted with his team's comprehensive
defeat of Watford - albeit at a cost. West Ham's 4-0 win at Vicarage Road -
coupled with the 1-0 victory aaginst Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium 48
hours previously - ensured United were celebrating back-to-back away wins
for the first time since 2007. And a jubilant Allardyce admitted that he
couldn't fault any of his players on a great night for West Ham - and one
that sent out a warning to the rest of the division. "I'm absolutely
delighted. Not only with the result but with the performance that went with
it," he told the BBC. "We mastered the opposition in the early stages by the
way that they challenged us aerially, by the balls that they put in our box.
In the early stages of the game we had to defend extremely well. "But of
course when you get your first corner and James Tomkins scores with a
fantastic header, it settles everybody down a little bit - and then they're
prepared to put up with the pressure that Watford put on us. "So, we had a
terrific performance from every man today at a level I will be encouraging
[them] to try and maintain for as long as we possibly can."

Allardyce also hailed his team's second goal of the night - a special one
for his new right back and one that the boss felt proved to be the main
turning point of the game. "It wasn't just a great goal for us but a great
goal for Joey O'Brien," he affirmed. "Somebody who's been injured for
two-and-a-half years and runs from one end of the the pitch to the other and
puts the ball in the bottom of the net for two-nil. "That was a really
important goal at that particular time and really knocked the stuffing out
of Watford. It gave us the opportunity then to go out and play in the second
half that little bit more with the ball and work the spaces a little bit
more - then just wait for the opportunity to open them up again. "Of course
we've done that magnificently well in two different ways from the first two
goals by passing and moving and creating spaces, nice little balls in the
right areas. It's two great goals probably, four very very good goals
tonight. "

Although Allardyce was pleased with the performance of his entire team, he
singled out goalkeeper Rob Green for an early save that had perhaps gone
unnoticed as a result of the goal glut that followed it. "I'd have to say
there was one really good save from Robert Green at one-nil after about ten
minutes," he said. "The importance of that has given us the capability to
win 4-0 today. Let it get to 1-1 and the pressure comes on us again. "He
didn't allow them to do that - and that's the sign of the the importance of
a quality goalkeeper."

Sadly, the win came at a cost as Allardyce revealed that the scorer of
tonight's first goal had sustained a suspected thigh strain - an injury that
could potentially keep him out of action for up to six weeks. "The only
downside is a hamstring injury, it's looking like, for James Tomkins," he
revealed. "He's been outstanding since I've been here. But of course
Abdoulaye Faye steps in and gets a little taste of what's to come - and did
very well."

The win, combined with results elsewhere tonight sends the Hammers shooting
up the fledgling Championship table from 14th to third place. It is a
position Allardyce intends to hold on to. "I think we've earned the victory
and we've probably made our mark today; where we want to be and what
standard we want to reach," he declared. "I thought we reached a very good
standard today - and this early on in my reign. "I'm absolutely delighted
for the players and the fans of course - 4,000 in that end today who will go
home very happy. They've experienced two back-to-back away wins for the
first time for a long time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0 West Ham Utd 4
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 16th August 2011
By: Staff Writer

West Ham breezed to victory with a thoroughly professional performance
against Watford at Vicarage Road tonight. Sam Allardyce's United, who
enjoyed a first win of the season at Doncaster on Sunday secured the club's
first back-to-back away wins since 2007 against a disappointing Hornets side
in tonight's Championship clash.
The writing was on the wall for the home side as early as the third minute
when centre-half James Tomkins pounced on Matt Taylor's corner to direct a
powerful header beyond Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach. The second goal
arrived with the half time whistle rapidly approaching; full-back O'Brien
burst past half the Watford team before firing beyond Loach at the second
attempt after the 'keeper had palmed away his initial effort. Carlton Cole
added the third of the night when he converted a Herita Ilunga cutback from
close range with 20 minutes remaining. Finally, Scott Parker wrapped up a
comprehensive win for the Hammers with a neat finish having combined well
with sub Julien Faubert to send the Hammers into third place in the
fledgling Championship table. Sam Allardyce began the game with just one
change from the team that won at Doncaster 48 hours ago. Carlton Cole came
in for Frederic Piquionne, whilst Herita Ilunga kept his place in the
starting XI despite having been tipped to be dropped after a disappointing
start to the season.

Overall it was a comfortable evening for the Irons, although there were one
or two scary moments in the first half. Robert Green was at full stretch to
deny Sordell hitting the target with a curling 16th minute effort before
Carlton Cole was forced to hack one effort of the line. Had either of those
chances been converted it could have been a quite different game. However
O'Brien's goal - his first for West Ham and only the third of his career -
effectively ended the game as a contest and West Ham strolled to victory
thereafter. Whilst tougher challenges than that presented by the Hornets
tonight will inevitably follow, the win will be a huge confidence booster
ahead of this weekend's clash with Leeds United.

Watford 0 West Ham Utd 4: match facts

West Ham Utd: Green, O'Brien, Ilunga, Tomkins (Faye 68), Reid, Noble,
Parker, Nolan, Collison (Faubert 75), Taylor, Cole (Piquionne 74).

Subs not used: Boffin, Barrera.

Goals: Tomkins (3), O'Brien (45+2), Cole (70), Parker (90+1).

Watford: Loach, Dickinson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley, Yeates (Deeney 74),
Eustace, Jenkins, Forsyth, Sordell, Iwelumo (Massey 56).

Subs not used: Gilmartin, Bennett, Mirfin.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 14,747.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam's boys Hammer Hornets
Last updated: 16th August 2011
SSN

Carlton Cole and Scott Parker were on target to help West Ham to a 4-0
victory at Watford and make it back-to-back wins in the Championship. Sam
Allardyce gave Cole his first start of the season on Tuesday night and the
striker, who is still expected to leave before the end of the month, grabbed
his first goal since February.
England midfielder Parker, another player whose future remains uncertain,
put the seal on a convincing display late on. The unlikely figures of
defenders James Tomkins and Joey O'Brien had put West Ham two up at
half-time. The relegated Hammers won only two away games all last season,
but they have matched that tally after just two road trips this term. They
beat Doncaster with a fifth-minute goal on Saturday, and opened their
account even earlier at Vicarage Road. Matt Taylor's free-kick was turned
behind at full stretch by Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach, and when Taylor
swung in the corner Tomkins planted a firm header inside the far post after
two minutes. Former Bolton midfielder Taylor was inches away from doubling
the lead when he curled a free-kick over the wall and inches wide. But
Watford looked dangerous themselves early on and Marvin Sordell's turn and
shot forced a fine save from Hammers keeper Robert Green. Hornets skipper
John Eustace then shot straight at Green from close range following a
corner, and Chris Iwelumo put the rebound over the top. West Ham should have
gone further ahead on the half hour when Mark Noble played Taylor's corner
back across goal and centre-half Winston Reid, from all of three yards out,
poked the ball wide. The visitors got stronger as the first half drew to a
close strongly with Noble fizzing a cross narrowly out of the reach of Kevin
Nolan, Jack Collison heading Parker's cross over and Loach denying Cole. And
their pressure told in added time when O'Brien, another of Allardyce's
ex-Bolton brigade, burst forward from the halfway line, reached the penalty
area and drilled a low shot across Loach and into the far corner. Watford
are still looking for their first win of the season, but there was no way
back for the hosts after Cole tucked in number three in the 70th minute.
Left-back Herita Illunga crossed and Cole was on hand to sweep the ball past
Loach. Parker wrapped up the victory with a classy finish from 20 yards in
stoppage time as the duo sent a timely reminder to one or two top-flight
clubs with the transfer window closing in a fortnight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce lauds Hammers
Dyche disappointed by manner in which Hornets conceded
Last Updated: August 16, 2011 11:29pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce heaped praise on West Ham after their 4-0 win over Watford to
underline their billing as Championship favourites. James Tomkins put them
ahead early on before Joey O'Brien doubled their advantage in first-half
stoppage time. After the interval, England internationals Carlton Cole and
Scott Parker further extended their lead as they strolled to victory.
Allardyce said: "The pleasing thing for me is how we've won this game. The
quality of our goals was something to be admired.
"After we withstood the early pressure from Watford, and obviously the early
goal helped, it was how we defended as well, how we never let Watford get a
sniff.

Manager

"As a manager, you look at both sides of it and two clean sheets on the trot
away from home is something I always drive into the players and on the back
of that we've gone and then played some great football, particularly in the
second half, because we've earned the right to play that type of football.
"That's the most pleasing thing for me - seeing the opposition's threat off
early doors, punishing them to the hilt in the end by picking out the right
passes in the right places and what I thought might have been an Achilles
heel, we've seen some outstanding and quality finishing tonight. "We've got
everything right tonight and for me it's not often you see all your team
play what probably is the best they can play and I hope it can get better,
but I wouldn't have thought they could get much better than they got
tonight."

While West Ham are looking upwards, this was a second successive home defeat
for the Hornets - and a second successive game without scoring - to leave
them in the early-season bottom three.

Parts

Watford boss Sean Dyche said: "In parts of the game we played very well,
particularly in the first half. We gave away a set-piece goal which, from
our point of view, is disappointing. "The second goal is very disappointing
from us. It's a very poor goal, especially at that late stage of the half.
"I read the other day that one of their players earns our total wage bill so
that's kind of where it's at and usually if you're going to spend that
enormous amount of money you're going to get quality - and the defining
moments of the game came due to their quality."

Asked about the timing of the second goal, Dyche said: "I'll check the
statistics but I'm pretty sure Scott Loach hardly had a save to make in the
first half and I thought we'd worked their keeper well. "We had one cleared
off the line and then we gave away a soft goal. We have been guilty of that
and it's something we're addressing.
"After that they become more clinical. They got the third and then all of a
sudden they can look like the team that they probably are, which is full of
Premiership-style players."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0
West Ham 4
By VIKKI ORVICE
Published: Today
The Sun

JOEY O'BRIEN struck a debut goal as West Ham recorded their first
back-to-back wins away since 2007. And boss Sam Allardyce says they will not
improve on last night's display. He said: "It doesn't get much better than
this. All four goals were something to be admired. "It's not often you see
all the team play the best they can. I wouldn't have thought this can be
improved on. "When you play like this the confidence floods back. We've also
kept two clean sheets." After winning at Doncaster on Saturday with a goal
inside five minutes, the Hammers were flying early again. Centre-back James
Tomkins headed West Ham into a third-minute lead from a Matthew Taylor
corner. O'Brien, signed from Bolton this summer, fired a stunning second,
beating three Hornets defenders to fire home. And the game was in the bag
when Carlton Cole tapped home No 3 from Herita Ilunga's 71st-minute pass.
Scott Parker lashed home a 20-yarder in injury-time for a fourth. Hornets
boss Sean Dyche said: "They're a Premier League team."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EXCLUSIVE: West Ham back in for Barton
Published 23:01 16/08/11 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

West Ham are set to reignite their interest in Joey Barton. The East
Londoners are monitoring the situation regarding the controversial
midfielder, who has yet to sign a new contract at Newcastle. The
Championship side discussed a move for Barton earlier this month, when the
Magpies first made it clear earlier that they had made him available on a
free transfer. At the time, the Hammers' interest in the player is said to
have been described as "lukewarm". Now, however, they are waiting to see if
a club in the Premier League's top four moves for Barton, or whether he
would be up for the challenge of dropping down a division again. A move to
Upton Park would see his midfielder reunited with his former Newcastle
team-mate Kevin Nolan and Sam Allardyce, the manager who brought him to the
Toon from Manchester City. In West Ham's eyes, Barton's considerable baggage
is offset by his ability and the success of his relationship with Nolan,
which helped Newcastle gain promotion from the Championship two seasons ago.
When Nolan - on a four-year deal worth £55,000-a-week - was sold by the
Geordies, Barton tweeted: "'Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer
and mostly a friend for life." Barton has big fans within the boardroom at
Upton Park, but would have to accept a massive cut in wages currently said
to be in the region of £80,000-a-week. The star has a house in Newmarket, a
Suffolk town that is less than an hour's drive from the Hammers' training
ground. But any West Ham move for him could hinge on whether Scott Parker
remains at the club. Stoke, Aston Villa, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal have all
been linked with England midfielder Parker, last season's Footballer of the
Year. But no club has yet matched West Ham's £8million valuation of a player
who has three years left on his current contract.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0-4 West Ham: Parker nets in Hammers' rout
Published 22:23 16/08/11 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Organised, efficient and the complete opposite of the shambles they were
last year. West Ham eased to a second straight away win here to continue
pumping pride back into the shirt so sullied by relegation back in May. The
significance of this thumping Vicarage Road victory was that it was the
first time they had won successive games on the road for FOUR YEARS,
stretching back to December 2007. It was also the second clean sheet in a
row from a team that leaked goals last season like a sieve. Under Avram
Grant they were a travelling circus, lurching from crisis to crisis before
the Israeli was put out of his footballing misery within hours of their exit
from the Premier League. Under Sam Allardyce the Hammers have a real chance
of fulfilling their status as bookies' favourites to return at the first
attempt. Owners David Gold and David Sullivan were forced to take the flak
as Grant quickly turned out to be completely the wrong appointment last
season. Now they must take the credit with Allardyce the man whose plan
appears to be progressing very much along the right lines. No wonder Big Sam
milked the applause on the pitch at the end as Hammers fans hailed him.

Allardyce said afterwards: "The pleasing thing for me is that there was no
doubt about the quality of all four of our goals today. "They were something
to be admired. After we withstood the early pressure we defended well and we
never gave Watford a sniff. "As a manager, two clean sheets on the trot away
from home is something I like to drive home to the players that can do a lot
for confidence. "We've earned the right to play that kind of football and
that is the most pleasing thing for me."

Asked whether last night's display would go some way to healing the scars of
last season, Allardyce added: "When you do what they did against Watford
confidence flows back. "Winning games the way we did can do a lot to that
winning mentality." Young defender James Tomkins handed the Irons a dream
start when he turned in Matt Taylor's low centre just three minutes in.
Watford's lack of cutting edge meant that although their approach play was
sound enough they could never really land a serious blow on the east
Londoners. So when new boy Joey O'Brien speared home a second on the stroke
of half time, that was pretty much that. While Watford huffed and puffed
after the break, West Ham re-emerged to continue their domination,
confidently stroking the ball around the Vicarage Road pitch to pull their
opponents out of position.

The Hornets had gone into last night's contest without having beaten West
Ham at Vicarage Road in League and Cup for 26 years. Since then the
Hertfordshire side have picked up just three points out of a possible 30 at
home against the east Londoners. And Sean Dyche's men were completely
outmanouevred last night. Victory for Allardyce, meanwhile, extended the
feelgood factor West Ham fans enjoyed the feeling once more of being a team
on the up. Whatever happened to all those fears from Hammers fans that
Allardyce would besmirch the great traditions of the club and turn them into
a long-ball team? Big Sam smiled afterwards: "If you've got good footballers
you play good football. We need to let them play good football - after
they've earned the right to play."

West Ham played some decent stuff as they outclassed Watford. The travelling
faithful revelled in these better times as they teased their hosts with
chants of "How **** must you be? We're winning away!" But the truth is West
Ham looked quite good. The widely-held belief was that Gold and Sullivan had
to get the appointment of Grant's successor right. The future of the club
depended on it with so many big teams having failed to go back up at the
first attempt and now stranded in the Championship. In Allardyce they have
the right man. The confidence is back, the feelgood factor is back - and so
is the winning habit.

Watford Loach 4, Doyley 4, Taylor 4, Mariappa 5, Dickinson 5, Eustace 6,
Yeates 5 (Deeney 74), Forsyth 5, Jenkins 5, Iwelumo 5 (Massey 56, 5),
Sordell 6.
West Ham Green 7, O'Brien 8, Reid 7, Tomkins 8(Faye 67, 7), Ilunga 7, Nolan
7, Parker 9, Collison 7 (Faubert 75, 6), Taylor 7, Noble 7, Cole 8
(Piquionne 74, 6).
Man of the Match: Parker. Great passing. Deserved his goal.
Villain of the Match: Taylor. Uncertain throughout.
Att: 14,747
Ref: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WATFORD 0 WEST HAM 4: COLE GIVES IS WHAT FOR
17th August 2011 By Mike McGrath
WATFORD 0 -- WEST HAM 4
The Star

CARLTON COLE made up for lost time by making sure of another away win for
West Ham. The Hammers were given a boost before kick-off when Cole was
passed fit to start after two matches coming off the bench. The England
striker was behind the rest of the squad in pre-season training but he was
ready to replace Fred Piquionne up front. It was James Tomkins who got West
Ham off to a flier at ­Vicarage Road last night. The Hammers were looking
for their first back-to-back wins on the road since 2007 and Tomkins got
them off to the perfect start.

Joey O'Brien added a second on the stroke of half-time after Watford had
threatened to level in a cracking first half. The goals put Sam Allardyce
within sight of getting one over Avram Grant at this early stage of his
career. Grant could only manage two league wins away from Upton Park last
year but Allardyce looks like giving away fans more to cheer in the
Championship. Centre-back Tomkins opened the scoring after three minutes
with Matt Taylor having already gone close with a free-kick. Taylor swung
over the resulting corner and Tomkins headed firmly into the bottom corner
for his third senior goal. It should have been the signal for West Ham to
run riot with their powerful midfield of Scott Parker, Kevin Nolan and Mark
Noble. But Watford showed plenty of guts and have a real talent in pacy
forward Marvin Sordell. He forced Robert Green to tip over the crossbar with
a terrific save after cutting inside O'Brien and unleashing a shot. John
Eustace also went close and Chris Iwelumo had the ball nicked off him in the
six-yard box when he was ready to pull the trigger. West Ham took full
advantage when the hosts failed to take their chances. Cole had an effort
saved by Scott Loach when Sordell lost the ball and Parker raced forward to
set up his team-mate. Jack Collison headed just over the bar but O'Brien
doubled the lead before the break when he exchanged passes with Collison and
surged towards the box. His first shot was blocked but he rammed the rebound
in the bottom corner. There were less chances in the second half. Green
almost spilled a Sordell shot into his own net but then West Ham turned the
screw.
Cole got the third after 71 minutes when set up by Herita Ilunga and Parker
completed the rout in injury time with a low shot.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole delivers quick-fire result first time up for West Ham
Watford 0 West Ham United 4
The Independent
By Arindam Rej at Vicarage Road
Wednesday, 17 August 2011

A first start for Carlton Cole and a first thrashing administered by West
Ham in the Championship. A coincidence? Almost certainly not, considering
how influential he was - on the ball, in the air and with his movement.

Then again, for all the debate about who should be leading West Ham's line
up front, it was two goal-shy defenders who sent them on their way to
victory. James Tomkins scored his first since April 2009 then – even more
unusually – Joey O'Brien produced a solo effort to net for the first time
since January 2005. Those two first-half goals deflated a dangerous-looking
Watford side, before Cole killed them off and Scott Parker rounded off the
rout.

It is short-sighted to trot out stats about West Ham having shaken off their
away woes – considering the difference in standard of opposition – but at
least they had the rare feeling of back-to-back away wins. Manager Sam
Allardyce said: "The quality of all four goals was something to be admired.
It's how we defended as well. I wouldn't have thought the players can get
much better than they were tonight."

Cole had got the nod ahead of Frédéric Piquionne. Interestingly, Allardyce
brought Piquionne on for Cole almost as soon as the England striker had
scored. Cole insists he is staying at the club though. John Carew – not fit
enough yet – is eyeing his place, too.

Cole won the free-kick that led to West Ham's opener. Matt Taylor struck it
well, but it was pushed out by Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach. Taylor took
the corner and Tomkins scored with a firm, back-post header.

Watford battled on, in an open and fast-paced start, with Marvin Sordell
forcing an excellent finger-tip save from Robert Green – a pivotal moment.
Discussing Green's future, Allardyce said: "It's obviously a very delicate
situation as we're in the Championship and there's only a certain length we
can go."

Shortly before half-time, O'Brien dashed down the right, cut inside and
across the box, then eventually squeezed a low shot into the far corner.
With West Ham looking increasingly comfortable, Herita Ilunga cut the ball
back from the left for Cole to tap home in the 70th minute. Parker fired in
the fourth late on with a curling shot from Julien Faubert's pass.

The Watford manager Sean Dyche said: "For parts of the game, we played very
well. The reality is that they've got one player who earns our total wage
bill."

Watford (4-4-2): Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor, Dickinson; Yeates (Deeney,
74), Eustace, Jenkins, Forsyth; Sordell, Iwelumo (Massey, 56). Substitutes
not used Gilmartin (gk), Bennett, Mirfin.

West Ham United (4-5-1): Green; O'Brien, Tomkins (Faye, 67), Reid, Ilunga;
Collison (Faubert, 75), Nolan, Parker, Noble, Taylor; Cole (Piquionne, 74).
Substitutes not used Boffin (gk), Barrera.

Referee D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0 West Ham United 4: match report
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jonathan Liew, Vicarage Road10:42PM BST 16 Aug 2011

It may be to damn them with faint praise, but West Ham finally look as
though they have arrived in this division. The early-season rust is
clearing; new faces are becoming accustomed to their surroundings;
disappointment is gradually morphing into determination. Here, they
despatched a limited but experienced Watford side despite barely getting out
of second gear, emerging with four goals, three points and barely a bubble
pricked. Their escape route from the Championship will be paved with games
such as these.

Little by little, West Ham are responding to Sam Allardyce's ideas.
Allardyce is nothing if not a fast learner, and having met a striker
shortage by signing John Carew from Aston Villa, he has given his side more
attacking impetus by pushing Kevin Nolan further forward, into a role more
akin to that he played for Newcastle last season.

As against Doncaster on Saturday, Nolan orchestrated affairs and worked
harder than anyone else when West Ham lost the ball. And as against
Doncaster, West Ham took an early lead. Watford failed to pick up James
Tomkins's run to the far post, and as Matt Taylor swung in a corner from the
right, the centre-half rose unchallenged to head back across Scott Loach and
into the far corner. It was four minutes against Doncaster on Saturday; here
the clock stopped on barely three.

But urged on by an irrepressible home crowd, Watford responded, and for all
West Ham's big-name talent, they had one of the best players on the pitch.
Marvin Sordell, their 20-year-old striker, was causing the visitors a
multitude of problems with his strength and movement. One searing run down
the left culminated in a fine cut-back that was only just behind the
onrushing Chris Iwelumo.

No matter. In the second of one scheduled minute of injury time, Joey
O'Brien ventured out of his right-back position, found his path largely
clear and continued into the 18-yard box. After his pass to Carlton Cole was
deflected back to him, he curled a measured shot past Loach. It was his
first goal in over six years, but given his attacking importance in a team
not blessed with natural wingers, he should get more chances this season.
West Ham looked a lot happier after that. They were rarely threatened in the
second half, and managed to take advantage of a flagging Watford to double
their winning margin. Nineteen minutes from time, Nolan released Herita
Ilunga on the left byline and his low cross was bundled in by Cole from
around 18 inches.

In the first minute of injury time, Scott Parker scored his first goal of
the season, tiptoeing to the edge of the area and placing his left-footed
shot low into the corner. Still seeking a move to the Premier League, Parker
knows that every game he plays for West Ham now could be his last. The fans
knew it too, and chanted his name heartily until the final whistle.

Match details

Watford (4-4-2): Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor, Dickinson; Yeates (Deeney
74), Jenkins, Eustace, Forsyth; Iwelumo (Massey 56), Sordell.
Subs: Gilmartin, Bennett, Mirfin.
Booked: Eustace, Sordell.

West Ham: (4-2-3-1): Green; O'Brien, Tomkins (Faye 67), Reid, Ilunga; Noble,
Parker; Collison (Faubert 75), Nolan, Taylor; Cole (Piquionne 74).
Subs: Boffin, Barrera.
Booked: Noble.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford boss highlights 'one of West Ham United's players earns the same as
our whole squad'
11:06pm Tuesday 16th August 2011
By Frank Smith »
Watford Observer

Sean Dyche was obviously unhappy with his side's 4-0 defeat to West Ham
United but highlighted the fact one of the Hammers' players was earning as
much money as the whole of his squad put together – and with that kind of
spending, comes quality. Watford conceded the opener from James Tomkins in
just the third minute but responded excellently and were arguably the better
side in the opening 45 minutes, even though Joey O'Brien added a second in
injury time. The second half was the complete opposite though, as the
Hornets lacked creativity, imagination and most importantly, a goal threat –
with Carlton Cole and Scott Parker rounding off the 4-0 win. "For parts of
the game we played very well, particularly first half," Dyche said. "We gave
away a set piece goal which from our point of view is always disappointing
but from their point of view was a good goal – excellent cross and a great
header. "The second goal is a very poor goal, especially at that stage of
the half. "But the reality is that I read the other day that one of their
players earns the same as the total of our wage bill, so that is kind of
where it is at. "Usually when you spend that enormous amount of money then
you are going to get quality and the defining moments of the game came due
to their quality."

Dyche said there were some good individual performances tonight but accepted
it doesn't get away from the fact they were not clinical enough at either
end. The Hornets were causing the Hammers problems in the first half despite
conceeding the early goal and the second from O'Brien proved to be a huge
blow to Watford – and a real boost for the visitors. Dyche said: "It was a
strange one – I will check the statistics – but I am pretty sure Scott Loach
hardly had a save to make in the first half and we worked their keeper well
but then we gave away a soft goal. "We have been guilty of that and it is
something we are addressing. After that they became more clinical, they get
the third and then all of a sudden they look like the team they probably
are, which is a team full of Premier League players. "I watched both their
games and they could have done that to Cardiff and they could have done that
to Doncaster Rovers, it is just unfortunate for us they were clinical
tonight."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WE GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT - ALLARDYCE
Sporting Life

West Ham underlined their billing as one of the favourites for promotion
from the npower Championship with a 4-0 win at Watford to leave manager Sam
Allardyce eulogising over the quality of the performance. The Hammers were
quickly on track to follow up Saturday's 1-0 triumph at Doncaster when James
Tomkins headed them into an early lead. Watford pushed for the equaliser -
and but for a wonderful save from Robert Green to deny Marvin Sordell they
would have got it - but Joey O'Brien's second in first-half stoppage time
gave Allardyce's side a firm cushion. The visitors cantered through the
second half without extending themselves, seemingly able to up their game at
will and they added to their tally through Carlton Cole and Scott Parker.
Allardyce said: "The pleasing thing for me is how we've won this game. The
quality of our goals was something to be admired. "After we withstood the
early pressure from Watford, and obviously the early goal helped, it was how
we defended as well, how we never let Watford get a sniff tonight.

"As a manager, you look at both sides of it and two clean sheets on the trot
away from home is something I always drive into the players and on the back
of that we've gone and then played some great football, particularly in the
second half, because we've earned the right to play that type of football.
"That's the most pleasing thing for me - seeing the opposition's threat off
early doors, punishing them to the hilt in the end by picking out the right
passes in the right places and what I thought might have been an Achilles
heel, we've seen some outstanding and quality finishing tonight. "We've got
everything right tonight and for me it's not often you see all your team
play what probably is the best they can play and I hope it can get better,
but I wouldn't have thought they could get much better than they got
tonight."

While West Ham are looking upwards, this was a second successive home defeat
for the Hornets - and a second successive game without scoring - to leave
them in the early-season bottom three. Watford boss Sean Dyche said: "In
parts of the game we played very well, particularly in the first half. We
gave away a set-piece goal which, from our point of view, is disappointing.
"The second goal is very disappointing from us. It's a very poor goal,
especially at that late stage of the half. "I read the other day that one of
their players earns our total wage bill so that's kind of where it's at and
usually if you're going to spend that enormous amount of money you're going
to get quality - and the defining moments of the game came due to their
quality."

Asked about the timing of the second goal, Dyche said: "I'll check the
statistics but I'm pretty sure Scott Loach hardly had a save to make in the
first half and I thought we'd worked their keeper well. We had one cleared
off the line and then we gave away a soft goal. We have been guilty of that
and it's something we're addressing.
"After that they become more clinical. They got the third and then all of a
sudden they can look like the team that they probably are, which is full of
Premiership-style players."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Watford 0 West Ham 4: Happy Hammers get the travel bug
By Laura Williamson
Last updated at 12:03 AM on 17th August 2011
Daily Mail

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce called it 'earning the right to play'. And
his side certainly did that as they ran amok at Vicarage Road. An opening
goal inside three minutes helped, but West Ham were controlled and
disciplined in the first half and then turned on the style in the second.
The quality of the finishing from James Tomkins, Joey O'Brien, Carlton Cole
and Scott Parker was excellent - and a far cry from the impotence that
characterised the side relegated from the Barclays Premier League last
season. West Ham have not won back-to-back away matches since December
2007, but Allardyce has got them smiling again on their travels, with two
consecutive clean sheets to boot. He said: 'The pleasing thing is how we
won - the quality of our goals was something to be admired. We played some
great football. If you've got good footballers you play good football, and
we've got good footballers, so you need to let them play good football -
once they've earned the right to play.' Watford provided a stiff test in
the first half, particularly when attacking through the lively Marvin
Sordell, but West Ham's quality soon began to show.
The midfield trio of Parker, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan looked less
cluttered than in their first outing against Cardiff City, with Parker and
Noble sitting slightly deeper.
Parker reacted smartly to Craig Forsyth's attempts to snatch the ball from
his hands in the first half, then smacked a fierce right-foot shot just over
the bar from 25 yards, before making it 4-0 with a cool right-foot finish in
stoppage time. Tomkins had started the rout, heading in Matt Taylor's
corner at the far post. The central defender was excellent, but limped off
after 76 minutes with a hamstring problem, making him a doubt for Sunday's
home match against Leeds United. Robert Green kept West Ham ahead after 15
minutes. Mark Yeates scooped a beautiful ball over the top and the
goalkeeper tipped away Sordell's curling right-foot shot. O'Brien doubled
the visitors' lead just before the break. The right back charged into the
penalty box, ran into three Watford defenders but kept the ball and slotted
it home for his first West Ham goal.

Cole, starting his first league game under Allardyce, made it 3-0 after 70
minutes. Noble set Herita Ilunga free and the left back delivered a cross
from the byline for Cole to tap in. Watford boss Sean Dyche said: 'For
parts of the game, particularly in the first half, we played very well. But
I read the other day that one of their players earns our total wage bill,
and you're going to get that quality with that sort of money.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
England duo on target as Hornets hammered
ESPN

Carlton Cole and Scott Parker were on target to help West Ham to a 4-0
victory at Watford and make it back-to-back wins in the npower Championship.
Sam Allardyce gave Cole his first start of the season and the striker, who
is still expected to leave before the end of the month, grabbed his first
goal since February. England midfielder Parker, another player whose future
remains uncertain, put the seal on a convincing display late on. The
unlikely figures of defenders James Tomkins and Joey O'Brien had put West
Ham two up at half-time. The relegated Hammers won only two away games all
last season, but they have matched that tally after just two road trips this
term. They beat Doncaster with a fifth-minute goal on Saturday, and opened
their account even earlier at Vicarage Road. Matt Taylor's free-kick was
turned behind at full stretch by Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach, and when
Taylor swung in the corner Tomkins planted a firm header inside the far post
after two minutes. Former Bolton midfielder Taylor was inches away from
doubling the lead when he curled a free-kick over the wall and inches wide.
But Watford looked dangerous themselves early on and Marvin Sordell's turn
and shot forced a fine save from Hammers keeper Robert Green. Hornets
skipper John Eustace then shot straight at Green from close range following
a corner, and Chris Iwelumo put the rebound over the top. West Ham should
have gone further ahead on the half hour when Mark Noble played Taylor's
corner back across goal and centre-half Winston Reid, from all of three
yards out, poked the ball wide. The visitors got stronger as the first half
drew to a close strongly with Noble fizzing a cross narrowly out of the
reach of Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison heading Parker's cross over and Loach
denying Cole. And their pressure told in added time when O'Brien, another of
Allardyce's ex-Bolton brigade, burst forward from the halfway line, reached
the penalty area and drilled a low shot across Loach and into the far
corner. Watford are still looking for their first win of the season, but
there was no way back for the hosts after Cole tucked in number three in the
70th minute. Left-back Herita Illunga crossed and Cole was on hand to sweep
the ball past Loach. Parker wrapped up the victory with a classy finish from
20 yards in stoppage time as the duo sent a timely reminder to one or two
top-flight clubs with the transfer window closing in a fortnight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
James Tomkins's early strike sets West Ham off to easy win at Watford
Guardian report
Watford 0 West Ham United 4
Tomkins 3, O'Brien 47, Carlton Cole 71, Parker 91

Simon Burnton at Vicarage Road
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 August 2011 22.16 BST

After this ultimately easy victory, Sam Allardyce has achieved within his
first three games what West Ham's two previous full-time managers never did:
masterminding consecutive away wins. The visitors pierced Watford's fragile
confidence with a goal early in the first half and destroyed it with another
at its end, leaving the second period to be little more than a procession,
one which they decorated with some excellent football and two further goals.

"The quality of all four goals was something to be admired," said Allardyce.
"We've got everything right. It's not often you see all your team playing
what you think is the best they can play. I wouldn't have thought they can
get much better than they were tonight."

It is not as if West Ham were never tested, Watford contributing fully to a
bright opening period. Sean Dyche's team were over-reliant on the tactic of
looping balls over the visiting defence for the impressive Marvin Sordell to
run on to, and it nearly brought them a goal in the 15th minute, only for
Robert Green to flick out an arm to nudge a curling shot past the post. The
home side's threat, though, could not be sustained.

"I read the other day that one of their players earns our total wage bill,"
said Dyche. "If you spend that kind of money you're going to get quality,
and the defining moments of the game came from that quality. In the second
half they looked like the team they are, which is a team full of Premier
League star players."

It is scarcely possible for a goal scored in the third minute to come
against the run of play, but the Hornets had at least managed to squeeze in
an attack before falling behind, Green gathering John Eustace's shot at the
second attempt. But Carlton Cole was fouled as he contested his goalkeeper's
clearance, Matt Taylor's free-kick from 35 yards was tipped round a post and
Tomkins headed in the resulting corner. The teams traded chances thereafter
until, in first-half stoppage time, Joey O'Brien advanced from right-back
and, as Watford's defenders scattered to cover more obvious attacking
threats, ran straight through the gap in the middle and, at the second
attempt, poked in his first goal in over six years.

Watford's fans only cheered once in the second half and even then they were
being ironic, as the already unpopular summer signing, Chris Iwelumo, was
replaced. When Dyche decided to buy a target man, abuse from his own fans
was hardly what he had in mind. The change hardly helped, and Cole tapped in
Hérita Ilunga's pull-back with 20 minutes remaining before, in the final
minute, Scott Parker collected a pass from Julien Faubert – making his first
appearance since January – and side-footed the ball past Scott Loach

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham ease to win over Watford
Steve Blowers Tuesday, August 16, 2011
9:51 PM
London 24

Watford 0 West Ham 4

Three games into the campaign, Sam Allardyce has got West Ham United firing
on all cylinders writes STEVE BLOWERS. After seeing his side bag their first
points of the season at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, Big Sam saw James
Tomkins, Joey O'Brien, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker secure another valuable
victory at Vicarage Road. In August 2006, the Hammers had seen Bobby
Zamora's equaliser at Watford secure a brief overnight stay at the very top
of the Premier League. Never mind the summit, five years on, West Ham would
be grateful just to be in that top-flight but if they carry on stinging
teams like they did the Hornets, then an instant return to the big-time
simply looks odds-on. Allardyce had made just one tactical change from the
side that had won at the Keepmoat Stadium as Cole was called up for his
first start of the season in place of substitute Frederic Piquionne. And
having fine-tuned the East Enders' engine, the Hammers boss did not have to
wait long for his team to purr into the lead. With just two minutes on the
clock, Matt Taylor saw his 25-yard free-kick palmed aside at full stretch by
Scott Loach but when the West Ham wide-boy floated over the consequent
corner, the England U-21 keeper was given no protection by his defence, who
allowed an unmarked Tomkins to powerfully nod home at the far post.

Curling just a whisker wide, Taylor then deposited another long-range
free-kick into 3,736 happy Hammers fans packed behind Loach's goal, before
Marvin Sordell gave the visitors their first real scare of the evening with
an angled bender that Robert Green brilliantly pawed over the angle, on the
quarter-hour mark. Midway through the half, the advancing Winston Reid was
only a stud away from sliding West Ham into a two-goal lead and, after the
gallant Green denied Chris Iwelumo from point-blank range, Jack Collison
nodded onto the roof of the net before the escaping Cole was denied by legs
of Loach. But the visitors were destined to have the last word of an
absorbing first period thanks to the tenacity of O'Brien, who having seen
his barnstorming run into the heart of the Hornets' defence thwarted by a
pack of yellow shirts, then proved to be the Joey on the spot, as he reacted
first to prod the loose ball home from 12 yards.

Unchanged following their defeat against Derby County on Saturday, Watford
had it all to do after the break if they were to avoid successive home
defeats against a West Ham side looking for their first back-to-back awayday
victories since December 2007. Within seconds of the restart, however,
Sordell's speculative 18-yarder was scurried behind by the grateful Green
and with the hosts having more of a say in the second period, Gavin Massey
then replaced Iwelumo. But having failed to turn possession into goals,
Watford were made to pay the price by Cole, who was presented with the
simplest of tap-ins by an overlapping Herita Ilunga after Kevin Nolan and
Mark Noble combined to send the DR Congo defender deep in Watford territory,
with 20 minutes remaining. Then, as stoppage time approached, Parker had the
final word of the night, when he collected from substitute Julien Faubert
before curling a lovely, low 18-yarder beyond Loach's outstretched right
glove to seal an impresssive win.

HORNETS: Loach, Doyley, Dickinson, Taylor, Mariappa, Yeates (Deeney 74),
Forsyth, Jenkins, Eustace, Iwelumo (Massey 56), Sordell. Unused: Gilmartin,
Bennett, Mirfin.

HAMMERS: Green, O'Brien, Ilunga, Reid, Tomkins (Faye 67), Parker, Noble,
Nolan, Collison (Faubert 75), Taylor, Cole (Piquionne 74). Unused: Boffin,
Barrera.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 14,747.

Booked: Sordell (45), Eustace (82). Noble (86).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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