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A Lee Barnard spot-kick saw Southampton edge out Ian Hendon's side 1-0 at
Chadwell Heath
20.03.2012
Lee Barnard's second-half penalty was the difference between the teams as
Southampton edged out West Ham United's Development Squad 1-0 on Tuesday.
The Romford-born striker netted the only goal of the game 20 minutes from
the end of a closely-contested game at Chadwell Heath, stepping up to beat
Sam Baxter after Pelly Ruddock had fouled Yago Falque. Barnard's spot-kick
was one of few clear-cut chances on a sunny but blustery afternoon at the
Hammers training ground, with neither Baxter nor opposite number Tommy
Forecast overly troubled. Southampton brought a relatively experienced side
to Essex, with Tunisia international Radhi Jaidi, centre-back Danny
Seabourne, Barnard and Falque all having appeared for the Saints first-team
this season. Development Squad coach Ian Hendon saw a team that contained no
fewer than eight scholars work hard and come close to earning a share of the
spoils through substitute Matthias Fanimo's late free-kick. "We didn't
deserve to lose," said Hendon. "They had two centre-halves who have probably
played five or six hundred league games between them and they actually
looked like they had. Elliot Lee plugged away and he's a first-year scholar
and he's worked his socks off for the team and on another day something
might have fallen for him.
"When you look at our team, they were all young lads and they were willing
and wanted to learn from the things we told them. That's the important
thing. They've played against an experienced team with the likes of Barnard
and Falque, who is on loan from Tottenham - they're no mugs. "We were very
young and that's the way it was because the first team play tonight. They
haven't disappointed me and they shouldn't be disappointed with themselves.
Nobody likes losing, but they're on a learning curve and they set a good
standard today."
In fairness, Southampton did create the clearer chances, with Falque
controlling proceedings from the centre of the midfield. The Saints went
close through Lloyd Isgrove and Sam McQueen, while Kenzer Lee and Jack
Powell did superbly to block efforts from Jake Sinclair and James
Ward-Prowse. Late on, Falque himself went close with a quickly-taken
free-kick, but Baxter flew to his left to push the ball away. At the other
end, Lee worked hard with Ruddock, Powell and Sebastian Lletget supporting
him from midfield and Blair Turgott and Dominic Vose threatening from wide
areas. Hendon conceded that his team had not played perfectly, but was
enthusiastic about the way they eradicated their individual mistakes as the
game went on. "I've got to say there were a few little issues in the first
half which we had a chat about at half-time - mailnly the defenders not
putting their foot through the ball and clearing their lines when we were
under a lot of pressure. "That's the thing with young players - you want
them to take on board what you tell them. It's difficult playing against
good, older, experienced players and they've acquitted themselves well
today. "Captain Eoin Wearen did well, putting his body on the line by
throwing himself bravely in to make blocks. He led us well. It's about
learning and I think they've learned a lot today."
Development Squad: Baxter, Driver, Young, Wearen, K.Lee, Ruddock, Powell,
Turgott, Vose (Fanimo 68), Lletget (Sadlier 86), E.Lee
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West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 1
BBC.co.uk
20 March 2012
Last updated at 22:29
West Ham were again booed off by their fans after they failed to help their
Championship automatic promotion claims with a draw against Middlesbrough.
The Hammers took the lead through an Abdoulaye Faye header looping in off
Joe Bennett after 67 minutes. But Middlesbrough equalised when Bart Ogbeche
fired in a precise shot. The visitors finished the stronger and a Lukas
Jutkiewicz effort struck the Hammers bar before Ogbeche had a shot cleared
off the line. It was a fourth successive 1-1 draw for the Hammers, who lost
ground on leaders Southampton after their 2-0 win at Hull. The only
consolation for West Ham was that second-placed Reading were beaten 3-1 by
Peterborough and they are now only two points behind the Royals.
WEST HAM'S RECENT RUN
West Ham 1-1 Boro
Leeds 1-1 West Ham
West Ham 1-1 Doncaster
West Ham 1-1 Watford
West Ham had plenty of the play in the first half but lacked the cutting
edge to break down a Boro side who had come to frustrate their hosts. The
Hammers fans upped their volume level after the break and their side
responded by increasing their intensity. The reward came with Faye's first
goal for the club, when his header took a touch off Bennett to leave keeper
Jason Steele wrong-footed. James Tomkins had the chance to extend West Ham's
lead only for Steele to produce an excellent save, pushing a close-range
header onto the bar. The incident proved crucial as Ogbeche cut inside and
powered in an angled shot late on for Boro to leave the Hammers to endure
more frustration.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "Eventually these draws will cost us. We were
very, very patient tonight and got into the lead which was not easy because
of the way the opposition sets up against us. It's frustrating because this
is the best unbeaten run we've been on this season but we're not getting the
points that we need from these matches. "We didn't have that little bit of
quality or the ability to just add the killer instinct and then we go and
concede one of the best goals this season, it was a real moment of quality.
"It is five draws at home but then one of those was against Southampton when
we had 10 men for most of the game. "The turning point for me is the save
that their goalkeeper made from James Tomkins when we were 1-0 up. If we had
got it to 2-0 I think that would have been game over."
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray: "I was pleased with the way that we came
here and set up to frustrate West Ham because of the run they've been on we
thought we could play on their anxiety a bit. "We're in the top six and with
a bit of luck and a few players back hopefully we will stay there in the
last nine games of the season and get into the play-offs. "I'm pleased for
Bart - he does that kind of thing every day in training but he's been coming
into my office this week and asking me for more game time. Had he not done
that would he have got his chance today? It's very hard to say but I'm
pleased that he did."
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Allardyce bemoans Boro draw
Hammers boss says draws will cost his side; Mowbray pleased
Last Updated: March 20, 2012 11:29pm
SSN
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left to rue yet another home draw as
Middlesbrough substitute Bart Ogbeche stole a share of the spoils at Upton
Park. Abdoulaye Faye's deflected goal off Joe Bennett midway through the
second half looked to have reignited the hosts' Championship promotion bid.
But the Hammers have not won a league match on a Tuesday night in front of
their own fans in more than two years, and Nigerian forward Ogbeche's superb
strike ensured that sorry run continued.
The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos and Allardyce admits his
players are feeling anxious every time they play on their own turf. He said:
"Eventually these draws will cost us. We were very, very patient tonight and
got into the lead which was not easy because of the way the opposition sets
up against us.
Killer instinct
"It's frustrating because this is the best unbeaten run we've been on this
season but we're not getting the points that we need from these matches. "We
didn't have that little bit of quality or the ability to just add the killer
instinct and then we go and concede one of the best goals this season, it
was a real moment of quality.
"It is five draws at home but then one of those was against Southampton when
we had 10 men for most of the game. "The turning point for me is the save
that their goalkeeper made from James Tomkins when we were 1-0 up. If we had
got it to 2-0 I think that would have been game over."
Reading's shock defeat at Peterborough leaves West Ham just two points
adrift of the Royals in third place while Boro are now up to fifth place.
"It's a bit crazy that it's all doom and gloom and here we are, both clubs
in the top six," said Boro boss Tony Mowbray.
Anxiety
"I was pleased with the way that we came here and set up to frustrate West
Ham because of the run they've been on we thought we could play on their
anxiety a bit.
"We're in the top six and with a bit of luck and a few players back
hopefully we will stay there in the last nine games of the season and get
into the play-offs. "I'm pleased for Bart - he does that kind of thing every
day in training but he's been coming into my office this week and asking me
for more game time. "Had he not done that would he have got his chance
today? It's very hard to say but I'm pleased that he did."
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Boro sub Bart grabs point
Last updated: 20th March 2012
SSN
Middlesbrough substitute Bart Ogbeche inflicted yet more midweek misery on
West Ham at Upton Park as the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw. Abdoulaye
Faye's deflected goal midway through the second half looked to have
reignited the Hammers' Championship promotion bid. But the east Londoners
have not won a league match on a Tuesday night in front of their own fans in
more than two years, and Nigerian forward Ogbeche's superb strike ensured
that sorry run continued. In fact it could have been worse for the
under-fire hosts but Lukas Jutkiewicz hit the bar and Ogbeche had a shot
cleared off the line at the death. Manager Sam Allardyce admits his players
currently feel anxious every time they play on their own turf, having been
booed off following three straight draws. And that was certainly apparent in
a tense first half against a Middlesbrough side hardly bursting with
confidence themselves on the back of successive defeats. Faye headed wide
from a corner, Matt Taylor's shot was blocked by Seb Hines, Nicky Maynard's
long-range effort was held by Jason Steele and Noble drove over the bar, but
there was little to lift the home faithful.
Boro were not faring any better, though, with Adam Hamill firing wide and
Jutkiewicz putting a couple of headers too high. As half-time approached
West Ham felt they should have had a penalty for handball but James Tomkins'
header seemed to come off the shoulder of Matthew Bates. Carlton Cole then
curled a shot narrowly wide and George McCartney's 30-yard effort was dealt
with by Steele, but the hosts trooped off at the break to familiar murmurs
of discontent. But the Hammers went on the attack in the second half and
Maynard's chip dropped on to the roof of Steele's net before Cole just
failed to get on the end of Taylor's looping cross. And the slice of luck
they needed finally arrived in the 67th minute, courtesy of Faye. The giant
defender rose to meet a long, high ball from McCartney and his header spun
off the back of marker Joe Bennett's head and looped over Steele into the
far corner. Tomkins could have killed Boro off with a close-range header
only to see Steele pull off a stunning save, pushing the ball on to the bar.
And instead Ogbeche pegged West Ham back seven minutes before full-time,
skipping past Danny Collins on the edge of the area and crashing a superb
shot past Rob Green. Suddenly West Ham were clinging on as Jutkiewicz's shot
was deflected on to the bar and McCartney cleared off the line from Ogbeche.
But holding out for a draw did not stop more boos ringing out at the final
whistle.
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West Ham 1-1 Middlesbrough: Sub torpedoes Hammers
Published 21:50 20/03/12 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Tony Mowbray claimed West Ham fans treat playing in the Championship as "an
insult" after the Irons were held for a record fifth successive home draw.
The Hammers had been set for a needed win when Abdoulaye Faye looped home
his first goal for the club after 67 minutes. But sub Bart Ogbeche's late
equaliser means the Hammers have still not won a Tuesday night league match
at Upton Park since October 2004. And they could have lost a game they
dominated in a frantic finish.
The point for West Ham's fourth consecutive 1-1 draw still closed the gap on
second-placed Reading as Sam Allardyce's side extended their unbeaten run to
nine games, but there were still muted boos at the end. Mowbray, whose side
climbed up to fifth place, said Allardyce's side were also competing against
the expectations of a restless support after now dropping 23 points at home.
"I thought our team came and did what was expected," said the Boro boss. "It
was our prerogative to come here and make life difficult for them and to see
if we could create some anxiety in the stadium. I think we did that. "The
crowd get frustrated - every bad pass, every interception, there's a groan.
"I think the expectation of the fan base is they should be in the Premier
League. They see it almost as an insult that they're playing their football
in the Championship. "I'm sure Big Sam is dealing with that every day. I
think there's a fair chance he'll do that and get them back in the Premier
League."
But Allardyce admitted his side must start winning home games if they are to
gain automatic promotion. "We are frustrated and disappointed - you've got
to turn your draws into wins and it is too many," he said. "We haven't gone
this far undefeated all season but we've drawn too many. "You have to say it
was a wonder goal. You have to give him credit. He hit an unbelievable shot
in off the far post. "It was one of the goals of the season. Usually they go
wide but it went in against us. At the moment the rub of the green's just
not with us."
The Hammers boss claimed his men were denied two penalties for a first-half
handball by Matthew Bates and for a late challenge by keeper Jason Steele on
sub Sam Baldock. But after a dire first half, there was a touch of luck
after Faye's header deflected off Joe Bennett and looped home after 67
minutes. The Senegalese even covered his mouth in embarrassment after his
first goal for the club. But Allardyce then rightly identified the Boro
keeper tipping James Tomkings' header onto the bar after 75 minutes as the
game's turning point. "That would have been 2-0 and would have killed off
Middlesbrough and made us less nervous," he said. Instead, Ogbeche cracked
in his angled drive off the far post - and Boro could have stolen all three
points when Nicky Bailey's deflected shot hit the bar in injury time.
Mowbray said: "He's been in my office this week, asking if he can have more
game time. I'm just so pleased he's come on and done what he's done, really.
"That's what he can do. Bart Ogbeche - remember the name."
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West Ham United 1 Middlesbrough 1: match report
Telegraph.co.uk
By Marc Isaacs10:17PM GMT 20 Mar 2012
Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray felt his side laid bare West Ham's fans'
delusions of grandeur as they held the promotion-chasing side to their
fourth consecutive league draw. Mowbray's men stifled the home team for the
first hour before Abdoulaye Faye scored with a looping header, his first
goal for the club, but substitute Bart Ogbeche levelled late on with an
exquisite solo effort. The result left Sam Allardyce's side outside the
automatic promotion places and Mowbray hinted that the Upton Park fans'
lofty opinion of their club maybe counting against them "I thought our team
came and did what was expected. It was our prerogative to come here and make
life difficult for them; to see if we could create some anxiety in the
stadium," Mowbray said. "I think we did that. The crowd get frustrated,
every bad pass, every interception, there's a groan. "I think the
expectation of the fan base is they should be in the Premier League. They
see it almost as an insult that they're playing their football in the
Championship."
The story of the game could have been very different had Mowbray not faced
difficult talks with Nigerian striker Ogbeche who has become jaded with his
lack of first-team-opportunities. "Bart scores them every day" Mowbray
jested. "He's been in my office this week, asking if he can have more game
time. I'm just wondering if I would have put him on if he hadn't have come
in my office this week and said 'Can you give me some time, I'm desperate to
help.' "I'm just so pleased he's come on and done what he's done. That's
what he can do. Bart Ogbeche. Remember the name."
West Ham's miserable run, in the shadow of Reading's recent surge and
Southampton's continued dominance, was not helped by what Allardyce deemed
unacceptable refereeing decisions.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Green; McCartney, Faye, Collins O'Brien; Tomkins, Noble;
Maynard (Collison 71); Taylor, Nolan (Baldock 87); Cole (Carew 71). Subs:
Lansbury, Morrison.
Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Steele; Bennett, Bates, Hines, Hoyte; Smallwood
(Martin 80), Thomson (Ogbeche 80), Bailey; Emnes (Zemmama 76), Jutkiewicz,
Hammill. Subs: Arca, McMahon
Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire)
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