Queens Park Rangers 0-0 West Ham United
WHUFC.com
Barclays Premier League
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 West Ham United
Adrian's first-half penalty save from Charlie Austin saw West Ham United battle their way to a goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
After James Collins had been adjudged to have handled from Bobby Zamora, the Spaniard sprung to his right to repel Austin's spot-kick and preserve the Hammers' clean sheet.
Robert Green tipped a fabulous Aaron Cresswell free-kick onto the bar in the second half, while Richard Dunne had a scrappy effort chalked off for a Steven Caulker foul on Adrian. The Hoops finished the stronger, but could find no way past an inspired Adrian in the West Ham goal.
Sam Allardyce had earlier handed 18-year-old Academy graduate Reece Burke a first Premier League start, with Winston Reid sidelined with a hamstring problem. Elsewhere, Alex Song and Carlton Cole made way for Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis.
There had been plenty of talk this week about the importance of a fast start and yet there was a scare for the visitors within 60 seconds. Mark Noble was dispossessed on the edge of the Hoops box and, on the counter, Sandro forced Adrian into a sharp stop at his near post.
At the other end, West Ham were racking up the corner count. From the second of five first-half corners, debutant Burke saw a header cleared off the line.
From a frenetic start it all went rather quiet, in the two goalmouths at least. Midway through the half, however, Rangers and, more specifically Austin, fluffed their lines from the spot.
Nedum Onuoha had surged down the right and clipped into the feet of Bobby Zamora. The former Hammers man controlled and flicked it up, with a James Collins arm inadvertently getting in the way. Referee Mike Jones had no hesitation whatever.
Over to Adrian, who flung himself to his right to stop a third league penalty in succession and duly lapped up the adulation from the Hammers fans behind the goal.
There were half chances at either end as the half ticked down. Matt Phillips' drive ricocheted off Zamora and skipped wide, while Nolan found himself a yard or two on the edge of box, but rather scuffed an effort into the arms of Green.
With five minutes of the second half gone, Rangers had a combination of Green and the crossbar to thank for keeping it goalless. After Valencia had been unceremoniously upended by Sandro, Cresswell took charge of the set piece. He whipped it towards the top left-hand corner and there was the England stopper, at full stretch, to tip it one handed onto the woodwork and over.
But the Hoops continued to pose a threat of their own. Sandro slashed over the top from the edge of the D, while Zamora bullied Burke out of it, but, under pressure from Collins, cleared the crossbar as well.
Big Sam brought Cole on for Jarvis and the striker was immediately into the action. The No24 flicked into the path of Noble, who in turn set Downing away, but Green was quicker to it and swept up.
The hosts, meanwhile, had the ball in the net from a corner after 74 mintues, but not fairly thought referee Jones. Caulker was penalised for a foul on Adrian and so though Dunne gleefully bundled it home, it mattered not.
As the game entered its final minutes, West Ham created arguably their best opening of the 90. Valencia skipped past Dunne and squared for Kouyate, but the No8 was off balance and ballooned over the bar from eight yards.
Adrian came to the Hammers' rescue in the dying minutes too, palming Phillips' rasping drive wide of his left-hand upright as the visitors clung on for a hard-earned point away from home.
Queens Park Rangers: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Hill (Yun 63), Barton (c), Henry, Sandro, Phillips, Austin, Zamora (Fer 67)
Subs: McCarthy, Isla, Kranjcar, Taarabt, Wright-Phillips
Booked: Austin
West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Burke, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Nolan (c), Downing, Jarvis (Cole 55), Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Oxford, Poyet, Amalfitano, Nene
Referee: Mike Jones
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Sam hails 'Master of penalty saves'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce paid tribute to West Ham United's 'Master of penalty saves' after Adrian's third spot-kick stop in a row earned a goalless draw at Queens Park Rangers. The Spaniard followed up saves from Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Leicester City's David Nugent by denying Charlie Austin on 23 minutes and dent the Hoops' Barclays Premier League survival hopes. With a host of players out injured, including Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Alex Song, top scorer Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll, teenager Reece Burke was handed a top-flight debut at centre-back, but the depleted Hammers stood resolute to take a share of the spoils back across London. "I think we had to match the fact that when a team is at the bottom of the league and the games remaining are in single figures, the desire and anxiety of the opposition is so much greater than it is at the start of the season," the manager told West Ham TV. "When there are only three, four or five games left and a team is in the bottom three and three or four points adrift, the opposition get more and more desperate. "Of course we had many positions to have scored but failed to do so. The best in the first half came before the penalty when Enner Valencia should have rolled the ball to an unmarked Kevin Nolan in the middle of the goal. I understand his frustration because he wanted to score and we want him to score more, but not when there is someone else in a better position, because you must give them the ball. "It was obviously a penalty, but there was a clear foul just before on Cheikhou Kouyate, who was just cleaned out by Karl Henry as he headed the ball, which meant the ball went to a QPR player instead of one of ours. I don't think you could blame the referee because Ginge's hand was in the air above his head. "Then, though, we had the master of penalty saves there for us again – that's his third one on the trot and it was the major reason we got a point. It was not fortunate, but fantastic goalkeeping because he has proved it in the past. "There was also no doubt about the foul on Adrian for the goal they have had disallowed, so we got the defensive side right."
One major reason for that was the assured performance of 18-year-old Burke on his Barclays Premier League debut – and just his third first-team appearance. The Newham-born youngster was cheered on by his parents and 1,200 Hammers fans, responding with a confident and unflustered display alongside James Collins. "We had a young man in Reece Burke making his debut and he stood up to Austin and Bobby Zamora and came away with a clean sheet," said Big Sam. "It was a magnificent feeling for him and his family. I could imagine the nerves and excitement they felt about him playing, and he played so well and looked calm and commanding at times. "There is a future for him if he works harder than he has ever worked. If you never stop working and practising then you will forge yourself a career in the game.
"He has given us an insight into the fact he can cope with this level on a one-off basis, so now he has to prove he can play regularly at this level." Having kept QPR at bay before half-time, West Ham created a succession of chances after the break. Aaron Cresswell's free-kick was tipped over by Robert Green, Mark Noble's scooped free-kick eluded an unmarked Nolan, before Kouyate blazed Valencia's cut-back high over the crossbar. "Greeny showed why he is back in the England squad because that was one outstanding save from Aaron Cresswell," the gaffer observed. "Towards the end of the game, we had so many opportunities to score in the final few minutes, which have haunted us so often recently, so it was disappointing to have missed those chances. "One nearly paid off, and it was unusual because Mark Noble normally plays that ball perfectly for Kevin all the time, and QPR hadn't got a clue what was going on, but he played it wrong and it went out."
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Burke's pride at top flight debut
WHUFC.com
While Saturday's 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers was one that will not catch too many headlines in the morning papers, it will nevertheless be a game remembered forever by Reece Burke. The 18-year-old Academy graduate made his Barclays Premier League bow at Loftus Road, having previously featured in FA and Capital One Cup fixtures in the last two seasons. Burke slotted in seamlessly alongside James Collins as the Hammers kept their first clean sheet for a month and he was understandably beaming with pride after the landmark occasion.
He said: "I've played a few games for the first team before, but Saturday was at a different level in the Premier League. "I'm glad I've made my Premier League debut - I thought I did alright and hopefully there's many more games to come. "In training this week, I just thought I'd be travelling with the squad like I did at Man City last week, and maybe make the bench. After Winston Reid picked up a little injury I thought he might chuck me in and I found out on Friday I'd be playing, so I had to prepare well. "I'm just really happy we kept a clean sheet. There's always room for improvement and that's for me to go away, watch the game back and work on what I need to work on.
"It was a case of keeping it simple and not over-complicating things. That's what the lads were telling me, make sure my first pass and first header were good and go from there. That's the way it went so I'm pleased." Hailing from Newham and from a family of staunch West Ham fans, Burke's pride was shared by his parents. He continued: "My parents came to watch the game and I saw them at the end, which was a bit emotional. "I'm happy and they're happy as well. Saturday was a very emotional day for me - I've been at the Club since the age of nine so playing at QPR is looking back at a long journey. I just want to keep going." Burke also paid tribute to James Collins, whose experienced head helped him through his league debut. "Ginge helped me throughout the game, talking to me and telling me not to get too tight to Bobby Zamora as he's a strong lad. "He spoke to me a lot during the game and helped me to do well."
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Ex-Hammer in Dylan tribute
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Kieran Sadlier has dedicated his first ever goal as a professional to former team mate Dylan Tombides. 20-year-old Sadlier, who left West Ham in February after a decade at the club scored the second goal in new club St Mirren's 4-1 win over Kilmarnock this afternoon. And immediately after the game, the Irish midfielder took to Twitter to dedicate the goal to his former friend and colleague Tombides, who died last year following a long battle with cancer.
Kieran Sadlier @KieranSadlier
Always said to myself i'd dedicate my first goal to @Dylantombides there you go mate! 🙌❤️
Sadlier, who has also featured for Ireland at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 level joined his current club on a short-term contract upon leaving West Ham. He will remain at St. Mirren Park until the end of the season.
* Visit dt38.co.uk to see how the Dylan Tombides foundation are raising awareness and providing support for those suffering from testicular cancer.
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'I'm just doing my job', says penalty hero Adrian
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian refused to take the credit for West Ham taking a point away from this afternoon's clash with relegation favourites Queens Park Rangers. Despite offering little in attack the Hammers escaped Loftus Road with a point - thanks in no small part to the goalkeeper's heroics, once again. Adrian - who was the star of the show in January's third round FA Cup penalty shootout win over Everton - saved Charlie Austin's 23rd minute penalty to preserve a point for Sam Allardyce's out-of-form side. And he revealed after the game that he felt he had 'psyched' out Austin as the two exchanged words seconds before the spot kick was taken. "Every time I face a penalty I try to put doubt in the other player's mind," he said. "Luckily for me, I saved the penalty! "But this is my job, to makes the save, to try every game to help my team mates. It was a hard game here today as they are fighting relegation which makes it more difficult. But we've kept the clean sheet away from home and gained one more point. "We started the season very well but now, in the second part of the season, we've not been playing so well. But we'll fight for the best position until the end."
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce praises goalkeeper Adrian
Last Updated: 25/04/15 11:14pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce singled out goalkeeper Adrian for praise after West Ham held on to secure a 0-0 draw against relegation-battling QPR.
West Ham extended a poor run of form that has seen them win only twice in the league in 2015 but it could have been worse for Allardyce's side had Adrian not saved Charlie Austin's first-half penalty. Adrian has now saved his last three consecutive spot-kicks and Allardyce was full of praise for his goalkeeper. "He's proving to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League on a consistent basis," Allardyce said. "That's three penalty saves on the trot now. He's been an outstanding find from our point of view." "It will spread fear across the league because everyone will know he's saved three on the trot so people will be even more nervous. "Your goalkeeper is the second most important member of your team after your goalscorer and he's shown that today by winning us a point." West Ham's disappointing second half of the season has seen them slip to 10th in the table and increased the uncertainty surrounding Allardyce, whose contract expires at the end of the season. "A man of my age and my experience doesn't lose sleep over things like this anymore," Allardyce said.
"It's not worth it. My health is worth more than worrying about things like that. "You stay awake at night worrying about your team, that's the priority. That's what you concentrate on."
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Allardyce praise for "commanding" Burke
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 25, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce explained after today's game that QPR's desire and anxiety was a key issue in today's clash. He told West Ham TV "I think we had to match the fact that when a team is at the bottom of the league and the games remaining are in single figures, the desire and anxiety of the opposition is so much greater than it is at the start of the season," the manager told West Ham TV. "When there are only three, four or five games left and a team is in the bottom three and three or four points adrift, the opposition get more and more desperate. "Of course we had many positions to have scored but failed to do so. The best in the first half came before the penalty when Enner Valencia should have rolled the ball to an unmarked Kevin Nolan in the middle of the goal. "I understand his frustration because he wanted to score and we want him to score more, but not when there is someone else in a better position, because you must give them the ball."Of the missed CharlAustin spot kick he said: "It was obviously a penalty, but there was a clear foul just before on Cheikhou Kouyate, who was just cleaned out by Karl Henry as he headed the ball, which meant the ball went to a QPR player instead of one of ours. I don't think you could blame the referee because Ginge's hand was in the air above his head. "Then, though, we had the master of penalty saves there for us again – that's his third one on the trot and it was the major reason we got a point. It was not fortunate, but fantastic goalkeeping because he has proved it in the past. "There was also no doubt about the foul on Adrian for the goal they have had disallowed, so we got the defensive side right."
He was pleased with the assured performance of 18-year-old Reece Burke on his Barclays Premier League debut – and just his third first-team appearance. He said: "We had a young man in Reece Burke making his debut and he stood up to Austin and Bobby Zamora and came away with a clean sheet "It was a magnificent feeling for him and his family. I could imagine the nerves and excitement they felt about him playing, and he played so well and looked calm and commanding at times."There is a future for him if he works harder than he has ever worked. If you never stop working and practising then you will forge yourself a career in the game. "He has given us an insight into the fact he can cope with this level on a one-off basis, so now he has to prove he can play regularly at this level."
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Irons return to "hoof and hope" rubbish
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 25, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Match verdict
QPR 0 Irons 0
Let's start with the positives – their names are Adrian and Reece Burke! The Spanish stopper ensured we didn't suffer a defeat when saving Charlie Austin's first half spot kick after James Collins had handled. And young Burke proved the old saying as true as ever – if you're good enough you're old enough…and he was! What a joy to see an Academy product in the team and looking as composed and steady as those around him…if not more so at times.
Beyond that I can barely be bothered to report a game where a Hammers team which early season showed great attacking enterprise has returned to a "hit 'em high and hope like hell they fall to someone" outfit under this manager. If ever a team needed a fresh approach…different tactics and to be rid of some real dead wood it's this one. The definition of insanity is doing the same old thing over and over again while expecting a different result and that's what the Hammers are doing. It's as hard to watch as it gets even for us absolute stalwarts This was a nothing game against a nothing team and proved only we are no better, and perhaps a little worse, than the khazi relegation-threatened Loftus Road lumps.
It's all so predictable…so thoroughly boring with Carlton Cole coming on week in week out and making absolutely no difference to anything. Highly skilled Nene meanwhile doesn't get a shout whilst Amalfitano must be wondering why the hell he signed a new deal…hopefully a new manager will show him. Frankly, we have become a joke team under a joke manager who at 80 minutes sent out a shocking message when laughing and smiling at his opposite manager Chris Ramsey on the touchline.
Kevin Nolan produced his now well known piece of finger pointing vaudeville and panto dame arguing with ref routine as the rest of us either disappeared to the bar or fell asleep. Writing about the game is as boring as it was watching and I'm gonna wrap this up with the 'highlights or should it be lowlights.
22 mins: Collins handles in the box but Adrian clings on to Austin's spot kick which is directed straight at him. It's Adrian's third penalty save of the season.
37: Matt Phillips from 20 yards – a decent shot which is deflected wide by a colleague.
39: Rob Green saves from Noble.
47: Downing drags shot wide
50: Magnificent Cresswell shot brilliantly turned over by a former keeper
57: Downing in on goal but Green out to thwart him.
82: Kouyate fires high over the top after great run and ball in from Valencia.
91: Adrian has to fly to his left to push a rasping effort from Phillips behind.
Team Ratings (out of 10)
QPR 5
Irons 4
Entertainment Value: 4
Irons man of Match: Adrian
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Potts delighted with the kids
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 25, 2015 in Whispers
Clart & Hugh
Under 21 boss Steve Potts couldn't have been more pleased with his team's 2-1 over Manchester City last night. His son Dan opened the scoring heading in Djair Parfitt-Williams' cross..The Hammers doubled their lead early in the second half when Adam Drury stabbed Jordan Brown's cross into his own net. Olivier Ntcham scored late on to halvethe Irons' advantage but it proved too little too late.
Speaking to the official site after the game, Potts said: "I'm delighted. I thought the lads did very well. The effort they put in was fantastic, they got what we deserved really after a couple of games where I thought we did some good stuff but lost by the odd goal.
"Last week against Norwich City we were 1-0 up with a few minutes to go but then we threw it away. But tonight we did the job.
"I've been happy with the last two games and tonight, in most aspects, we saw the game through. I think that's the stage that the players are at, at the moment.
They're young boys but they need to manage games and get over the line as much as they can. We need to build on this toughness about them."
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