Daily WHUFC News - 3rd March 2016

West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
WHUFC.com

Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United produced another sparkling display under the Boleyn Ground lights to topple Tottenham Hotspur and dent the visitors' Barclays Premier League title ambitions.

Man-of-the-moment Michail Antonio popped up with yet another priceless goal at the Boleyn Ground after just seven minutes, a bullet of a header which secured Slaven Bilic's side a second home win in five days.

West Ham, now unbeaten at home in 14 in all competitions, had chances to make it two in a thoroughly dominant opening 45 minutes, before Tottenham inevitably found their feet after the break.

But once Harry Kane had fluffed his lines with the goal gaping, the Hammers held firm to ensure that all those of a Claret and Blue persuasion would go home happy.

With Sam Byram suspended after collecting his tenth league booking of the campaign against Sunderland, Pedro Obiang earned a recall into a midfield five. Cheikhou Kouyate, meanwhile, slotted into a back three alongside James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna.

Antonio is something of an unstoppable force at the Boleyn Ground at present and needed just seven minutes here to make it four in four in front of the Upton Park faithful.

The No30 stole a march on his marker Nacer Chadli to meet a right-wing Dimitri Payet and power a header home at the near post. Hugo Lloris got hands to it but couldn't keep it out. Following Saturday's Homer Simpson-themed celebration, the former Nottingham Forest man went with a more conventional dance number this time.

Having smashed the underside of the bar at the weekend, skipper Mark Noble fancied a goal too, and very nearly got one after quarter of an hour. The 28-year-old let fly from distance and it took a brilliant Lloris stop, diving high to his left, to deny the Canning Town-born midfielder.

And there would be further first-half scares for the visitors. Lloris' touch from an innocuous-looking backpass was heavy and Emmanuel Emenike got rather too close for the Frenchman's comfort.

Then Payet, much as he did at Norwich City, rolled a ball into the path of Noble 20 yards out, whose shot, which looked to be veering wide, struck Toby Alderweireld. The rebound fell kindly for Antonio but he too was denied by a Spurs boot, that of Kevin Wimmer on this occasion.

Still West Ham carved out chances and good ones too. The ball dropped to Antonio, who else, in the penalty area and his well-struck effort was blocked by a Tottenham knee.

And the Hammers had the ball in the net for a second time before the half was out, but not before the linesman's flag had been raised. From Kouyate's flick, Emenike was a good yard or two offside and so Antonio's follow up counted for nought.

So one sided was it that Spurs ended the half without a solitary shot or corner to their name.

Tottenham showed rather more life in the opening exchanges of the second half and threatened the West Ham goal for the first time. Ben Davies screwed well wide of the upright, before Erik Lamela's stooping header missed by a distance too. Ryan Mason picked up the baton but Adrian was happy to watch his long-range drive past the post.

At the other end, Aaron Cresswell was the unlikely target of a Noble cross from the right and his header into the turf bounced over the top.

But for all West Ham's early supremacy, Spurs should have drawn level on the hour. Adrian could only parry Alderweireld's long-range blast and Kane made a meal of the rebound, allowing Kouyate to nip in and save the day.

James Collins, meanwhile, was forced from the field with an injury and replaced by young Reece Oxford, before Emenike made way for the big man Andy Carroll.

Though Spurs threw bodies forward, West Ham stood tall and strong to celebrate victory in the sides' last ever meeting at the famous old Boleyn Ground.

West Ham United: Adrian, Antonio, Collins (Oxford 66), Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang, Noble (c), Kouyate, Lanzini (Sakho 84), Payet, Emenike (Carroll 73)
Subs: Randolph (GK), Song, Henry, Dobson

Goal: Antonio 7

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris (c), Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer (Carroll 77), Davies, Dier, Mason, Lamela (Son 69), Chadli (Alli 61), Eriksen, Kane
Subs: Vorm (GK), Walker, Rose, Onomah, Carroll

Booked: Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies

Referee: Andre Marriner

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Date set for Dev Squad semi-final
WHUFC.com

The Hammers are one game away from the final

West Ham United are delighted to announce that the Development Squad's U21 Premier League Cup semi-final with Liverpool has been scheduled for Wednesday 16 March at Rush Green Stadium, kick off 7pm. The scintillating tie promises to be a fascinating encounter as two of the countries' best youth set ups go toe-to-toe.

Looking ahead to semi-final clash, Westley said: "It's a great draw, out of all the teams, that is the most attractive match. It's a bonus that it's at home. "Hopefully we get the biggest crowd at Rush Green we've seen in a while. It's a huge challenge for our young players. As everyone knows, Liverpool are a massive club, with a great tradition and a very strong Academy and U21 set up. It's a real challenge for us. "Now we've got this mouth-watering tie with Liverpool and we're won step away from the final."

Having overcome Exeter City, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers in the previous rounds, the Hammers will host English giants Liverpool who themselves beat Sunderland, Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion. Looking ahead to the match, Westley continued to describe the importance of a strong Hammers' showing at the match.
He continued: "Hopefully, it'll dwarf all attendances we've had so far, even though we've had some impressive gates this season. A semi-final, against Liverpool, it should be a great occasion for everyone."

The Dev Squad host Liverpool on Wednesday 16 March at Rush Green Stadium, kick off is 7pm. Admission is FREE.

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Bobby Moore drama coming to TV
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd March 2016
By: Staff Writer

ITV Manchester have commisioned a three-part TV series based upon Bobby Moore's marriage to first wife, Tina Dean.
The three part drama, with each episode consisting of 60 minutes will begin filming this summer and is to be written by Lauren Klee (Eastenders, Casualty, Holby City) and directed by Spencer Campbell (Cold Feet, Stella, 4 O'Clock Club). It will be based upon Tina's memoirs.

Steve November, who has commissioned the series for ITV said: "Tina and Bobby became national sweethearts in a time when the whole of Britain seemed youthful, successful and optimistic.

"Tina has reason to be called the first WAG, the Moore's were the first celebrity football couple and the nation fell in love with them. Tina and Bobby is a personal and frank insight into their lives and we're delighted to commission the drama from Kieran Roberts and ITV Studios.

Kieron Roberts, ITV Studios' Executive Producer who will oversee the project added: "Most people will know the story of Bobby Moore's achievements as captain of club and country – the only Englishman ever to lift the football World Cup.

"Far fewer will know the story of his life with Tina – a love story every bit as dramatic and epic as Bobby's exploits on the pitch. We are thrilled to be dramatising Tina and Bobby's amazing story for ITV."

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West Ham 1-0 Tottenham: Michail Antonio gives Hammers London derby winBy Lyall Thomas at Upton ParkLast Updated: 02/03/16 9:46pm
SSN

Tottenham fluffed their chance to go top of the Premier League with a 1-0 away defeat by rivals West Ham.
The visitors, needing three points to leapfrog Premier League leaders Leicester on goal difference, were beaten by an early near-post header from Michail Antonio.
Declared favourites to win a first league title in 55 years earlier on Wednesday, the pressure seemed to get to Mauricio Pochettino's young side in a first half dominated by the hosts.

Harry Kane went closest in the second half with a shot that was blocked on the line but the Hammers did have a second in the net that was chalked off for offside.
Spurs stay second, three points behind Leicester but three above Arsenal, who lost at home to Swansea, while West Ham closed the gap on fourth-place Manchester City to one point in their pursuit of a top-four spot.
Spurs missed Dele Alli from the start, who was rested on the bench after picking up an ankle knock against Swansea, as one of four changes that saw the full-backs rotated and Ryan Mason and Nacer Chadli start.
Pedro Obiang replaced Sam Byram as the Hammers went 3-5-2 and frustrated Spurs throughout the first-half while threatening on the break and pinching an early goal at the other end.
Chadli was caught napping at the near post from a corner on seven minutes, as Antonio stole in front of his Belgian marker and headed too powerfully for Hugo Lloris to keep out.

The France number one did manage to stop Mark Noble's fierce long-range effort on 16 minutes but West Ham kept the pressure on the visitors across the pitch and should have had a second before half-time.
Noble had another goal-bound shot blocked that then fell to Antonio in the box, but his curling shot was stopped in its tracks by Kevin Wimmer.
And the Hammers had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time when Antonio fired in from close range but had received the ball from Emmanuel Emineke, who was in an offside position from Cheik Kouyate's flick-on.
Spurs rediscovered some self-belief and had the better of the second half, and after Ben Davies and Mason sent wayward shots over the bar, Alli emerged to inject more vigour.
They went closest to an equaliser when Kane's close-range shot was blocked on the line after Adrian had parried Toby Alderweireld's long-range effort straight into the striker's path.
But it remained a night of deep frustration for Pochettino's team, as Antonio turned a cross over the bar while Aaron Cresswell threatened with a volley on the odd occasion West Ham broke on their opponents.

Player ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (7); Trippier (6), Alderweireld (7), Wimmer (7), Davies (6); Dier (6), Mason (6); Lamela (7), Eriksen (6), Chadl (5)i; Kane (6)
Subs: Alli (6), Son (6), Carroll (6)

West Ham; Adrian (6); Antonio (8), Collins (7), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (7); Obiang (6), Noble (7), Kouyate (7); Lanzini (6), Payet (7), Emenike (6)
Subs: Oxford (6), Carroll (6)
Man of the Match: Michail Antonio

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Irons set for Lansing deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895
C and H

West Ham will finally tie up the deal for Manu Lanzini at the beginning of next month. The brilliant midfielder's injury problem have put the signing date back but the club are ready to do the deal at the start of April
The fee of £8 million has been agreed and a source told Claret and Hugh this morning: "We are sure he is through his injury worries but we are just being a tiny bit cautious.
"There is really no need to do the deal any earlier as we have the agreement in place and as we have said many times it's watertight.
However, we understand the fans like updates and we an assure you that it is our intention to get the deal done. Manu seems absolutely fine now and all we have to do is invoke the clause which sees us take over his contract.
There is no reason for anyone to be concerned."


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Gold confirms extra 6,000 OS seats
Posted by Sean Whetstone
C and H

West Ham Co-chairman David Gold has confirmed 6,000 extra seats at the Olympic Stadium could be ready for this coming season.
In response to our story yesterday Gold confirmed on twitter:
"Yes, it's possible that the capacity of the new stadium will rise to 60,000 for the start of the new season. dg"
"The seats are already there all we need is planning. dg"
He also confirmed season ticket have not sold out yet.
"Season tickets have not sold out as we are still processing the priority list. It is important to be on the list. dg"

Yesterday ClaretandHugh revealed that the club are hoping they can get the Olympic Stadium capacity increased to 60,000 by the start of their first season.
The club expect to sell out around 42,000 season tickets with those set aside for Corporate purposes, away fans and walk-up people on the day adding another 12,000.
However, there are still around 20,000 on the Priority List and the club is ready to go for another 6,000 seats at the stadium.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively: "We have an automatic right to apply for them and we shall be doing so. It needs planning permission but that shouldn't be a problem. It's entirely realistic and we shall be doing it and hopefully we could have the situation resolved in time for next season."

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