Manchester City 1 - 0 West Ham United
Date: 16/01/2008
Venue: The City of Manchester Stadium
Attendance: 27809
Referee: M Clattenburg
A solitary strike from Elano was enough to end West Ham United's involvement
in this season's FA Cup after a disappointing third-round replay on
Wednesday night.
The Brazilian playmaker found the net with virtually Manchester City's first
effort on target on 73 minutes, converting from close range after substitute
Rolando Bianchi had headed against the post from Martin Petrov's cross. The
slender success means City will go through to play Sheffield United in the
fourth round, while Alan Curbishley will hope for much better when the sides
meet again in the league on Sunday.
The visitors made three changes from the side that beat Fulham 2-1 at the
weekend with captain Lucas Neill returning at right-back for Jonathan
Spector after a hamstring injury suffered in the first meeting with City.
Further forward, Lee Bowyer replaced Hayden Mullins and Luis Boa Morte was
in for Carlton Cole up front.
The first half was a disappointing affair although the visitors went into
the break having had the better of it. As in the first meeting in east
London, both central defensive pairings were very much on top but Dean
Ashton did elude Richard Dunne and Micah Richards on the half-hour mark.
Luis Boa Morte picked him out on the edge of the six-yard box - only for his
firm volley to unfortunately smash against Joe Hart in the City goal.
At the other end, City saw their new Mexican signing Nery Castillo carried
off on 35 minutes with a dislocated shoulder following a challenge by Neill.
That led to City, now boasting Bianchi in attack, having a period of
pressure after but ultimately it came to nothing. It was West Ham United who
would finish the half stronger, with Etherington playing in Bowyer to the
right of Hart's goal only for his shot to flash wide.
It was a similar story after the break, with the Hammers dominating the
opening stages. On 52 minutes, Boa Morte burst through after an outstanding
passing movement involving Bowyer and Ashton. With Ljungberg waiting in the
centre for a squared pass, Boa Morte opted to shoot and Hart was able to
smother the ball away. Darius Vassell nearly broke away three minutes later
before Neill and George McCartney cleared the danger.
As the hour approached, City finally created something with Petrov playing
in a cross along the six-yard box that Bianchi connected with but could not
steer goalwards. The match had finally come to life and, up the other end,
Ashton cut inside off the touchline before shooting over from distance.
Upson and then Ferdinand had to show their aerial prowess as City played in
precise crosses. It was beginning to be end to end stuff.
Curbishley sensed the tie was there for the taking and on 62 minutes he
introduced Julien Faubert for Ljungberg. The French winger instantly showed
his pace and left Dietmar Hamann in his wake. The German midfielder had no
choice but to bring him down and in turn earned the first yellow card of the
evening. He was soon followed into the book by Boa Morte after he upended
Elano, the only City player who had missed the first meeting.
Cole soon entered for the Portuguese forward in the 70th minute but within
two minutes Petrov was to conjure the only goal. He raced past Neill to the
byline, chipped to the back post for Bianchi to head beyond Robert Green.
When the ball crashed against the post, it was Elano who reacted quickest to
prod in from close range. Almost immediately, City appeared content to
defend what they had with Gelson on for Vassell.
Bowyer nearly earned an equaliser in the 83rd minute, hooking the ball over
Hart after sneaking in behind the defence but Richards was able to clear.
West Ham United refused to give up as Ashton then fired in a shot that Hart
smothered just as Upson was about to pounce. Petrov and Elano also had good
chances to add a second, though, as Hammers hopes of Wembley fizzled away
for another season.
West Ham United: Green, Neill (c), Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg
(Faubert 70), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington, Boa Morte (Cole 70) , Ashton
Subs: Wright, Spector, Mullins
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne (c), Ball, Ireland, Hamann,
Elano, Petrov, Vassell (Gelson 81), Castillo (Bianchi 35)
Subs: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido
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Upson eager for league response - WHUFC
A 'gutted' Matthew Upson believes West Ham United can turn the tables on
Manchester City on Sunday
16.01.2008
Matthew Upson could not hide his disappointment following the 1-0 defeat at
Manchester City in the FA Cup but felt there were reasons to be positive.
The defender was yet again an impressive performer at the heart of the side
as the visitors more than held their own in the third-round replay at the
City of Manchester Stadium. "We are very disappointed, especially given the
share we had of the game and the opportunites we created," he said. "We feel
that we were a little bit unlucky to come off and be knocked out of the
cup."
It was the third time the teams have met this season, following a 2-0
opening-day loss at home in the league and the Boleyn Ground stalemate on 5
January that led to Wednesday night's return. While Dean Ashton, Luis Boa
Morte and Lee Bowyer all went close, Robert Green's only real involvement at
the other end was to pick the ball out of the net from Elano's scrambled
second-half header.
"They are always close games but I felt we created enough to get something
out of it," Upson added. "I can't think of many situations where Greeny has
had to make a save. We could have been a bit more clinical and had good
opportunities - but we couldn't finish them off.
"I am gutted. I love the FA Cup. I am really disappointed about it but we
can take some positives from our performance. To come here, pass the ball
and create the opportunities that we did is a very positive thing. I think
it gives us a big opportunity on Sunday to come back and beat them."
That instant chance for revenge this weekend sees the Hammers return to
league action on a high after a run of six wins and four draws from the last
13 top-flight fixtures and Upson is under no doubts that the team can keep
that good form going. "If we are positive and play similarly to the way we
did here, I think we can win the game."
With City three places above the Hammers in the league, there is the chance
to close the gap on the side widely regarded as the Premier League's
surprise package this season to just four points with a game in hand. "It is
a crucial period," said Upson. "A few wins strung together at this point of
the season will keep us right up there with top eight, top seven. It is the
goal of the club, the players and the manager and it is something that, if
we do well enough, we can achieve."
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Curbs confident for Sunday return - WHUFC
The West Ham United manager had plenty of reason to be positive after a
strong showing at Manchester City
17.01.2008
After two previous FA Cup eliminations at the hands of West Ham United, it
finally proved third time lucky for Manchester City last night.
Having seen Elano's 73rd-minute winner decide the third-round replay, Alan
Curbishley returns to Eastlands at the weekend confident his side can make
amends in the Premier League. Victory on Sunday would also move the Hammers
to within just four points of the season's surprise package with a game in
hand - more incentive, if any were needed, for another strong showing.
"We've ended up on the wrong end of the result but we can take a lot out of
this game and come back here on Sunday and try to turn it around," said the
Boleyn Ground boss, safe in the knowledge that his toiling team had created
enough chances of their own to progress into the fourth round. "We're
obviously disappointed but now we just need to regroup and, if I get the
same level of performance and effort, then we may well get something.
"It's not ideal to be coming back to play Manchester City so quickly but
these things happen, just as we found out when we met Everton in the Carling
Cup and then the Premier League, too. On Sunday, we return knowing that we
kept the game tight. We created a couple of chances and certainly took the
game to City at the start of the second half and if we'd nicked a goal, then
it might have been a different story.
"On the night Joe Hart made the stops to deny Dean Ashton and then Luis Boa
Morte. He had to make more saves than Robert Green but, in the end, we
didn't score and we paid the price because it was probably always going to
be a case of just one goal deciding the tie. I'm obviously disappointed that
we didn't get it, while Elano was probably the one person who was going to
nick a goal for City and, sure enough, he was the one who ended up nicking
it.
"We also had a good shout for a penalty," insisted Curbishley. "Lee Bowyer
had got himself in on goal when their keeper collided with him. Joe Hart's
momentum took him out but referee Mark Clattenburg had his eye on the ball
because Lee had lifted it towards goal but we didn't get the decision and we
just had to get on with it."
But at least some of the manager's disappointment was tempered by the sight
of his fit-again trio comprising Bowyer, Boa Morte and Julien Faubert, a
second-half substitute, enjoying encouraging run-outs against Sven-Goran
Eriksson's side.
"I took the opportunity to give Bowyer a start after two months and I also
wanted to give Boa Morte and Faubert the chance to get some football under
their belts, too," concluded Curbishley, who is gradually seeing the Boleyn
Ground casualty list shorten. "That was the only reason why we made some
changes.
"After all, the FA Cup is a competition that everyone in the Premier League
has to attack because one of us is going win it. We adopted the same
approach in the Carling Cup, too, and now all we can do is wish City all the
best in the next round."
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Man City 1-0 West Ham - BBC
By Phil McNulty
Elano's header 18 minutes from time sank West Ham and handed Manchester City
a FA Cup fourth round trip to Sheffield United. The Brazilian dived into the
six-yard box after Rolando Bianchi headed Martin Petrov's cross against an
upright. Dean Ashton missed West Ham's best chance after 30 minutes when he
volleyed Luis Boa Morte's cross against City keeper Joe Hart. Boa Morte was
also denied by Hart as City held on to clinch the win. The first-half was a
desperately poor affair, with little or nothing to excite an Eastlands crowd
that was well below capacity. West Ham's Ashton wasted their best first-half
chance, but City keeper Hart blocked his close-range effort after Boa Morte
created the opening. City suffered a blow two minutes later when on-loan
Mexican Nery Castillo fell awkwardly under a challenge from Lucas Neill and
was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder. Hart got the better of
Ashton again in first-half injury time, halting the striker as he tried to
take advantage of Richard Dunne's error. The loose ball fell to Boa Morte,
but he blasted wildly off target. West Ham started the second half brightly,
and Boa Morte was guilty of selfish play after 52 minutes, choosing to shoot
straight at Hart with Freddie Ljungberg waiting unmarked only six yards out
with the goal at his mercy. City carved out their first opportunity after 56
minutes, courtesy of a superb Petrov cross that substitute Bianchi could not
turn in at the far post. Petrov was City's outstanding performer, and it was
no surprise that he was instrumental when they went ahead with 18 minutes
left. He delivered a superb far post cross that was diverted against an
upright by Bianchi, and Elano dived bravely into the six-yard box to head
home the rebound. West Ham almost restored equality with eight minutes left
when Lee Bowyer lifted the ball over the onrushing Hart, but Micah Richards
made a superb covering header to deny Ashton.
Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It is good to see Elano coming
back to normal because he has been down for a little while. "We have not had
the real Elano since October or November. The last two times he has come
back from the national team he has been injured. Then he was a bit sick, so
he has not been training regularly. "Thankfully, he has trained well for a
few weeks now and physically, he is a lot better than he was a month ago.
"He is a world-class player and when you are looking for someone to do
something special in the last third, he is the man."
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley: We dominated for long periods. I was
pleased with most of what we did but we didn't find the back of the net. We
took the game to Manchester City but we didn't get the goal and paid the
price. "It is disappointing to go out, because it is a competition that
every team in the Premier League has got to attack because a Premier League
team is going to win it."
Man City: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Hamann, Ireland, Elano,
Castillo (Bianchi 34), Petrov, Vassell (Gelson 81).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido.
Booked: Hamann.
Goals: Elano 73.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg (Faubert 62),
Bowyer, Noble, Etherington, Boa Morte (Cole 70), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Mullins, Spector.
Booked: Boa Morte.
Att: 27,809
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Vedran Corluke 6.85 (on 90
minutes).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man City 1 West Ham Utd 0 - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th January 208
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley celebrated his 50th game in charge of the Hammers tonight -
but that was as far as the celebrations went as his side were sent tumbling
out of the FA Cup. A 73rd minute header from City's Brazilian midfielder
Elano was enough to seperate the sides, as the Hammers drew a blank against
Sven Goran Eriksson's outfit for the third time this season. West Ham may
have been the better side on the night - and in terms of goalscoring
opportunities they certainly edged it - but once again failure to convert
any of those chances led to United's first 3rd round exit in ten years, and
with it the chance of heaping further misery on Sheffield United who awaited
the winners of tonight's tie in the 4th round. Perhaps most guilty on the
night were Dean Ashton - who could only fire straight at fledgling keeper
Joe Hart from just six yards out in the 31st minute - and Luis Boa Morte who
opted to fire at goal from an impossible angle rather than set up an
unmarked Freddie Ljungberg five minutes into the second half. For Boa Morte
inparticular it was a miserable night, and after a questionable booking and
further censure from referee Clattenburg he was removed from the pitch to
presumably save himself being dismissed. Just moments after the Portuguese
winger's withdrawal City scored the only goal of the game when a Petrov
cross - virtually the first time he'd managed to get behind Lucas Neill, in
stark contrast to the first tie 10 days ago - was first headed against the
post by Bianchi before being stabbed home by Elano after it fell kindly for
him.
That pretty much summed up West Ham United's night, for nothing really went
their way - including two penalty shouts, one either side of the break that
on another night (or in another venue) may have been considered more
carefully by the match official. However bar the aforementioned chances the
Hammers failed to make the most of their superiority and can have no
complaints at losing out, albeit by the narrowest of margins.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Green, Neill, McCartney, Upson, Ferdinand, Bowyer, Noble,
Ljungberg (Faubert 62), Etherington, Boa Morte (Cole 70), Ashton.
Subs not used: Wright, Spector, Mullins.
Booked: Boa Morte (67).
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Ball, Richards, Dunn, Hamann, Johnson,
Elano, Petrov, Castillo (Bianchi 34), Vassell (Gelson 81).
Subs not used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido.
Booked: Hamann (65).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Attendance: 27,809.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elano sends City through - SSN
Second-half header from Brazilian puts City into fourth round.
Last updated: 16th January 2008
Elano's second half header gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over West Ham in
their largely forgettable FA Cup third round replay at Eastlands. For an FA
Cup replay, there was not a lot to shout about for either side as chances
were at a premium in a low-key affair that saw both teams struggle to get
into their stride. The second half was better than the first, and the two
key players, Martin Petrov and Elano, were involved in the first and only
goal of the game.
Petrov's 73rd-minute cross was headed against the post by Rolando Bianchi,
but Elano was first to the rebound and his brave diving header sent City
into a fourth round tie against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. With Fabio
Capello's trusted advisor Franco Baldini at the game alongside Stuart
Pearce, the likes of Joe Hart Matthew Upson and Micah Richards had the
chance to stake claims for England places. City goalkeeper Hart probably
emerged with the most credit in what was, in truth, a dour affair.
Hart is still capable of the odd mistake, as his failure to make any
connection with his attempt to punch Freddie Ljungberg's free-kick clear
late in the opening period showed, but he has already done enough to
persuade Sven-Goran Eriksson to dump Sweden's World Cup keeper Andreas
Isaksson and the Swede feels he could follow in the footsteps of David
Seaman and Peter Shilton as a world-class England number one. A talented
cricketer in his youth, Hart stood as strong as an opening batsmen facing a
fast-ball battery when Luis Boa Morte picked out Ashton with an astute cross
from the right. Although he was at full stretch, Ashton got plenty of power
behind his volley but it just bounced off Hart, who made a similar, if
slightly less difficult save from Boa Morte himself not long after the
break. If anything, Hart was even braver in stoppage-time as he confronted
Ashton in a body-to-body duel when Richard Dunne looped an attempted
clearance into his own box. Yet again, it was the keeper who came out on
top, both in winning the ball and the clash of bodies which inevitably
followed.
The loss of loan signing Nery Castillo with a dislocated shoulder after
barely half an hour hardly aided City's cause. But, after a slow start to
the second period, Eriksson's men began to get into their stride with Petrov
leading the offensive. The Bulgarian has been in top form recently and after
substitute Bianchi bundled one low cross wide, Upson, another Englishman to
impress, was at full stretch to prevent Petrov picking out the same man, who
had found a much better position. There was to be no reprieve for the
Hammers when Petrov drove past Lucas Neill 17 minutes from time. This time,
Bianchi met the far-post cross with a firm header, which crashed back off a
post, only for Elano to dive in and get his head on the ball between a mass
of raised boots. City needed to survive a couple of late scares as West Ham
had a penalty claim against Dunne turned down before Richards nodded a
dangerous Lee Bowyer cross out from underneath his own crossbar. But, in the
end, they are the ones who can start planning for a Roses battle at Bramall
Lane.
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Eriksson thanks Elano return - SNN
Eriksson praises Brazillian, Curbishley wanted penalty
Last updated: 16th January 2008
Sven Goran Eriksson was surprised to see Elano use his head to help
Manchester City beat West Ham in their FA Cup replay. The Brazilian bagged a
rare headed goal, which proved to be enough to beat the Hammers 1-0 and book
a fourth round tie against Sheffield United for City. Elano's goal was his
first since October and Eriksson believes that it is a sign that the South
American is coming back into form. "Since he came to the club, I have never
seen him score with his head," said Eriksson. "I don't know how many goals
he has scored in his career like that but I cannot imagine it is many. "It
is good to see Elano coming back to normal because he has been down for a
little while."
Eriksson paid tribute to his £8 million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, and
believes the 26-year-old is a world-class operator. "We have not had the
real Elano since October or November," he said. "The last two times he has
come back from the national team he has been injured. Then he was a bit
sick, so he has not been training regularly. "Thankfully, he has trained
well for a few weeks now and physically, he is a lot better than he was a
month ago. "He is a world-class player and when you are looking for someone
to do something special in the last third, he is the man."
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley was disappointed his side missed the chance to
progress in the FA Cup. His major grumble was the failure of referee Mark
Clattenburg to award a penalty against impressive City keeper Joe Hart when
he flattened Lee Bowyer when the pair chased a Lucas Neill pass as the
visitors looked for an equaliser. "It is a competition that every team in
the Premier League has got to attack because a Premier League team is going
to win it," said Curbishley. "Joe Hart did not get there and then his
momentum meant he took Lee Bowyer out. "I think Mark Clattenburg was looking
at the ball. If the referee looked at it again, he might have given a
penalty."
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Man City 1-0 West Ham - Soccernet
Brazilian magician Elano dispensed with the silky skills and resorted to
English-style bravery to earn Manchester City a 1-0 win against West Ham and
an FA Cup trip to Sheffield United. After a superb start to his City career,
Elano has suffered a noticeable dip in form recently, not helped by a
niggling injury which has proved difficult to shake off. But after
substitute Rolando Bianchi saw his header bounce off a post, Elano dived in
where it hurts, netting a goal Alan Shearer would have been proud of as he
nodded home amid a mass of raised boots. It was only the former Shakhtar
Donetsk man's second goal since October but could prove very timely as it
sent 2006 finalists West Ham out of the competition and retained City's
hopes of ending a 32-year trophy drought.
Yet the man who gained most from the contest was City goalkeeper Joe Hart,
who edged out Matthew Upson and Micah Richards as the best Englishman on
view and certainly came out on top in his battle with Dean Ashton. Although
Fabio Capello was not present, he did despatch trusted advisor Franco
Baldini to the north-west.
And, with Richards virtually guaranteed a start in the first game of
England's new era against Switzerland on February 6, Baldini was presumably
focussing more on Ashton than any of the other 10 English-qualified
starters. Injury has twice wrecked Ashton's hopes of making a
much-anticipated international debut and with Capello's options in attack
fairly limited, if the former Norwich man is fit, he must have a chance of
being in the squad for the Swiss encounter, which is due to be named at the
beginning of next month. Yet any objective analysis by Baldini at the end of
a largely forgettable first-half would have offered Hart high praise indeed.
Capello has pledged to work closely with Stuart Pearce, who sat next to
Baldini in a near 30,000 crowd, so he probably already knows plenty about
the youngster as it was the England Under-21 boss who signed Hart from
Shrewsbury when he was still City manager.
Hart is still capable of the odd mistake, as his failure to make any
connection with his attempt to punch Freddie Ljungberg's free-kick clear
late in the opening period showed, but he has already done enough to
persuade Sven-Goran Eriksson to dump Sweden's World Cup keeper Andreas
Isaksson and the Swede feels he could follow in the footsteps of David
Seaman and Peter Shilton as a world-class England number one. A talented
cricketer in his youth, Hart stood as strong as an opening batsmen facing a
fast-ball battery when Luis Boa Morte picked out Ashton with an astute cross
from the right. Although he was at full stretch, Ashton got plenty of power
behind his volley but it just bounced off Hart, who made a similar, if
slightly less difficult save from Boa Morte himself not long after the
break.
If anything, Hart was even braver in stoppage-time as he confronted Ashton
in a body-to-body duel when Richard Dunne looped an attempted clearance into
his own box. Yet again, it was the keeper who came out on top, both in
winning the ball and the clash of bodies which inevitably followed. The loss
of loan signing Nery Castillo with a dislocated shoulder after barely half
an hour hardly aided City's cause. But, after a slow start to the second
period, Sven-Goran Eriksson's men began to get into their stride with Martin
Petrov leading the offensive. The Bulgarian has been in top form recently
and after substitute Bianchi bundled one low cross wide, Upson, another
Englishman to impress, was at full stretch to prevent Petrov picking out the
same man, who had found a much better position. There was to be no reprieve
for the Hammers when Petrov drove past Lucas Neill 17 minutes from time.
This time, Bianchi met the far-post cross with a firm header, which crashed
back off a post, only for Elano to dive in and get his head on the ball
between a mass of raised boots. City needed to survive a couple of late
scares as West Ham had a penalty claim against Dunne turned down before
Richards nodded a dangerous Lee Bowyer cross out from underneath his own
crossbar. But, in the end, they are the ones who can start planning for a
Roses battle at Bramall Lane.
Samba star Elano used his head at just the right time tonight to book
Manchester City an FA Cup fourth round trip to Sheffield United. It was
only the Brazilian's second goal since October but it not only dumped the
2006 finalists out of the competition at the first hurdle but also raised a
quizzical look from his manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson. 'Since he came to the
club, I have never seen him score with his head,' reflected the City boss. I
don't know how many goals he has scored in his career like that but I cannot
imagine it is many. 'It is good to see Elano coming back to normal because
he has been down for a little while.'
An £8million summer arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, Elano was one of the
stand-out Premier League performers during the opening couple of months and
a major influence behind City's rise into the top four. However, after
returning from international duty in October with a minor injury, his form
dipped markedly and Eriksson revealed it is only now the 26-year-old has
been able to start training properly. 'We have not had the real Elano since
October or November,' he said. 'The last two times he has come back from the
national team he has been injured. Then he was a bit sick, so he has not
been training regularly. Thankfully, he has trained well for a few weeks now
and physically, he is a lot better than he was a month ago. 'He is a
world-class player and when you are looking for someone to do something
special in the last third, he is the man.' Victory did not come without a
price for City as loan signing Nery Castillo, like Elano an arrival from
Donetsk, suffered a dislocated shoulder that is almost certain to rule him
out of Sunday's league match against the same opponents.
However, given the number of top-flight clubs who have already been
eliminated, it was an important victory for a team who will fancy their
chances of easing past Bryan Robson's middle-of-the-Championship-table
Blades and into the last 16. 'It is a competition that every team in the
Premier League has got to attack because a Premier League team is going to
win it,' said Alan Curbishley.
The Hammers boss always felt one goal would settle the game, although he was
disappointed at the failure of referee Mark Clattenburg to award a penalty
against impressive City keeper Joe Hart, who flattened Lee Bowyer when the
pair chased a Lucas Neill pass as the visitors looked for an equaliser. 'Joe
Hart did not get there and then his momentum meant he took Lee Bowyer out,'
said Curbishley. 'I think Mark Clattenburg was looking at the ball. If the
referee looked at it again, he might have given a penalty.' On a night when
his strikers again drew a blank, Eriksson confirmed the hunt for
reinforcements will continue. And he also re-iterated his acceptance than
some of the internationals on his books who are not playing at present,
including Andreas Isaksson and Georgios Samaras, will be allowed to leave
should a suitable offer come in. 'So far there have been a lot of rumours
but that is it,' the Swede said. 'We have so players who, if they ask to
leave, we will accept it. 'I understand that players who are in or close to
the international team are not going to be happy just sitting on the bench
because they will probably lose that chance to appear for their country.'
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Vinny's Manchester City (Cup) Report - West Ham Online
Vinny - Thu Jan 17 2008
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay
Manchester City 1 West Ham United 0
They say in football that if you don't take your chances you will be
punished and that is exactly what happened to West Ham in this FA Cup third
round replay.
I am thinking of not doing a match report and instead talk about Kevin
Keegan and the wonderful beautiful fantastic Newcastle Fans, the Toon army,
the sleeping giant. There're not deluded, the king is back after all.
Unfortunately for most of you, I will continue on about West Ham and there
failure to capitalize on lots of possession in good areas and once again
highlight our lack of a player who can play a quality final ball.
Alan Curbishley made tactical and personnel changes to the side which beat
Fulham last Saturday. Carlton Cole was dropped to the bench and replaced by
Luis Boa Morte which saw Boa Morte play in a free role and Dean Ashton was
left as the lone striker.
In midfield, Lee Bowyer came in to replace Hayden Mullins who also found
himself on the bench. At the back, captain Lucas Neill returned at right
back in place of Jonathan Spector.
The first half will not be considered memorable from a neutral point of
view, but I am not a neutral and am only coming from a West Ham perspective.
Our first half showing was exactly how we have performed in most of our away
games this season (barring Derby) and we set out our stall to contain and
hit them on the break.
There were little in the way of chances on goal in the first half but we
looked the better side going forward with Boa Morte and Ljungberg getting
forward to help the hard working Ashton who was causing their defenders
problems with his sheer presence.
The first chance of the game came on the thirty minute mark and it came
after a good move resulted in Boa Morte whipping in a wonderful first time
cross for an unmarked Dean Ashton to prod at goal but his attempt was
straight at Man City keeper and the hosts cleared their lines.
We were defending well enough and Petrov did not have the same joy up
against Lucas Neill as he did in the first tie. Our game plan appeared to be
working and with us looking the more likely side to open the scoring I
couldn't help but be pleased at the way things were going.
That goal nearly fell our way when a long ball was poorly headed by Richard
Dunne and it allowed Ashton to steal in but the striker didn't get a touch
on the ball to take it past goal keeper Hart who took the ball and man. The
ball then fell loose to Boa Morte who smashed a shot which went well wide of
the goal.
If we could step up a gear in the second half I felt confident that we could
progress to the next round as Manchester City (in front of a half empty
stadium) had not managed a shot on goal.
We started the second half exactly how I had hoped and some of the football
we played was very impressive with Lee Bowyer at the heart of our attacking
play.
A great move involving Bowyer and Ashton put Luis Boa Morte through in the
area but instead of crossing the ball for an unmarked Ljungberg to tap in,
he tried an left foot shot from an impossible angle which was saved easily.
This piece of selfish play would come back to haunt us as we struggled to
create many more good opportunities.
Petrov had been lively for Man City but he didn't really test us until just
before the hour mark when his telling cross evaded our defenders and found
Bianchi at the back post but he couldn't make good enough connection to put
into the goal.
The game turned into an end to end affair with both sides having possession
in good areas but doing little with it. Just like in the first game I
worried that one of their creative players would be able to conjure up that
killer pass.
Freddie Ljungberg and Luis Boa Morte were taken off in favour of Julien
Faubert and Carlton Cole.
I belived these changes were going to be the positive acts that would see us
through the final twenty minutes but out of the blue Man City scored what
proved to be the winning goal on 73 minutes.
Lucas Neill will not come up against many better players than Martin Petrov
this season and he got the better of our captain once again with a piece of
skill which had Neill falling over and the cross was met by Bianchi whose
header smashed against the post but out to Elano who reacted quickly to head
into the goal.
Elano is a player who was identified as their main threat yet he had been
anonymous for the majority of the game, but his contribution in the end is
what won the game for a Manchester City side who continue to show little
that would indicate they are much better than us.
Our only good chance from then to the final whistle came when a through ball
found Lee Bowyer who lifted the ball over the onrushing goal keeper but the
Man City defender's were able to head the ball away before Dean Ashton could
bundle over the line.
The final five minutes and injury time were littered with free kicks and
misplaced passes and there was to be no late rally which would see a
dramatic equaliser.
Oh by the way, Kevin Keegan is back at Newcastle.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
The only thing he had to do all night was pick the ball out of his net. A
lot of back passes came his way and he dealt with each one well.
Lucas Neill
A much better showing than in the first tie but it was Petrov who did him
for the goal and is one player who Neill will not want to face again too
soon. Which is not very good as he will have to do it all again on Sunday.
Neill needs to give him a good kick because if Petrov fancies it again in
Sunday, we will struggle.
Matthew Upson
An excellent display from a player who is becoming one of our most
consistent. Was immense at times and some of his challenges he made were of
international class. I had my doubts about Upson earlier in the season but
those doubts have been totally erased.
Anton Ferdinand
Another good display from Ferdinand who has really returned to form in
recent matches. Has much more of a presence about him and looks strong in
the tackle and solid in the air. We kept Manchester City quiet tonight for a
long time and Upson and Ferdinand deserve a lot of praise for that.
George McCartney
Like the two centre halves, defensively McCartney was sound and didn't put a
foot wrong. Was rarely attacked which should have given him licence to get
forward but he failed to do so.
Freddie Ljungberg
There were moments in the first half where he would show some nice touches
and look a threat going forward but they were too few and far between.
Should have been celebrating his first goal for the club if Boa Morte had
not have been so selfish. Ljungberg faded from this game and was taken off
just after the hour mark.
Mark Noble
A bright display from the youngster as he shown no signs of nerves up
against a strong Manchester City midfield. With Mullins on the bench, Noble
had to do a lot of the defensive work which does no always suit him as he
struggled to get forward and into the area where I believe he is a bigger
threat.
Lee Bowyer
It is clear that Bowyer still possess some great passing ability and when
given time he can hurt the opposition. There were moments during this game
where he looked superb and it was refreshing to see some clever positive
passes being made. If only he still had the legs.
Matthew Etherington
Had a lot of space to run into in the first half but never really exploited
it. Seemed to have one of those games where his heart wasn't fully in the
game and this was to our detriment. He is a player who could have really
made an impression in this game but was often out muscled and out thought
but the City defenders.
Luis Boa Morte
A willing runner but effort cannot make up for selfishness which cost us the
chance of scoring. He seemed to be eager to make up for his mistake but only
ended up making lots of fouls which saw him receive a yellow card and on
another day he may have even saw red for a foul immediately after.
Dean Ashton
Doesn't suit the lone striker role simply because he is better on the deck
than he is in the air. He may be tall but he still fails to get off the
ground ahead of his marker. On the floor he can cause damage and some of his
passing is excellent. Had a couple of chances to score and will be
disappointed not to have got on the score sheet. He is getting into those
positions and is getting sharper with every game.
Subs Used
Julien Faubert (on for Ljungberg 62 mins)
Easing himself into match fitness, he covered a lot of ground in his time on
the pitch and looks to have bags of pace and strength. Put in one very good
cross and I hope there is more to come.
Carlton Cole (on for Boa Morte 70 mins)
Looked really eager to get into the game and make an impact. Did well to
drag defenders out to the flanks which should have been exploited by one of
our midfielders who should have been trying to get into the area. Would
expect him to be in the side on Sunday.
Overall
Going out in the third round of the FA Cup is not something we do too often
and with the chance of playing Sheffield United also gone this is a real
disappointment and I have come away from this one feeling quite gutted.
Some people think that the league is more important but after watching our
performances this season it seems clear to me that we will finish no higher
that 9th simply because we do not have the quality and consistency to make a
real impact on the Premiership this season.
The FA Cup still retains its magic and our only realistic chance of winning
anything this season is now gone.
This wasn't a terrible performance and I don't think we deserved to lose.
This performance is one I have seen many times this season and sometimes we
will nick the win (Boro', Blackburn) and some will go the other way (Villa,
Chelsea). Our style of play is set and it does not seem as though Curbishley
can or knows how to alter our system.
Our next game is again against Manchester City on Sunday and we could play
the exact same side, and play the exact same way and come away with a 1-0
victory.
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Manchester City 1-0 West Ham - West Ham Online
Biscuits - Thu Jan 17 2008
Alan Curbishley and the FA Cup have never exactly seen eye to eye. The West
Ham manager has rarely tended to progress too far in the competition, either
with Charlton or his current club, and Manchester City ended ambitions this
year thanks to Elano's headed winner.
If anything illustrated the Premier League's looming spectre over the cup,
it was this game which almost felt like an inconvenience to both sides,
especially given that City entertain West Ham again on Sunday in the league.
That must surely assume greater importance to Sven Goran Eriksson and
Curbishley. Despite cheap ticket prices, the stadium was half empty, and
those who bothered to turn up were hardly treated to the most gripping of
encounters.
The first half was noteworthy for producing little in the way of any
memorable fare, and with both sides adopting formations including just the
one striker each, defences were on top, just as they were in the goalless
draw at Upton Park.
Although City forced much of the play in the opening exchanges, they created
little despite the delicate approaches of Stephen Ireland, Elano and Nery
Castillo, the latter departing with a dislocated shoulder after a heavy
challenge by West Ham captain Lucas Neill. On the left, Martin Petrov saw
much of the ball, yet Neill was coping better with him than he managed last
week.
It was West Ham's striker, Dean Ashton, who had the best opportunity, that
coming after thirty minutes when he met Luis Boa Morte's cross with a volley
that City's keeper Joe Hart saved, not that he knew much about it. Lee
Bowyer curled a shot over after decent build-up play. Then a mistake by
Richard Dunne allowed Ashton in, the forward colliding with Hart in a race
for the loose ball. With Hart stranded, Boa Morte's composure deserted him
and he shanked the chance well wide.
Boa Morte wasted the visitor's best chance of the match early in the second
half. Released by excellent work by Bowyer and Ashton, he opted to shoot at
Hart from an angle with Freddie Ljungberg ready to convert what would have
been a simple goal. Boa Morte's night went from bad to worse, when
Curbishley was forced to substitute him before Mark Clattenburg sent him
off.
How West Ham were made to regret such greedy folly. With Petrov finding more
space than previously, the Bulgarian's cross shot was parried by Robert
Green, only for Rolando Bianchi to prod wide. But Petrov's delivery is too
dangerous if allowed to continue. On 73 minutes he escaped Neill and crossed
again, Bianchi nodded against the post, and Elano headed the rebound in.
There was time for Bowyer to lob Hart, but with Ashton nearby, Micah
Richards excellently headed away to ensure City travel to Sheffield United
in the next round.
Green- He could do little about the goal as his defence had let him down on
that one vital occassion. 7
Neill- He was fairly solid in the first half, but it was a chastening
experience from then on against Petrov, he was chasing shadows. 6
Ferdinand- I'd need to see the goal again to comment whether it was
Ferdinand or Upson who lost Bianchi. Either way, that lapse aside he gave an
otherwise assured performance. 7
Upson- The same applies as Ferdinand, the pair of them capable of forging a
really strong partnership if injuries allow it to happen. 7
McCartney- Rarely troubled by Ireland, he was reluctant to exploit that and
attack. 6
Ljungberg- The Boa Morte episode is the kind of moment Ljungberg thrives on,
and would put a different spin on his performance. There was no lack of
effort but he struggled to really influence the game tonight. 6
Noble- While his passing could not be faulted, he was unable to truly
dominate and was given a bit of a lesson at times by Elano. 6
Bowyer- He produced some lovely touches at times, and was always willing to
link play or try to burst beyond Ashton. He was unlucky not to score I felt.
7 MOM
Etherington- He's definitely had better games this season- there were
glimpses here and there, but too many errors stunted his game. 5
Boa Morte- Involved but not always to our advantage. 5
Ashton- It was frustrating for him. He could have scored and at times he
linked play well. But he lacked the pace to trouble Richards, and the ball
seems to stick under his feet too much. That didn't seem to happen pre
injury. 6
Faubert- Definitely quick, but just feeling his way back. 6
Cole- Not a bad little cameo, and he could perhaps feel aggrived not to
start as he made a general nuisance of himself. More suited to the role of
lone striker than Ashton- but then, who's more likely to get you a goal?
Catch 22 situation. 6
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Elano gives Man City reason to believe - Telegraph
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 7:32am GMT 17/01/2008
Manchester City (0) 1 West Ham United (0) 0
If Manchester City are to end their tortuous 32-year wait for silverware in
the FA Cup this season, the mercurial talents of Elano are likely to be
called upon at some stage of any route to Wembley.
Yet, as he eliminated West Ham from the cup to secure a fourth-round date
with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, it was the Brazilian's bravery,
rather than his brilliance, that resulted in his match-winning goal against
Alan Curbishley's team.
A diving header among the flying boots of the West Ham six-yard box was a
world away from some of the jaw-dropping goals that Elano has produced since
his £8 million arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer, but it only served
to increase City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's admiration for him.
Eriksson said: "It is not every day that Elano scores with his head. Since
he came here, I have never seen him do it.
"He is a world-class player and he is that man who can do something special.
We haven't seen the real Elano since October or November because of injuries
and illness, but he is now back to his best for us."
West Ham eliminated City from this competition in a quarter-final tie at
Eastlands two years ago on their way to an FA Cup final appearance against
Liverpool.
On that occasion, two Dean Ashton goals secured a 2-1 victory for West Ham
and the former Norwich forward again appeared the likely match-winner during
an insipid first half.
Ashton ought to have opened the scoring on 31 minutes when he sprung the
offside trap to connect with Luis Boa Morte's pinpoint delivery from the
right. Unmarked having escaped City defender Micah Richards, Ashton prodded
a right-foot volley, but his effort was too straight and goalkeeper Joe Hart
blocked with his arm.
It was a costly miss by a man likely to figure in Fabio Capello's first
England squad next month, but a worse fate was to befall his opposite
number, the City centre-forward Nery Castillo, moments later.
Castillo, making his home debut following his loan move from Shakhtar
Donetsk, was forced out of the game just two minutes after Ashton's miss due
to a dislocated shoulder suffered following a challenge by Lucas Neill. The
Mexican will undergo a scan today. City's lack of a cutting edge was
evident, however, and it was Ashton and Boa Morte that continued to offer
the greater threat as West Ham gained the upper hand in the contest and a
three-man move involving the two forwards and Lee Bowyer almost brought an
opening goal on 52 minutes, but once again, City's young goalkeeper Hart
prevent Boa Morte from making a breakthrough.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said: "On the night, Hart has made the
saves from Ashton and Boa Morte and he certainly had more saves to make than
Robert Green.
"We had a couple of chances, we really took the game to City and could have
nicked a goal, but we didn't and ended up paying the price for that."
Having lived dangerously in the opening stages of the second-half, City were
dragged out of their slumber by Elano and Martin Petrov, who combined on
several occasions to torment the West Ham rearguard.
Bianchi and Petrov combined for Elano's goal when the Italian's header from
the Bulgarian's cross hit the far post and dropped for the Brazilian to put
his head in the way of Anton Ferdinand's boot to head in his seventh goal of
the season from three yards. It was scruffy, and hardly as spectacular as
some of his strikes, but the end result was just the same.
Match details
Manchester City (4-4-2): Hart; Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball; Ireland,
Hamann, Elano, Petrov; Vassell (Fernandes 81), Castillo (Bianchi 35).
Subs: Schmeichel (g), Onuoha, Garrido.
Booked: Hamann.
West Ham (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney; Ljungberg
(Faubert 62), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington; Ashton, Boa Morte (Cole 71).
Subs: Wright (g), Mullins, Spector.
Booked: Boa Morte.
Referee: M. Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elano gives Man City another Cup opening - Telegraph
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 1:59am GMT 17/01/2008
Manchester City (0) 1 West Ham United (0) 0
It sums up Manchester City's wretched fortunes in the FA Cup that they
progressed to a fourth round date with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane with
a goal scored by a player who was born a month after they last contested the
final of this competition, in 1981.
Last month's Carling Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Tottenham denied
City the opportunity of contesting their first major cup semi-final since
1981 and the home team suffered similar disappointment when West Ham
eliminated them from this competition in a quarter-final tie at Eastlands
two years ago on their way to an FA Cup Final appearance against Liverpool.
Dean Ashton ought to have opened the scoring for the visitors on 31 minutes
when he sprung the offside trap to connect with Luis Boa Morte's pinpoint
delivery from the right. Unmarked having escaped City defender Micah
Richards, Ashton prodded a right-foot volley goalwards, but his effort was
too straight and goalkeeper Joe Hart was able to block the shot with his
arm.
In a game of few chances, it was a poor miss by a man likely to figure in
Fabio Capello's first England squad next month, but a worse fate was to
befall his opposite number, the City centre-forward Nery Castillo moments
later.
Castillo, making his home debut following his loan move from Shakhtar
Donetsk, was forced out of the game just two minutes after Ashton's miss due
to a dislocated shoulder suffered following a challenge by Lucas Neill. The
Mexican is now likely to be sidelined for six weeks, but his misfortune
could prolong the City career of his replacement Rolando Bianchi.
The Italian, an £8.8million summer signing, had been lined up for a return
to Serie A by Sven-Goran Eriksson with both Torino and Lazio in negotiations
to take the former Reggina forward on loan with a view to a permanent move.
City's lack of a cutting edge was evident, however, and it was Ashton and
Boa Morte that continued to offer the greater threat as West Ham gradually
gained the upper hand in the contest.
And a three-man move involving the two forwards and Lee Bowyer almost
brought an opening goal on 52 minutes, but once again, City's young
goalkeeper Hart prevent West Ham from making a breakthrough.
The slick passing between Ashton, Bowyer and Boa Morte cut the City defence
apart to enable the Portuguese forward to break into the six-yard box, but
Hart denied Boa Morte with an important save.
On so many occasions this season, Eriksson's team have relied on the flair
of Elano and Martin Petrov to overcome opponents at Eastlands, but the pair
were subdued by the West Ham midfielders and attacking forays were sporadic
at best.
However, Petrov was able to get beyond full-back Neill on 57 minutes to send
a dangerous cross into the penalty area. A crucial fingertip intervention by
goalkeeper Robert Green took the sting out of the delivery, though, and
Bianchi could only direct the loose ball wide at the far post.
Elano is not a full international for Brazil for nothing, yet his goal was
hardly in keeping with the spectacular strikes he has already produced since
arriving from Ukraine.
In the absence of silk, the man from Iracemapolis displayed a touch of steel
by throwing himself into the proverbial muck and nettles with a diving
header, despite Anton Ferdinand's swinging boot, to nudge the loose ball
over the goal-line after Bianchi had headed Petrov's cross against the post.
Match details
Manchester City (4-4-2): Hart; Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball; Ireland,
Hamann, Elano, Petrov; Vassell (Fernandes 81), Castillo (Bianchi 35).
Subs: Schmeichel (g), Onuoha, Garrido.
Booked: Hamann.
West Ham (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney; Ljungberg
(Faubert 62), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington; Ashton, Boa Morte (Cole 71).
Subs: Wright (g), Mullins, Spector.
Booked: Boa Morte.
Referee: M. Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
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Manchester City 1 West Ham United 0: Elano pounces to lift City from their
torpor - The Independent
By Ian Winrow
Published: 17 January 2008
Sven Goran Eriksson's quest to win a domestic cup in four different
countries survived its first test last night after a brave headed goal from
Elano, the Brazilian playmaker, ensured that Manchester City emerged from a
worrying dip in form to set up an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Sheffield
United.
Eriksson, who has collected silverware in Italy, Portugal and Sweden, has
been forced to question the progress of his team in recent weeks following a
run that brought only one victory in seven games. Yet while this was not a
convincing display against a West Ham side who could have progressed had
they shown sharper finishing instincts or succeeded with a late penalty
appeal, it was enough to revive spirits.
Tellingly the victory coincided with Elano's best display for some time,
"since November" admitted Eriksson, and while a stooping 73rd-minute header
among flying defensive boots was hardly a trademark goal from a player
associated more with long-range free-kicks, it is clear that, with City
still lacking an effective strike force, the Brazil international is
integral to City's hopes of success this season.
"I certainly haven't seen him score with his head before," Eriksson said.
"But it was good to see him back to his normal self. He has been injured
twice but now he is training regularly."
Elano or not, City could have been out of the tie had Joe Hart not saved
excellently from Dean Ashton in the first half and then again from Luis Boa
Morte immediately after the break.
West Ham's problems up front mirrored those of the home side before Elano's
contribution, with Nery Castillo and Darius Vassell offering no threat for
City before Castillo was forced out of his home debut in the 33rd minute
with a suspected dislocated shoulder. Eriksson said that, while the Mexican
will have a scan today, the injury does not appear to be as bad as first
thought and the performance of Rolando Bianchi, Castillo's replacement and a
target for Torino and Juventus, will have done nothing to temper the
manager's desire for his new signing to return.
Hart's excellence finally inspired his team-mates shortly before the hour
when Martin Petrov at last found a way past Neill and drilled a low cross
towards the far post where Bianchi bundled a difficult chance wide. The
Bulgarian had found a weak spot in the West Ham backline and when he rounded
Neill again in the 73rd minute, Bianchi headed against a post and Elano
snapped up the rebound. A late shout for a penalty from West Ham was turned
down and City were through.
"We're disappointed because we thought we could have nicked it," said West
Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley. "And we were disappointed with the way Lee
Bowyer was brought down late on. We've looked at it again and I think Joe
Hart's momentum has taken him through and brought Lee down. But we'll take a
lot out of this and we'll come back here on Sunday [when the sides meet in
the league] and try and turn it around.".
Manchester City (4-4-2): Hart; Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball; Hamann,
Ireland, Elano, Petrov; Castillo (Bianchi, 35) Vassell (Fernandes, 81).
Substitutes not used: Schmeichel (gk), Onuoha, Garrido.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney;
Ljungberg (Faubert, 62), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington; Boa Morte (Cole, 70),
Ashton. Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Mullins, Spector.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Durham).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elano catches Hammers on the rebound
Richard Jolly at the City of Manchester Stadium
Thursday January 17, 2008
The Guardian
Although Sven-Goran Eriksson was England's serial quarter-finalist, his
career suggests the FA Cup presents Manchester City with their best chance
of ending a 32-year wait for silverware. West Ham were eventually eliminated
by that rarity, an Elano header, and the Swede, a winner of cups with five
previous clubs in three different countries, now has to negotiate a trip to
Sheffield United on Sunday week if he is to embellish that impressive
record.
With a second stalemate in 11 days beckoning, the Brazilian plunged forward
to evade Anton Ferdinand's swinging boot and convert the rebound after
Rolando Bianchi's header struck the West Ham post. "The one fella that was
likely to nick a goal nicked it," rued Alan Curbishley.
"It's not every day that Elano scores goals with his head," remarked
Eriksson, who derived encouragement from his display. "He is a world-class
player and he can do something special in that last third."
It was fitting, however that the goal stemmed from a Martin Petrov cross.
The Bulgarian was the instigator of City's clearest chances, one scuffed
embarrassingly wide by Bianchi. "Petrov is in great shape," said Eriksson,
something his team-mates recognised. Indeed, there was a lopsided look to
City, such was their emphasis on locating Petrov on the left touchline while
his colleagues converged in the midfield.
City fielded a trio of playmakers and Elano ensured a surfeit of
inside-forwards eventually compensated for the ineffective display of the
sole striker, Darius Vassell. Eriksson deflected questions as to whether
there are funds available to supplement his attack after his sole January
recruit was carried off, a suspected dislocated shoulder meaning a cruel
curtailment of Nery Castillo's home debut.
Another premature exit was that of Luis Boa Morte, whom Curbishley was
compelled to remove to avert a red card. Yet the Portuguese was also
prominent and, after being involved in each of West Ham's three best
chances, his departure reduced their threat.
City's clean sheet was their fourth in five games but it entailed an element
of fortune as their goalkeeper Joe Hart, possibly unknowingly, repelled Dean
Ashton's volley after the stretching striker connected with Boa Morte's
curling cross. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old was the recipient of praise
from both managers, with Curbishley saying: "I think he's made more saves
than Robert Green."
The West Ham manager felt, too, that Hart's luck held when he collided with
Lee Bowyer. "I'm disappointed," he added. "It could have been a penalty.
Hart's not got there and his momentum took Bowyer out." But with these teams
meeting again on Sunday, the momentum is with City.
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