16/09/2007 17:54
Back-to-back, three-goal victories over Reading and Middlesbrough have left
the in-form Hammers riding high in fifth-place. A Luke Young own-goal,
sandwiched between clinical conversions by Lee Bowyer and Dean Ashton, saw
Alan Curbishley's side batter Boro to bag their first home win of the
season.
"We needed a quick start to the second half in order to raise the tempo,"
revealed Curbs, after his whirlwind-like West Ham United struck three times
within 15 minutes of the restart, to leave themselves home and dry on the
hour-mark. "Straight from the kick-off, Lee Bowyer gave us the perfect start
with the sort of strike that he has always threatened to get, while Dean
Ashton's goal has done him the world of good, too. "At 2-0, however, we
tried to commit suicide by playing for offsides and we were fortunate that
Tuncay missed some good chances. "We got lucky on occasions and Robert Green
had to make some great saves. "Afterwards, I said to Gareth Southgate that
it was all about chances today. Fortunately, we took our opportunities but
Boro didn't take the ones that came their way. "After an international week,
there were some tired legs out there and, like England in midweek, we just
had to forget about all our injuries, step up to the plate and get on with
it. "Once again, we can go away and enjoy another weekend before looking
forward to the trip to Newcastle next Sunday, but while we may be unbeaten
in our last five games, don't worry, we won't be getting carried away."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Middlesbrough Report - West Ham Online
Vinny - Sun Sep 16 2007
West Ham United 3 Middlesbrough 0
Another splendid result was recorded by Alan Curbishley's men as West Ham
got the better of Middlesbrough. Lee Bowyer, an own goal and Dean Ashton all
got the goals which secured a second consecutive victory and propelled us
into the top five.
This was by no way a vintage performance and it would be easy to pick faults
from some of our play, but it is difficult to argue with a three nil
scoreline. Middlesbrough had enough chances to make us pay yet their woeful
finishing was taken full advantage of by a West Ham side who had the ability
to catch their opponents on the break.
Only one change was made to the side which destroyed Reading at the Madjeski
Stadium two weeks ago. Anton Ferdinand was out with a knee injury and was
replaced by James Collins.
It was us who started brightly, getting at Boro' from the off, playing the
game in their half and looking to create chances About ten minutes in and we
had our first chance to open the scoring.
A cross was cleared as far as Mark Noble who hit an optimistic shot at goal
which took a wicked deflection and had the keeper Mark Schwarzer scurrying
for the ball which sailed wide and out for a corner.
The Upton Park crowd thought that West Ham had taken the lead around the
fifteen minute mark as a lovely move set Ashton through. It was a nice
interchange with Bellamy which saw Ashton creep in behind the Boro' defence
and finish with the side foot only for the linesman's flag to deny Ashton
the goal he and the fans so want to see.
Boro' had a wonderful chance to get themselves in front which they somehow
failed to capitalise on. It was all down to their new signing Mido, who
managed to play a brilliant defence splitting pass through to Jeremie
Aliadiere, who was clean through. His shot went past Robert Green and looked
to be heading into the back of the net but it bounced off the post and was
cleared away for a corner.
That was a let off and a warning that we would have to be on our guard
against a side possessing a few players who could make a killer pass and
split our defence. The funny thing was that we never took any notice of this
warning and it was just down to luck that we never conceded over the ninety
minutes.
Boro' again had a chance to score when a cut back found Aliadiere once again
but his shot was straight at Green who saved well.
The West Ham injury fiasco took another turn as striker Craig Bellamy pulled
up with an injury which few seemed to notice and he walked off dejected
which was seemed like a hamstring injury.
He was replaced by Carlton Cole who would go on to have a big impact on
proceedings despite being on the receiving end of some disgraceful abuse
from the West Ham support who seemed to treat him as hate figure. The abuse
towards Carlton Cole was more than the abuse that Frank Lampard receives.
Such venom was in the words directed at him. It was almost like people would
rather he messed up every time he got the ball just so that they could be
proved right.
Boro's themselves had to make an unscheduled chance with Jeremie Aliadiere
coming off injured and being replaced by Turkish International Tuncay. He
would have an instant impact as his run and shot had to be met well by
Green.
Boro' ended the half the better side after a good 10 – 15 minutes of
pressure which on another day may have seen them grab a goal. We had begun
the first half well and had been superior for the first quarter, but with
the goal being disallowed and Craig Bellamy going off injured it seemed to
knock the stuffing out of our game and it was a concern that we would not be
able to find a pattern to our play in the second half.
But that thought would have been wrong as West Ham came bursting out of the
traps and managed to grab two goals in the first five minutes of the second
half effectively winning us the game in such a small space of time.
Not even 30 seconds were on the clock as Lee Bowyer snuck into the box and
finished beautifully to put us one up. It had started with Hayden Mullins
who played a nice pass to Carlton Cole who himself played a nicely weighted
pass into the area for Bowyer to sublimely finish. It reminded us of what
Lee Bowyer was once like in his Leeds days when he was at his best. A
brilliant finish and a much needed goal.
If we thought that was a great start to the half, four minutes later we
would find ourselves further in front. Once again it was a clinical counter
attack which ended in some good fortune.
Etherington broke out and played a nice pass through to Carlton Cole who ran
towards goal skipping past a poor challenge from a Boro' player and his low
pass which was going towards an unmarked Etherington in the area was
diverted into the goal by one time West Ham target Luke Young.
Carlton Cole continued received a extremely high amount of abuse from his
own supporters, but if you had of told me that he was going to come on for
an injured Bellamy and create two goals I don't think anyone would have
objected.
Fair play to Boro', they really gave it a go and will be scratching their
heads to how they did not manage to breach our defence which had so many
holes it would need a long trip to Ann Summers to try and fill them.
Tuncay had two chances to get one back for Boro' but his finishing was
woeful. The first chance was saved brilliantly by Robert Green but it is the
second chance which most will remember.
Rochemback played a simply wonderful pass through to Tuncay who had been
kept onside by Lucas Neill. The Turk ran towards goal with lots of time and
acres of space. He lifted the ball over the onrushing Green, but the lob
ended up being too high and it bounced off the crossbar and went over to the
delight of the West Ham fans.
Any hope of a Boro' comeback was lost as another counter attack saw West Ham
increase the lead further. It was Mullins who played a fantastic cross field
ball out to Matthew Etherington who burst down the left and put in a
magnificent cross which Cole couldn't get to at the near post but with the
keeper in no mans land, Dean Ashton met it at the back post to score his
first goal of the season and his first goal since the FA Cup Final of 2006.
"Ole Ole Ole Ole, Deanooo Deanooo" could be heard all around the Boleyn.
West Ham had found their hero and he had got that first goal which we had
all been willing him to get.
The last half an hour saw Boro' have the majority of the possession and
despite some desperate defending, we managed to keep them out with Robert
Green pulling off some excellent saves and he claimed a number of crosses
and corners.
As an attacking force we still looked to catch them on the counter attack
and the introduction of Luis Boa Morte didn't do this any harm.
It was Boa Morte's run and cross which found a completely unmarked Cole in
the area with acres of space and loads of time. But the striker's finish
from just a few yards out was embarrassing and he somehow hit it wide when
it looked easier to score.
Cue more abuse for the ungainly forward who had shown bags of effort during
this game and although he lacked quality at times his performance was one
which had made a difference.
It may not have been a vintage West Ham display but I will take these
results all day long – and long may they continue.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Just like the last game against Reading, Green played a big part in our
success. This clean sheet just didn't happen, Green made sure it happened
pulling off some excellent saves and was firm in the air making catch after
catch. Good performance from Greeno.
Lucas Neill
Looked a little rusty at times today – thought he failed to keep up with the
rest of the defence when they stepped up to catch the Boro' forwards
offside. He was of course strong in the tackle and never shrieked a
challenge which is what we would expect of our captain.
Matthew Upson
He is starting to prove his worth with another strong performance which his
attributes were in full view. Not only is he excellent in the air but it is
his reading of the game which impresses me the most. He made countless
interceptions and made up for his lack of pace with his vision. Another
clean sheet with him at the back is never a bad thing.
James Collins
Thought it was a surprise inclusion today. Obviously Ferdinand was injured
but as it had been Gabbidon on the bench for most of our Premiership games
this season, I would have expected him to start. But Collins didn't
disappoint. His aerial ability is second to none and his no nonsense
distribution can sometimes be a real help. Did get caught at times
especially with the flight of the ball on occasion. But overall he didn't
have a bad game and shows that we have good depth to our squad.
George McCartney
Played well during the first half but it seemed as though his midweek
exploits for Northern Ireland (on and off the plane) had caught up with him
in the second period. He struggled to get forward and was playing very deep
during that second half. But he got through the game and put in a solid
performance.
Lee Bowyer
Thought this was his best performance of the season – not just because of
his goal, but because he was involved for the whole 90 minutes without
looking lost and knackered. Boro' didn't have much pace in their side which
helped Bowyer's performance. His goal was sublime – the volley was exquisite
and that is now two goals he has scored this season. Is taking his chance.
Mark Noble
Actually surprised I'm going to say this but thought Noble was pretty quiet
during this encounter. Of course there would be the occasional flying
tacking which would get the crowd going but I think Noble looked a little
tired during the course of the game.
Hayden Mullins
A terrific performance yet again from Mullins. Was impressed with him
against Reading and he carried on from that game with a excellent display.
He was making tackles and playing nice passes – one which had a major part
to play in our third. His pass out to Etherington was pinpoint. Scott Parker
and Freddie Ljungberg are now available for selection but with Mullins
playing this well he cannot be replaced just yet.
Matthew Etherington
How good is this Etherington geezer? Has really excelled so far this season
and is looking like the player that he always had the potential to be – but
maybe not the bottle. He has found his balls and is looking very strong.
Boro' couldn't handle him and his cross for the third goal was excellent.
Craig Bellamy
Injury prone players get injured.
Dean Ashton
Has got that first goal of the season in his second start of this campaign.
Hopefully it will be the first of many – and I'm sure it will be. He looked
much sharper today and is gradually getting back to full match fitness. Was
good in the air and his flicks and passes are coming off more and more. Dean
Ashton is back.
Subs Used
Carlton Cole (on for Bellamy 26 mins)
Did Carlton Cole make a positive impact in this game? The answer is a
resounding yes. Worked really hard, made two goals – thank you very much. No
Bellamy for next week. I wouldn't bet against Carlton Cole starting against
Newcastle.
Luis Boa Morte (on for Etherington 78 mins)
Looked sharp but with us doing more defending than attacking it was hard for
him to get into the game.
Freddie Ljungberg (on for Ashton 81 mins)
Did nothing but get needlessly booked.
Overall
We currently sit 5th in the league after five games. I think we can say that
this has been a good start to the season after an initial worry about our
style of play. It seems that we are a counter attack team – and a pretty
handy one at that. The loss of Bellamy will hinder this but with Matthew
Etherington playing like he is playing he has become vitally important to
our success.
Up front we now have a problem – to continue with the pace we would need to
play new signing Henri Camera. But Curbishley may well give Cole a chance
next week.
Newcastle are up next and although it is going to be tough, I actually think
we can get all three points.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dean Ashton is worth the wait - Telegraph
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 3:19am BST 17/09/2007
West Ham United (0) 3 Middlesbrough (0) 0
He has assumed near mythical status in east London during a long injury
absence, so waves of relief rolled around Upton Park as Dean Ashton
completed West Ham's 16-minute, three-goal match-winning whirlwind against a
shellshocked Middlesbrough. Ashton's first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final
is a milestone on the road back after missing the whole of last season with
a broken ankle. Without him, West Ham narrowly avoided relegation.
There should be no such dramas in this campaign. West Ham manager Alan
Curbishley wants a "nice, solid" season but with Ashton seemingly reborn
perhaps the West Ham faithful can dream of something a little higher. One
defeat in their opening five matches, despite injuries to others such as
Keiron Dyer, Scott Parker and Julien Faubert, provides a solid foundation
for progress.
There was no doubting the significance of the moment, in the 62nd minute,
when Ashton turned Matthew Etherington's cross home just inside the far
post. "When I scored I felt a bit of everything. It was a bit special. Even
though it was only from a few yards it meant a lot," Ashton said.
"I have been watching videos of myself. It was the only way to keep myself
going. I am still worrying about scoring again, to show people I am fit and
winning my place in the team. I could set myself targets for the season but
I expect to score in every game."
advertisementIt is not just his goalscoring habit. West Ham have also missed
Ashton's physical presence, elevated work-rate and ability to bring
team-mates into the game.
Ashton had received an England squad call-up when he was injured in training
in Aug 2006. Now he already has eyes on the international arena again.
Speaking before the extent of Emile Heskey's injury at Wigan had filtered
south, he said: "Hats off to Emile. He deserves his place in the team but I
want to fight for that place. We play a similar game and I want to do that."
The former Crewe and Norwich striker also praised sports psychologist
Roberto Forzoni, who helped West Ham through the crucial run-in last season.
"I have always liked the way he does things as he is not too much in your
face. I speak to him when I need to. He's a good man to have around the
place," he said.
Among Forzoni's mind games with the players are card tricks and
Middlesbrough were certainly bamboozled as the home side suddenly sprung a
flush hand just when it was least expected.
Boro had never been under any great pressure, indeed Jeremie Aliadiere,
later to withdraw with a hamstring injury, had clipped Robert Green's post
in the 19th minute.
Yet all that changed within seconds of the restart when Lee Bowyer struck
Carlton Cole's pass beyond Mark Schwarzer. Five minutes later, Luke Young
diverted Cole's dangerous cross past his own goalkeeper.
Boro were further flummoxed by what was befalling impressive if luckless
Tuncay, who had replaced Aliadiere. The Turk hit the crossbar and had an
effort blocked by Green when clean through in the minutes leading to
Ashton's goal. Later, he again beat the offside trap but cut his shot wide.
"He came into the dressing room afterwards and apologised to everyone," said
Boro manager Gareth Southgate. "I didn't think he needed to do that because
he was one of our brighter players in the second half."
Numbers game
96%
Emmanuel Adebayor: The Togo international was the best-performing player in
the Premier League this weekend. He scored an equalising header for Arsenal
and lashed home a last-minute volley to make it five goals in his last four
games against Spurs. He also set up two chances.
31%
Mark Schwarzer: Middlesbrough's goalkeeper shipped three goals against
rampant West Ham at Upton Park to emerge as the lowest-performing Premier
League player. In fact, with one of those being an own goal, he actually
only faced two shots on target.... and so made no saves in the 90 minutes.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ashton return delights Curbs - TeamTalk
Alan Curbishley is licking his lips at the prospect of a fully-fit Dean
Ashton after he put his injury woes behind him against Middlesbrough. The
23-year-old last found the net in the 2006 FA Cup final, having been
sidelined for the whole of last season after breaking his ankle while
training with England. But he was on hand to finish a flowing 62nd-minute
move to cap a superb 3-0 win for the Hammers, their first home victory of
the season. "I'm pleased for Deano, he looked strong today," said
Curbishley. "Two weeks ago against Reading he looked a bit leggy but he's
played for the reserves since and it's done him the world of good. He can
only get stronger now. "He had one major operation before I came here, and
then a clean-up operation because some scar tissue hadn't cleared up. "When
I came here I was told he was a month away, but it soon became clear that
wasn't going to happen. "So we sat him down and told him it would take as
long as it takes, it didn't matter how long. "I think we handled it well.
And he looked like he lasted today. He looked stronger, and he's well
pleased with himself."
Ashton thought he had opened the scoring in the first half, but his effort
was ruled out for offside. And in a goalless opening period, Jeremie
Aliadiere rattled the post as Boro more than matched their hosts. But Gareth
Southgate's side were blown away after the break, when Lee Bowyer netted
just 25 seconds after the kick-off. Bowyer started and finished the move,
heading the ball infield to Hayden Mullins and sprinting forward to get on
to Carlton Cole's one-touch pass and dispatch the ball confidently past Mark
Schwarzer for his second goal of the season. Five minutes later the Hammers
were two-up when Cole attempted to thread the ball to Mullins, only for Luke
Young, Curbishley's one-time Charlton protege, to divert the ball past the
helpless Schwarzer.
Rather than kill the game off, though, the hosts found themselves on the
back foot and Middlesbrough substitute Tuncay squandered a host of chances.
The Turkish forward lobbed the advancing Robert Green, only to see the ball
bounce off the top of the crossbar, before forcing Green into a fine
near-post save. He also saw a shot cleared off the line by Lucas Neill and
comically rolled the ball wide of a gaping goal late on. Ashton's moment
finally came in the 62nd minute when Matthew Etherington beat Young to the
byline and crossed for the red-booted striker to tuck home at the far post.
"We looked leggy in the first half and at half-time we said we needed to
start well and we got the perfect start, and it was a great goal," added
Curbishley. "At 2-0 we committed suicide a couple of times. But it was all
about chances, and we took our chances today. "We won't get carried away.
We're a bit like England at the moment in that people are injured and other
people have come in and done a job for us. "We got lucky a couple of times,
although Robert Green's saves weren't luck, but we worked hard."
Curbishley's joy was tempered by yet another injury scare, however, with
Craig Bellamy limping off with a recurrence of his groin problem.
Shell-shocked Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who lost Aliadiere to a hamstring
injury, admitted his side paid the price for a lethargic start to the second
half. "We sat down at half-time thinking we had done well, we'd weathered a
bit of a storm and I couldn't see anything between the sides," he said. "But
they have effectively won the game in the first five minutes of the second
half. "It's a harsh lesson for us, we didn't get out of the blocks in the
second half, but we'll learn from it. "I'm not going to bring any criticism
out of the dressing room. We got plenty of pats on the back after our last
game, but this time, five or 10 minutes has cost us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley seeking 'solid' season - TeamTalk
Alan Curbishley is hoping to spare the fingernails of West Ham fans this
season after his side eased into the top six of the Premier League. Hammers
chairman Eggert Magnusson has bankrolled some serious summer spending at
Upton Park as he attempts to turn the serial under-achievers into a force in
the top flight, and Saturday's 3-0 win over Middlesbrough appears a step in
the right direction. Craig Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg, Scott Parker, Kieron
Dyer and Julien Faubert have arrived for the best part of £30million as
Curbishley beefed up the squad which rose from the dead to beat relegation
last season. But Faubert and Parker have yet to make their debuts due to
injuries, Dyer suffered a double leg break in his third appearance,
Ljungberg has managed just 99 minutes and Bellamy limped out of the Boro
victory with a groin problem. With a run of luck like that - deadline-day
signings Nolberto Solano and Henri Camara must be nervously checking their
insurance cover - Curbishley was quick to play down the inevitable
expectations this season. "I've got £20million worth of players out in
Parker, Faubert and Dyer, and now it looks like we've lost another one, so
I'm pleased to have got some points on the board," said the Hammers manager.
"Before the game I was thinking that if we win, it becomes a good start, and
if we lose, we're in the bottom five or six. "All I've said since we've been
back is that I want a solid season. "In the last four seasons West Ham have
lost a play-off final, won a play-off final, lost an FA Cup final and won a
relegation battle. "So I said to Eggert in the summer that we want a nice,
solid season, and he said 'Yeah, Europe!' But we want to put some
foundations in to start building the club."
All the attention on Saturday focused on an injury tale with a happier
ending after Dean Ashton scored his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final
after sitting out all of the previous season with a broken ankle. With Emile
Heskey falling to the curse of the metatarsal, Ashton's bustling style could
yet see him thrust back into Steve McClaren's England squad for the European
Championship qualifier against Russia next month. "It's great when someone
comes through an injury like that," added Curbishley. "When we had that bad
run last year I looked back on tapes from the previous year, the cup run,
and you could see the impact he had. "I think he's probably in a position
where he appreciates everything now, and hopefully he will get stronger and
better."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3 Middlesbrough 0 - The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
September 17, 2007
Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker and Julien Faubert have all gone in a puff of
smoke since arriving at Upton Park in the summer. And do not forget Matthew
Upson's injury less than 30 minutes into his debut earlier in February. The
sight of Craig Bellamy hobbling off with a groin injury caused another groan
here on Saturday. So, maybe we should not be surprised the sports
psychologist Curbishley brought in last season, Roberto Forzoni, is also a
magician. Yet this member of the magic circle, also hired by the LTA to work
with Andy Murray, has clearly had a positive impact since being brought in
for the final 10 games of last season. And Dean Ashton, who scored his first
top-flight goal for 18 months, says Forzoni has been a major help ahead of
his return to action after a nightmare spell on the sidelines. Ashton, who
broke his ankle on England duty in August last year, said: "We have had
group meetings with Roberto which are very good and I speak to him when I
need to. He is a good man to have around the place. "I know him from when I
played with England Under-17s. I have always liked the way he does things as
he is not too much in your face. "He has been around a long time and he
knows his stuff. I have not seen any of his tricks but I heard about them.
He came in at the end of last season, when I wasn't around, and he did the
tricks then. "It's always nice to get the first goal and an important win
which puts us right up there. "The international break was a good thing as
it meant I could get a few reserve games under my belt. It made the
difference as I felt a lot better in the game. "When I scored, I felt a bit
of everything. It had been a long time since I scored a Premiership goal so
this was special for me. "Even though it was only from a few yards it meant
a lot. "I could set myself targets for the season but I expect to score in
every game. That is the aim. If I don't score, I am always disappointed.
"During my time out, I was watching videos of myself scoring goals. It is
the only way I kept myself going." Ashton added: "There are still
improvements I can make. I feel fit, while you have to play games to get
sharpness. But the ankle is not something which will go away and players
around the country with similar injuries will say the same. "I've got to
work for six months to a year to eradicate that."
Ashton's other big hope is he can force his way back into the England
reckoning — he has got the talent. His goal came courtesy of a cracking
cross from Matthew Etherington as Middlesbrough conceded their third goal in
17 second-half minutes. If anything, Gareth Southgate's side looked the more
comfortable in the opening period and despite the defence losing the plot
after the break, Boro still had plenty of chances. They hit the woodwork
twice, forced a couple of decent stops from Rob Green and left the pitch
shaking their heads in disbelief that they had just been turned over by
three goals.
Uninspiring for 45 minutes, the Hammers scored a terrific opener just 21
seconds after the restart as Lee Bowyer delivered a brilliant volley
following a nice ball from Carlton Cole. Cole, who replaced crocked Bellamy
in the 26th minute, then saw his pass diverted by Luke Young into his own
net before Ashton sealed victory. Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "We've
had a couple of really super weeks before this but, in the same way we
didn't get carried away by that, we won't get carried away by this. "The
scoreline makes it feel worse but, in a way, that is a good thing because
you take stock of things even more and you are even more determined to put
it right in the next game. "We opened them up a couple of times but didn't
take our chances. That short spell after half-time has cost us."
STAR MAN - ROBERT GREEN (West Ham)
WEST HAM: Green 8, Neill 7, McCartney 7, Upson 6, Ashton 7 (Ljungberg 6),
Bellamy 5 (Cole 6), Etherington 7 (Boa Morte 6), Noble 6, Mullins 7, Collins
7, Bowyer 7. Subs not used: Wright, Gabbidon. Booked: Ljungberg, McCartney.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer 6, Young 5, Arca 7, Boateng 7, Woodgate 5, Mido 6,
Rochemback 7 (O'Neil 6), Aliadiere 5 (Tuncay 7), Downing 7, Wheater 5,
Taylor 5 (Davies 5). Subs not used: Jones, Lee. Booked: Tuncay.
REF: S Bennett 7
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 3 Middlesbrough 0: Ashton on target but still 'has work to
do' - The Independent
By James Wrigley
Published: 17 September 2007
It would be wrong to put West Ham's apparent revival down to the return of
the striker Dean Ashton, who missed the whole of his club's chaotic campaign
last season with a broken ankle. After all, the Hammers' manager, Alan
Curbishley, has spent something in the region of £50m during Ashton's
absence and, should he ever have all his new players fit, he is fully
entitled to expect some improvement.
Yet there is no doubting Ashton's importance to the team and his popularity
among supporters, who greeted his goal – a mere tap-in – that crowned
Saturday's victory over Middlesbrough almost as enthusiastically as they had
his previous strike, in the 2006 FA Cup final defeat by Liverpool.
It did not matter that West Ham had already ended the visitors' first-half
superiority with a flourish early in the second, Lee Bowyer's exquisite
volley 23 seconds after the restart being followed by an own goal by Luke
Young.
No, the important thing was that "Deano" was back. He may not have the
anti-hero status of a Paolo Di Canio or a Carlos Tevez, but he has a
presence of his own when leading the West Ham line.
"It was great to get that first goal and, more importantly, it was a good
result and puts us right up there in the table," Ashton said. "It had been a
long time since I scored so it was special for me. The international break
did me good and I got a couple of reserve games under my belt so I felt a
lot better."
An international break is something he will appreciate less the fitter he
gets, for he is ambitious to get back into the England reckoning. However,
he has echoed his manager's caution with regard to his recovery.
"I am still worrying about scoring again to show people I am fit and to win
a place in the team," he said. "The ankle [problem] is not something that
will go away, as people who have had similar injuries would say. I have got
to work for six months to a year to eradicate it. It's little things I know
about myself and which everyone else would not notice. That takes a bit of
work."
Boro paid for two missed chances in the first half from Jérémie Aliadière,
the first of which hit a post, and for three later on which the Turkey
international Tuncay Sanli, his replacement, was unable to convert. "He
apologised for those misses afterwards," said Gareth Southgate of Tuncay.
"But you can't pin the blame on him. We should have been in contention by
that stage anyway. But he has adapted well to English football and always
looked a threat." However, an Ashton he is not.
Goals: Bowyer (46) 1-0; Young og (51); 2-0; Ashton (62) 3-0.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Upson, Collins, McCartney; Bowyer,
Noble, Mullins, Etherington (Boa Morte, 77); Ashton (Ljungberg, 80), Bellamy
(Cole, 26). Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Gabbidon.
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Young, Wheater, Woodgate, Taylor (Davies,
83); Boateng, Arca, Rochemback (O'Neil, 67), Downing; Mido, Aliadière
(Tuncay, 30). Substitutes not used: Jones (gk), Lee.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Man of the match: Bowyer.
Attendance: 34,351.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boro hit by the proverbial sucker punch at Upton Park - northernecho.co.uk
ON the last occasion Mark Schwarzer faced Dean Ashton, the Australian
goalkeeper was left with a fractured cheekbone inflicted by West Ham
United's aerial bombardment tactics in a FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.
Eighteen months later and there is a more collective feeling of nursing the
wounds inflicted by the Hammers, after Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough
suffered the proverbial 'punch in the face'. That was how Julio Arca, stood
stunned but reflective in the Upton Park tunnel afterwards, described events
in East London on Saturday afternoon. Middlesbrough were left to rue three
error-strewn goals inside the opening 18 minutes of the second half, which
painted its own clear picture of how things unfolded. In truth,
Middlesbrough created the goalscoring opportunities to have taken something
from this game. But, despite a solid and well organised opening 45 minutes,
it was a completely different performance defensively after the restart and
that quickly proved to be to their downfall. Within 23 seconds of the
whistle, after West Ham had left their counterparts waiting to start the
second half for a number of minutes, Middlesbrough were caught cold. Lee
Bowyer, the driving force behind the quick-fire move, headed into the feet
of Hayden Mullins just inside the Boro half. Bowyer kept running towards the
box untracked while Mullins' ball into the feet of Carlton Cole sucked the
visiting defence in. Cole, an early replacement for Craig Bellamy, held up
play before rolling the ball to Bowyer who perfectly finished into
Schwarzer's bottom left corner. Whether Bowyer should have been marshalled
or the defensive unit tighter in terms of closing the gaps for West Ham to
exploit - mistakes were aplenty. Had the errors stopped there, the game
would not have been lost for Middlesbrough. More, however, was to follow.
After Mido's poor centre six minutes later, West Ham broke and possession
eventually fell to Cole on the right. The former Chelsea striker looked
incapable of keeping the ball under his control yet still enjoyed a stroke
of good fortune to work free of Stewart Downing. From Cole's hapless ball
into the area, Luke Young stuck out a foot and turned the cross into his own
net. Regardless of what happened after that the damage had been done. "We
talked about staying strong in the second half but two goals in five minutes
or whatever finished the game off effectively," admitted Southgate. "We had
good chances before half-time and more chances to score, after they scored.
But it's always the case that the first goal is crucial. Credit to the
players, they kept going and we had chances to get back into the game. We
have learned a harsh lesson here. "We didn't get the ball out of the box at
the start of the second half. We paid the price. "But what we don't do is
criticise everybody in the dressing room. "Players know what went wrong and
they are all very disappointed. "Now we have to regroup for next week and
show what we are made of."
Immediately after West Ham had gone two up, Tuncay Sanli had the best two
chances he has had in a Middlesbrough shirt and wasted them. Had he found
the net with either - and later a third - the scoreline would have been more
respectable. The first was a routine lob over onrushing goalkeeper Rob
Green, which hit the bar, and the second saw the Hammers shot stopper save.
Tuncay's wastefulness, although he was bright in the final third, was
further highlighted when there were further blunders at the back just after
the hour. This time the liveliest man on the pitch, Matthew Etherington, was
again afforded far too much space down Luke Young's flank. Etherington's
delivery should have been blocked by David Wheater or Schwarzer at the near
post. And Ashton, with his first Premier League goal in over a year, worked
his way ahead of Taylor to crash in number three from close range.
Middlesbrough's four match undefeated run was over, while West Ham's
progress continued by clinching their first home win of the campaign. Yet it
may have been a different outcome had Jeremie Aliadiere's first half chance
found the net instead of the foot of the post before he disappeared with
hamstring trouble. "Aliadiere looked sharp but Tuncay had the best of our
chances and he came off all apologetic," said Southgate. "That's football.
He is adapting well to the English game and he can be a real threat for us."
It is now just one win in ten Premier League matches for Middlesbrough at
Upton Park and the eighth defeat in that sequence will have been
particularly hard to stomach. But with North Sea neighbours Sunderland next
on Teesside, Southgate knows his players can't afford to dwell too long.
2:05am today
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3-0 M'boro - The Mirror
By John Cross 17/09/2007
Dean Ashton completed a magical return from injury...but admitted he will
still have to play through the pain barrier for another year. The West Ham
hit-man scored his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final defeat by
Liverpool after missing the whole of last season with a broken ankle. It has
been a long and winding road back for Ashton as he suffered complication
after complication in his rehabilitation from an injury he suffered in
training while on England duty last August. He needed two operations to
repair his ankle - and the key to keeping his spirits high during a season
of gloom for Hammers last term was "a little bit of magic."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley brought in Italian sports psychologist
Roberto Forzoni to give his players a lift last season, and Forzoni, a
member of the Magic Circle, entertained the squad with tricks from his
repertoire. "He is a good man to have around the place," said Ashton. "I
know him from when I played with England under 17s. I have always liked the
way he does things. He has been around a long time and he knows his stuff."
West Ham defender James Collins added: "We were a bit down but he gave us a
few motivational speeches and also a few magic tricks. "He is always
entertaining the boys and he has been superb for us. We don't have any idea
how he does them." Forzoni's magic and motivational skills have certainly
put a spring back into Ashton's step even if he is still some way off being
fully fit again. He says it will be another six months at least before his
ankle is painfree.
But he is still hoping to regain his England place, especially after seeing
Steve McClaren bring back a big target man in Emile Heskey - ironically now
sidelined - for the Euro 2008 double header with Israel and Russia. "Hats
off to Emile. He did really well and deserves his place in the team. But I
want to fight for that place," added Ashton. West Ham's finishing was the
difference between the two teams. Boro striker Jeremie Aliadiere hit a post
when he should have scored before his replacement, Tuncay Sanli, missed a
hat-trick of chances. In contrast, West Ham never looked back after Lee
Bowyer opened the scoring 21 seconds after the re-start before Luke Young's
own goal and Ashton's 62nd-minute clincher completed the rout. Middlesbrough
boss Gareth Southgate refused to blame Tuncay even though he revealed the
Turkish striker apologised to his team-mates after the game. Southgate said:
"That is as well as he's played. He looked lively but couldn't take his
chances. He came into the dressing-room afterwards and apologised to
everyone, although I didn't think he needed to do that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We're jinxed - The Mirror
By John Cross 17/09/2007
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley fears his injury jinx has struck again with
Craig Bellamy facing a lengthy lay-off. Welsh striker Bellamy lasted just 26
minutes at Upton Park on Saturday before limping off with a recurrence of a
groin injury. Curbishley was hoping to have £7million midfielder Scott
Parker back but he has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury
while Anton Ferdinand, Kieron Dyer and Julien Faubert are all out. West Ham
climbed to fourth in the Premiership, albeit briefly, with their win over
Boro but Curbishley admits he is still concerned about fulfilling owner
Eggert Magnusson's expectations with a depleted squad. Curbishley said:
"I've got £20m worth of players out and I may have another one out with
Bellamy now. I said to Eggert in the summer 'I want a nice solid season this
year.' And he said 'yeah, let's get into Europe.' "But when you lose players
like we have it makes it a bit more difficult. "I'm happy to get the win but
we must not get carried a way."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tuncay apologised to Middlesbrough teammates
tribalfooball.com - September 16, 2007
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has revealed how Tuncay Sanli apologised
for his scattergun finishing after their 3-0 defeat at West Ham. Boro were
nowhere near as bad as the scoreline suggests and on another day Turkish
substitute Tuncay Sanli could have scored four. "Tuncay caused them lots of
problems, and he came in afterwards and apologised," said Southgate. "When
he lobbed the ball onto the bar you start to think it's not going to be your
day. But he was a real threat and very bright. We didn't lose the game
because of that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Curbishley: Chairman wants Europe
tribalfooball.com - September 16, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley admits he wants a "nice, solid" season
after the rollercoaster ride of last term. Following victory over
Middlesbrough, Curbishley said: "I've got £20million worth of players out in
Parker, Faubert and Dyer, and now it looks like we've lost another one, so
I'm pleased to have got some points on the board," said the Hammers manager.
"Before the game I was thinking that if we win, it becomes a good start, and
if we lose, we're in the bottom five or six. "All I've said since we've been
back is that I want a solid season. "In the last four seasons West Ham have
lost a play-off final, won a play-off final, lost an FA Cup final and won a
relegation battle. "So I said to Eggert in the summer that we want a nice,
solid season, and he said 'Yeah, Europe!' But we want to put some
foundations in to start building the club."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Ashton delighted to be among goals again
tribalfooball.com - September 16, 2007
Dean Ashton admits scoring again for West Ham on Saturday was a great
feeling. Ashton, who scored his first top-flight goal for 18 months in the
3-0 defeat of Middlesbrough, said: "The international break was a good thing
as it meant I could get a few reserve games under my belt. It made the
difference as I felt a lot better in the game. "When I scored, I felt a bit
of everything. It had been a long time since I scored a Premiership goal so
this was special for me. "Even though it was only from a few yards it meant
a lot. "I could set myself targets for the season but I expect to score in
every game. That is the aim. If I don't score, I am always disappointed.
"During my time out, I was watching videos of myself scoring goals. It is
the only way I kept myself going." Ashton added: "There are still
improvements I can make. I feel fit, while you have to play games to get
sharpness. But the ankle is not something which will go away and players
around the country with similar injuries will say the same. "I've got to
work for six months to a year to eradicate that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Villa, West Ham keen on Reggina's Amoruso
tribalfooball.com - September 16, 2007
Aston Villa and West Ham are tracking Reggina striker Nicola Amoruso.
Amoruso declared last week he'd like to end his career with Reggina, but
interest from Villa and West Ham has turned his head.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment