West Ham United posted their first home win of the campaign when three second half goals proved too much for Middlesbrough. The three goal advantage truly flattered the East Londoners though as Gareth Southgate's side squandered enough gilt-edged chances to return north with at least a point. Goal.com roving reporter David Inside was at the Boleyn Ground. Here is his Inside Report...
WEST HAM UNITED 3-0 MIDDLESBROUGH
The Hammers overcame an injury to Craig Bellamy in the first period to claim their first home victory of the campaign with three goals in the space of 17 minutes early after the break. However, as Alan Curbishley was quick to admit, it was nowhere near as "comfortable" as the scoreline suggests. After edging the first half, Boro continued to pull the home defence apart in the second period with Rob Green's goal leading a very charmed life.
West Ham made a bright start and only a raised flag stopped Dean Ashton putting them in front. Middlesbrough always looked lively and when Jeremie Aliadiere found himself free it looked as if they would register the first goal. However, the French striker clipped the far post with the goal at his mercy much to the amusement of the home choir. After an indifferent spell on loan at Upton Park last term, Aliadiere had at last done something to make the Hammers' faithful happy. He soon departed due to a tweak, probably a hamstring but perhaps an eyebrow. His replacement Tuncay proved to be even more profligate.
The visitors we caught cold seconds after the break when 'Man of the Match' Lee Bowyer fired home after good work by sub Carlton Cole. The latter also made the second goal five minutes later when his right-wing cross was turned into his own net by a bewildered Luke Young. At this point many might have expected Boro to fade but instead they rallied defiantly and went on to enjoy a very decent passage of play. Having been thwarted by Green, Tuncay soon had an even better opportunity when he beat the offside trap, and then the goalkeeper, but his lob dropped on to the top of the crossbar. The young Turk did not have long to wait for his next good chance though but Green, in the best form of his life, made a great block from close-range.
Instead of it being 2-1, 2-2 or 2-3, it became 3-0 soon after the hour-mark when Matty Etherington's superb cross was slid home at the far post by Ashton. It was the former Norwich striker's first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final. One radio commentator (bless her cotton socks) suggested that it was his first since the 1996 Cup final. No, but the injury-hit front-man probably feels that it has been that long!
To their credit, Middlesbrough refused to buckle. Yet again Tuncay gave the offside trap the slip but, with only Green to beat, rolled the ball just the wrong side of the frame. And yet again there was no Turkish delight when another Tuncay effort was hoofed off the line before another Boro sub Gary O'Neil found a way to put the ball wide from close-range. With the visiting contingent shaking their heads in despair, West Ham ought to have added a fourth in the 87th minute but Cole screwed a sitter the wrong side of the post. Just as well really as 4-0 would have been taking the Michael!
Despite the defeat, the travelling Middlesbrough fans will have taken a lot of positives from their side's very bright display. Certainly Southgate saw some plusses - even with the performance of his luckless sub Tuncay. The Boro boss revealed: "He came into the dressing-room and apologised to everyone". He added: "I didn't think he needed to do that because he was one of our brighter players in the second half."
And despite this third win, Curbishley is refusing to get carried away with his side's "healthy" start to the campaign. The home manager has his sights set no higher than on a "nice solid season". On the evidence of these 90 minutes, that is exactly what West Ham are in line for. They will certainly have to defend considerably better than this if they are to maintain any chance of keeping up with the pacemakers.
Attendance: 34,351.
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West Ham's Bowyer: New depth key to success
tribalfooball.com - September 17, 2007
West Ham United midfielder Lee Bowyer believes the depth of this season's squad will set them up for a successful campaign. He told whufc.com: "Things already feel and look different to last season, it is a clich� but it is all about confidence in football and that is what winning brings which you take into the next game. But there is a long way to go so we are not getting too carried away yet. I think it is very important to get points on the board early doors which we are doing and to just take each game as it comes."
Bowyer believes the key to this season's positive start is all down to the depth of the squad. "We have got a very strong squad now thanks to the chairman and the manager spending very wisely in the Summer and bringing in good established Premiership players that are hungry for success. To be getting the results we are and still have the likes of Kieron, Freddie and Scotty Parker still to come back just shows you where we are now and how we are clearly going in the right direction."
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Curbs keen to see West Ham's Bowyer grab more goals
tribalfooball.com - September 17, 2007
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley admits he was delighted to see Lee Bowyer score against Middlesbrough on Saturday. Curbishley told whufc.com: "I've known Lee since he was 13-years-old and he's always thrived on getting into the box but it just hadn't happened for him since he's been at West Ham. It was a great finish for a great goal and let's hope that there's more to come from him now."
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West Ham's Ashton: I'm 12 months away from best
tribalfooball.com - September 17, 2007
Dean Ashton admits he might be 12 months away before he is producing his best form for West Ham United. The former Crewe and Norwich striker scored his first Premiership goal for more than 18 months when he netted the third in West Ham's 3-0 win over Middlesbrough and said today: "Even though it was only from three yards out, that goal meant a lot. "I just need to play games to improve the sharpness but there is more I can do in terms of the ankle.
"It's not something which is just going to go away, I need to work for anything up to a year before I see that the ankle is back to where it was." And with Emile Heskey breaking a metatarsal for Wigan, Ashton added: "Hats off to Emile. I thought he was fantastic for England but in time, I want to be fighting for that place."
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Dean will suit Mac's attack - The Mirror
18/09/2007
Dean Ashton is on standby for an England SOS call - after being sent a suit by the FA yesterday. West Ham's powerful hitman looks tailor-made as a replacement for injury victim Emile Heskey and the biggest clue yet was the surprise delivery at the club's training ground. Ashton has just come back from his own injury nightmare, starting his first Premier League game last weekend, but he fits the bill for Steve McClaren. The £7million striker measures up in McClaren's mind and seems certain to be picked for the Estonia and Russia games as long as he stays fit. Ironically, Ashton was injured on England duty when McClaren first took sole charge. Now his recall is seemingly in the bag...just like his smart new outfit.
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