Lee Bowyer scored two and made another in a stunning 5-0 win at Derby County
10.11.2007
Lee Bowyer scored a goal in each half and helped make another as West Ham
United ran out worthy 5-0 winners at Derby County on Saturday afternoon.
Bowyer hit the first-half opener with a close-range shot and grabbed his
second and fourth goal of the season in the second half after providing an
assist for Matthew Etherington and Jonathan Spector had made it three with a
sharp strike that went in off Derby's Eddie Lewis. Nolberto Solano confirmed
the rout against the Premier League's bottom side when he struck a perfect
free-kick into the corner of the net.
The win at Pride Park saw West Ham United move into the top half of the
table and stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games. The
triumph also equalled the club's record margin of victory away from home in
the top flight - a 6-1 victory at Manchester City in September 1962. The
last time the team won 5-0 was at home in the Championship against Plymouth
Argyle in February 2005.
Alan Curbishley had made one change to the team that drew 1-1 with Bolton
Wanderers last weekend, Spector coming into midfield to replace the injured
Hayden Mullins, while Freddie Ljungberg and James Collins returned to the
bench.
The first chance today came when Spector made a good run through the middle
and into a crowded box only for his shot to go out for a goal-kick. At the
other end, the defensive duo of Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon were
blocking every attack by Derby, who were trying to make the most of the pacy
Giles Barnes.
The visitors were dealt a blow when the ever-present George McCartney - who
had received treatment on a twisted ankle in the second minute of play - was
unable to continue and Curbishley sent on John Pantsil in his place on the
quarter-hour mark. Captain Lucas Neill reverted to McCartney's left-back
position as Pantsil went to the right-hand side.
Both Barnes and former West Ham United defender Tyrone Mears were the main
outlet for Derby in trying to push forward from midfield but their final
ball was blocked at every turn by the efficient Upson and Gabbidon. Good
play then saw Etherington and Luis Boa Morte combine for a chance but the
ball was cleared while, at the other end, Solano playing out on the right,
got back to clear the danger from a Derby corner. West Ham United were
starting to look likely - Carlton Cole nearly getting on the end of Boa
Morte's defence-splitting ball in the 20th minute.
Solano then cracked the top of the crossbar with a fine free-kick, but it
was not until just before half-time that the deadlock was finally broken by
Bowyer. Solano hooked a good ball up to Cole who knocked it down for the
midfielder and he was left unmarked to score.
After the break, West Ham United were out of the blocks quickly. Upson went
in support of his colleagues up front and hit the crossbar and Neill,
following up, sent the rebound just wide. The second duly arrived when a
good cross by Pantsil found Bowyer in the middle and he played a neat
one-two with Etherington before the winger converted with ease.
It was soon to be three, as Spector playing in a central midfield role,
collected the ball and struck through the Derby defence - the ball rolling
under Lewis's foot and over the line. Four minutes later, the tireless
Bowyer pounced on another Cole assist after good approach play involving
Solano to make it 4-0.
Mears then hit a long-range effort just over the bar, but that was to be the
last of the home side's attacks as West Ham United went up the other end to
grab goal number five. It came in the 69th minute after Boa Morte had been
upended. Solano stepped up to try his luck with another free-kick and this
time his bending shot nestled into the corner of the net.
Collins came on for the hard-working Bowyer, who will miss the Tottenham
Hotspur game on 25 November after reaching five cautions, and the visitors
shut up shop with five at the back. A couple of half-chances fell to Cole
and Boa Morte in the final few minutes but the sixth was not to come. No
matter, Curbishley's men departed for east London with three points firmly
tucked under their arms.
Derby County: Bywater, Mears, Edworthy, Moore, Griffin, Teale (Howard 52),
Barnes, Oakley (c), Lewis (Earnshaw 59), Pearson, Miller (Fagan 75)
Subs: McEveley, Jones
West Ham United: Green, Neill (c), Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney (Pantsil 15),
Bowyer (Collins 72), Spector, Solano, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole
Subs not used: Wright, Ljungberg, Camara
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spector shows eye for goal - WHUFC
Jonathan Spector is hoping his goalscoring contribution against Derby County
will stand
11.11.2007
Jonathan Spector was eager to celebrate his first senior goal as part of a
superb central midfield display for West Ham United against Derby County on
Saturday.
The 21-year-old United States international made his name at Manchester
United as a promising defender but in recent weeks has shown an aptitude for
a role further forward - underlined by his contribution against Derby. He
has come off the bench three times in an advanced anchor role but found out
on Friday that he would be starting in that position at Pride Park.
"Hayden [Mullins] wasn't fit so he didn't make the trip," he said. "At that
point I knew I would be playing. Fortunately it wasn't completely foreign to
me as I had two halves there as well as ten minutes against Portsmouth."
Against Derby, Spector more than held his own in a gritty away display that
saw the visitors nick a first-half goal through Lee Bowyer and then make
sure of the initiative after the interval.
"We worked really hard," Spector added. "We had to and it was a pretty
emphatic result in the end. We knew the first goal was going to be important
in the second half and when we got that it opened the floodgates." That
crucial second came from Matthew Etherington but it was Spector himself who
proved the unlikely source of the third goal, although it needed a bit of
help from a fellow American, the Derby winger Eddie Lewis.
Taking up the story, he said: "It was a set-piece. The ball was half cleared
and it came to me. I just tried to place it in the corner. Eddie Lewis was
there and kind of fumbling with it and it went over the line. Hopefully it
won't be taken away from me as it will be my first goal ever. If the
[disputed goals] panel don't give it to me, I'll have Eddie call them and
tell them it wasn't an own goal!"
Of more concern to Spector though is getting another chance in the team and
an ankle injury to left-back George McCartney could open the door to a more
familiar outing in the next Premier League fixture at home to Tottenham
Hotspur on 25 November. That said, Lee Bowyer, his central midfield
colleague on Saturday, will be suspended after five cautions and is also due
to have a groin operation early next week.
For Spector, he is just content to get the chance to play his part. "I'll
take any opportunity to play. We have to see what happens. Wherever I am
asked to play, I am happy to play."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs proud of his players - WHUFC
Alan Curbishley could find no fault with his team after an emphatic victory
at Derby County
11.11.2007
Alan Curbishley was full of praise after West Ham United's "fantastic" 5-0
win at Derby County underlined his team's battling qualities.
The West Ham United manager was in buoyant mood as he described how his
squad had showed their strength in depth to move into the top half of the
Premier League table on Saturday. "Everyone has been going on about the
injuries we have - yes, they are there and everyone can see that. But I
think it's a bit disrespectful to the players who have been going out there
and have picked up points in every game.
"We have had to just get on with it and I think we have done that well.
People are getting their chances and not only making the most of them, but
enjoying it all as well. It was great for us." The Pride Park success was
achieved after two Lee Bowyer goals and further strikes from Matthew
Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Nolberto Solano.
The only negative was the twisted ankle picked up by George McCartney early
in the first half, which has almost certainly ruled him out of Northern
Ireland's final two EURO 2008 qualifiers in the next fortnight. Curbishley
is hopeful that with the two-week break in domestic matches, McCartney will
have recovered in time for the Premier League visit of Tottenham Hotspur on
25 November.
"We are hoping that George's injury is not as bad as we think as we would be
a bit more stretched," admitted Curbishley. "There were a few tackles flying
around which we expected, but unfortunately for us, George came out on the
end of one and turned his ankle."
That blow came early in the contest and as the match wore on Curbishley was
only too aware of the need for a breakthrough. "The first goal was always
going to be the vital one and we managed to get it through Lee Bowyer," he
said. "That really settled us down and put Derby on the backfoot.
"We had opportunities in the first half to get a second and it didn't happen
but we sat down at half-time and said let's go back out there and set about
this right and go and get another one, then we can enjoy it - and that's
what happened."
Reviewing his team's performance as a whole, Curbishley praised Solano,
saying "he was involved in everything" while Carlton Cole got a special
mention, with the manager adding "it would have been nice if he had got a
goal to top off his performance today, as he worked very hard again".
Curbishley was also pleased with the way his team continue to adapt to
whatever is required. At Derby, this meant captain Lucas Neill switching to
left-back to replace the injured McCartney. The manager said: "Once George
came off, I had no problems with putting Lucas to left-back, he's played
there a lot. Johnny Pantsil came on, he's not played a lot of games this
season, but he's been around it and did well. Jonathan Spector has not
played in midfield before and was great. Everyone has got on with the job in
hand and we have been picking up points.
"Lee Bowyer has been playing well but with a groin strain and will have an
operation on Tuesday, so we're hoping he is back in time for when he's
needed again. He will be suspended for the Tottenham game after picking up
five cards. We had a couple back at Derby, Freddie [Ljungberg] and James
Collins were on the bench and I am hopeful Deano [Ashton] will be able to
push on in training this week now as well as Scott Parker."
Curbishley had a word for his counterpart, the Derby manager Billy Davies,
whose team remain at the bottom of the table. "You get days like this, but
you have to dust yourself down and be ready for the next game and see what
is going to come along for you. If you look at bottom of the table, no one
is stranded, it's still all to play for and I am sure Billy will take some
positives out of it and push on for the next game."
After having just celebrated his 50th birthday on Thursday, Curbishley
agreed that a 5-0 win away from home was the perfect present. "Yes, it was a
great way to celebrate" he said with a smile.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby 0-5 West Ham - BBC
By Paresh Soni
Lee Bowyer scored twice as West Ham thrashed woeful Derby at Pride Park. In
a first half low on genuine quality, Nolberto Solano struck the bar with a
curling free-kick before Bowyer fired home from Carlton Cole's header down.
It was one-way traffic after the break and Matthew Etherington drove in
number two after Matthew Upson hit the bar.
Jonathan Spector's shot squirmed beyond Eddie Lewis on the line, Bowyer shot
in from Cole's pass and Solano completed the rout with another fine
free-kick. It was West Ham's biggest league victory since Boxing Day 2000,
when they won 5-0 against a Charlton team managed by their current boss Alan
Curbishley. Derby, on the other hand, were utterly devoid of ideas and have
now gone 521 minutes without scoring. They brought back striker Kenny Miller
in a bid to redress that even though he was short of fitness after his
hamstring problem. But in a first half punctuated by poorly timed
challenges, it was clear which team possessed the greater attacking threat.
Boa Morte should have done better when he got away from Marc Edworthy down
the right and when his drive was blocked by Darren Moore, the follow-up from
Cole was well kept out by Stephen Bywater's legs. Solano then came
desperately close to the opener, curling his free-kick over the wall and
against the woodwork after Andy Griffin had been penalised for handball on
the edge of the area. Five minutes from the break, West Ham got the
breakthrough when Cole headed into the path of Bowyer, who drove beyond
Bywater amid complaints from Derby about a possible handball. The tone of
the second half was set right at the start when sloppy defending allowed
Cole to cross from the right to Boa Morte, who could not get in a clean
strike. From the corner, Upson crashed a half-volley against the bar but it
mattered little as Derby were then torn apart by three goals in eight
minutes. They could have levelled when Lewis found himself in space on the
left and got in a centre from which Miller sent his free header wide.
Etherington made them pay almost immediately when John Pantsil played the
ball into him in the box and, after a one-two with Bowyer, the winger drove
home. It got even worse for Derby when they failed to clear a Solano corner,
Lucas Neill headed the ball back in and it broke to Spector, whose shot was
deflected in by Lewis for an own-goal. Bowyer then surged through unmarked
to rifle in number four after Solano played in Cole to lay the ball across
to the midfielder. With the game over as a contest, West Ham had time and
space to knock the ball around. Solano put the seal on a comprehensive
triumph and had his own reward for an outstanding display when he curled
another delightful free-kick into the far corner to send some of the home
fans towards the exits.
Derby manager Billy Davies: "In the first 20 minutes we had some good
counter attacks but our final ball was poor and we could not get the opening
goal. "But after that it was men against boys and we got nothing out of the
game because we deserved nothing. "We did not compete and that was
disappointing. "Our reaction to losing the first goal was poor and we did
not show enough desire to get back into the match."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley on being without 11 senior players: "I have to
give all credit to the players who have come into the side and I'm delighted
with them. "We had people playing in positions that they are not familar
with but they have done a job there. "When I get the other players fit I
will have a selection headache because there is competition for places."
Derby: Bywater, Mears, Moore, Edworthy, Griffin, Barnes, Oakley, Pearson,
Teale (Howard 52), Miller (Fagan 75), Lewis (Earnshaw 58).
Subs Not Used: McEveley, Jones.
Booked: Oakley, Fagan.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney (Pantsil 14), Solano,
Spector, Bowyer (Collins 72), Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Ljungberg, Camara.
Booked: Pantsil, Bowyer.
Goals: Bowyer 42, Etherington 51, Lewis 55 og, Bowyer 59, Solano 69.
Att: 32,440
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole aid - KUMB
Filed: Sunday, 11th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Carlton Cole is top of the Premier League assists table this morning
following yesterday's 5-0 win at Derby. The United striker tops the Actim
Stats assists list after setting up both of Lee Bowyer's goals in
yesterday's thrashing of the Rams. Cole now has six assists to his name this
season - one more than Mikel Arteta (Everton), Elano (Man City), Cesc
Fabregas (Arse) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea). Craig Bellamy, Luis Boa Morte
and Lee Bowyer (joint 25th) are also represented in the list with two
assists each.
The top ten, after yesterday's games, is as follows:
Actim Stats Premier League assists: 07/08 season
1. Carlton Cole (West Ham Utd) 6 assists
2. Mikel Arteta (Everton) 5
Elano (Manchester City) 5
Cesc Farbegas (Arse) 5
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 5
6. El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) 4
Grant Leadbitter (Sunderland) 4
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 4
Nicky Shorey (Reading) 4
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea) 4
Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 4
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley: a great performance - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has declared himself 'delighted' after his second string
thrashed Derby 5-0 today. Curbs - who turned 50 last Thursday - was in
celebratory mood as he sang the praises of his players following an unlikely
- yet superb - win. Talking to the BBC's Match of the Day after the final
whistle, he said: "We came into today's game knowing full well that it was
going to be difficult. But when you're down the bottom you need to score
first as it gives everyone a lift. "So it was vital that we got the first
goal. [In the end] we got it and it calmed us down and put Derby under that
little bit more pressure."
And Curbs had special praise for those players that had been thrust into the
team unexpectedly - players such as John Paintsil and Jonathan Spector - and
performed admirably. "Once George [McCartney] went off with another injury
we looked to regroup," he added. "But Lucas Neill has played left-back a lot
and Johnny Paintsil came on and done us proud. That's how it's been. "We've
had lots of injury problems, everybody knows that, but let's give some
credit to the players that are playing. Over these last two months they've
got us points, they've got us results and I'm delighted. "Last weekend
against Bolton we ended up with people playing out of position - and we did
it again today. But we got on with it, and some of them are getting a chance
that perhaps they didn't think they'd get if all the players were fit. It's
made the squad that much stronger now."
Curbishley can now look forward to a two week break before the Hammers face
relegation candidates Tottenham at The Boelyn Ground. And, he hopes, he will
be able to welcome back one or two familiar faces. "Dean Ashton started full
training last week and now we've got two weeks to get some more football in
to him," he confirmed. "Hopefully Scotty Parker will start Monday; we had
Freddy Ljungberg back today on the bench, he just hadn't done enough. So one
or two are coming back; James Collins too. "It was a great result, a great
performance from us and I just hope now that the players who go off on
international duty come back okay and that we'll have one or two more back
for when we play our next game. "We just hope we haven't lost George
McCartney now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bow set for groin op - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Alan Curbishley has confirmed that Lee Bowyer will undergo a delayed groin
operation next week. Bowyer, who scored twice in today's 5-0 win at Derby
has been forced to play at less than full fitness due to West Ham's chronic
injury problems. But the former Charlton and Leeds midfielder is set to
undergo the knife early next week as the Premier League takes a two week
hiatus due to the international programme. "He has been playing with a bit
of a problem," Curbs told the BBC. "He's going to have an operation on
Tuesday. We've been delaying it, waiting for one or two of the others to get
back. "He's been playing with a groin strain so he's got to have that
sorted out. But he has signed off with two vital goals."
Meanwhile Curbishley had special praise for Luis Boa Morte, who orchestrated
much of United's attacking play in today's demolition job. "Boa has been
playing out of position so we decided today that we were going to give him a
psotion that he enjoys," said Curbishley. "We played him just off the front
man and he brought us into the game. He was at the heart of most things that
we did and I'm really pleased for him."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Five alive - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham's five goal haul within just 27 minutes at Derby today has been
bettered just once in recent history. Alan Curbishley's side scored all of
today's goals between the 42nd and 69th minute - making it the fifth
quickest five-goal haul in modern Hammers history*. But that statistic has
only been bettered once away from home in the last 50 years - back in 1967
when United scored five goals in just 13 MINUTES against Sunderland at Roker
Park. With the help of a number of old textbooks and modern day internet
whizzbang we've complied the Top 10 quickest five goal hauls from the last
50 years. How many of these can you remember?
West Ham United - quickest five goal hauls
1. Sunderland 1 West Ham Utd 5
9th September 1967
League Division 1
Sunderland went into this game unbeaten and were looking good to extend
their run when leading 1-0 after an hour's play (thanks to Bobby Moore's
12th minute own goal). But an incredible 13 minute blitz from the Hammers -
with goals from Martin Peters (60 mins), Harry Redknapp (63), Bobby Moore
(76) and a Geoff Hurst brace (61, 75) guaranteed only their second win of
the season.
Time to score five goals: 13 minutes
2. West Ham Utd 10 Bury 0
25th October 1983
Milk Cup 2nd Round (2nd leg)
It was a game that broke a whole bunch of records but wasn't quite good
enough to top this particular poll. Ten goals were scored overall but the
shortest period for scoring five on the night came when Tony Cottee added
his fourth on the night on 63 minutes, followed by an Alan Devonshire brace
(67, 81) and goals from Ray Stewart (71) and Trevor Brooking (83).
Time to score five goals: 18 minutes
3. West Ham Utd 6 WBA 1
16th April 1965
League Division 1
This was the now famous Brian Dear show when the former Hammers hitman
notched five for himself within the space of just 20 minutes. Dear opened
his tally a minute before half-time before adding goals in the 53rd, 56th,
59th and 64th minutes. Those of you with particularly good memories may
recall that Martin Peters opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a
certain Jeff Astle scoring the Baggies' consolation goal on the stroke of
half-time.
Time to score five goals: 20 minutes
4. West Ham Utd 7 Fulham 2
3rd February 1968
League Division 1
East met West but there was to be only one winner in this derby goal-fest.
Once again Brian Dear was involved scoring West Ham's first after 30 minutes
to cancel out Steve Earle's 18th minute effort for a Fuham side featuring
the legendary Johnny Haynes. Trevor Brooking scored twice in a minute (42
and 43 mins) to put the Hammers 3-1 up at half-time, before Bobby Moore
(49), Geoff Hurst (54) and Martin Peters (63) put the game beyond any doubt.
Clarke pulled one back for the vistors on 69 minutes before Geoff Hurst
completed the rout twelve minutes from time with his second of the day.
Time to score five goals: 24 minutes
5. Derby County 0 West Ham Utd 5
10th November 2007
Premier League
The rout began when Lee Bowyer opened the scoring for the Hammers on 42
minutes. Goals from Matthew Etherington (50 minutes), Jonathan Spector (54
minutes), Nobby Solano (69 minutes) and another for Bowyer (47 minutes) saw
the Hammers hit five in just 27 minutes - the first time anything like that
had been done away from home in 40 years.
Time to score five goals: 27 minutes
6. West Ham Utd 5 Newcastle 0
24th March 1979
League Division 2
Alan Devonshire opened the scoring twenty minutes into the game before Keith
Robson made it 2-0 just two minutes later. Frank Lampard extended United's
lead on 37 minutes before John McDowell scored either side of the break (37
and 50 mins) to see off the challenge of Newcastle. West Ham were to
eventually finish fifth in the table, just four places ahead of Newcastle.
Time to score five goals: 30 minutes
=7. West Ham Utd 6 Leicester City 2
21st September 1974
League Division 1
The newly promoted John Lyall saw his team get off to a terrible start after
Frank Worthington dived to win - and convert - a 10th minute penalty. But in
order to prove that cheats never prosper United went on the offensive and
buried their opponents with six goals in just 44 minutes. Bobby Jennnings
levelled the scores on 24 minutes before Billy Bonds and Bobby Gould pounced
to make it 3-1 at the break. Jennings added a fourth on 50 minutes before
Gould scored his second of the game six minutes later. New signing Keith
Robson made it six on 68 minutes before an almost embarrassed Worthington
scored his second of the day a minute from time.
Time to score five goals: 32 minutes
=7. West Ham Utd 6 Workington 0
16th December 1963
League Cup Quarter Final
Rank outsiders Workington were still a league club (albeit Division 4) when
they came to Upton Park a week before Christmas 1963. They never threatened
to upset the applecart as the Hammers went on the rampage, scoring six goals
in just 40 minutes. A Budgie Byrne hat-trick (12, 41 and 52 mins) was
accompanied by goals from Ronnie Boyce (20), Geoff Hurst (38) and a rare
strike from winger Tony Scott (50). United went on to lose the semi-final
against Leicester 6-3 on aggregate.
Time to score five goals: 32 minutes
9. West Ham Utd 5 MK Dons 0
9th March 2004
Football League Championship
The Dons were already on the rack prior to this game but the Hammers well
and truly rubbed salt into the wound with a comprehensive victory. A Matthew
Etherington hat-trick both started and ended the goal-fest (37, 49 and 70
mins) whilst Bobby Zamora (39 mins) and Nigel Reo-Coker (62 mins) also
joined in the fun.
Time to score five goals: 33 minutes
=10. Chelsea 5 West Ham Utd 5
17th December 1966
League Division 1
Possibly one of the craziest games of all time. West Ham took a two goal
lead through Peter Brabrook (24 mins) and Martin Peters (29) before Chelsea
went 3-2 up after scoring three times in 14 minutes. Not to be outdone
United scored three in five - Johnny Sissons (55, 58) and Budgie Byrne (60,
pen) before Chelsea snatched an improbable point thanks to a late brace from
Bobby Tambling.
Time to score five goals: 36 minutes
=10. West Ham Utd 8 Sunderland 0
19th October 1968
League Division 1
Geoff Hurst scored his first of a record-breaking six goal haul after 18
minutes before adding strikes in the 34th, 44th, 48th, 61st and 71st
minutes. In between Bobby Moore scored on 26 minutes whilst Trevor Brooking
notched on 62 minutes to give the Hammers a record home league win.
Time to score five goals: 36 minutes
* In the last 50 years.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby County 0 West Ham United 5 - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 10th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
The Hammers enjoyed their biggest win of the season with a 5-0 thrashing of
Derby at Pride Park this afternoon. Goals from Lee Bowyer (2), Matthew
Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Nobby Solano earned United their biggest
win away from home since the 2003/04 season. West Ham's 27-minute five goal
blitz started three minutes ahead of the break when Lee Bowyer finished a
fine move by Alan Curbishley's side.
Nobby Solano flighted a deep cross on to the head of Carlton Cole; the big
striker's nod down was perfect for Bowyer who slid the ball under former
Hammer Steve Bywater to give United the lead. Fortunately Derby's complaints
concerning a possible hand-ball by Bowyer prior to the goal were waved away
by match official Mark Clattenburg.
Five minutes after the break Matthew Etherington doubled the lead following
another flowing move from the marauding Hammers. A John Paintsil cross was
met by Etherington on the edge of the box; the in-form winger played a
perfect one-two with Lee Bowyer before drilling home the second goal of the
afternoon.
With the home side shellshocked United quickly took advantage by adding a
third just four minutes later. A goalmouth scramble saw Jonathan Spector -
playing once again in the centre of midfield - notch his first goal of the
season despite the best efforts of the Derby defenders positioned on the
line to prevent the strike registering.
Goal four came five minutes later (59 minutes) when another superb move from
the Hammers led to Lee Bowyer adding a second of the day. Carlton Cole -
once again a major threat up front - laid the ball off to Nobby Solano
before receiving it back in a wide position. Cole's inch perfect cross was
met by Bowyer who slotted the ball home beyond a bewildered Bywater, playing
against his former club for the first time.
The final goal of the day came on 69 minutes and was just as good as any of
its predecessors. This time it was Nobby Solano who increased his tally for
the season with a superbly struck 20-yard free kick.
So dominant were the Hammers on the day that the five goal haul could easily
have been doubled. Nobby Solano went close with a 31st minute free kick that
hit the underside of Bywater's crossbar before bouncing clear, whilst
Matthew Upson also hit the woodwork after a 47th minute effort from close
range.
Addtionally the Hammers were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Luis
Boa Morte was felled inside the box; fortunately for Derby referee
Clattenberg ruled - incorrectly - that initial contact had taken place
outside the area. No doubt some will say that justice had been done
following Clattenburg's failure to spot Lee Bowyer's use of the arm in the
lead-up to the first goal.
So what of the home side? Well bar one or two minor efforts - most notably
Eddie Lewis' 47th minute header wide which, if converted, would have made
the game 1-1 - Derby as an attacking force were non-existent and bereft of
ideas (bar former Hammer Tye Mears who at least had a go). For the Rams an
instant return to the Championship surely beckons unless Billy Davies can
make some inspired January signings.
But for Alan Curbishley's side things are looking a whole lot brighter right
now; today's remarkable victory lifts United back into ninth place in the
table with eight points taken from the last four games - all with, for the
most part, a second string side.
Of course it wouldn't be West Ham if something didn't quite go to plan.
George McCartney - the club's only recognised left-back - was the latest
name added to an ever-increasing injury list after suffering a knock just 14
minutes in.
Shots of McCartney during the second half with his ankle strapped in an ice
pack will have done little to quell fears of a serious injury that could
further reduce Alan Curbishley's limited options.
However that injury shouldn't take away from a remarkable performance by
Curbishley's side - especially given the number of players either absent or
playing out of position.
Next up for the Hammers is the visit of neighbours Tottenham in a
fortnight's time. Ahead of that fixture a most welcome international break
will give Curbishley the opportunity to bring back at least one or two of
the multitude of players currently sidelined through injury.
West Ham United: Green, Neill, McCartney (Spector 14), Gabbidon, Upson,
Bowyer (Collins 72), Spector, Solano, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole.
Subs not used: Wright, Ljungberg, Camara.
Goals: Bowyer (42, 59), Etherington (50), Spector (54), Solano (69).
Booked: Paintsil (24), Bowyer (34).
Derby County: Bywater, Mears, Moore, Edworthy, Griffin, Oakley, Pearson,
Teale (Howard 52), Barnes, Lewis (Earnshaw 58), Miller (Fagan 75).
Subs not used: Jones, McEveley.
Booked: Oakley (21), Fagan (89).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Attendance: 32,440.
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Ashton on the mend - SSN
West Ham striker ready to hand his side boost with return
By Alex Dunn Last updated: 12th November 2007
Dean Ashton has told skysports.com that he is making excellent progress from
the medial ligament injury that has forced him to the sidelines. The West
Ham striker has endured ill-luck with injuries over the past year, with this
latest blow coming on the back of a broken ankle that prevented from making
his international bow against Greece - the game which marked Steve
McClaren's debut at the helm. Having made an impressive return to West Ham's
first team this season, Ashton won his way back into McClaren's squad before
being denied the chance to figure against Estonia and Russia due to an
injury picked up in early October against Aston Villa. But rather than be
downbeat about his current predicament, the classy front-man is remaining
philosophical about such ill-fortune as he plots his return. "It's going
really well, I've started training this week but obviously this weekend's
game (at Derby) will come to soon," he told skysports.com. "I can't deny
it's been very frustrating but I haven't taken it too badly. "I'm not a bad
spectator so have been getting to the games to watch the lads. "I try to
take the positives, last time I had an awful lot of time on my hands to
think about my overall game. "This time it's only been five weeks, so it's
just a case of topping up my fitness from the strength I built up in coming
back from the ankle injury. "I was feeling really fresh then so it's just a
case of sharpening up. "I'll be able to use the international break to get
in a couple of reserve team games and hopefully that will stand me in good
stead. "I'm looking at the Tottenham game (on the 25th October) for my
return and I'm confident I'll be ready for then."
While injury has restricted Ashton to just six starts this season, which
have yielded three goals, in his enforced absence his Hammers team-mates
have guided the club to 11th in the table. Ashton has not been short of
company in a congested Upton Park treatment room and with this in mind, when
coupled with a period of substantial change in East London, he feels Alan
Curbishley and the players have done a decent job thus far. "I think we've
done quite well overall. It's not easy with so much change - we've obviously
brought in a lot of new players and personnel. It takes time for everything
to gel and I think that's the case here but given that and the injuries
we've had, I think we've done well."
Given a lavish campaign of spending since an Icelandic consortium took over
the club last season, expectations are sky high in the capital. Curbishley
has been backed unequivocally in the transfer market and while Ashton
accepts there is a need for instant results, he has also called for
patience. "Obviously with the investment that has been made there is a call
for instant results. "Everyone in the Premier League is desperate to stay in
there because of the financial implications. "We've spent a lot of money and
the long-term aim is definitely getting into Europe, be that via our league
position or perhaps by winning a cup. "That's an avenue a club like ours is
desperate to do well in. We treat the cup games as importantly as any league
game and as a player; it's always something I'd love to win. "With regards
the league, I think if we can finish in the top ten then that will be a
success. "I honestly believe that is achievable and then we can kick-on from
there."
Ashton was speaking to skysports.com courtesy of FIFA 08, which now includes
a 'Be a Pro' mode, that allows a player to take control of the movement of
just one player within the game. Dean Ashton appears in FIFA 08, out now on
all formats
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers batter lowly Derby - SSN
Bowyer nets two as Rams crushed at Pride Park
By James Pearson Last updated: 10th November 2007
Lee Bowyer bagged a brace as West Ham crushed lowly Derby County with a 5-0
success at Pride Park. The Rams gave a decent account of themselves early
on, but the contest turned before the break when Bowyer scored his first
from close-range. Bowyer was also involved in West Ham's second scored by
Matthew Etherington, although it was Eddie Lewis' own goal from Jonathan
Spector's shot that ended Derby's resistance. Ex-Newcastle man Bowyer added
West Ham's fourth after turning home substitute John Pantsil's cross before
Nolberto Solano's free-kick added the icing on the cake. West Ham's third
Premier League success away from home lifts them into ninth in the table
while Derby remain rooted to the foot of the ladder with just one win to
their name. In fairness, Derby kicked off full of running and commitment,
although their aggression was slightly misdirected when Gary Teale and
skipper Matt Oakley unleashed tackles that had George McCartney and Bowyer
writhing in agony. Left-back McCartney required treatment for two minutes
after Teale's challenge and he was unable to continue 14 minutes in
following an aggressive - but clean - tackle from Giles Barnes. Pantsil was
the replacement, immediately swapping flanks with Lucas Neill. Luis Boa
Morte went close to opening the scoring, bursting clear down the right side
and leaving Marc Edworthy - making his first appearance of the season - on
the deck in the area. The Portuguese's left-foot finish was blocked but only
to Carlton Cole, whose follow up was saved by Stephen Bywater. West Ham were
looking increasingly threatening as the half wore on, their best move of the
match almost releasing Cole but still resulting in a free-kick inches
outside the box. It looked too close for a direct strike but Solano did his
best to prove otherwise with a delightful effort against the crossbar.
Deserved lead
With half-time approaching, the visitors finally took the lead they
deserved. Solano's cross found Cole in the box and his nod down allowed the
criminally unmarked Bowyer to sweep the ball through Bywater's legs and into
the net.
It almost got worse for the home side immediately after the restart, Darren
Moore was easily shrugged aside by Cole, whose scuffed cross saw Boa Morte
shoot too close to the goalkeeper. The resulting Solano corner was just as
poorly defended, Matthew Upson allowed to smash a shot against the bar,
narrowly missing out on his first goal for West Ham. Having failed to muster
a single shot at goal in the first half, Derby could have levelled when
Kenny Miller's header from Eddie Lewis' cross sailed wide.
Game over
But, in a frantic start to the second period, it was game over within eight
minutes, first when Etherington and Bowyer were allowed the freedom of the
area to exchange passes before the former fired home. The contest was summed
up by West Ham's third. A corner was partially cleared but the ball
eventually fell to Spector, whose strike looked to have been blocked by
Lewis, only for his fellow American to fall over the ball and send it over
the line. Having introduced Steve Howard and Robert Earnshaw and
over-committed up front, Derby were then hit on the break, Solano feeding
Cole out wide and his cross was met by Bowyer's perfectly-timed run. To
their credit, only a handful of the home fans headed for the exit, but the
rest were simply stunned into silence. But the exodus was not long in coming
after Solano bettered his earlier free-kick with goal five, a stunning
strike across Bywater and into the top corner. Derby huffed and puffed
trying to pull one back but The Hammers remained a threat on the break and
could have made it 6-0 when Cole blazed wide. The miss was greeted with
ironic cheers from the travelling faithful, who were in party mood for the
remainder of the game.
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Curbs confirms Bowyer op - SSN
Hernia surgery rules midfield ace out of action
By James Pearson Last updated: 10th November 2007
West Ham will be without Lee Bowyer in the coming weeks as he is due to
undergo hernia surgery on Tuesday. Due to The Hammers' current injury crisis
Bowyer had been playing through the pain barrier to make up the numbers. But
after scoring twice in West Ham's 5-0 win at Derby, manager Alan Curbishley
has now booked the midfielder in for an operation. "Unfortunately he's been
one who's been playing with an injury," Curbishley confirmed to Sky Sports.
"He's having an operation on Tuesday, so he's going to be out for a while."
Bowyer has confirmed he is undergoing surgery next week, although it remains
to be seen how long he will be out of action. "I'm playing with a hernia. I
get that done on Tuesday," Bowyer stated.
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Hammers run riot - Soccernet
Derby 0-5 West Ham: Hammers slay Derby pride
Derby's wretched season reached a new low as they were torn apart 5-0 by
West Ham at Pride Park. Although they had suffered bigger beatings at the
hands of Liverpool and Arsenal this season, it cannot get worse than a home
drubbing at the hands of a decimated Hammers outfit. Goals from Lee Bowyer
(two), Matthew Etherington, Jonathan Spector and a beautiful free-kick from
Nolberto Solano gave the rampant Hammers by far their biggest win of the
season. The visitors must be given credit for taking their chances well, but
all except the last goal were easily preventable.
Despite making five changes, Derby were equally poor in attack, the return
of Scotland striker Kenny Miller making little difference as their goal
drought reached five matches. Even a January spending spree looks unlikely
to save them - it is this kind of game they simply cannot continue to lose
if they are to avoid the drop. Against a side with only one win in their
previous six league games, and one with almost their entire first team out
injured, they will rarely get a better chance to take all three points. But
the match cruelly exposed all of their weaknesses - a lack of penetration, a
dearth of creativity and a habit of conceding terrible goals. In fairness,
they kicked off full of running and commitment, although their aggression
was slightly misdirected when Gary Teale and skipper Matt Oakley unleashed
tackles that had George McCartney and Bowyer writhing in agony. Left-back
McCartney required treatment for two minutes after Teale's challenge and he
was unable to continue 14 minutes in following an aggressive - but clean -
tackle from Giles Barnes. John Pantsil was the replacement, immediately
swapping flanks with Lucas Neill.
Luis Boa Morte went close to opening the scoring, bursting clear down the
right side and leaving Marc Edworthy - making his first appearance of the
season - on the deck in the area. The Portuguese's left-foot finish was
blocked but only to Carlton Cole, whose follow up was saved by Stephen
Bywater. Pantsil's first real contribution was to collect the game's first
booking for an extremely late challenge on Andy Griffin. West Ham were
looking increasingly threatening as the half wore on, their best move of the
match almost releasing Cole but still resulting in a free-kick inches
outside the box. It looked too close for a direct strike, but Solano did his
best to prove otherwise with a delightful effort against the crossbar.
Bowyer then earned himself a suspension for a foolish lunge on Barnes, for
which he was rightly booked. With half-time approaching, the visitors
finally took the lead they deserved. Solano's cross found Cole in the box
and his nod-down allowed the criminally-unmarked Bowyer to sweep the ball
through Stephen Bywater's legs and into the net.
It almost got worse for the home side immediately after the restart, Darren
Moore being easily shrugged aside by Cole, whose scuffed cross saw Boa Morte
shoot too close to the goalkeeper. The resulting Solano corner was just as
poorly defended, Matthew Upson being allowed to smash a shot against the
bar, narrowly missing out on his first goal for West Ham.
Having failed to muster a single shot at goal in the first half, Derby could
have levelled when Miller's header from Lewis' cross sailed wide. But, in a
frantic start to the second period, it was game over within eight minutes.
First Etherington and Bowyer were allowed the freedom of the area to
exchange passes before the former fired home.
Then a corner was partially cleared to Spector, whose strike looked to have
been blocked by Eddie Lewis, only for his fellow American to fall over the
ball and send it over the line. It was Spector's first goal in English
football. Having introduced Steve Howard and Robert Earnshaw and
over-committed up front, Derby were then hit on the break, Solano feeding
Cole out wide and his cross was met by Bowyer's perfectly-timed run. To
their credit, only a handful of the home fans headed for the exit, but the
rest were simply stunned into silence. However, the exodus was not long in
coming after Solano bettered his earlier free-kick with goal five, a
stunning strike across Bywater and into the top corner. Derby huffed and
puffed trying to pull one back, but the Hammers remained a threat on the
break and could have made it 6-0 when Cole blazed wide. The miss was greeted
with ironic cheers from the travelling faithful, who were in party mood for
the remainder of the game.
Derby boss Billy Davies described today's Barclays Premier League thrashing
at the hands of West Ham as 'men against boys'. Despite insisting he still
believes Derby can avoid the drop and that he is the man to help them do so,
Davies pulled no punches in his assessment of his side's display. 'A crazy
10-15 minutes cost us dearly and at the end it was men against boys,' Davies
said. The Rams boss refused to make an excuses for his side, who were
without a number of key players through injury. 'That is not an excuse. The
excuse is that in the first 20 minutes we had opportunities to take the
lead,' he said. 'We still had enough quality on that pitch to pick up points
but it wasn't to be.'
Davies was unhappy with his side's response to going behind, saying: 'They
let their heads go down too easily, they stopped competing. 'The confidence
drained out of us, the belief drained out of us. 'That's a disappointment.'
Davies promised reinforcements in January, although on the evidence of this
display major surgery is required to stem the flow of goals at one end and
the lack of them at the other. 'They all know the next transfer window is
going to be very important to us,' Davies said, 'We had to play a
35-year-old centre-back in Marc Edworthy today.' Of the international break,
he said: 'There's a fortnight now to do what we can. 'I have lost no belief,
I have lost no confidence. 'I know exactly where we are and what we have to
do.'
Despite hailing his side's performance, Hammers boss Alan Curbishley was
equally concerned about the latest injury woe to hit the club. George
McCartney was forced off before the quarter-hour mark with an ankle problem,
while Lee Bowyer was playing with a groin injury and Curbishley revealed he
will have an operation on Tuesday. 'Fantastic result for us,' said
Curbishley. He said of the injuries: 'Lee Bowyer's got to have something
done. He was playing with a groin strain. He's got to have an operation on
Tuesday. 'We're hopeful Georgie isn't as bad as we think. He added: 'It's
the way it's been for the last month or two. 'Everyone's been going on about
the injuries, it's there, everyone can see it.
'But it's a little disrespectful to the players who have been playing. They
have been picking points up.' Of the game, he said: 'I think today, the
first goal was always going to be the vital one and we managed to get it.
'That really settled us down and put Derby on the back foot. 'It's very
difficult when you're down the bottom there and you go one down. 'We had
opportunities in the first half, perhaps to get the second, and it didn't
happen. 'We sat down at half-time and said if we go out and set about this
right and we get another one, then we can enjoy it. And that's what
happened.'
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Vinny's Derby County Report - West Ham Online
Vinny - Sun Nov 11 2007
Derby County 0 West Ham United 5
There is no denying that Derby County were totally abysmal and are among one
of the worst sides we have played in all our time in the premiership, but
you cannot take anything away from our players who were simply outstanding
in this five goal romp.
On the way back the radio reports gave no credit to West Ham and the way
they played, only wanting to talk about how bad Derby were. To my disgust
there were West Ham fans coming on the radio saying that we didn't deserve
to win 5-0!!
Actually, coming to think of it, we didn't deserve to win 5-0, we deserved
to win by about eight or nine. Derby did not have one shot on target
throughout the entire game, and we hit the bar twice and had golden chances
in both halves to score even more than we did.
I'll bet anyone that not one other Premiership side will win 5-0 away from
home this season. Today was an amazing achievement, especially with all the
injuries we currently have. Yes, Derby were shocking, but we put in a
fabulous performance and no one should forget it.
There was only one change made to the side which started against Bolton last
week at Upton Park and it was in midfield with Jonathan Spector replacing
Hayden Mullins who was out with an injury. This saw Spector go straight into
the centre of midfield to the dismay of many, including myself.
The last few games have seen us play with Luis Boa Morte as a right winger
in a five man midfield, but things appeared different today with Boa Morte
playing more as a central striker just off Carlton Cole.
The first chance of the game came after good work from Boa Morte who put
Spector through on goal but his lack of pace stopped him on getting a quick
effort on goal. To his credit he anticipated this and checked back onto his
left foot and hit a shot at goal which was charged down by the Derby
defenders.
Derby's best spell of the game didn't produce anything to test Robert Green
but both Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon had to be alert as the home side
looked to get the ball into our area as much as they could.
It was clear that we were going to get a lot of time and space to attack
with both Solano and Etherington finding themselves with lots of room to run
into.
Our injury woes once again worsened with the ever dependable George
McCartney picking up an injury. He had been on the receiving end of a hefty
challenge and although he picked himself back up, a few moments later a
similar challenge seemed to be too much for him and he was replaced by John
Pantsil who went to right back with Lucas Neill going to left back.
Our attacking play was not flowing as we would have probably liked but we
still looked the more likely to open the scoring and we nearly did when a
long ball to Cole was flicked on to set Luis Boa Morte away. He cut inside
on his left foot, and although Etherington was in acres of space to his left
he opted to shoot but the shot was blocked. It came out to Cole who hit a
low shot but former West Ham keeper Steven Bywater was equal to it and
knocked it away for a corner.
A ball through to Boa Morte was eventually handled by Derby's Griffin and a
free kick on the edge of the area was given. Solano stepped up to take it
and hit it just about perfectly but it smashed off the crossbar and was
eventually cleared.
We deserved a goal and we were rewarded three minutes before the half time
whistle. A lovely ball towards Cole from Solano was easily won by the
striker and he nodded the ball down for Lee Bowyer who was in acres of space
and he chested it down and fired a left foot shot past Bywater for 1-0.
It was one of those games where we all knew that the opposition were poor
and although we had so far put in a satisfactory performance that second
goal would be vital to make sure we see the game through.
We flew out of the blocks and should have had the second goal as Carlton
Cole did brilliantly to nick the ball off the defender, keep the ball in and
cross for the unmarked Boa Morte to shoot at goal, but the shot was straight
at the keeper and eventually away for a corner.
From the corner the ball was met by Matthew Upson who smashed his shot off
the cross bar as we started to totally dominated the game and put Derby
under immense pressure.
Moments later we got that second goal as Pantsil played a hopeful ball into
the area which missed the first few players, but found Bowyer in space and
he then knocked it to his left where Etherington was waiting and he smashed
the ball into the back of the net.
This was the start of an unbelievable period where we just destroyed Derby
who could not get near us.
A great ball into the area by Etherington was headed away for a corner and
from that resulting corner we would score our third goal. The corner was
headed back by Neill and the ball eventually broke for Spector who shot at
goal with Lewis stopping it on the line but stumbled backwards with the ball
going over the line. Spector may want to claim it but it was a definite own
goal.
The travelling West Ham support were now in full party mode as they were
seeing their side annihilate the opposition.
Thing would get better only minutes later and amazingly we scored a fourth
with only 59 minutes on the clock. It was possibly the most well worked goal
of the day as our passing was too much for Derby to handle.
Solano burst through the middle and played the pass to his right to Carlton
Cole, who looked up and played a pass into the middle for the unmarked
Bowyer to grab his second goal of the game.
The Derby fans left the ground the in their drones as the fourth goal hit
and it was heart warming to see that this sort of thing doesn't just happen
at Upton Park.
The West Ham fans chanted "We Want Five!" and they were to get their wish on
the 69th minute as the tireless Boa Morte won a free kick outside the area
to the left of the penalty area.
Solano had been unlucky in the first half but this time he was not going to
miss as his free kick was hit with total perfection and he scored his first
goal for the club.
This was the first time I had ever seen West Ham score five goals away from
home and it is an experience I would like to have again.
Apart from a few half chances the game became a dead affair with the points
in the bag. We played possession football and kept the ball really well and
saw out the game.
Just about every West Ham fan stayed behind to applaud the side off, with
Carlton Cole the first over to the fans to applaud the support. It had been
an excellent display from both.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Had nothing to do all day and will be pleased with another clean sheet.
George McCartney
Taken off on the fifteen minute mark with injury.
Matthew Upson
A superb display from Upson. Won everything in the air, made countless
interceptions and was very unlucky not to score when his half volley smashed
off the cross bar.
Danny Gabbidon
Like Upson he did well and did all the simple things correctly. Did look
nervous on the ball in the first half and was the only player I was
concerned about.
Lucas Neill
A vintage performance from the captain. His defending was exemplary and he
was good going forward. There was a point in the first half when a break in
play occurred and Neill got about 4 or 5 of the players together to rally
the troops after a spell of fouls and free kicks. A good all round
performance from Lucas.
Matthew Etherington
Scored his third goal of the season and put in a great show, causing Derby
problems all day long. When we get him into the game and when he finds some
space he is capable of taking many sides apart and that is what he did
today.
Jonathan Spector
I was very disappointed that he was chosen to play in the centre of midfield
but I cannot say he played badly because he didn't. In fact he played very
well and really worked hard to make challenges and get his foot in. Picked
up the scraps in midfield and distributed it well. Had a major part to play
in our third goal and will want to claim it for himself.
Lee Bowyer
Scoring two goals is never a bad thing and he has now taken his tally to
four this season which is not a bad return from a player who was never set
to be a regular this season. Derby never seemed to know where he was today
and they couldn't keep up with his intelligent runs.
Nolberto Solano
I thought he was utterly superb throughout this game. He was the heart beat
of this performance and is a player of great technique. His two free kicks
were brilliant and really deserved his goal. With all our injuries this man
has come in and done brilliantly and today he was fantastic.
Luis Boa Morte
A player who has been criticised by many (including myself) but he was too
much for Derby to handle with his skill and strength. How he didn't get on
the score sheet is a mystery as he was always working hard to get forward.
Was much more effective playing as central striker.
Carlton Cole
There will be lots of debate on who was man of the match but mine was
Carlton Cole who put in a magnificent performance. He deserved a goal for
his efforts but managed to get himself two more assists to add to the others
he has made this season. Whatever your opinion on Carlton Cole, today he was
excellent.
Subs Used
John Pantsil (on for McCartney 15 mins)
Didn't do too much to make me think he is a premiership player. Gave the
ball away a lot, ran himself into trouble at times and picked up a needless
booking.
James Collins (on for Bowyer 72 mins)
Didn't look totally fit but didn't have much to do in his time on the pitch.
Overall
I don't think you can judge our progress on this performance as it was a
game against a quality of side we are unlikely to come across again. But you
can't think like that and you have to take this game on its own merit.
We played Derby off the park and it was a joy to see West Ham totally take
apart another Premiership team on their own patch – no matter who they are.
By the time the next game comes around (Spurs at home) we will have a few
players back from injury and Alan Curbishley will have a selection headache
but one he will no doubt be looking forward too.
Today was a memorable day, and who knows when we will ever see a West Ham
side win 5-0 away from home again.
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Bowyer and Solano lead demolition of Derby - Telegraph
By Duncan White
Last Updated: 1:49am GMT 11/11/2007
Derby County (0) 0 West Ham United (1) 5
They might be operating with a skeleton crew but West Ham had little trouble
navigating their way past this dire Derby, a side condemned to the
relegation doldrums.
Inspired by the outstanding Nolberto Solano, West Ham ripped Derby to
shreds, mercilessly pulling apart a team who seem to be drifting further and
further out of their depth as the season rolls on.
Derby might not be quite the worst team to have competed in the Premier
League, but they are certainly among that sorry group of sides to have found
the top-flight experience a succession of weekly humiliations. Being this
thoroughly outclassed by a West Ham side who only just avoided relegation
last season and have, by manager Alan Curbishley's estimate, 13 players
injured is not ominous, it is emphatic. Relegation is unavoidable, but
dignity must be redeemed. Solano and Matthew Upson even had the luxury of
being denied by the crossbar.
"They let their heads go down too easily," said Billy Davies, the Derby
manager. "They stopped competing and we had a crazy 15 minutes which has
cost us dear. It looked like men against boys."
Despite the grim level of performance, Davies remains defiant and is
planning major restructuring in the January transfer window. That will come
too late. In a fortnight, they host Chelsea with a goal difference of minus
26 and a blunt attack that has not found the net in over 8½ hours. One hopes
that will be broadcast after the watershed.
Despite his understandable delight at the result, Curbishley was quick to
offer his support to his embattled opposite number. "I know exactly what
Billy's going through," he said. "We all go through it at some stage. As the
newly-promoted side it is not easy. You just have to dust yourself down and
push on for the next game. No one is stranded yet and there is all to play
for." Kind words, but Derby are surely adrift.
In the early stages, it had not looked like a mauling was imminent, though.
West Ham struggled to get going and it all looked like deteriorating into a
drab draw in the drizzle until Lee Bowyer burst into the box just before
half-time to open the scoring. Solano drifted in a deep cross that Carlton
Cole headed back across goal for Bowyer to pounce. There was a hint of
handball, but Bowyer's execution was ruthless.
It remains hard to like Bowyer, especially when there is an element of the
West Ham support who celebrate some of his more nauseating history in racist
song, but he gave a convincing performance here, and his energy levels left
the five-man Derby midfield in tatters.
He goes in for a hernia operation on Tuesday and will be sidelined for
several weeks. George McCartney, who turned an ankle and had to leave the
field after just 13 minutes, is also a serious concern.
Even with West Ham in the lead, there had been a semblance of parity before
the break, but that illusion was swiftly dispelled in the second half.
In an eight-minute salvo, West Ham rattled in three goals to end the contest
– they seemed able to score at will.
Six minutes into the half, John Pantsil, on for McCartney, swept in a low
pass from the right.
Matthew Etherington played a crisp one-two with Bowyer in the box before
calmly slotting the ball past Stephen Bywater. The goalkeeper was only just
beginning to suffer at the hands of his former club.
Two minutes later and Solano's corner provoked panic in the Derby defence.
Lucas Neill's header was half-blocked and the ball dropped to Jonathan
Spector.
The American's left-footed shot seemed to have been blocked on the line by
his compatriot Eddie Lewis, but he contrived, in trying to clear, to drag
the ball over his own line.
Bowyer sprinted on to Cole's first-time cross from the right to claim his
second and when, with 22 minutes left to play, Solano curled in a fine
free-kick from wide on the left, the large numbers of the Derby support
began to stream out of the stadium. They will find little to console
themselves this morning.
Man of the match
Lee Bowyer (West Ham)
• Scored two goals and set up another
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lee Bowyer gives Derby County painful lesson - Telegraph
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 1:33am GMT 12/11/2007
Derby County (0) 0 West Ham United (1) 5
Difficult to like but difficult to ignore, West Ham's Lee Bowyer exemplified
his side's defiance in adversity — not to mention the sheer ineptitude of
Derby County — by scoring two goals through the pain of a hernia problem.
As manager Alan Curbishley counted the cost of an ankle injury to left-back
George McCartney, taking his squad's number of walking wounded to a scarcely
credible 13, he reflected that the club's resistance to the crisis depended
on exactly this type of endurance.
'Crisis' is a relative term after a 5-0 victory, though. Just ask those
Derby players who travel to Chelsea after the international break, in
realistic need of a half-time declaration from Avram Grant's side just to
save face. They were abject against West Ham, visibly draining in confidence
and never looking like breaking their run of 521 minutes without a Premier
League goal.
Curbishley has been in similarly torrid situations himself, but while
expressing token sympathy for opposite number Billy Davies he was in no mood
to show mercy as a revived Bowyer turned the screw.
Pouncing on deft cut-backs from Carlton Cole for his two goals, Bowyer
exploited his more central role to the full, revelling in the space created
by Derby's defensive collapse.
He and Curbishley have some history, from when he emerged as a raw
goalscoring midfielder at Charlton Athleric, and the manager betrayed relief
that the reunion was at last beginning to work.
"Since he has been at West Ham it has not quite clicked for him," Curbishley
conceded. "Injury problems have affected him, and you do start to wonder.
But he has dug in."
For Bowyer there will never be a public rehabilitation from his shame, on
and off the pitch; nor, in all likelihood, will there be an England call-up
to redeem his career. But even amid the satisfaction of this match-winning
display, he showed a resigned acceptance.
"I don't think I will ever get called up again - I scored 17 goals in one
season and it didn't happen that year. I will accept it," he said. "After
the disappointment of last season the most important thing is that I do well
for West Ham. That's why I came back to prove to everyone here that I'm
better than the player they saw the first time around."
Of course, Bowyer had no lack of assistance as West Ham shredded Derby's
fragile back- line in a manic second half. After the midfielder's first just
before half-time, the tone was set in the second half when disorganised
defending enabled Cole to cross from the right to Luis Boa Morte. From the
corner, Matthew Upson rifled a half-volley against the bar but it mattered
little as Derby were then torn apart by three goals in eight minutes.
Football fans' forum
Matthew Etherington capitalised when John Pantsil played him in, sliding the
ball home after a one-two with Bowyer. Derby's predicament worsened when
they failed to clear a Nolberto Solano corner - the ball broke to Jonathan
Spector, whose shot was deflected in by Eddie Lewis for an own-goal. Bowyer
broke through for the fourth, before a superb Solano free-kick sent home
fans streaming for the exits 22 minutes from time.
Derby manager Billy Davies said of his belaguered side: "That's what we've
got, that's where we've come from. There can be no excuses. The supporters
pay their money and deserve better." Asked if he found the prospect of
visiting of Chelsea soul-destroying, he replied: "No, soul-destroying is
going to play Blackpool or Scunthorpe in the Championship."
Man of the match
Lee Bowyer (West Ham)
• Scored two goals from only two attempts on goal
• Set up Matthew Etherington's goal
• Conceded only one foul
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Derby County 0 West Ham United 5: Davies tries to keep doom and gloom out of
Derby - The Independent
By James Corrigan
Published: 12 November 2007
At least Alan Curbishley, the visiting, victorious and very gracious
manager, believed it even if no one else did. "No one's stranded down there
yet," he said. "Derby still have everything to play for." But for the Pride
Park faithful that old line springs to mind – if everything's not lost, then
where the hell is it?
Billy Davies is probably not the man to ask, not until the transfer window
opens anyhow. Short of hiring the Tardis or persuading his countryman Gordon
Brown to cancel December it is difficult to envisage how he and his
basement-dwellers will make it to January without suffering terminal damage.
Their impending fixture list reads like the evidence on the charge-sheet of
the damned. Chelsea, Old Trafford, Liverpool? all are coming up before
Christmas.
Except it is not all doom, gloom and more doom; it never could be with a man
in charge with such self-belief as Davies. And fortunately the West Ham
taunts of "you're getting sacked in the morning" were well wide of the mark.
Everybody appreciates Davies performed a miracle simply to get Derby in to
the Premier League and is now merely paying the price for doing it a little
too soon. "That is true, yes, I've always said it is," he replied when
chucked this curve-ball on Saturday. "It probably would have been more ideal
to wait a year or two. But you're not going to turn the chance down are you?
We've just got to get on with it."
"To get on", should be the buzz phrase, because as soon as West Ham had gone
one up through Lee Bowyer most of the men in black and white appeared to
want "to get off". If their football was awful then their attitude was
reprehensible and is what clearly upset Davies most of all. Going down in a
blaze of apathy is not what this Glaswegian is all about.
That alarming trait will be uppermost in his mind when and if he can
persuade the new chairman, Adam Pearson, to release the necessary funds in
the New Year. It will be a hard sell, though, as the billboard, "Sign up for
four months of Premiership action" will hardly have them queuing up the M1,
now will it? Conversely, Upton Park might be the place to be very soon.
Saying that, it seems daft if they do break the bank, not to mention the
morale, by luring Adriano. On this showing they do not need him. Curbishley
has made much of the fact he is missing 13 top-level performers and if the
situation is as "unprecedented" as he claims then West Ham at full-strength
will be intoxicating. While the big names such as Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy
and Scott Parker have been away the supposed lesser likes of Carlton Cole,
Luis Boa Morte and Lee Bowyer have had to play and, boy, how they did so
here.
Nolberto Solano probably nudged two-goal Bowyer for the man-of-the-match
honours, but there were five or six contenders. All in all, it must have
been nice – in a bizarre sense – for Curbishley to find himself in a
position to dish out the sympathy. "I feel for Billy, I've been there," he
said. And he survived. Just.
Goals: Bowyer (42) 0-1, Etherington (51) 0-2, Lewis (55 og) 0-3, Bowyer (59)
0-4, Solano (69) 0-5.
Derby (4-4-1-1): Bywater; Mears, Moore, Edworthy, Griffin; Lewis (Eanrshaw,
58), Oakley, Pearson, Teale (Howard 52); Barnes; Miller (Fagan 75).
Substitutes not used: McEveley, Jones.
West Ham (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney (Pantsil 14);
Solano, Spector, Bowyer (Collins 72); Etherington; Cole, Boa Morte.
Substitutes not used: Wright, Ljungberg, Camara.
Booked: Derby: Oakley, Fagan. West Ham: Pantsil, Bowyer.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Man of the match: Solano.
Attendance: 32,440.
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Bowyer finally proves his worth for Hammers - The Times
Derby County 0 West Ham 5
Josh Ball at Pride Park
Lee Bowyer for England? There may have been a time when the West Ham United
midfield player was a contender for a place in the national squad, but with
the likes of Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Owen Hargreaves
ahead of him in the pecking order, a call-up is extremely unlikely.
And yet the idea is not as crazy as it sounds. Bowyer is West Ham's leading
scorer in the league and his two goals on Saturday helped a team who are
missing 13 players to climb into the top half of the table. He is in the
kind of form that persuaded Leeds United to pay Charlton Athletic £2.8
million for his services in 1996.
But an England call-up? Even Bowyer thinks that is a dream too far. "I don't
think I will ever get called up again," he said. "I scored 17 goals in one
season and I didn't get called up, so why would I get called up now?"
There is no bitterness in that statement, just an acceptance that things
have changed. For Bowyer, life has moved on and this season is all about
redemption: for a season of failings last year, for a poor first spell at
Upton Park in 2003 and for a player who has much in his past that needs
redeeming.
"My most important thing, especially with the disappointment of last
season, is I just want to do well for West Ham," Bowyer said, "and prove to
everyone that I am better than what they'd seen the first time around.That's
why I came back a second time. I just want to play for the club. It's the
club I love and, hopefully, it will carry on."
At the start of the season Bowyer was not first choice, with Mark Noble and
Hayden Mullins in the queue ahead of him. But injuries have changed that and
his contribution has not gone unnoticed.
"Lee is playing fantastically well at the moment," Matthew Upson, the West
Ham defender, said. "I think he feels that he has to prove people wrong.
Maybe he has to prove himself more than others. Some people have already
made their minds up about him, but I don't think he can continue to be
overlooked for long."
As well as scoring twice, Bowyer was booked, his fifth yellow card of the
season. But his one-match suspension coincides with a hernia operation that
will keep him out for a month. With 13 players already missing because of
injury, Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, will be hoping that no one
else goes lame during the two-week international break.
For Derby, it is a time-out that could not come soon enough. Taking a
thumping away to Arsenal and Liverpool is one thing, but to lose so heavily
to West Ham's reserves is something else. "It was embarrassing," Tyrone
Mears, the Derby right back, said. "The gaffer has told us all to take a
long, hard look at ourselves."
Derby County (451): S Bywater 6 – T Mears 4, D Moore 5, M Edworthy 4, A
Griffin 4 – G Teale 5 (sub: S Howard, 52min 6), G Barnes 6, S Pearson 5, M
Oakley 6, E Lewis 5 (sub: R Earnshaw, 58 5) – K Miller 6 (sub: C Fagan, 58
5). Substitutes not used: J McEveley, D Jones. Booked: Oakley, Fagan. Next:
Chelsea (h).
West Ham United (442): R Green 7 – L Neill 7, D Gabbidon 7, M Upson 8, G
McCartney (sub: J Paintsil, 14 7) – N Solano 8, J Spector 7, L Bowyer 8
(sub: J Collins, 72), M Etherington 8 – L Boa Morte 7, C Cole 7. Substitutes
not used: R Wright, F Ljungberg, H Camara. Booked: Bowyer, Paintsil. Next:
Tottentham Hotspur (h).
Referee M Clattenburg
Attendance 32,440
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Derby County 0 West Ham 5: Bowyer makes it another dark day for Derby - The
Independent
By James Corrigan at Pride Park
Published: 11 November 2007
In hindsight, it was rather cruel of the organisers to make Derby County
appear in the only Premier League fixture to be played at 3pm on this
Saturday. After all, isolation at the bottom of the table is bad enough, and
they really did not need to be pushed into another inglorious spotlight.
Indeed, this performance was so shocking that a 2am kick-off on a Tuesday
might have been more apt.
Not to take anything away from West Ham, who swaggered into the top 10 with
this proudest of catwalks. Their win was as emphatic as it was welcome (this
being their second victoryin their past seven League games). The East Enders
have such pace, verve and blessed elan at their disposal that if and when
they return to full strength, they will be some outfit.
Derby, in contrast, have a future that appears bleak until the season's end.
Unless their manager, Billy Davies, can discover salvation in the January
transfer window, that is.
He will have been comforted to read in the programme the assurances of the
new chairman, Adam Pearson, that funds will be made available. The only
question now is, how deep are the pockets? Davies can only pray the patience
extends just as far.
His own certainly appears to be running out, despite the recognition that
with three centre-halves and a left-back missing, and with a squad that is
on the bald side of threadbare, there were mitigating factors.
"There is that as an excuse, but there is no excuse for the reaction after
the first goal," said Davies. "In the first 20 minutes we had opportunities
but after they scored it was men against boys." To be frank, the visitors
did not have to do an awful lot to take the advantage into the break.
Nolberto Solano's sweetlystruck free-kick was only denied by the bar on the
half-hour,but no matter, as 12 minutes later Lee Bowyer capitalised on the
Derby defence's incredible vanishing act by coolly drilling Carlton Cole's
knock-down underneath the goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater.
In the meantime, Derby's challenge amounted to very little. In fact,
slightly less than verylittle. It was soon to go lurching into the minus
column, as West Ham, realising there was absolutely no need to play it
tight, decided to make a day of it, scoring three times in eight minutes,
four in 18.
The impressive Bowyer was involved in the second when being the straight man
in a delightful one-two with Matthew Etherington – the winger beating
Bywater in the 51st minute – and then grabbing his brace when applying the
necessaries to Cole's cross in the 59th minute.
A few minutes earlier, Jonathan Spector had squeezed the ball under Eddie
Lewis, who fell over his own feet on the line and comically nudged it in as
a result. It was left for Solano to ram home the Rams' deficiencies, by this
time locating the netting with a free-kick in the 69th minute.
And what of Derby's attacks? Erm, Kenny Miller did have one free header that
drifted 10 yards wide. That summed up their day, as it threatens to sum up
their campaign. They have now completed almost nine hours without a League
goal, and unless they can find the target in their final League match of the
month in two weeks' time, it will mean they would have failed to score in
both October and November. That game happens to be against Chelsea. Ouch.
Davies' confidence appears undiminished, though, and afterwards Curbishley
urged him to "dust himself down and hang in there". He intends to. "If I'd
spent 30 or 40 million in the summer," barked Davies, "I'd be asking myself
some questions." As it is, the fans are.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley upset despite superb West Ham victory
tribalfooball.com - November 10, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley amother day of injuries, despite their
5-0 thrashing of Derby. From being 1-0 up at half-time through a Lee Bowyer
goal, the game was over within nine minutes of the restart as Matthew
Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Bowyer's second made it 4-0. Nolberto
Solano completed the rout with a stunning free-kick.
George McCartney was forced off before the quarter-hour mark with an ankle
problem, while Bowyer was playing with a groin injury and Curbishley
revealed he will have an operation on Tuesday. "Fantastic result for us,"
said Curbishley.
"Lee Bowyer's got to have something done. He was playing with a groin
strain. He's got to have an operation on Tuesday."We're hopeful Georgie
isn't as bad as we think.He added: "It's the way it's been for the last
month or two.
"Everyone's been going on about the injuries, it's there, everyone can see
it. "But it's a little disrespectful to the players who have been playing.
They have been picking points up."
Of the game, he said: "I think, today, the first goal was always going to be
the vital one and we managed to get it.
"That really settled us down and put Derby on the back foot. "It's very
difficult when you're down the bottom there and you go one down. "We had
opportunities in the first half, perhaps to get the second, and it didn't
happen. "We sat down at half-time and said if we go out and set about this
right and we get another one, then we can enjoy it. And that's what
happened."
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Rams 0-5 West Ham - Match report - ramzone.net
Sunday 11 Nov 2007 13:36:52 by Daniel Brooks
Well, where do we start on this one?
Derby County 0-5 West Ham United
Bowyer (42, 59), Etherington (51), Spector (54), Solano (69)
In my brief stint doing these reports I've not been faced with this
scoreline before; I've had some bad days of course, the days of Walsall and
Millwall spring to mind, but never this one-sided. What marked out the Rams'
successes last season was the ability to overcome adversity and win through
when it was least expected – that drive and confidence appears to have gone
as quickly as it came and with 25 games still to be played, I fear this is
going to be a regular occurrence this season.
In much the same manner as the defeats against Everton and Aston Villa, the
majority of the first hour, or at least the first 40 minutes in this case,
were played at stalemate, with the Rams not really on the attack but not
exactly under the cosh either. Then the first goal would be conceded and
heads begin to drop.
This is becoming a common problem; confidence has dropped and once that
first goal is conceded the players appear to lose heart, I can hardly blame
them but the lack of fight is starting to get depressing because it is so
obvious now to those watching in the stands; these players appear not to
believe they are good enough and when that happens... well you know the
rest.
Though I do not wish to be critical; whilst believing you're not good enough
doesn't help, actually not being good enough isn't ideal either and we have
some players that unfortunately fit into that category (Griffin, Lewis,
Moore, Edworthy etc.) and this no belief/ability combination is killing us.
Again, criticism is something I would prefer not to be party to but it's
hard to come up with effective reasons why David Jones (signed because of
his supposed Premiership talent) and Rob Earnshaw remain on the bench and
only seem to appear on the pitch when we're at least two goals down.
Anyway, enough complaining and to the goals which I'll list out here for the
record...
• A simple diagonal ball was nodded down by the massive form of Carlton
Cole into the path of Lee Bowyer who despite claims of handball was able to
control and fire past Bywater under no pressure.
• Solano plays the ball up to Etherington who exchanges neat passes with
Bowyer before smashing the ball into the Rams net.
• It's all over but the crying... a simple corner bounces around the box
before Spector fires the ball goalwards, Lewis tries to keep it out on the
line but can't quite manage it; story of the season really.
• Earnshaw comes on but seconds later it's four; mastermind Solano finds
Cole on the right and his superb cross is fired in on the volley by Bowyer.
• Nobby Solano is the best player on the pitch and he caps off a great
display by beating Bywater with a free kick and it's time for me to beat the
traffic back to Long Eaton.
Full-Time: Rams 0-5 West Ham
Rams: Bywater 5; Mears 4; Moore 3; Edworthy 5; Griffin 3; Barnes 4; Oakley
5; Pearson 5; Lewis 3 (Earnshaw 5); Teale 5 (Howard 5); Miller 5 (Fagan 5).
West Ham: Green; Neill; Gabbidon; Upson; McCartney ( Paintsil ); Spector;
Solano; Bowyer (Collins); Etherington; Boa Morte; Cole.
Referee: M Clattenburg.
Attendance: 32,440.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Juve man in Hammers' sights - Clubcall
20071111 12:35
West Ham and Manchester City are looking at making a move for Juventus'
Portuguese international Tiago. The former Chelsea ace made the move to the
Turin giants last summer after Juve managed to pip a host of clubs to sign
him from Lyon. However, the 26-year-old has failed to pin down a regular
starting place in boss Claudio Ranieri's midfield, making just two domestic
starts so far this season. His former club Benfica are well known to be
interested in taking him back to Portugal but there could be a move to the
Premiership in the offing should he be interested. West Ham are keen and
Italian sources claim that Man City have had scouts watch him this season,
but it remains to be seen if Juve will allow him to leave after paying over
£9million for him just six months ago.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham confirm Bowyer surgery
tribalfootball.com - November 11, 2007
West Ham will be without midfielder Lee Bowyer in the coming weeks as he is
due to undergo hernia surgery on Tuesday. Due to the Hammers' current injury
crisis Bowyer had been playing through to pain barrier to make up the
numbers. But after scoring twice in West Ham's 5-0 win at Derby, manager
Alan Curbishley has now booked the midfielder in for an operation.
"Unfortunately he's been one who's been playing with an injury," Curbishley
told Sky Sports. "He's having an operation on Tuesday, so he's going to be
out for a while." Bowyer has confirmed he is undergoing surgery next week,
although it remains to be seen how long he will be out of action. "I'm
playing with a hernia. I get that done on Tuesday," Bowyer said.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Bowyer enjoying best form of career
tribalfooball.com - November 11, 2007
West Ham United are convinced Lee Bowyer is playing the best football of his
career. "Since Lee's been at West Ham, it's not quite clicked for him," said
Hammers manager Alan Curbishley. "He's been in decent positions, but not
been able to get that goal. I remember one pre-season game at Norwich he got
in three or four times but did not get the goal. You start to wonder whether
it's ever going to go for him. Lee made his name getting into the box and
finishing. I know, I had him at Charlton.
"He didn't finish the season with us. He wasn't in the team that kept us up.
I told him I thought he was trying too hard. I know that sounds crazy. He
had a couple of chances at Liverpool last year and one hit the crossbar, but
I genuinely felt he was trying too hard, so I sat him down and told him."
Bowyer thrives on arriving at the right time in the area after someone else
has done the work. On Saturday, Carlton Cole twice turned provider. "I'm
happy I got a couple of chances and I managed to score," he said. "I could
count the chances I had last year on one hand. I'm having one or two every
game now. Carlton Cole has set up three of my goals. It's like big Carl
Leaburn at Charlton. It takes time for players to get to know my runs. "I
just want to play for West Ham. It's the club I love and hopefully this will
carry on. I don't think I will ever get close to England again. I scored 17
goals one season and I didn't get a call. I've just accepted it. I want to
do well for West Ham now. I came back to prove to everyone what they saw
last time was not the real me."
Centre back Matthew Upson believes the 30-year-old Bowyer, who won his only
England cap against Portugal in 2003, has finally grown up. He said: "Lee
has matured a lot, which I'm sure he recognised he had to do. His confidence
is such now that he's our leading scorer. And if you look at the statistics,
the ground he covers every match is right up there. "Some people have made
their minds up about him - but, from his performances, it's clear he's good
enough to do it at any level."
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West Ham boss Curbishley: Don't write-off Derby
tribalfooball.com - November 11, 2007
West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley insists Derby can still beat the drop -
despite thrashing them 5-0 at Pride Park on Saturday. The former Charlton
boss had words of comfort for beleaguered opposite number Billy Davies. "I
know what he's going through," Curbishley said. "I had a couple of results
like that last year. "These results come along but, if you care to look down
there, no-one's stranded. "It's still all to play for. He's got to take some
positives out of it and push on for the next game."
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