Kevin Keen's men are full of confidence before the short trip to play
Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night
25.02.2008
West Ham United reserves are looking for a fourth straight victory this
evening as they make the short trip to face Tottenham Hotspur.
The 7pm match, to be played at Leyton Orient, could see Bobby Zamora get his
third official run-out for Kevin Keen's side as he bids to return fully from
a persistent knee problem that has kept him out of first-team contention
since 28 August. Zamora was a key figure in the second string's last two
successes, a 4-1 win against Birmingham City and last week's 2-0 victory
over Fulham.
While much of the focus will naturally be on Zamora, if selected, Keen has
high hopes for another strong showing from a side that should feature young
hopefuls like Jordan Spence, Bondz N'Gala, James Tomkins, Jack Collison,
Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears. "There is a real good team ethic," Keen
said. "That is one of the things that has pleased me most with the reserves
this year."
That togetherness has seen the team have every chance of a high finish in
the southern section of the Barclays Premier Reserve League. The club are in
third place level on 22 points with Reading and four points behind leaders
Aston Villa - although have played two games more than both. That said,
Reading go to Villa this evening and still have to travel to play at West
Ham United.
Keen said: "It is the first time for a few years that we have had a decent
run and hopefully we can finish nearer the top rather than nearer the
bottom. There is a good nucleus core of young players that want to do well.
They have got ability and they have got the right strength of mind to do
well as a team.
"Everyone knows winning is not everything in Academy and reserve-team
football. But as they come through the Academy and they get to the reserve
team, it means more. You have got to prepare them for that first-team
environment where millions of pounds are resting on it. Winning becomes a
little bit more important."
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Zamora ready for Tottenham test - then it's Chelsea - Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:33am on 25th February 2008
Bobby Zamora has targeted a return to first-team action against Chelsea on
Saturday as West Ham look to step up their bid for a place in Europe next
season. Zamora, who last played for the senior team last August, has been
plagued by knee problems but is now almost ready to declare himself fit for
the climax of the Hammers' season. The striker was due to play a reserve
team match at his former club Tottenham today and provided he comes through
that with no ill-effects, is hoping to be named in manager Alan Curbishley's
squad for the clash with the Blues. Curbishley has favoured the one striker
system in recent matches and Carlton Cole was again preferred to Dean Ashton
in the 1-0 win over Fulham. The Cottagers lost to a late controversial goal
from West Ham substitute Nobby Solano and manager Roy Hodgson was adamant
the effort should have been ruled out by referee Howard Webb for a foul on
goalkeeper Antti Niemi. "I didn't speak to the referee afterwards because
what is the point? He won't change his decision," said Hodgson. "Players
make mistakes and so do referees. In my opinion he made one for the goal and
if he has seen it on TV, although he and his linesman will be trying to
justify the decision, in their heart of hearts they will be saying 'we were
very kind to West Ham.' "There is no depression about the place, though,
despite the situation. I thought the performance against West Ham was quite
buoyant. "We're not getting the points but I'm not seeing us outplayed by
many teams. If I am going to take any positives it would be that but if you
are going to say would I swap those things for bad performances and wins, of
course I would, who wouldn't?"
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