Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid took advantage of a first-team chance to show
their potential for the future
28.08.2008
Alan Curbishley was delighted to see two youngsters from the Academy get
some of the spotlight on Wednesday night although Carling Cup success owed
much to the experience of Lee Bowyer.
Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid, 19 and 20 respectively, have both enjoyed
tremendous summer campaigns with the club and rewarded the manager's faith
with plenty of bright running and a goal apiece to round out the 4-1
extra-time defeat of Macclesfield, who had to play with ten men for the
final 30 minutes. Those in the know were not surprised by their impact after
Hines struck five goals in pre-season while Reid really shone on the
pre-season tour of North America - not least with a terrific goal against
Columbus Crew.
The manager went for extra attacking impetus when Valon Behrami went off
with a facial injury rather than opt for another talented youngster in the
shape of England Under-19 defender Jordan Spence. He said: "I had a decision
to make. I put a couple of kids out there because I felt it was the right
time. When Behrami came off, I could have put Jordan on at full-back and
left it as it was or give Zav a game. I plumped for Zav. I am pleased he got
his goal and also Reidy. They have all acquitted themselves really well."
Curbishley, who also gave Freddie Sears only his second senior start,
admitted he was relieved to see his side come through thanks to Bowyer's
equaliser and a decisive second from Carlton Cole. The League Cup is
notorious for giantkilling scalps with more than a few affecting the team in
claret and blue in years gone by. He added: "We obviously turned it into
quite a tricky cup tie with Macclesfield scoring early and then getting
behind the ball. They asked us to break them down and we couldn't.
"It became more and more frustrating for everybody but I was confident we
were going to get back into it. It was just a question of when but it
dragged on a bit." The manager added that patience was key for his team to
securing a place in Saturday lunchtime's third-round draw. "We were playing
to their strengths [in the first half] as opposed to us getting hold of it
and trying to break them down. I think in the second half we did that a bit
better.
"I was expecting obviously more. I didn't expect to be trailing against
Macclesfield but sometimes this happens and the one thing about it is you
can't hide." That attitude was summed up by the experienced Bowyer, who
headed the all-important equaliser as the game entered its closing stages
and set the tone for the youngsters to finish the job. "You have just got to
get on with it and I think Bowyer obviously epitomised that. He kept going
and brought us back into the game."
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West Ham United 4-1 Macclesfield aet - WHUFC
Full coverage of Wednesday night's first taste of cup action for the 2008/09
campaign
27.08.2008
Carling Cup second round
Boleyn Ground
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Attendance: 10,055
Referee: Clive Penton
West Ham United: Green, Behrami (Hines 27), Davenport, Upson, McCartney
(Reid 55), Faubert, Mullins, Bowyer, Boa Morte, Sears (Cole 58), Ashton.
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Parker, Widdowson, Spence
Booked: Boa Morte
Goals: Bowyer 74, Cole 100, Hines 105, Reid 117.
Macclesfield Town: Brain, Brisley, Hessey, Walker, Reid, Tolley, Bell,
Thomas (Yeo 63), Deen, Evans (Rooney 104), Green (Hadfield 81).
Subs not used: Towns, Gritton, Jennings, Flynn
Sent-off: Reid (90)
Booked: Green, Reid, Yeo
Goal: Evans 5.
Att: 10,055.
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West Ham 4-1 Macclesfield (aet) - BBC
West Ham came from behind to avoid a Carling Cup embarrassment at home to
League Two strugglers Macclesfield. Macclesfield led early on when Gareth
Evans headed in Ahmed Deen's corner. Lee Bowyer headed a controversial
equaliser and the Silkmen were reduced to 10 men when Izak Reid was shown a
second yellow card late in normal time. A header from substitute Carlton
Cole put West Ham ahead before a Kyel Hines tap-in and a fine strike from
Zavon Reid eased Alan Curbishley's worries. The Hammers boss was booed by
his own fans in the crowd of 10,055 as they struggled to break down a side
floundering at the wrong end of the Football League and without a point this
season. Keith Alexander's men gave an early indication of their threat when
Francis Green fizzed a long-range effort over the bar. They grabbed the
opener - and their first goal of the season - when Ahmed Deen swung over a
set-piece and Evans stooped at the near post to head into the roof of the
net, despite George McCartney's efforts on the line. It got worse for
Curbishley when he was forced into an early change following a head injury
to Valon Behrami, who had clashed with Lee Bell. Dean Ashton found a yard of
space before the break and curled an effort against the crossbar - but it
did not stop the shouts of abuse from the stands as the hosts went into the
dressing room. Curbishley sent his men out early but the visitors continued
to attack and it took a clearance from Hayden Mullins to prevent a Danny
Thomas cross from causing danger. Bowyer grabbed the equaliser 15 minutes
from full-time but Macclesfield claimed the ball was out of play in the
build-up. Julien Faubert was allowed to get his cross in from the right and
Bowyer headed in at Jon Brain's near post. Macclesfield's Reid was dismissed
for his second bookable offence on the stroke of full-time and the Hammers
went in front in the 10th minute of extra-time, with Ashton nodding back
across goal and substitute Cole heading in. Hines then tapped in at the far
post after Ashton had flashed a shot across goal, before fellow youngster
Reid cut in and fired a fourth from outside the box.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley on booing from home fans: "What can I do about
it apart from win games and keep going? I've had this now for a little
while, I'll get on with it. I'm a big boy as I've said before. "The
disappointing thing is the players are the ones that have to go out and
perform. "The fans are brilliant when they are behind us and they have to
realise the effect it has when they are not behind us. It can all change at
the weekend. "Football is a bit like this, you go through periods like this.
It has happened to other managers and happened a bit last year."
Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander on the sending off: It was a scandalous,
ridiculous decision. It cost us the game. "Our performance did not deserve
the referee spoiling the game for us but you don't get those kind of
decisions at places like this."
West Ham: Green, Behrami (Hines 27), Davenport, Upson, McCartney (Reid 55),
Faubert, Mullins, Bowyer, Boa Morte, Sears (Cole 58), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Parker, Widdowson, Spence.
Booked: Boa Morte.
Goals: Bowyer 74, Cole 100, Hines 105, Reid 117.
Macclesfield: Brain, Brisley, Hessey, Walker, Reid, Tolley, Bell, Thomas
(Yeo 63), Deen, Evans (Rooney 104), Green (Hadfield 81).
Subs Not Used: Towns, Gritton, Jennings, Flynn.
Sent Off: Reid (90).
Booked: Green, Reid, Yeo.
Goals: Evans 5.
Att: 10,055.
Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).
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Ferdinand disputes club statement - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 27th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Anton Ferdinand has accused West Ham United of lying over claims that he
rejected an improved contract offer to stay at the club. United CEO Scott
Duxbury revealed today that Sunderland's (estimated) £8million offer was
accepted after Ferdinand had rejected a new contract offer from West Ham,
said to be worth somewhere between £35,000-£45,000 per week. However
Ferdinand has rejected Duxbury's version of events, claiming that the
Hammers' offer was withdrawn once Sunderland's interest in the 23-year-old
former England under 21 international was made evident. Talking to the Daily
Mail, he said: "I'd been offered a new deal by West Ham. But when Sunderland
came in with a bid that offer was withdrawn." Ferdinand has signed a
four-year deal with the Black Cats thought to be worth around £50,000 per
week.
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West Ham Utd 4 Macclesfield 1 (aet) - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 27th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United were just sixteen minutes away from going out of the Carling
Cup against League Two outfit Macclesfield Town at The Boleyn Ground tonight
before a Lee Bowyer strike averted disaster - and possibly saved Alan
Curbishley's job.
Bowyer broke Macclesfield hearts with normal time fast running out to take
the game into extra-time after plucky Macclesfield - who were reduced to ten
men a minute from the end of normal time - had led the game for over an
hour. Extra-time goals from Carlton Cole, debutant Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid
gave the final score a more respectful appearance that flattered the home
side, who were at times as inept as against Manchester City last weekend.
The Silkmen - who have lost all three of their League games so far this
season and sit just one place from the bottom of the Football League -
silenced the small home crowd when they took the lead after just five
minutes when Ahmed Deen's 4th minute corner found its way into the back of
Robert Green's net via the head of Gareth Evans.
The early shock spurred Alan Curbishley's side into life and they soon began
to impose themselves on the game, as you would expect of a team hosting
opposition from three leagues below them.
Freddie Sears and Luis Boa Morte both went close to equalising, although
United's best chance of the opening period fell to Dean Ashton who was the
width of a crossbar away from levelling the scores on the stroke of
half-time.
Unsurprisingly the Hammers - who lost new-signing Valon Behrami after the
Swiss defender sustained a facial injury with just 27 minutes on the clock -
left the field at the break to a resounding chorus of boos.
A brief spell of pressure at the start of the second half from the visitors,
looking to put the game to bed soon petered out and the Hammers began to
enjoy more time on the ball as they pushed on in search of an equaliser.
Macclesfield began to defend deeper and deeper, and it was no surprise when
Bowyer finally levelled the scores with a close range header with just a
quarter-of-an-hour remaining.
The goal gave the Hammers a clear boost in confidence and they finished
normal time camped inside the Town half - although the hunt for a winning
goal was to prove elusive.
However the game turned further in United's favour when Macclesfield's
teenage full-back Izak Reed saw red for a second bookable offence in the
final minute of normal time, forcing them to play the ensuing 30 minutes of
extra time a man short.
That extra-man advantage told immediately and Zavon Hines and Dean Ashton
both went close to putting the Hammers ahead. But the goal that was to
finally break the Silkmen's brave resistance came instead from the head of
substitute Carlton Cole who gave Curbishley's side breathing space when
diverting Dean Ashton's cross goalbound with exactly 100 minutes on the
clock.
The goal was a huge blow to the League Two side, for whom each and every
player had given their all. Visibly tired, it was no surprise when they
conceded a third; Zavon Hines scoring on his first team debut in the final
minute of the first half of extra time. Once again, Dean Ashton was the
provider.
With the game now all but in the bag United eased off the pressure for the
remaining quarter-of-an-hour and the crowd were treated to one or two
moments of pure exhibitionism - one of which came from Kyel Reid who almost
made it 4-1 after a Cruyff turn and shot that left his marker for dead and
cannoned off the inside of the right-hand post.
Carlton Cole then tried to run single-handedly through the Macclesfield
defence before Reid had somewhat better luck with just three of the 120
minutes remaining when he left the excellent Town keeper John Brain rooted
to the spot by firing low inside the left-hand post to complete the scoring.
Dean Ashton thought he had added a fifth with virtually the last kick of the
game but his effort was ruled offside. As the teams left the pitch the
Macclesfield team were given a standing ovation by the remaining home fans
in recognition of their valiant effort that saw them just 16 minutes away
from possibly the biggest upset in both their and West Ham United's history.
Match Stats
West Ham United: Green, McCartney (K.Reid 55), Behrami (Hines 27),
Davenport, Upson, Mullins, Bowyer, Faubert, Boa Morte, Sears (Cole 58),
Ashton.
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Spence, Widdowson, Parker.
Goals: Bowyer (74), Cole (100), Hines (105), K.Reid (117).
Booked: Boa Morte (42).
Macclesfield Town: Brain, Brisley, Hessey, Ealker, I.Reid, Tolley, Bell,
Thomas (Yeo 63), Evans (Rooney 104), Green (Hadfield 81), Deen.
Subs not used: Town, Gritton, Jennings, Flynn.
Goals: Evans (5).
Booked: Green (18), Reid (65).
Sent Off: Reid (90).
Referee: C.Penton.
Attendance: 10,055.
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Hammers survive cup scare - SSN
Extra-time needed as Silkmen give West Ham a scare
By James Pearson Last updated: 28th August 2008
West Ham needed extra-time to secure a 4-1 success over lowly 10-man
Macclesfield Town in the Carling Cup. Gareth Evans stunned the Boleyn Ground
with a fifth minute goal which looked for long periods like being an
unlikely winner. Lee Bowyer ensured extra-time with a 74th minute effort,
although Macclesfield's cause was severely hindered when Izak Reid was
dismissed on the stroke of full-time. Goals from Carlton Cole, Zavon Hines
and Kyel Reid restored some pride in extra-time as West Ham booked their
place in the third round. The Silkmen had not even scored a goal in League
Two but status meant nothing on the evening and Keith Alexander's men got
the scent of an upset within five minutes when they took the lead. Francis
Green had already given them a warning with a long-range effort which fizzed
over the bar, then they grabbed the opener when George McCartney tried to
head back to goalkeeper Robert Green but got his angles wrong and conceded a
corner. Ahmed Deen swung over the set-piece and Evans stooped at the near
post to head into the roof of the net, despite McCartney's efforts on the
line. It got worse for Curbishley when he was forced into a 27th-minute
change following a head injury to Valon Behrami, who had clashed with Lee
Bell. Hines was brought on for his Hammers debut. Luis Boa Morte did have
sight of goal before the break but his effort lacked power and Jon Brian was
down to save. The Hammers winger then showed his frustration when he hacked
down Reid when the Macclesfield full-back got away down the right. The
visitors continued to attack and it took a clearance from Hayden Mullins to
prevent a Danny Thomas cross from causing danger. At the other end, Brian
was barely tested when West Ham youngster Reid, who was on as a substitute,
fired a free-kick straight at him. Brian did not have to move either when
Ashton connected with an overhead kick.
Just when it looked like West Ham had run out of ideas, Bowyer grabbed the
equaliser 15 minutes from full-time. Macclesfield had thought the ball was
out of play but Julien Faubert got his cross in from the right and Bowyer
headed in at Brian's near post. Just before the 90 minutes were up,
Macclesfield's Reid was dismissed for his second bookable offence. Cole's
strike came in the 10th minute of extra-time, with Ashton nodding back
across goal and the substitute heading in. Hines then tapped in at the far
post after Ashton had flashed across goal. Reid cut in and fired a fourth
from outside the box before the end.
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Vinny's Macclesfield Report - West Ham Online
Vinny - Thu Aug 28 2008
League Cup 2nd Round
West Ham United 4 Macclesfield Town 1 (a.e.t)
Pressure on manager Alan Curbishley is beginning to mount despite seeing off
League Two side Macclesfield Town 4-1 with goals coming from Lee Bowyer,
Carlton Cole, Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid. With so much speculation about
Curbishley's future in the press at the moment the last thing he needed was
a poor performance in the League Cup which would allow the fans to vent some
of their frustrations towards him. Just before we scored the equaliser,
Curbishley was getting a lot of abuse with songs such as "you're getting
sacked in the morning" "Alan, Sort it out" and even some murmurings of
"Alan, you're a c*nt". This was followed by "Harry Redknapp's Claret & Blue
army" and then onto "Slaven Bilc's Claret & Blue Army" as a section of the
support put forward their candidates for a potential replacement.
Curbishley being booed every time the ball came near him was reminiscent of
the Glenn Roeder days which is obviously quite worrying. The side was
slightly altered from the one which started against Manchester City on
Sunday. In defence, George McCartney returned from injury at left back with
Lucas Neill not include in the squad. In midfield, Noble was omitted with
Lee Bowyer replacing him and Scott Parker was dropped to the bench in favour
of Hayden Mullins. Matthew Etherington was also missing from the squad and
replaced on the left wing by Luis Boa Morte. Up front Dean Ashton was
alongside Freddie Sears who was in for Carlton Cole who was on the bench.
Sitting in an unfamiliar seat in a half empty stadium, I was hoping for a
professional and efficient performance from an experienced side that was
starting the game. We couldn't have wished for a worse start as Macclesfield
took the lead on the fifth minute. A corner was swung in for Gareth Evans to
head towards goal and despite George McCartney trying to clear it off the
line, it went in. We needed to react and get ourselves together but no clear
cut chances were coming out way. A good ball into the area from Boa Morte
put Ashton in but he and two others were all offside as the flag went up
straight away.
Our first real chance of the game came when Faubert flicked the ball on and
set Freddie Sears through on goal but the striker's shot was saved by the
keeper as a excellent chance went begging. Injury struck once again when
Behrami went down with what looked like a head injury. It had seemed as
though he was going to be fine but had to be taken off.
Zavon Hines, who we have seen much of in pre season came on to replace him.
Hines, normally a striker went to the right side of midfield with Julien
Faubert going to right back (a position he has played many times in his club
career). We were certainly seeing a lot of the ball but chances were very
few and far between. It seemed as though we were having the exact same
problem as we usually do – we cannot break teams down as we do not possess
the player or players to do so.
Dean Ashton saw a clever effort from outside the area hit the top of the bar
in a rare wake up call for the few fans that were in the ground who were
starting to get slightly agitated. Macclesfield as an attacking forced had
just about ceased to exist but they did have a half chance when their right
back Izak Reid burst forward after a nice move but he dragged his shot well
wide. There were a number of scrambles in the area as we looked desperately
for the equaliser but the finishes were usually poor with Boa Morte having
one of the worst attempts with a weak close range effort.
No surprise to hear boo's ring around Upton Park when the half time whistle
went and although it had obviously not been very good, I was very confident
that we would come out in the second half and get the result. It was not as
though Macclesfield were all over us or that we were not in possession, it
was that we had little idea how to attack with any purpose.
It seems as though Curbishley would have hoped that his half time team talk
would gear up the side as they came out a good two to three minutes early
for the second half. The opening ten minutes were abysmal as Macclesfield
started to come into the game more and force a couple of corners. Curbishley
was obviously not happy at the way things were going and a change was made
on the 55th minute with Kyel Reid replacing George McCartney in a bold and
strangely attacking move by Alan Curbishley. The change saw Luis Boa Morte
move to left back. Three minutes later another change was made with the out
of his depth Freddie Sears being replaced by Carlton Cole.
Despite the attacking changes, things did not improve and this is when the
crowd started to turn on the manager. Cole nearly levelled with a smart
volley after a nice ball over the top was controlled well and hit with power
but the keeper made a save. Mullins saw a decent effort fizz wide of the
goal and just as Slaven Bilic was being touted as the next West Ham manager,
a good cross from Faubert found Lee Bowyer bursting into the area to head
into the goal to make it 1-1. A collective sigh of relief could be heard
around the ground as it was the 74th minute when Bowyer scored.
Would we be able to finish the game before the 90 minutes were up? No, not
quite and although we were by this point all over them, a goal did not come
and extra time beckoned. Just before the end of the 90, Kyel Reid burst down
the left only to be taken out by the right back Isak Reid who had just been
booked not long before for a similar offence. He was shown the second yellow
to further our advantage going into the first period of extra time. If there
were not many in the ground at the actual kick off, there were fewer in
there now as many seemed to not realise that this was a cup game.
The first half of extra time was the most one sided affair you are likely to
see as we steamrollered a weary looking Macclesfield side. A host of corners
and half chances fell our way with Hines and Bowyer coming very close to
putting us in the lead. That goal did come and it was again Faubert with the
cross, a nice nod down by Ashton and Carlton Cole was on hand to head into
the net from close range to make it 2-1.
Shortly after, the ball was played into the feet of Cole who turned
beautifully and hit a good shot which the keep did well to keep out. Just
before the first half of extra time was up we furthered the lead through
Zavon Hines after Ashton had done well on the right hand side. The finish
was a tap in from virtually on the line but it was nice to see a goal from a
young player making his debut for the club. He had scored a number of goals
in Pre Season and looked a handful in the games he played. In my opinion he
looks much more dangerous than Freddie Sears.
A lot more people left at the half time period of the extra time and
although the final 15 minutes were played at a snail's pace, if you did
leave you would have missed a cracking goal, and his first for the club from
Kyel Reid who had been excellent since he had come on. He cut in from the
left and hit an unstoppable right foot shot past the stranded keeper. Reid
nearly got his second moments later when he curled a shot past the keeper
only for the ball to crash off the post. Through to the next round of the
cup is what we all wanted, but the abuse towards Alan Curbishley is
beginning to brew and a poor performance or result on Saturday against
Blackburn will see the pressure move to a whole new level.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Apart from pick the ball out of the net he had nothing to do for the
remainder of the evening.
George McCartney
Making his first start of the season he looked a little bit short of match
fitness but looked confident on the ball and I would expect him to start on
Saturday.
Callum Davenport
I would think he won just about every single header he went up for and
although in the air he is generally flawless, on the deck he looks so slow
that he will continue to be found out in the Premiership.
Matthew Upson
Solid throughout.
Valon Behrami
Never really got into the game and was taken off injured as all new West Ham
signings are required to do.
Luis Boa Morte
Moves forward with a lot of pace and likes to get stuck in, but his decision
making is shocking and some of his crosses are just not good enough. Still
getting booed by certain sections of the support even when he just gets the
ball.
Hayden Mullins
Sometimes I think Mullins does a good job and breaks play up well and even
manages to spread the odd pass about, but tonight I just thought he was
sh*t. He was able to move forward a lot more given the standard of
opposition but he just offered so little.
Lee Bowyer
A mixed bag from the returning Bowyer. At times he would be the main focal
point of the team, as the play would go through him, but at other times he
would just play a silly pass which was either too short or too long but
ultimately never reached its intended target. As the game worse on, he got
better and managed to get a foot hold on the game. His goal was typical
Bowyer and he is our only goal scoring midfielder.
Julien Faubert
If he crosses the ball twenty times, at least two or three of them will be
good . But he needs so many attempts to get them right. His game is about
his ability to take on players and cross the ball and I am still not seeing
it with much consistency. Saying that, I do concede that he had a hand in a
couple of goals just like he did against Wigan. Maybe I just expect too
much.
Dean Ashton
Looked very leggy and would not jump for the ball throughout his entire 120
minutes on the pitch. No doubt he will be knackered for Saturday now. Never
really had that many chances to score apart from a few shots when he was
called offside. A nice assist for Cole's goal.
Freddie Sears
Easily dealt with by the Macclesfield defence who no doubt come up against
much better players in their league. Rightly taken off as he had faded out
of the game
Subs Used
Zavon Hines (on for Behrami 27 mins)
On as a right winger and as the game progressed he seemed to drift further
inside. He is a striker by trade and was in the right place at the right
time to score a goal on his debut.
Kyel Reid (on for McCartney 55 mins)
I have never been impressed with him before but credit where credit is due,
he was excellent tonight. Wanted to take on players and wanted to get shots
off at goal. His goal was excellent.
Carlton Cole (on for Sears 58 mins)
The man who changed the game for me. Not only scored but looked a class
above. Trouble is, he still needed about 3 or 4 chances to score that one
goal and that is why he will never been good enough for a consistent
Premiership striker.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Parker, Widdowson, Spence.
Overall
Into the hat for the next round of the League Cup we may be but with the
poor attendance and the dissatisfaction with the manager building with each
game there is more than a victory over Macclesfield to take from tonight.
I believe this could be the beginning of a few difficult weeks which may end
a big change to the managerial position.
The transfer window and the game against Blackburn will be very important
for Alan Curbishley's job as West Ham United's manager.
Att: 10,055.
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CURBS IS SAVED... FOR NOW - The Mirror
28/08/2008
CARLING CUP LAST NIGHT'S ACTION W Ham 4 Mac'field 1 (aet)
Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines saved West Ham from embarrassment against lowly
Macclesfield - but the pressure is still on Alan Curbishley. The visitors
took a deserved lead after five minutes as striker Gareth Evans headed home
Ahmed Deen's corner after escaping a flat-footed Hammers defence. The
Premier League side were then thoroughly dismal and trailed for 69 minutes
against a side 88th in the League and who have yet to score or win in their
three League Two matches. Lee Bowyer gave boss Curbishley a lifeline when
his late strike took West Ham into extra time. With fans chanting, 'You're
getting sacked in the morning', Bowyer rose to power home Julien Faubert's
cross and give his boss a stay of execution. Izak Reid was sent off in
injury-time for a foul on Hines. And the Hammers pulled away in extra time,
Carlton Cole netted a cross from Faubert, Hines bundled in a third and sub
Reid wrapped it up.
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Curbishley abused as Hammers survive - Guardian
Carling Cup Second Round
West Ham United 4 Bowyer 74, Cole 100, Hines 105, Reid 117
Macclesfield 1 Evans 5
Sachin Nakrani at Upton Park The Guardian, Thursday August 28 2008 Article
history
Lee Bowyer celebrates scoring West Ham's first goal. Photograph: Andrew
Couldridge/Action Images
Rarely has a manager taken such small comfort from victory as Alan
Curbishley did here last night. West Ham progressed to the third round but
having required extra-time to defeat a side who have yet to win or score in
League Two this season, they will hardly be in jubilant mood this morning.
Indeed the sound of discontentment may still be ringing in the team's ears,
after they were subjected to jeers from home fans angered by the miserable
performance they put in having gone a goal behind. At one point they called
for Curbishley to be sacked and there is little doubt that the bookmakers'
favourite to lose his job remains in a perilous position.
The man himself remains defiant, claiming in the aftermath that he maintains
the full support of the board, but West Ham's owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson,
will surely act should the side put in a similarly abject performance
against Blackburn on Saturday. His relationship with Curbishley was reported
yesterday to have hit an all-time low after the pair fell out over the
decision to sell Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland for about £6m.
With or without the defender, it is unlikely West Ham would have started as
poorly as they did last night. Having gone behind to Gareth Evans' deft
header from Ahmed Dean's fifth-minute corner, the home side became
increasingly disjointed at the back and insipid in midfield, with only Dean
Ashton playing in a manner that suggested West Ham could get back into the
game. There were credible efforts on goal, first from Freddie Sears and then
Ashton himself, but both attempts were close enough to the goalkeeper Jon
Brain for him to parry them to safety.
Macclesfield then almost made it 2-0 when the impressive Francis Green
played an excellent through pass to the right-back Izak Reid, who found time
and space in the area but could only drag his shot wide.
That he was able to shoot at all spread a sense of outrage among the sparse
crowd and the boos which had met Evans' goal could be heard again. The anger
was justified, West Ham were being out-thought by a side who sit one place
from the foot of League Two.
There were further jeers as the players departed for half-time and more as
the team returned with West Ham, it appeared, heading for a shock-exit from
the competition. Indeed it was not long before Lee Bowyer's equaliser, also
a header, that the fans had chanted for Curbishley's head. That goal gave
him a reprieve, however, and there was further comfort after Reid was sent
off after 90 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Down to 10 men, Macclesfield could not repeat their resilient and, at times,
impressively fluid performance so it came as no surprise when they
eventually collapsed. Carlton Cole put the Londoners ahead with a
close-range header before the 19-year-old Zavon Hines, on his debut, got
their third. Another youngster, Kyel Reid completed the victory three
minutes from time.
"I was expecting more from my side; I didn't expect us to be trailing
against Macclesfield," Curbishley said afterwards. "But we were better in
the second half and eventually broke them down." Had they failed to do so,
it is more than likely he would be out of a job by now."
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Carling Cup round-up: Hammers escape exit after being forced into extra-time
By Gordon Tynan
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Independent.co.uk Web
West Ham United needed extra time to see off League Two strugglers
Macclesfield 4-1 at Upton Park last night, but the Hammers were not the only
Premier League side to come close to being dumped out of the Carling Cup by
lower-league opposition.
Macclesfield, who have lost their opening three league games without scoring
a goal, led for nearly 70 minutes at Upton Park after Gareth Evans'
fifth-minute opener. But Lee Bowyer equalised with 74 minutes gone and the
visitors' task got even harder when Izak Reid was sent off in the 90th
minute for a foul on his namesake Kyel Reid.
Carlton Cole broke the minnows' resistance 10 minutes into extra time and
Zavon Hines, who came on for his debut in the first half when Valon Behrami
suffered a head injury, made it three (105th minute) before Reid netted his
first Hammers goal three minutes from the end.
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West Ham need extra time to overcome opponents Macclesfield in Carling Cup -
Telegraph
West Ham United (0) 4 Macclesfield Town (1) 1
By Graham Ruddick
Last Updated: 1:49AM BST 28 Aug 2008
West Ham needed extra time to get past League Two Macclesfield as
under-pressure manager Alan Curbishley suffered a huge scare at Upton Park.
Curbishley went into the Carling Cup match on the back of a 3-0 defeat at
Manchester City last weekend and reports of all-time low morale within the
squad as players such as Anton Ferdinand were sold against the manager's
wishes.
The situation looked like it could get worse when Macclesfield took an early
lead but Lee Bowyers' equaliser and then extra time goals from substitute
Carlton Cole,18-year-old Zavon Hines and fellow youngster Kyel Reid ensured
West Ham progressed to the third round.
The Upton Park crowd showed its frustration as West Ham struggled to
overcome opponents 72 league places below but Curbishley, who said that no
more players will be leaving the club and denied that morale was poor among
the squad, stated that he would just have to "get on with it".
"That's it at the moment," he said. "What can I do about it except win
games? I've had this for a little while now, I'll just get on with it. I'm a
big boy."
He added: "The fans have got to realise the effect it has when they are not
behind us."
Keith Alexander brought his Macclesfield team to Upton Park with his side
pointless after three games in League Two but they began brightly and it was
not a complete surprise when they took the lead in the 5th minute when
Gareth Evan found space and headed in Ahmed Deen's corner from the right.
There was howls from the disbelieving home fans as Macclesfield threatened
to increase their lead through Izak Reid's low shot and West Ham's woes
increased when Valon Behrami's was forced off by a facial injury midway
through the first period.
The teams came out to the second half with the Upton Park public announcer,
clearly sensing the home fan's agitation, begging the crowd to get behind
the team in the second half. "You can be the twelfth man," he told them.
However, the West Fans were given little to cheer about as Macclesfield's
defence continued to stand admirably firm. Curbishley responded by throwing
on youngster Kyel Reid and striker Carlton Cole, and the relief around Upton
Park was audible in the 74th minute when Lee Bowyer, disappointing for most
of the night, headed Faubert's excellent right-wing cross into the bottom
left-hand corner from close range.
West Ham grew in belief from that moment and Cole should have won the tie in
normal time when he headed over after a superb cross from Ashton. Reid was
sent off for Macclesfield for his second booking in stoppage time of the 90
minutes and the Premier League team then went on to dominate extra time
thanks to their man advantage.
Cole headed in the inevitable second goal from close range in the 100th
minute before Hines and Reid finished Macclesfield off.
Match details:
West Ham: Green, Behrami (Hines 27), Upson, Davenport, McCartney (Reid 55),
Faubert, Mullins, Bowyer, Boa Morte, Ashton, Sears (Cole, 58)
Subs: Lastuvka, Parker, Widdowson, Spence
Booked: Boa Morte
Macclesfield: Brian, Walker, Hessey, Brisley, Deen, Reid, Bell, Tolley,
Evans (Rooney, 104), Green (Hadfield, 81 Thomas (Yeo, 63)
Subs: Towns, Gritton, Rooney, Jennings, Flynn
Booked: Green, Reid
Sent off: Reid
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).
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Supporters call for Curbishley's head as the Hammers make hard work of
Macclesfield - Daily Mail
By Ian Gibb
Last updated at 12:26 AM on 28th August 2008
West Ham manager Alan Curblishley was surely staring down the gun barrel at
Upton Park last night when even a section of home fans started chanting:
'You're getting sacked in the morning.' That was on 73 minutes as Hammers
trailed 1-0 to tiny, lowly League Two Macclesfield. But it was in the very
next minute that Lee Bowyer, the midfielder Curbishley had developed as a
boy-wonder back at Charlton, came up with a crucial saver - not only of the
tie, but perhaps even a managerial career.
Groggy Hammers still needed Macclesfield's right wing Izak Reid to be sent
off in the last minute of the 90, before finally putting the brave Cheshire
side to the sword with a flurry of goals in extra time. But Curbishley must
have been rocked to his heels by the terrible chant from a miniscule crowd
of only 10,055 - especially after all the criticism that has been heaped
around his shoulders over the last few days. A terrible performance at
Manchester City, stories of unrest and low morale within the camp and even
the treaded black spot of being made Premier League manager's favourite for
the sack, all these factors have hurt the former West Ham player. When asked
about the chanting, usually reserved for an opposing manager, he said:
'That's it at the moment. What can you do about it. Except win games and
keep going.'
And when asked if he was feeling the pressure, Curbishley said: 'Obviously
I've had this for a little while now. I just get on with it. I'm a big boy
now.
'The disappointing thing is that the players are the ones who've got to go
out and perform. 'The fans, when they're behind us, are brilliant - they've
got to realise the effect it has when they are not behind us. 'But I'm not
going to hide away. I'll get on with it.'
Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander, whose team have lost all three League
games and without scoring, saw the sending off as the turning point and
flayed Sussex referee Clive Penton by saying: 'It was a scandalous,
ridiculous decision but then you don't expect much else when you come to a
place like this.'
The Hammers were hit in the pit of their stomachs in only the fifth minute
when Reid swung over a corner and Gareth Evans smashed a header into the
roof of the net. Hammers' central defender Calum Davenport was off the
field at the time having treatment after conceding the corner. Though Dean
Ashton clipped the Macc bar on 43 minutes, the Hammers were struggling to
get on top and Curbishley threw on ex-Academy kid Kyel Reid, with another
youngster Zavon Hines already on after 27 minutes for broken-tooth victim
Valon Behrami. On also came Carlton Cole to add some weight to the attack.
Then came the 'sacked-in-the-morning' chant, before just a minute later
Julien Faubert produced a centre from the right and Bowyer buried his header
inside the right post. This was his first game since being sent off in
February against Birmingham and how he repaid his one-time mentor
Curbishley. It was Bowyer who drove them on in extra time, even though it
was against 10 men, Cole finally putting the Hammers ahead in the 100th
minute when he headed in after a Faubert centre had been nodded back by
Ashton. It was all over on 115 minutes when Ashton got the ball into the
danger area and Hines stuck a foot out to net. A minute later and Kyel Reid
cut in from the left to fire past a helpless keeper Jon Brian. In the end it
was easy - but so it should have been against 10 men who are fifth bottom of
League Two and only now will Curbishley find out whether he has the backing
of the West Ham fans who will be giving their former player Paul Ince some
terrible stick when he brings Blackburn to the East End on Saturday.
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