31.10.2009
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v West Ham United
Stadium of Light
Saturday 31 October 2009
3pm
Referee: Andre Marriner
Full time - Andre Marriner brings the game to a close and the players make
their way down the tunnel. The second half was a real slug as the home side
threw everything they had at their visitors but I think that Zola and his
players would have been happy to have taken a point from this match before
kick-off.
94 min - I think the final action of the game will be a free-kick to the
Hammers just inside their own half.
90 min - We will play four more minutes here.
88 min - Bent flashes another chance just past the post.
87 min - It will be ten against ten for the final few minutes as Kovac is
sent from the field for his second booking.
85 min - Spector is penalised for a foul on the right touchline. Reid takes
the kick and Bent meets it with a firm header. Thankfully it goes inches
wide.
84 min - Diamanti goes so close with a rasping effort from 25 yards that
Gordon does not get near.
83 min - What a finish we are having here as the play flows from one end to
the other. Bent has just fired another chance straight at Green.
81 min - First change for the home side as Malbranque makes way for former
Hammer George McCartney.
76 min - GOAL! Sunderland level the game after Richardson bundles in the
ball from three yards.
74 min - Another good chance for the home team is wasted as Malbranque
volleys well wide from just inside the area.
72 min - Hines comes on and Franco is off.
71 min - There could be another change for the Hammers as Hines has been
called over the touchline.
67 min - Diamanti comes on and Noble drops back into the right of midfield
as it is Behrami that makes way.
65 min - How close was that? Sunderland hit the woodwork twice from two
headers and then Da Silva forces Green into a save. West Ham rode their luck
there.
64 min - It looks Diamanti will be joining the action soon as Zola has
called him over.
61 min - Cole goes into the book for a challenge on Turner.
59 min - Another big call for Marriner here as Cana dives in on Cole with
two feet. Cana has been booked in the first half and on another day that
could have been a booking.
57 min - Pressure once again from the home side as they force a corner but
Upson is there to head clear. The West Ham United captain has been superb
today.
54 min - More good goalkeeping as he comes out to gather a loose ball. At
the other end, Cole does brilliantly to first control the ball and then
sprint away from two markers. Sadly, the only thing lacking was a finish as
his shot goes inches wide.
51 min - The hosts have started this half in a positive manner and Bent has
another great chance but this time he sends his shot high and wide.
49 min - And one superb save is followed by another as from the resulting
corner, Turner smashes a header at goal but Green somehow gets a hand to it
to push it away. What a save!
48 min - Great save by Green as Bent finds a bit of space and tries to shoot
across goal.
46 min - Early pressure sees Noble win a corner. He takes it and it is met
by a superb header from Franco, who has been superb. Once again, though,
Gordon is there to beat the ball away.
46 min - The second half is underway.
Half time
45 min - Corner to Sunderland as Reid's shot is deflected for a corner.
Spector gets up highest to head clear.
45 min - More drama here as Jones is red carded for pushing Ilunga in the
face. The left-back is down has to go off for a bit of treatment but is
booked upon his return to the field.
45 min - Three minutes of added time.
44 min - A real spell of pressure from the home side has finally ended after
a cross from the left flies harmlessly wide. If the Hammers can survive
another minute it will have been a superb first half.
40 min - West Ham go on the attack straight away and after Turner slides in
on Franco to pick up another booking for the home side, Noble's flighted
free-kick in wins another corner.
39 min - GOAL! Reid takes the kick and curls it past Green and into the top
corner.
37 min - Ilunga's foul gives Sunderland a free-kick right on the edge of the
area. Kovac runs to the assistant on this side to argue his case but
Marriner does not like it and books the midfielder.
36 min - GOAL! Cole makes it two after collecting Collison's through-ball
and calmly slotting the ball past Gordon.
34 min - So close! Another great move forward sees Cole collect a long pass
brilliantly and then spin and hit a fierce left-footed volley which Gordon
can only parry away. The Hammers are on top here but need to get another
goal.
33 min - Sunderland are still threatening here and more good defending from
Upson is needed to clear the ball.
32 min - Well that goal has helped the away support find their voice and
Bubbles is ringing out around the Stadium of Light.
30 min - GOAL! And from the counter-attack the Hammers take the lead. Great
work from Noble, then Behrami and finally Collison sees the latter cross the
ball for Guille Franco, who has a simple finish from three yards.
30 min - That is safely collected by Green.
29 min - More good defending from Upson as he heads clear under pressure
from Jones. It is at the expense of a corner, though.
25 min - Tomkins is fouled by Bent as he tries to chase back and the
Sunderland player reacts a bit too strongly for the referee's liking and he
has his name taken.
23 min - Two good bits of defending from Upson in the space of two minutes.
First, he had to show perfect timing to take the ball from Bent's toe and
then he slid in to stop a dangerous-looking cross from Reid.
20 min - Franco is the next player to feel the force of a strong tackle. He
stays down and has to be treated at the side of the pitch before coming back
on. It looks like he has a nasty gash on his shin, though.
16 min - Great play from the visitors as five-man move ends up with Behrami
smashing a shot at goal from the edge of the area that Gordon does well to
parry. That will give Zola's side plenty of encouragement.
14 min - Cole is fouled 40 yards from goal and Noble takes the kick but it
is cleared by the first man. The ball falls to Bent but his pass goes miles
away from anyone in a red and white shirt. Not the best passage of play
we'll be seeing this afternoon I think.
12 min - Paulo Da Silva tries his luck from 25 yards and either Green was
very confident or he did not think he would get there as he let the ball fly
past his left-hand post.
11 min - Concern here as Noble is down following a high tackle from Cana. He
gets back to his feet eventually and the Sunderland captain goes into
referee Andre Marriner's book.
8 min - Bright start this from both teams as Noble has the Hammers' first
effort on goal. The No16, who is playing at the tip of the diamond, tries to
beat Craig Gordon with a curler but does not quite get enough power on it to
trouble the Scotland international.
6 min - Sunderland have the first real shot of the game as captain Lorik
Cana bursts down the left and delivers the ball right on the head of Bent.
He makes good contact but it flies just wide. That was close.
5 min - Great hold up play from Carlton Cole as he brings down a long ball
forward on his chest, turns his marker and lays it off neatly.
4 min - Good work from Behrami on the left as he draws the foul to ease the
pressure for a moment.
3 min - Andy Reid drills it along the floor, and after the ball loops in the
air, Upson takes control of the situation and heads clear.
2 min - Early pressure from the home side here and Behrami has given away a
free-kick right on the edge of the area.
1 min - West Ham will be attacking the goal away to my left in the first
half. The Hammers fans are in the stand to my right and give a stirring
rendition of Bubbles as Cole and Franco get us underway.
2.57pm - The players are out and the handshakes have been exchanged. Upson
leads the charge towards the away goal and get a huge cheer from the away
support. There seems to be good numbers who have made the trip up from
London, with a few fancy dress outfits standing out in the crowd. Bananaman
is the pick of the bunch so far.
2.55pm - Well we have all finally taken our seats to catch the end of the
warm up. While Matthew Upson and company were getting ready, a group of
soldiers from the armed forces marched around the pitch and were greeted a
warm applause from both sections of fans. Once finished, they have now lined
up either side of the tunnel to form a guard of honour from when the players
come out.
Gianfranco Zola makes one enforced change to his starting XI for this
afternoon's Barclays Premier League match at the Stadium of Light. Scott
Parker is serving a one-match ban so Radoslav Kovac comes into the team.
Alessandro Diamanti and Zavon Hines, who both impressed as substitutes
against Arsenal last weekend, must do with places on the bench, where they
are joined by Danny Gabbidon and Luis Jimenez.
Sunderland welcome back midfielders Steed Malbranque and Andy Reid as well
as top scorer Darren Bent to their starting XI.
West Ham United: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami (Diamanti
67), Parker, Noble, Collison, Franco (Hines 72), Cole
Subs: Kurucz, Faubert, Gabbidon, Jimenez, Stanislas
Sunderland: Gordon, Turner, Da Silva, Nosworthy, Henderson, Richardson,
Cana, Malbranque, Reid, Jones, Bent
Subs: Fulop, Ferdinand, Bardsley, McCartney, Healy, Meyler, Murphy
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Hammers make their point
WHUFC.com
Goals from Guille Franco and Carlton Cole earned West Ham United a 2-2 draw
at Sunderland
31.10.2009
West Ham United picked up a hard-earned point on their travels following a
breathless 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Sunderland. The game, played
in front of a raucous crowd of 39,033 at the Stadium of Light, was packed
with incident from first to last. Guille Franco and Carlton Cole put the
Hammers two goals up before Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones was sent-off. Andy
Reid reduced the arrears before half-time before Kieran Richardson slid in
to level. Radoslav Kovac was then also shown the red card late on. The first
half flew past in a haze of goals and cards, with referee Andre Marriner
dishing out five bookings and sending-off striker Jones. The opening
half-hour produced chances for both teams, with Valon Behrami and Cole both
forcing home goalkeeper Craig Gordon into smart saves. At the other end,
Paraguay full-back Paulo Da Silva nearly wrong-footed Robert Green with a
long-range effort. Meanwhile, Black Cats captain Lorik Cana was perhaps
lucky to remain on the pitch when, having seen yellow for catching Mark
Noble, he twice left Franco in a heap with heavy challenges. Franco had the
last laugh, however, marking his first away start for the club by climaxing
a pitch-length, five-man move with an expert close-range finish. Having
caught a Reid corner, Green bowled the ball out to Noble. The midfielder
made 30 yards before finding Behrami, who sent Jack Collison in behind the
Sunderland back-four. The Wales international considered his time before
rolling the ball to Franco, who got in front of both Da Silva and Michael
Turner to clip home at the near-post. Six minutes later, West Ham had a
two-goal lead, with Collison again the provider, sending a clever
reverse-pass through to Cole, who made no mistake with an assured left-foot
finish from 12 yards. Unfortunately for the visitors, they were unable to
hold on to their two-goal advantage until half-time as, six minutes before
the break, Herita Ilunga brought down Steed Malbranque just outside the
penalty area. Reid took full advantage, stepping up to curl an inch-perfect
free-kick over the wall into the top left-hand corner.
Having got back into the match, Jones was issued with his marching orders
for pushing Ilunga. The DR Congo man was booked, joining Darren Bent,
Radoslav Kovac and Turner in Marriner's notebook. The second half started
the same way the first had ended, with action all over the pitch. Within
four minutes of the re-start, Gordon and Green had both shown why they are
internationals for Scotland and England respectively. First, Gordon blocked
Franco's near-post header. Then, Green was called into action twice in the
space of 30 seconds, pushing aside Bent's low shot before clawing away
Turner's powerful header from the resulting corner. From then on, despite
their numerical disadvantage, Sunderland took control of the game, hitting
the crossbar twice within the space of seconds on 65 minutes through Cana
and Da Silva. Green also had to be at his best to keep out a powerful header
from Turner. The hosts' pressure finally told with 14 minutes remaining in
the shape of a fortuitous equaliser from former West Ham youngster
Richardson - the cousin of Academy left-back Jordan Brown - who slid in
after Bent's cross had hit Upson's thigh and looped over the stranded Green.
West Ham, with substitutes Alessandro Diamanti and Zavon Hines on for
Behrami and Franco, tried to hit back immediately, with both shooting
narrowly wide of Gordon's goal. With three minutes remaining, Marriner
produced his seventh yellow and second red card of the game, sending Kovac
off for a challenge on Bent. Even then, the Hammers had a chance to win the
game with 90 seconds to go, only for Turner to clear Noble's shot off the
line. Having picked up their first away point since drawing 0-0 at Blackburn
on 29 August, West Ham now play twice at home in the space of five days.
Aston Villa visit the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday evening, with Everton
following them to east London next Sunday.
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Zola rues missed opportunity
WHUFc.com
Gianfranco Zola was still in resilient mood after the scintillating draw
with Sunderland on Saturday
31.10.2009
"We are not down, just upset," was the message from Gianfranco Zola after
the high-octane 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Saturday. West Ham United were two
goals up before half-time through Guille Franco and Carlton Cole before
Sunderland did what the Hammers had done the previous week to Arsenal by
producing a stirring comeback to end the game all-square. To add to the
drama, the home side had Kenwyne Jones dismissed just before the break,
while Radoslav Kovac was shown a red card late on for two bookings.
West Ham's superiority was such in the first half that Zola felt his side
should have been leaving the north-east club, who were looking for their
fifth straight home win, with all three points. Instead Andy Reid and Kieran
Richardson were able to propel Sunderland back into the contest. "For me
when the team plays like that we should come out with a victory," Zola said.
"Their comeback was an easy situation like it was last week for us. "It was
remarkable the fighting spirit that they had and the desire to come back but
we have to be a little more cynical when situations like that as in my
opinion the game was finished. The manner of Sunderland's comeback, after
West Ham had looked in control at the break understandably left Zola
frustrated, and he is expecting to see the fighting spirit shown last week
against Arsenal when his squad play host to Aston Villa on Wednesday
evening. "There have been other moments when we are feeling down but this is
not the case. We are upset about what happened but it won't happen again.
"It's not a matter of being ten or eleven men. You have to be a little more
under control and we lost it a little bit. That is why we are here with one
point and not three points. We lost control of the game and I cannot
tolerate that."
Kovac's red card was the second time in a week that a West Ham player has
been dismissed for two cautions and Zola feels that the Czech international
may have been slightly hard done by in this situation. "Kovac was kicking
the ball and [Darren] Bent was coming from behind so he didn't see him. You
can have a look on the video and confirm my words. It is the second time we
have a man sent off and he didn't deserve it. But it is OK - I want to make
it clear that it is not a complaint about the referee. A win this midweek
would take the Hammers out of the bottom three and the league standings are
certainly not causing Zola too much concern. "I'm not anxious about the
situation. I am upset as it is not the first time that we have the game in
control and then leave the points behind."
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U18s defeat Arsenal
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr's U18s scored a fine 3-1 FA Premier Academy League win over
Arsenal on Saturday
31.10.2009
Tony Carr was a happy man after watching his West Ham United Under-18s
secure a hugely impressive 3-1 FA Premier Academy League victory over
Arsenal. The Academy Director admitted to being impressed after watching his
side battle back from a goal down at half-time to defeat the highly-rated
Gunners at Little Heath. Former Arsenal youngster Ahmed Abdulla, Cristian
Montano and substitute George Moncur were all on target as the Hammers won
for the second straight match and extended their unbeaten run to four
matches. Having seen his youngsters put their indifferent start to the
season behind them, Carr was pleased with the performance of his players at
both ends of the pitch.
"We started brightly and Danny Subuola had a great chance to put us 1-0 up,
but fired it wide. Arsenal then took the lead about halfway through the
first half, so we went into half-time a goal down," said Carr. "We also lost
Eoin Wearen to a knee injury after half-an-hour, with George Moncur coming
on to replace him. "We started the second half well and Ahmed scored the
equaliser from close-range five minutes in following good work from Cristian
and Conor Okus. "After the goal, we controlled the game and looked the
better team, and were rewarded on 70 minutes when a really good passing move
ended with Cristian firing high into the top corner from an acute angle.
"Our third goal came in the last minute, when Calum Driver's header from a
corner was cleared from off the line to George on the edge of the penalty
area. He took a touch and drove it high into the goal. "That is two wins on
the spin now and four games unbeaten, so hopefully we've turned the corner.
We've been more ruthless in front of goal and more stingy at the back, which
is a good combination to have."
The U18s return to action with a trip to Fulham next Saturday morning. To
complete a fine day's work, the U16s went goal-crazy for the second
consecutive match, following up their 8-2 thrashing of Portsmouth a
fortnight ago with a 7-3 victory over Arsenal.
West Ham United U18: Street, Driver, Craig, Sanchez, Brown (Purdy 86),
Barrett, Okus, Wearen (Moncur 30), Subuola (Modelski 90), Abdulla, Montano
Subs not used: Loveday, Lampe, Smith, Werndly
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Police 'wanted men' were actors
BBC.co.uk
Scotland Yard has apologised after actors from a hit film were mistakenly
identified as football hooligans being sought after riots at a West Ham
game. Police issued 66 pictures of people supposedly caught on camera during
violent clashes in August. The images wrongly included stills of six actors
from recent film The Firm. A TV report was used to capture the images but
because there was no sound officers did not realise it included clips from
the hooligan-themed film. Scotland Yard, who released the images on Tuesday,
said: "Six images of individuals who were not involved in the violence were
mistakenly included. "These images appear to have been taken from a motion
picture. "We wish to apologise unreservedly to those affected. We are going
to be actively trying to contact those people to offer our apologies."
A Millwall supporter was stabbed as fans clashed outside West Ham's Upton
Park ground in east London after the home side won 3-1. Police have arrested
more than 40 people so far in connection with the trouble on 25 August. The
Firm, which was released last month, is set in football hooligans' 1980s
heyday and is about a young man who joins a "firm" of thugs.
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Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
By Phil Dawkes
Ten-man Sunderland came back from two goals down to earn a draw with West
Ham, who also had a man sent off. Guillermo Franco turned in Jack Collison's
cross to put the Hammers ahead, before Carlton Cole collected a Collison
pass and doubled their lead. An Andy Reid free-kick pulled a goal back
before Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones saw red for pushing Herita Ilunga. Kieran
Richardson bundled home the Sunderland equaliser before West Ham's Robert
Kovac was dismissed late on. The result brings to an end Sunderland's run of
four successive home victories but the visitors will have cause to feel this
was a game they should have won. Unsurprisingly, the home side looked the
more assured side early on and they should have been ahead after five
minutes but Darren Bent's stretching header from a Lorik Cana cross drifted
past the far post. The early storm weathered, West Ham edged their way into
the game and but for a superb parrying save by Craig Gordon in the
Sunderland goal, Valon Behrami's 18-yard drive would have put them into the
lead.
The organisation and occasional enterprise shown by West Ham belied their
lowly league position and it was no surprise when they took the lead.
Collison broke the offside trap down the right and with the Sunderland
defenders scrambling back to cover, his cross was inch perfect for Franco to
side-foot his first Hammers goal. Minutes later, Sunderland were again
indebted to their goalkeeper for keeping the deficit to one as Cole muscled
himself the opportunity to swivel and shoot goalwards, forcing Gordon into a
smart parry.
In the 36th minute West Ham extended their lead and again Collison was key,
winning the ball and driving towards the Sunderland box before feeding Cole,
who took the ball in his stride and slotted in.
Looking firmly in control, the fallibility that has so far afflicted West
Ham's season came to the fore, giving Sunderland a route back into the
match. Steed Malbranque was needlessly fouled by Kovac on the edge of the
box and from the resulting free-kick, Reid flighted the ball over the wall
and in to the top left-hand corner of Robert Green's goal.
Sunderland's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow though just before
half-time when striker Jones was shown a straight red by referee Andre
Mariner for pushing over Ilunga after the two had clashed in an aerial
challenge. Sunderland's numerical disadvantage invariably gave West Ham
chances to extend their lead in the second half, none of which they took.
Early on, Gordon saved superbly from a Franco near-post header from a corner
and Cole failed to hit the target when well placed. However, for much of the
half it was Sunderland who looked like they had the extra man as they
applied themselves to their task with vigour. Michael Turner's powerful
header from a corner was superbly saved one-handed by Green and moments
later Bent fired over after turning inside James Tomkins. When Green was not
holding Sunderland at bay, the woodwork proved an effective understudy. In
one attack, the home side twice struck the bar with headers; the first from
Cana, the second a follow-up effort from Paulo da Silva. Sunderland refused
to be denied, though, and with 10 minutes to go Bent found space on the
right, his cross cleared Green via a deflection and Richardson was able to
slide the ball in at the far post.
With three minutes remaining, Kovac earned himself his second yellow with a
late tackle on Bent to even up the numbers on the pitch. West Ham Manager
Gianfranco Zola suggested last week's comeback against Arsenal to earn a 2-2
draw was like a win. This, however, will feel like a point gained as
Sunderland's second-half performance failed to yield the result it deserved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: "Kenwyne's wrong, he's pushed him but is
there any need for Ilunga to go down like he does? "Referees have a
difficult job but I think players have to look at themselves. "Some of the
stuff we played in the second half was terrific, you'd think West Ham had
the ten men."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola:"I'm not happy at all. We were in control
of the game and I didn't expect them to come back. "The way we play
sometimes is very impressive but we need to be more mature. "I was
disappointed with Kovac's sending off because he didn't see Darren Bent."
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Black Cats earn Hammers draw
Ten-man Sunderland come from two down to earn point
By Jamie Casey Last updated: 31st October 2009
Football Betting - Cardiff City v Nottm Forest
SSN
Man of the Match: Andy Reid was behind much of Sunderland's play with
another sublime performance.
Goal of the Match: Reid again as he got his side back in the match with his
beautifully curled free-kick.
Save of the Match: Rob Green pulled off a stunning stop to deny a thumping
header from Turner in the 49th minute.
Moment of the Match: A moment of madness from Kenwyne Jones saw the striker
rightfully dismissed in first-half stoppage time.
Talking point: Why do West Ham under-perform against ten men? Are Sunderland
good enough to push for Europe?
Sunderland and West Ham both finished up with ten men as they battled to an
enthralling 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. Kenwyne Jones received a
straight red card in first half stoppage time for reacting angrily to a
challenge from Herita Ilunga with his side 2-1 down at that point. The big
striker shoved the West Ham full-back to the ground leaving referee Andre
Marriner no option but to hand him his marching orders. Earlier in the game,
Mexican striker Guillermo Franco had given the Hammers the lead before
Carlton Cole continued his fine run of form by doubling the away side's
advantage on 36 minutes. The hosts were back in the game just three minutes
later, however, as Andy Reid bent in a fine free-kick from the edge of the
area as Sunderland began their comeback. Jones' dismissal did little to stop
the comeback as the home side emerged for the second-half with renewed
urgency, performing much better than they did with eleven men. The Black
Cats bombarded the West Ham goal with wave after wave of attacks but it was
not until the 76th minute that they equalised as Kieran Richardson volleyed
home at the back post. Sunderland looked the likelier team to grab a winner,
and their cause was aided by the second booking awarded to West Ham
midfielder Radoslav Kovac with three minutes remaining. The home side could
not find a winner, however, with striker Darren Bent having an off day in
front of goal in particular. The draw was no less than Steve Bruce's side
deserved for a performance of real determination in an end-to-end second
period and they might even had won it had leading scorer Bent taken one of
the numerous chances that came his way. Bent came close to marking his
return from injury with a goal in the sixth minute. Jones' deflected shot
fell kindly for captain Lorik Cana in the left of the area and the Albania
international picked out Bent with his cross, but the striker's header went
wide of the right post. The tenacious Cana was booked in the 11th minute for
a foul on Mark Noble. Cana then left his mark on Franco with another
thunderous challenge, but referee Andre Marriner deemed it fair.
The visitors went ahead against the run of play in the 30th minute when Jack
Collison ran on to a ball down the right channel and, having been correctly
ruled onside, pulled it back for Franco, a summer signing from Villarreal,
to side-foot home at the near post. Gianfranco Zola's men almost made it two
four minutes later but Craig Gordon athletically saved Cole's effort from
inside the area. The England man did score in the 36th minute, though, when
his diagonal run was picked out by Collison's reverse ball and, after taking
a touch, he slotted his finish past Gordon. And it might have been worse for
he hosts had Nyron Nosworthy not been given the benefit of the doubt when he
looked like he might have brought down Cole as last man. Valon Behrami was
then booked for a foul on Steed Malbranque on the edge of the area, to the
right of centre, and Reid took full advantage from the free-kick. The
Irishman curled it left-footed over the wall and into the near top corner to
bring his side back into the match in the 38th minute. But things got worse
for Bruce's men when Jones was given a straight red in first-half stoppage
time. The striker was fouled by Ilunga and retaliated by pushing him in the
chest and face with both hands.
Franco almost had a second two minutes after the restart when he met Noble's
right-wing corner, but Gordon did well to save his downward header. Robert
Green then kept the visitors in front with two quickfire saves, first
pushing Bent's low shot behind for a corner and then superbly parrying
Michael Turner's header from the resulting set piece. The 10 men were fired
up and Bent should have levelled in the 51st minute. The former Tottenham
forward turned inside a defender in the right of the area, but as Green came
out could only blaze his left-footed effort high and wide. The Black Cats
came desperately close in the 65th minute when Cana's header after a Reid
corner came back off the crossbar and, from the rebound, Paula Da Silva's
header was tipped on to the bar and behind by Green. The momentum was with
the hosts and Richardson pulled Sunderland level in the 76th minute. Bent's
cross from the right was deflected off Upson and looped high over the head
of Green to the back post where the unmarked Richardson was on hand to help
it home. Cole then burst through the middle only to be denied by a
last-ditch challenge from Nosworthy before he could shoot. West Ham were
reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute when Kovac was sent off, having picked
up a second yellow for a foul on Bent. The striker was handed a chance to
win it moments later after running on to a long ball, but lashed his
left-footed effort well wide. The hosts then had Turner to thank after he
cleared Noble's low shot off the line, while Bent just failed to connect at
the back post with Jordan Henderson's hanging cross from the right as a
thrilling contest ended all square.
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Zola - We need to mature
Zola's boys drop points in frantic encounter at the Stadium of Light
Last updated: 31st October 2009
SSN
Gianfranco Zola has challenged his side to grow in maturity as they let a
lead slip against ten men for the second time this season. West Ham drew 2-2
with Sunderland on Saturday, but led 2-1 when Black Cats striker Kenwyne
Jones saw red in first-half stoppage time. The home side re-emerged for the
second period in rampant fashion and looked more like the side with a man
extra as they levelled up the score through Kieran Richardson in the 76th
minute. Earlier in the season, The Hammers let a 1-0 lead slip at home to
ten-man Fulham and ended up with a point in a 2-2 draw, and Zola insists his
players must learn to cope with the situation for future reference. "It's
encouraging the way we came forward but we have to become a little bit more
mature because it's situations like that we have to control," Zola told Sky
Sports. "I'm trying to find an explanation because we were in total control
of the game and we let them come back into the game. "I can't understand
really. I'm upset because we are in a position in which, for the way we
play, sometimes is unbelievable. "But if you play the first-half like that
and then you play the second-half with some problems if has to be solved
because I can't live with that. "I'm really, really, upset."
West Ham finished the game with ten men themselves as Radoslav Kovac
received a second yellow card three minutes from time, a decision which Zola
did not agree with.
"It wasn't a sending off because Kovac didn't even see Bent. Kovac was
kicking the ball and Darren Bent came from behind, he took the ball, and he
(Kovac) kicked him. He added: "But he didn't even see him. So I don't know,
I've got a few things I could say about that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dyer suffers setback
Future remains unclear for injury-plagued Ashton
Last updated: 31st October 2009
SSN
West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer has suffered another injury setback, while
Gianfranco Zola does not know when Dean Ashton will return. Dyer missed the
majority of last season after sustaining a broken leg and has started only
one Premier League game in the current campaign due to a hamstring problem.
The 30-year-old was close to fitness, but boss Zola, who has a host of
injury concerns, has revealed a new problem which will rule him out for at
least another fortnight. Ahead of West Ham's trip to Sunderland, the Italian
said: "Unfortunately Kieron is injured. He was coming back and he got
another problem. It will be two or three weeks, hopefully. "It's
unbelievable and I feel so sorry for him. The boy works hard, he comes back
and when he's ready to get into the team, 100 per cent fit, he gets injured
again. "It's a real pity because he is one of the players who could have
given us something very good. "He's been out for a long time now and every
time he starts to get fit he picks up an injury. "They are not big issues,
they are small injuries but obviously his confidence is not good. But I have
told him he has to fight, he has to be stronger than that - he will get
there. "It is frustrating for him but you can't afford to be frustrated, it
doesn't help." The future is still uncertain for Ashton, who underwent ankle
surgery at the beginning of 2009 and was the subject of retirement rumours
in the summer. "Dean Ashton is still trying to work on his problems, I
haven't had an update recently but he is trying very hard," added Zola. "It
is another frustrating situation for me because he is another player who
could make a difference for this club. But I hope very much for him, first,
and then for me."
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Ilunga's antics infuriate Bruce
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on:01 November 2009 - 12:50 PM
West Ham United defender Herita Ilunga's antics infuriated Sunderland
manager Steve Bruce during Saturday's 2-2 draw between the two teams.
Kenwyne Jones saw red at the Stadium of Light in first-half stoppage time
for striking Ilunga, but Bruce thought the Hammers star made too much of the
incident, as he fell to the ground clutching his face.
Bruce said: "Kenwyne was wrong, I can't defend him. He's pushed him. That's
all it is. "Then I see the play-acting and then the medical people running
on with an ice pack on an eye injury as if he's got a cut eye and there's
nothing there. It's all just a ploy. "I think there was Big Sam's (Sam
Allardyce) quote in the week that if we're not careful we're going to turn
it into a game for pansies. "The referee has got a decision to make but I
have to say Ilunga's play-acting left a lot to be desired. "Whoever it was
with the ice swab, he pulled it away and I was looking for a big gash of an
inch-and-a-half, I was looking to see if there was a bump. There wasn't even
a bruise. "The one thing that we don't want to see is what goes on around
the world, all this diving nonsense. We want to see a spectacle and we got
one, but let's not take away what everybody wants to see. "They don't want
to see this play-acting and trying to kid everybody. "He pushed him in the
chest. To go on like Ilunga's gone down, I would have been embarrassed. "I
would have smacked my kids' backsides if they had have done anything like
that when they were playing footba
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Sunderland 2 West Ham United 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Sunderland and
West Ham United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday Oct 31 2009.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Rob Stewart at the Stadium of Light
Published: 5:03PM GMT 31 Oct 2009
West Ham old boy Kieran Richardson capped a stirring Sunderland comeback to
deny Gianfranco Zola's side victory. Richardson, who used to be on the
Hammers' book as schoolboy before moving to Manchester United, struck a late
equaliser after Kenwyne Jones had been sent off in first-half stoppage time
for violent conduct. Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers previewEarlier,
Sunderland striker Darren Bent wasted a glorious early chance to put his
team ahead in the fifth minute when he was invited to score his ninth goal
this season but nodded Lorik Cana's cross wide from an inviting position.
Cana was then booked for a reckless challenge on Mark Noble which means the
club captain will miss next weekend's visit to Tottenham. Craig Gordon came
to Sunderland's rescue by repelling Valon Behrami's powerful strike from the
edge of the penalty box after his defence was pulled apart following good
work by Jack Collison and Franco. Bent was left to rue his early miss when
Jack Collison sprang Sunderland's offside trap before pulling the ball back
from the byline to allow the unmarked Franco to slot home his first Hammers
goal from close range on the half-hour. Cole almost doubled the lead three
minutes later when he pulled down Noble's adroit ball and outmanoeuvred
Michael Turner before seeing a cracking shot blocked by the impressive
Gordon. There was nothing the Scotland goalkeeper could do when Cole came
back again when he was sent clear by Collison and this time he made no
mistake by thumping the ball home in the 35th minute.
Back came Sunderland and Andy Reid took maximum advantage of Marriner's
decision to penalise Herita Ilunga for a foul on Steed Malbranque by curling
the ball over the wall and beyond the helpless Robert Green. Jones then
pressed the self-destruct button when he retaliated following a Ilunga's
foul by pushing the Congolese defender over after Marriner had blown for a
free-kick and can look forward to a club fine and three-match ban.
Sunderland made light of Jones' absence and after half-time Green pulled off
two fine saves to preserve the West Ham's lead to deny Bent and Turner. Bent
then shot wildly over after turning Upson and Tomkins inside out but
Sunderland looked creaky in defence as Cole beat Turner but shot just wide.
Cana then headed against the crossbar and then Paulo Da Silva saw his
efforts kept out by Green as Sunderland pressure intensified in a pulsating
contest and Malbranque then volleyed just wide as West Ham rode their luck.
That ran out in the 77th minute when Bent redeemed himself, sending over an
exquisite cross that Richardson converted from close range. Cole seemed
certain to break Sunderland hearts late on but Nyron Nosworthy stretched out
a leg just as his rival was about to apply the finishing touch. The sides
were evened out late on when Radoslav Kovac, booked earlier for dissent, was
sent off in the 87th minute after being cautioned for fouling Bent who later
missed the chance become the hero by screwing a shot wide. Sunderland
manager Steve Bruce fell to his knees when Bent missed another late opening
in a hugely entertaining contest.
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Ten-man Sunderland salvage point with Kieran Richardson's late equaliserBuzz
up!
Observer report
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 31 October 2009 17.15 GMT
Sunderland's manager, Steve Bruce, launched an outspoken and disgusted
attack on West Ham's Herita Ilunga after the Congo defender had contributed
to the dismissal of striker Kenwyne Jones with what many will have felt,
like Bruce, was as outlandish a piece of play acting as has been witnessed
in the Premier League all season. And that is saying something.
Bruce's severe criticisms – on a day when eight players were sent off in the
Premier League, two of them at the Stadium of Light – might be regarded as a
routine end to a highly charged and at times chaotic encounter, were it not
for the fact that he did not stop there.
He also rounded upon the behaviour of the West Ham bench for their part in
the charade – and so by extension brought into question West Ham's general
approach under the managership of Gianfranco Zola.
Even against 10 men, West Ham did not try to add to their 2-1 lead. Between
half time and Kieran Richardson's 76th-minute equaliser, they did not play a
single pass into the box in open play. West Ham had not won since the
opening day, and their frustrations ultimately continued as their imaginings
that the run might end came to nothing thanks to Kieran Richardson's
equaliser 13 minutes from time. West Ham held a 2-1 lead at half-time, but
Sunderland made light of the loss of Jones as they were fired by a sense of
grievance that was shared by a vociferous crowd.
Sunderland were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time after the
dismissal of Jones, who took exception to the attentions of Ilunga and
pushed him away brusquely, whereupon Ilunga flung himself to the ground in a
manner that fooled nobody apart from, presumably, the referee, Andre
Marriner.
"Kenwyne has raised his arms, he has done wrong and he will be punished, but
I'm not sure if it was violent conduct, " said Bruce. "But the response of
the boy [Ilunga] has been ridiculous when you see play acting like that and
the West Ham medical team rushing on with an ice pack to treat a nonexistent
eye injury, well it left a lot to be desired. We are going to turn it into a
game for pansies.
"When the physio pulled the ice swab away, I expected to see a large gash.
There wasn't even a bump or a bruise." Until this match Sunderland's home
record was beginning to look impressive; four straight wins and 12 goals
scored. But a scrappy opening left them two down within 36 minutes. We
gifted them two goals," Bruce said. "We were better with 10."
A failed offside trap gave West Ham their first goal. Radoslav Kovac was a
foot onside, and Jack Collison crossed from the by line for Guillermo Franco
to put West Ham ahead.
West Ham's second goal further exposed Sunderland's shortcomings. Collison
ran at the defence and set up Carlton Cole, who beat Craig Gordon.
Andy Reid reduced the deficit for Sunderland from a free-kick nine minutes
before half-time.
West Ham's defending became increasingly desperate against Sunderland's 10
men throughout the second half . They finally cracked when Richardson
touched in a cross deflected off Matthew Upson. West Ham also had a man sent
off three minutes from time when Kovac, having chested down the ball,
inadvertently kicked Darren Bent in the chest. Kovac stayed down for an age
for treatment on some imaginary hurt or other but when he finally rose to
his feet he was sent off anyway.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kieran Richardson salvages a point for ten-man Sunderland
Sunderland 2 West Ham 2
The Times
NO WONDER Gianfranco Zola is losing his hair and West Ham might lose their
Premier League status. Having fought back from a 2-0 deficit against Arsenal
last week, they contrived to throw away a two-goal lead here even though
Sunderland played half the match with only 10 men after Kenwyne Jones was
sent off for raising his hands to the face of Herita Ilunga.
The visitors might have left disappointed but this was a breathtaking and
hugely entertaining example of the English game in which both sides deserved
to emerge with a point. Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole struck for West
Ham but Andy Reid pulled one back before half-time and Kieran Richardson
grabbed the leveller late in the game.
At times the action threatened to spill over as Andre Marriner started
waving the yellow cards and there was some surprise that only Radoslav Kovac
ended up joining Jones in taking an early shower when he was sent off late
on.
"I'm very upset about the second half," Zola said. "We have to learn to be
more cynical and control the game more. It's something we have to come to
terms with before the situation gets worse." Zola also referred to an
"intense atmosphere in the stadium and on the bench", which was a huge
understatement. At other grounds the crowd might have been silenced when the
opposition scored twice, but not here.
The first goal came when the Sunderland defence was caught static as Jack
Collison was played through and his cross into the six-yard area was rolled
in by Franco. Collison was also involved in the second when he outmuscled
Steed Malbranque near the half-way line and played in Cole, who blasted the
ball past Craig Gordon.
Sunderland got themselves back in the game six minutes before half-time when
Reid curled a free kick beautifully over the wall.
There had already been a number of bookings at that stage and tempers flared
on the sideline when Franco blatantly dived. Jones seemed to respond to the
general fervour by reacting when Ilunga climbed over him. Jones shoved him
to the ground and he was dismissed.
One sensed that Zola didn't quite know how to approach the second half both
a goal and a player up and Sunderland dominated.
Darren Bent was a particular nuisance. He constantly lost the two
centre-halves and he might have scored himself twice before he set up the
equaliser. Having pulled away to the byline he put in a cross that deflected
off the boot of Matthew Upson and over Robert Green's head before Richardson
risked collision with the upright to poke the ball home. "We did enough to
win even with 10 men," Steve Bruce said. "Ilunga's play-acting for the
sending-off left a lot to be desired. There was a lot of play-acting in the
match. We're in danger of turning it into a game for pansies, which would be
a real shame, because that game had everything."
Star man: Jack Collison (West Ham)
Yellow cards: Sunderland: Cana, Bent, Turner West Ham: Ilunga, Cole Red
cards: Jones, Kovac Referee: A Marriner
Attendance: 39,033
SUNDERLAND: Gordon 7, Da Silva 7, Nosworthy 5, Turner 6, Richardson 6,
Malbranque 6 (McCartney 81min), Cana 6, Henderson 6, Reid 7, Jones 4, Bent
7.
WEST HAM: Green 6, Spector 6, Upson 5, Tomkins 5, Ilunga 5, Behrami 5
(Diamanti 67min), Noble 7, Kovac 6, Collison 7, Cole 7, Franco 6 (Hines
72min)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham United
ESPN
Updated: October 31, 2009, 7:19 AM UK
Ten-man Sunderland came from two goals down at the Stadium of Light to
snatch a deserved draw and deny West Ham a first Premier League win since
the opening day of the season. Things looked bleak for the hosts when goals
from Guillermo Franco - his first for the club - and the impressive Carlton
Cole put the Hammers two up. But Andy Reid's superb free-kick gave them hope
and, after Kenwyne Jones had seen red in first-half stoppage time, Kieran
Richardson tapped home a cross from the returning Darren Bent to equalise.
West Ham also finished the game a man light after Radoslav Kovac was sent
off late on. The draw was no less than Steve Bruce's side deserved for a
performance of real determination in an end-to-end second period and they
might even had won it had leading scorer Bent taken one of the numerous
chances that came his way. Bent came close to marking his return from injury
with a goal in the sixth minute. Jones' deflected shot fell kindly for
captain Lorik Cana in the left of the area and the Albania international
picked out Bent with his cross, but the striker's header went wide of the
right post. The tenacious Cana was booked in the 11th minute for a foul on
Mark Noble. Cana then left his mark on Franco with another thunderous
challenge, but referee Andre Marriner deemed it fair. The visitors went
ahead against the run of play in the 30th minute when Jack Collison ran on
to a ball down the right channel and, having been correctly ruled onside,
pulled it back for Franco, a summer signing from Villarreal, to side-foot
home at the near post. Gianfranco Zola's men almost made it two four minutes
later but Craig Gordon athletically saved Cole's effort from inside the
area. The England man did score in the 36th minute, though, when his
diagonal run was picked out by Collison's reverse ball and, after taking a
touch, he slotted his finish past Gordon. And it might have been worse for
he hosts had Nyron Nosworthy not been given the benefit of the doubt when he
looked like he might have brought down Cole as last man.
Valon Behrami was then booked for a foul on Steed Malbranque on the edge of
the area, to the right of centre, and Reid took full advantage from the
free-kick. The Irishman curled it left-footed over the wall and into the
near top corner to bring his side back into the match in the 38th minute.
But things got worse for Bruce's men when Jones was given a straight red in
first-half stoppage time. The striker was fouled by Herita Ilunga and
retaliated by pushing him in the face. Franco almost had a second two
minutes after the restart when he met Noble's right-wing corner, but Gordon
did well to save his downward header. Robert Green then kept the visitors in
front with two quickfire saves, first pushing Bent's low shot behind for a
corner and then superbly parrying Michael Turner's header from the resulting
set piece. The 10 men were fired up and Bent should have levelled in the
51st minute. The former Tottenham forward turned inside a defender in the
right of the area, but as Green came out could only blaze his left-footed
effort high and wide. The Black Cats came desperately close in the 65th
minute when Cana's header after a Reid corner came back off the crossbar
and, from the rebound, Paula Da Silva's header was tipped on to the bar and
behind by Green. The momentum was with the hosts and Richardson pulled
Sunderland level in the 76th minute. Bent's cross from the right was
deflected off Upson and looped high over the head of Green to the back post
where the unmarked Richardson was on hand to help it home. Cole then burst
through the middle only to be denied by a last-ditch challenge from
Nosworthy before he could shoot. West Ham were reduced to 10 men in the 87th
minute when Kovac was sent off, having picked up a second yellow for a foul
on Bent. The striker was handed a chance to win it moments later after
running on to a long ball, but lashed his left-footed effort well wide. The
hosts then had Turner to thank after he cleared Noble's low shot off the
line, while Bent just failed to connect at the back post with Jordan
Henderson's hanging cross from the right as a thrilling contest ended all
square.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce launched a scathing attack on the
"play-acting'' by West Ham's Herita Ilunga after seeing Kenwyne Jones sent
off in his side's 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. He said: "Kenwyne was
wrong, I can't defend him. He's pushed him. That's all it is. Then I see the
play-acting and then the medical people running on with an ice pack on an
eye injury as if he's got a cut eye and there's nothing there. It's all just
a ploy. "I think there was Big Sam's (Sam Allardyce) quote in the week that
if we're not careful we're going to turn it into a game for pansies. The
referee has got a decision to make but I have to say Ilunga's play-acting
left a lot to be desired. Whoever it was with the ice swab; he pulled it
away and I was looking for a big gash of an inch and a half, I was looking
to see if there was a bump. There wasn't even a bruise. "The one thing that
we don't want to see is what goes on around the world, all this diving
nonsense. We want to see a spectacle and we got one, but let's not take away
what everybody wants to see. They don't want to see this play-acting and
trying to kid everybody.''
Bruce confirmed he spoke to Marriner at half-time and that Jones would be
punished by the club. He added: "He pushed him in the chest. To go on like
Ilunga's gone down, I would have been embarrassed. I would have smacked my
kids' backsides if they had have done anything like that when they were
playing football.'' Bruce felt his side could even have won the game with 10
men and West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola hailed Sunderland's fightback as
"remarkable''. But the Italian admitted he could not tolerate the
second-half display which denied his side a first win since the opening day
of the season. Zola said: "Certainly their determination, their desire, was
superior to ours, simple as that. They just overcame the man light that they
had and that was it. We lost control of the game. From a game that was
totally, totally ours, we let them in and in this league you can't afford
that. We had chances after but it was too late. From how the team played in
the first half we should come out with a victory. To be fair their comeback
was remarkable because it wasn't an easy situation.''
Last weekend it was the Hammers who came from 2-0 down to claim a draw
against Arsenal. Zola added: "They did the same to us and it was remarkable
the fighting spirit they had and the desire to come back. But we have to be
a little bit more cynical in situations like that because the game in my
opinion was finished. We lost control and I cannot tolerate that.''
Zola admitted the red card shown to Jones was perhaps a little harsh but was
also disappointed with Kovac's dismissal, the Czech picking up a second
yellow for a foul on Bent. He added: "Kovac didn't even see the guy. There
was no intention.''
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's £15m Matthew Upson for sale in January transfer window
Published 22:00 31/10/09 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
West Ham will listen to offers for Matthew Upson when the transfer window
re-opens for business in January. The England centre-half has just 18 months
remaining on his £50,000-a-week Upton Park contract and talks to extend the
deal have failed to materialise. Upson almost joined Liverpool on deadline
day of the last transfer window but the two clubs failed to agree a fee in
time. However, interest in the 31-year-old defender is increasing and West
Ham expect to command a fee in the region of £15million. Tottenham, Everton
and Manchester City have already made tentative enquiries for the former
Arsenal and Birmingham star. So Rafael Benitez is likely to face major
competitions to secure Upson's signature at the turn of the year, Upson's
stock has increased since he became a regular member of Fabio Capello's
England squad. And with doubts persisting over the form of Manchester United
defender Rio Ferdinand, Upson could become a first-choice regular alongside
captain John Terry when England travel to South Africa for the World Cup
finals this summer. Privately, the Hammers see the sale of Upson as good
business given his age and the likely fee they could command. But with
severe financial restrictions in place, it's not known whether all – or
indeed any – of the money accrued from the sale will be passed on to manager
Gianfranco Zola to strengthen his squad. Home fans are still angry over the
sale of James Collins to Aston Villa, a move that would not have gone
through if Upson had gone to Anfield. If Zola does get funds to reinvest, he
is poised to make a £3.5m move for Lyons midfielder Kim Kallstrom. The
27-year-old, who is also being monitored by Portsmouth and Blackburn, is
keen to ply his trade in the Premier League following a successful
three-year spell in France. With doubts continuing to surround the fitness
of Kieron Dyer and the likes of Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti
struggling to adapt to the demands of the English game, Zola is keen to ease
the pressure on his squad. And the Italian reckons Kallstrom could be the
perfect answer to his midfield troubles
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham confident of January deal for Chamakh
02.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are pushing to sign Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh in
January. The News of the World says the deal will be struck with French club
Bordeaux whether or not the Hammers are taken over by new owners. Chamakh
came close to signing for the club in the summer but financially stricken
West Ham were unable to stump up the £6million transfer fee on deadline day.
He was being chased by Arsenal last summer but in the end Arsene Wenger
withdrew his interest because of Bordeaux's £8million asking price which he
felt too excessive for a player he deemed as only a back-up striker. But
manager Gianfranco Zola sees Chamakh as the ideal partner for Carlton Cole
and given that the player is out of contract next summer the Hammers could
end up picking him up for a cut price £5m.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arsenal boss Wenger: West Ham's Parker dived
01.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has turned up the heat on West Ham midfielder
Scott Parker. Discussing Eduardo's diving saga earlier this season, Wenger
pointed to an incident in last Sunday's 2-2 draw at West Ham in the Premier
League when he claims that Parker dived in an attempt to win a penalty. He
said: "He dived but nobody spoke about that. A lot was made about Eduardo
but not a word about Parker. "We have to live with the possibility of an
affinity between referees and you have to live with negative moments."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lyon star Kallstrom in West Ham sights
01.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom is a target for West Ham United. The Sunday
Mirror says Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola will move for the Swede if he can
raise funds in the January market. The 27-year-old, who is also being
monitored by Portsmouth and Blackburn, is keen to ply his trade in the
Premier League following a successful three-year spell in France. With
doubts continuing to surround the fitness of Kieron Dyer and the likes of
Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti struggling to adapt to the demands of
the English game, Zola is keen to ease the pressure on his squad. And the
Italian reckons Kallstrom could be the perfect answer to his midfield
troubles.
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Liverpool, Spurs alerted as West Ham plan Upson sale
01.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are inviting January offers for defender Matthew Upson. The
Sunday Mirror says the England centre-half has just 18 months remaining on
his £50,000-a-week Upton Park contract and talks to extend the deal have
failed to materialise. Upson almost joined Liverpool on deadline day of the
last transfer window but the two clubs failed to agree a fee in time.
However, interest in the 31-year-old defender is increasing and West Ham
expect to command a fee in the region of £15million. Tottenham, Everton and
Manchester City have already made tentative enquiries for the former Arsenal
and Birmingham star.
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