All the action as it happened as West Ham United took the spoils in an
eight-goal thriller
28.11.2009
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Burnley
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 28 November
3pm
Referee: Chris Foy
Full time - Well thankfully it was and hopefully the Hammers' second home
win of the season will give them confidence going into the game with
Manchester United next Saturday.
95 min - GOAL! Eagles takes another tap in to make it 5-3. Surely that must
be the last of the action?
94 min - Stanislas takes the resulting free-kick but it hits a Burnley
defender straight in the chest.
92 min - Well is could have been six but Caldwell pulls Hines down as he was
just about to get onto his short backpass. Jensen is not happy with the
decision and is booked for going to have a word with the assistant.
90 min - Five minutes of added time here.
87 min - Big shout for a West Ham penalty as Carlisle tangles with Hines in
the area. Replays suggest the Burnley defender did get enough on the ball to
make Foy's decision not to award a spot kick correct.
85 min - Ilunga is the first player to go into Chris Foy's notebook for a
late tackle on Elliott.
81 min - Green helps them do that as he gets down quickly to turn an Eagles
free-kick around the post.
79 min - Well it is not often I am unsure what to write but this really has
been an incredible match. West Ham were cruising at 5-0 but those two
Burnley goals have given the away side a glimmer of hope. The Hammers seemed
to have steadied the ship and need to just see out the last ten minutes.
77 min - Final change as Collison makes way for Julien Faubert.
75 min - GOAL! Well it is almost a carbon copy of the first as Fletcher
prods in another cross from the left.
73 min - Ouch! For the second week in a row Parker literally puts his head
on the line as he jumps up to block an Eagle's set piece. The home fans
loved that.
70 min - Another change for Burnley as Alexander makes way for Kevin
McDonald.
67 min - GOAL! Burnley pull one back as Fletcher turns in Eagles' cross.
Surely no more than a consolation though?
66 min - Well we still have another 23 minutes to go so the question is what
will the final score be? One thing you cannot say is that West Ham's games
have been short of goals.
64 min - GOAL! Parker's through ball puts Jimenez into the area and he just
beats Jensen to the ball. The substitute claims the ball for himself and
duly beats the Dane from 12 yards for his goal for West Ham United.
63 min - Penalty to West Ham.
60 min - Zola makes another change with Franco making way for Jimenez.
Franco is given a rousing farewell as he makes his way off the pitch and my
word does he deserve it.
58 min - A couple of big chances for Nugent but he cannot take either of
them. First he sliced a shot wide from the edge of the area before putting a
free header over Green's crossbar.
55 min - Owen Coyle is obviously worried about how bad this could get and
makes two changes, swapping Jordan and Blake for David Nugent and Christian
Kalvenes.
51 min - GOAL! Stanislas takes the kick and Franco is on head to use a
combination of his head and shoulder to force the ball home. Surely now that
must be game over. I know the home support among the 34,003 inside the
Boleyn Ground today will be hoping so.
50 min - Not much to report so far in the second half but Hines is showing
some good running as usual to put the Burnley defenders under pressure. The
England Under-21 international has just forced Stephen Jordan into giving
away another free-kick, this time on the right-hand side.
48 min - Other than that one change it is as you were for the second half.
The away support certainly seem to have lost some of their voice after West
Ham's superb first-half showing.
46 min - We are underway in the second half and Cole's penalty right at the
end of the first was to be his last contribution as he has made way for
Hines.
Half time - One word. Brilliant. After a couple of chances at both end in
the opening stages, the Hammers have taken control of this game. Now they
must keep their concentration for the next 45 minutes to secure their second
home win of the season.
45 min - Franco takes a blow to the head and stays down for a moment but
following a bit of treatment he is back to his feet.
45 min - We will have at least three more minutes at the end of the half.
43 min - GOAL! Cole steps up and puts it straight down the middle to make it
three.
42 min - Penalty to West Ham. Spector is brought down in full flight by
Robbie Blake and the Hammers have a chance to make it three before the
break.
40 min - Parker makes another great challenge to stop Burnley in full
flight. The No8 has been one of a number of stand out performers in the
opening 45 minutes.
38 min - He is and gets a huge cheers as he re-enters the playing field.
37 min - After the high of getting the second, the is a moment of concern
now as Cole is down following a challenge with Jensen. He is back on his
feet after a couple of minutes and looks like he should be OK to carry on.
34 min - GOAL! Stanislas makes it two. The England Under-21 international
picked up Franco's brilliant through pass and after Brian Jensen had saved
his first effort, he picked out the far corner of the net superbly to double
the home side's lead.
32 min - Noble, Zavon Hines and Frank Nouble have all been sent to warm up
by Zola.
27 min - Parker shows his attacking prowess once more and his ball forward
with the outside of the boot allows Cole to turn on the gas. The England
striker looks like he could have the run on his markers so West Ham should
try to make use of that.
25 min - West Ham are not looking to sit back though and Franco goes close
with another header from Ilunga's cross.
23 min - Now based on recent games, West Ham will need to keep it tight at
the back. That was not the case there as a good move from the visitors saw
Elliott fire over the bar when well placed.
18 min - GOAL! West Ham take the lead and it is all down to the quick
thinking of Parker. Wade Elliott brought him down in the centre circle and
the Hammer of the Year quickly got to his feet to take the free-kick towards
Collison. Stephen Jordan tried to play him offside by got his timings all
wrong, giving Collison a clean run on goal and he made no mistake from the
edge of the area. Great start for the Hammers.
15 min - Brilliant defending from da Costa as he makes a vital sliding
tackle on Chris Eagles just as he was poised to shoot. The challenge gives
the visitors another corner but Spector is there this time to head clear.
12 min - So close! Some brilliant play from Franco as he collects a pass
forward before feeding Collison. The midfielder's return ball into the box
was headed onto the crossbar by the Mexican before bouncing to safety. That
move really deserved better.
9 min - Another corner to Burnley as Steven Fletcher backheels the ball into
Stanislas. Clarke Carlisle meets the set-piece with a powerful header but
Parker is there to hack the ball off the line.
6 min - Back at the other end and Andre Bikey has just fired straight at
Robert Green from the angle. The ball hit the England international in the
chest and bounced back out to Bikey but his second effort was blocked by
Manuel da Costa.
4 min - First opening of the match and West Ham should really have taken the
lead there. A strong burst forward from captain Scott Parker saw him feed
Guille Franco. The Mexican slipped a pass on to Collison but his cut back
was just too far in front of Cole.
3 min - West Ham look to be playing a straight 4-4-2 with Collison on the
right and Stanislas on the left of midfield.
2 min - An early touch for Danny Gabbidon as he keeps tight to Steven
Fletcher to pinch the ball off his toe.
1 min - The home side get us underway and they will be attacking the Sir
Trevor Brooking stand in the first half.
2.59pm - The teams are being read out and Tyrone Mears' name gets a clap
from the Boleyn Ground crowd. The defender spent a season in east London
before moving to Derby County in 2007.
2.55pm - 'Bubbles' begins and the players make their way out. The home fans
seem to be in good voice today and will be hoping the Hammers can pick up
their second home win of the season.
2.45pm - The players are out getting warmed up and we have just 15 minutes
to go until kick-off. Burnley look to have brought a decent number of fans
down from Lancashire as they look for their first away win of the season.
2.27pm - It is turning into quite a chilly day in east London but so far the
heavy rain predicted has failed to turn up.
2.15pm - It will be interesting to see how the Hammers line up today with
two central midfielders who usually like to sit in front of the back four
starting. It may be that Zola decides to use a flat midfield four with Jack
Collison and Junior Stanislas providing support on the wings.
Good afternoon from the Boleyn Ground.
The teams are in and Gianfraco Zola makes three changes from the 3-3 draw at
Hull City last weekend. Jonathan Spector comes in for Julien Faubert at
right-back, while Matthew Upson's hamstring injury sees Danny Gabbidon move
to the centre of defence with the fit-again Herita Ilunga returning at
left-back. Radoslav Kovac replaces the injured Valon Behrami in midfield.
James Tomkins and Mark Noble return to the bench, but the match has come too
soon for Kieron Dyer following his return from a hamstring injury.
Burnley remain unchanged for the fifth straight match.
West Ham United: Green, Spector, da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Collison
(Faubert 77), Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Franco (Jimenez 60), Cole (Hines 46)
Subs: Kurucz, Tomkins, Noble, Nouble
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan (Kalvenes 55), Eagles,
Alexander (McDonald 70), Bikey, Elliott, Blake (Nugent 55), Fletcher
Subs: Penny, Duff, Gudjonsson, Thompson
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Zola on a high
WHUFC.com
Despite a nervy finish, Gianfranco Zola understandably preferred to
emphasise the Burnley positives
28.11.2009
Gianfranco Zola was only just able to draw breath on Saturday evening after
seeing his side come out on top in an another sensational high-scoring
encounter. West Ham United raced into a five-goal lead within an hour but
just as people were racing for the history books, Burnley scored three times
to ensure another tense finish. After the 3-3 draw at Hull City last
weekend, Zola joked that he was not sure his body could take much more. Next
Saturday, he has the small matter of the visit of Manchester United to
contend with when perhaps he could be forgiven for wishing for a goalless
draw. Zola will worry about that in the days to come but first he praised
his players for their part in an eight-goal thriller that left them a win
away from mid-table. "What a game," he said. "Very good for my heart as
well! It was an entertaining game. I would have preferred to have conceded
two less goals than that but you can't have everything. "Right now we are
very good going forward but we just need to keep a little more of the
balance when we are defending. It was three points and we have got to be
happy about that."
Scott Parker continued his rich vein of form with a sensational performance
in the middle of midfield alongside the recalled Radoslav Kovac. The Hammer
of the Year set up Jack Collison's opener and had a huge impact at both ends
of the pitch for the hosts. The performance had the assembled press pack
once again championing Parker's international credentials. "I know it is not
the first time I have said that in his position he is one of the best. He
has to keep playing like this and many good things will happen for him and I
will support him."
Guillermo Franco was another that caught the eye for Zola's side, setting up
Junior Stanislas to make it two before grabbing the goal his performance
deserved just after the break with a header from a Stanislas free-kick.
"Guillermo has been outstanding and gave us balance and a lot more. Today he
was outstanding. A quality player and he is getting physically better. His
quality has surprised everybody and he is getting better and better."
The manager paid tribute to the work done by CEO Scott Duxbury and technical
director Gianluca Nani to secure his services ahead of the likes of South
American champions Estudiantes de La Plata. "They have done very well and
signed him in the last minute and is proving to be a very good and positive
player for us."
Carlton Cole got the Hammers third from the penalty spot and it turned out
to be his last contribution as he was withdrawn at half-time. The England
international had earlier been involved in a collision with Burnley
goalkeeper Brian Jensen. "We don't know yet it is too early to say. He has a
problem with his knee and we have to wait to assess him. Hopefully he won't
be too bad."
While it was likely the crowd that created an electric atmosphere will have
gone home happy but exhausted, Zola knows his side must tighten up
defensively before the visit of the champions next Saturday. "I wouldn't
like to concede goals but they all came when we were 5-0 up and we switched
off a bit that was disappointing thing. We switched off too early and that
was it. "It was a moment that we were very fragile at the back. I take a lot
of positives from this game. We scored another five goals and are going
forward very well and that is a good point for us."
Of a home win that made it just one defeat in six, Zola added: "We lose and
it's negative, draw it's negative and win and it's negative, score five
goals and its negative. We have to find a bit of both. We should be cheery
as it was a great game, scored five goals and should be happy."
"Today I don't want to worry as we scored more than the opposition. I know
we have to get better in that. We focus on that and will improve. "I would
like sometimes to find a positive thing. If you keep looking at everything
under the microscope you will always find something wrong. I want to only
see good things. We will keep working on the faults we have but it is a good
time to celebrate."
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Hammers hit five
WHUFC.com
West Ham United got the better of Burnley in a game full of goals at the
Boleyn Ground
28.11.2009
West Ham United 5-3 Burnley
West Ham United came out on top in an eight-goal Barclays Premier League
thriller with Burnley at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Hammers, who
have now lost just once in six league matches, stormed into a 5-0 lead
shortly after the hour-mark, only for Owen Coyle's side to launch a furious
late comeback. Saturday's result was the first time West Ham had won 5-3
since Oxford United visited in the old Division One in November 1992, and
lifted the Hammers to within five points of the top half. The goals were
shared around. Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas put West Ham two clear
before Carlton Cole netted the first of two penalties for the home side.
After the break, Guille Franco bundled in a fourth before Luis Jimenez
slammed in the second spot-kick to put the Hammers five clear. At 5-0 down,
Burnley launched a stirring fightback, but Steven Fletcher's brace and Chris
Eagles' added-time finish were not enough to deny the hosts a second home
league win of the season. Gianfranco Zola's free-scoring side have now
netted 21 times in their last ten league matches, but it was Burnley who
threatened first on Saturday. Scott Parker had to be at his best to clear
Clarke Carlisle's downward header off the line on nine minutes. The
midfielder was equally alert in setting up Collison's opener nine minutes
later, jumping up after being fouled by Wade Elliott before clipping a quick
free-kick to the midfielder, who steadied himself before beating Brian
Jensen. In between, the willing Franco had clipped the giant Dane's crossbar
with a brave header from Collison's cross.
Jensen was picking the ball out of his net again shortly after the half-hour
mark. Stanislas latched on to Franco's neat pass and, after seeing the
goalkeeper block his initial effort, calmly slotted the ball between Jensen
and his near post. It was three 90 seconds before the interval when the
rampaging Jonathan Spector was clipped by Robbie Blake, and Cole side-footed
home the resulting penalty. Into the second half and West Ham continued to
hold the upper hand, extending their lead when Mexico forward Franco
converted Stanislas' vicious free-kick from close-range on 51 minutes.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle sent on striker David Nugent in an attempt to
salvage something from the game, only for the once-capped England striker to
miss two glorious chances within a few minutes of coming on.
He was made to pay by fellow substitute Jimenez on 64 minutes, when the
Chilean picked himself up after being felled by Jensen and easily converted
from the penalty spot. Amazingly, conceding a fifth goal appeared to
galvanise the visitors, who came into the game having picked up just one
point from six away league matches. Scotland striker Steven Fletcher, who
had ploughed a lone furrow up front before Nugent's arrival, was the
beneficiary in the shape of two neat finishes from Eagles' crosses.
Burnley's miserable afternoon was almost complete two minutes into
added-time when Hines was impeded by Steven Caldwell, and the Scott was
sent-off by referee Chris Foy for a professional foul. There was still time
for Eagles to snatch a late third for the ten men, slotting Tyrone Mears'
low centre past a helpless Robert Green.
Despite their second-half problems, the Hammers recorded their second home
league win of the season, Zola and his players will go into next Saturday's
visit of champions Manchester United hopeful of making that three.
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West Ham 5 - 3 Burnley
BBC.co.uk
By Nabil Hassan
Goals from Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco and a penalty
each from Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez saw West Ham defeat Burnley.
Collison broke the offside trap to find the net from 12 yards before
Stanislas beat Brian Jensen from a tight angle. Cole and Jimenez both
scored from the spot either side of Franco's header. Steven Fletcher twice
tapped home from six yards, while Burnley captain Steven Caldwell was sent
off late on before Chris Eagles's sidefoot made it 5-3. The victory, only
their third Premier League win of the season, pushes West Ham clear of the
bottom three.
Despite the emphatic nature of the final score it was Burnley who started
and finished the brighter of the two teams. But for all Burnley's early
endeavour it was the Hammers who scored first. Moments after seeing Franco
head against the bar the home side took the lead through the impressive
Collison. The Welshman beat the offside trap to latch on to Parker's quickly
taken free-kick before slotting underneath Jensen from 12 yards out.
Franco's endeavour up front was a problem for the visitors throughout the
first half and the Mexican was unlucky to see his header fly just over the
bar. West Ham continued to press and late into the half they doubled their
lead. It came from Stanislas, who broke the Burnley offside line to latch
on to Franco's intelligent pass and while his first shot was saved from
Jensen, he found the net from a tight angle via the far post with the
rebound. And Burnley's first half misery increased just before the break
with Cole finding the net from the penalty spot - his seventh league goal of
the season - after Robbie Blake had brought down the marauding Jonathan
Spector. The Hammers brought on Zavon Hines at the break for Cole - who had
been injured earlier in the game after a collision with Jensen - and they
soon increased their lead. It came from Franco who headed Stanislas's
free-kick from the right flank past Jensen from six yards out for 4-0.
In an attempt to get back into the game Burnley brought on David Nugent but
the striker wasted two golden opportunities in quick succession. But it was
the substitution of Jimenez for Franco that made the more meaningful impact.
Parker was allowed too much space in midfield and he found Jimenez with a
defence-splitting pass but as he latched on to the ball he was brought down
by the onrushing Jensen. Jimenez picked himself up to slot home the penalty
but just as the Hammers pressed for a sixth, Burnley grabbed a lifeline.
Eagles, who was one of Burnley's better performers on the day, found room on
the left and his shot across goal was tapped home at the far post by
Fletcher. The goal sparked life into the Clarets, who soon after made it 5-2
with a goal that was almost a carbon copy of the first.
Eagles again found space on the left, and after working his way into the box
he crossed for Fletcher at the far post who slotted under Green and into the
net.
The former Manchester United winger then hit the post with a 25-yard
free-kick as Burnley sensed an opportunity to get back into the match. Late
on Caldwell was red carded for hauling down Hines but Burnley scored again
with Eagles side-footing Tyrone Mears's cross from just inside the box. But
despite late pressure the Hammers held out to secure only their second home
win of the season.
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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "It was an entertaining game, although I
would have preferred to have conceded fewer goals - but you can't have
everything. "Right now we are very good coming forward, we just need to keep
the balance when we are defending. We switched off too early. But we wanted
the three points today, and we have to be happy with that. "I will take a
lot of positives from this game - we scored another five goals. Going
forwards we are doing very well."
Burnley boss Owen Coyle: "We were the architects of our own downfall. "We
gifted some soft goals, and made individual errors at the wrong time. "I am
loath to criticise officials, because I know how difficult the job is, but
there were some big decisions which went against us, like on the second goal
when Franco controlled the ball with his arm. Is the third a penalty? I
don't know. "On another day, maybe they will go for us."
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West Ham's Carlton Cole taken to hospital for knee scan
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have confirmed that Carlton Cole has been taken to hospital for a
knee scan following the 5-3 Premier League win over Burnley at Upton Park.
Cole, 26, was involved in a collision with Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
The England striker scored his seventh goal of the season from the penalty
spot, despite receiving earlier treatment for the knock. "It is too early to
say but hopefully it's not going to be too bad," said Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola. The news is a blow for West Ham as Cole had just returned
from a hamstring strain against Aston Villa on 4 November. However the
forward, signed from Chelsea in July 2006, is now set for a scan. Earlier,
the Hammers emerged with the three points against Owen Coyle's side in an
exciting encounter, with Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco
and another penalty from Luis Jimenez adding to Cole's strike.
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West Ham Utd 5 Burnley 3
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham went goal crazy at the Boleyn this afternoon - although the win was
soured somewhat by yet another late defensive collapse. Gianfranco Zola's
side surged into a 3-0 half time lead before extending their advantage to
five just after the hour mark. However three late Burnley goals - the last
coming with the visitors having been reduced to ten men - did little to
assuage worries regarding United's leaky defence. In complete contrast to
the last campaign, the Irons have had few troubles scoring goals but cannot
stop conceding them either. In their last eleven games, Zola's team have
conceded at least twice on TEN occasions - and three on no less than five
occasions. But the reason West Ham aren't floundering at the bottom of the
Premier League - albeit not far from it - is that they just can't stop
scoring either. With 15 goals coming from their last six games the Irons -
beaten only once during that period - are doing just enough to keep their
heads above water. With the news that Matthew Upson was being forced to sit
this one out Gianfranco Zola was forced into yet another defensive
reshuffle. Danny Gabbidon, ineffective at left-back last weekend was moved
intot the centre with Herita Ilunga returning on the left. Julien Faubert
was replaced at right-back by Jonathan Spector whilst Radoslav Kovac came in
for the stricken Valon Behrami.
Burnley were millimetres away from opening the scoring after nine minutes
when Clarke Carlisle climbed above Danny Gabbidon to nod a corner goalbound.
Not for the first time, Scott Parker was on hand to clear Carlisle's effort
from the line.
But that was as near as Burnley got for the next hour as the Irons went goal
crazy, scoring five times in just 46 minutes - the first of which came from
Jack Collison who was expertly picked out by the aforementioned Parker from
a dead ball situation. Parker, fouled some 30 yads from goal picked the ball
up and delivered it instantly to the alert Collison who slipped it beyond
Brian Jensen to make it 1-0.
West Ham doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Junior Stanislas latched
on to a superb through ball from Guillermo Franco. The youngster saw his
initial effort saved at point blank range before rifling the rebound behind
a poorly-positioned Jensen into the far corner.
The final goal of a breathtaking first half came two minutes from the break
after Spector was brought down following a pacy burst into the penalty box.
Carlton Cole, without a goal for the Irons since scoring at Sunderland last
month smashed home the resulting penalty to give United a commanding half
time advantage.
Fears of yet another second half collapse were dispelled - albeit briefly -
when Franco earned his reward for a strong performance, nodding home a
Stanislas free kick from close range six minutes into the second period.
Luis Jimenez, who had been on the field for just five minutes having
replaced Franco then converted West Ham's second penalty of the day on 64
minutes after he himself had been felled by the clumsy Jensen to make it 5-0
- United's first five-goal haul in the Premier League since beating Derby
5-0 at Pride Park two years ago this very month.
But once again the Irons switched off having earned themselves a comfortable
lead, and somehow managed to concede three goals in a dreadful final
half-hour. With a number of players guilty of switching off, the Clarets
took full advantage - starting with Steven Fletcher who made it 5-1 three
minutes after Jimenez had scored what turned out to be West Ham's final goal
of the day; Fletcher tapping home a low cross from the left by Chris Eagles,
easily Burnley's best player of the day.
Eight minutes later it was 5-2 when Fletcher scored a virtually identical
goal with West Ham's central defensive partnership of Da Costa and Gabbidon
at sixes and sevens. Yet again Rob Green looked far from convincing -
although that was perhaps understandable given what was going on in front of
him.
With the game on the verge of entering injury time Burnley were reduced to
ten men when Steven Caldwell received his marching orders having pulled down
substitute Zavon hines on the perimeter of the penalty box. Hines, who had
latched on to Caldwell's weak back pass was favourite to reach the ball
before Jensen but Caldwell saw to that by tugging the young striker's shirt
- a fairly clear professional foul.
Having conceded goals against ten men Fulham, Arsenal and Sunderland already
this season it was therefore no surprise when ten men Burnley added a third
goal in the fifth minute of added-on time; the provider turned goalscorer as
former Manchester United winger Eagles beat an apoplectic Green from close
range.
So despite having scored five for the first time in two years - not however
in record time, for more on that click here - most fans left the game
feeling a little disappointed having seen the Irons once again capitulate
having gained a strong foothold in the game. Although the three points are
most welcomed at this current time and keep the Irons above the relegation
zone, the defensive errors that are littering West Ham's game simply have to
be eradicated, and soon.
Worries regarding the club's ownership and perilous financial situation are
clearly having an effect on the team, but with the likes of David Gold and
Tony Fernandes present at the game today one can only hope that a positive
resolution can be reached soon.
West Ham United 5 Burnley 3: Match Facts
West Ham United: Green, Spector, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Collison
(Faubert 77), Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Franco (Jimenez 60), Cole (Hines
46).
Subs not used: Kurucz, Tomkins, Noble, Nouble.
Goals: Collison (18), Stanislas (33), Cole (pen, 43), Franco (51), Jimenez
(pen, 64).
Booked: Kovac (54), Ilunga (84).
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan (Kalvenes 55), Eagles,
Alexander (McDonald 70), Bikey, Elliott, Blake (Nugent 55), Fletcher
Subs not used: Penny, Duff, Gudjonsson, Thompson.
Goals: Fletcher (68, 74), Eagles (90+5).
Booked: Jensen (90).
Sent off: Caldwell (90).
Referee: Chris Foy.
Attendance: 34,003.
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Burnley Hammered in goal-fest
Burnley's Caldwell sees red in dying minutes of defeat
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN
Man of the match: Scott Parker was in imperious form in the middle, flying
into tackles and setting up the first goal.
Goal of the match: The opener was well taken by Collison, after excellent
thinking from Parker to play him in from a quick free-kick.
Miss of the match: David Nugent missed two great chances with his first two
touches of the ball after coming on as a substitute.
Moment of the match: The third goal really killed the game off and Blake
will rue his challenge on Spector that gave away the penalty.
Talking point: Burnley's complete ineptitude to play the offside trap. It's
back to the training ground for Owen Coyle's side.
West Ham secured a vital win at home to Burnley in a remarkable 5-3
goal-fest at Upton Park. The Hammers were cruising at one point after going
5-0 up, but Owen Coyle's Clarets kept fighting right to the end and pulled
three goals back in the last 25 minutes. It was not a good day for either
defence in East London, as Jack Collison opened the scoring on 18 minutes as
Burnley went to sleep, and the same happened just after the half-hour mark
as Junior Stanislas doubled the lead. Carlton Cole added a penalty two
minutes before half time after Robbie Blake brought down Jonathan Spector,
before Guillermo Franco and another penalty from Luis Jimenez put the result
beyond doubt. But two well-worked goals from Steven Fletcher and an injury
time strike from Chris Eagles ensured it was not all easy going for the home
side, although Steven Caldwell was sent off in the dying moments for a tug
on Zavon Hines.
The visitors had actually started well and West Ham looked nervy at the back
as England keeper Robert Green spilled a near-post strike from Andre Bikey
and Eagles, the former Manchester United trainee, whipped over a cross from
the right which flew through the six-yard box. The Clarets - who have won
five times at Turf Moor, including victory over Manchester United - almost
took the lead on nine minutes when Clarke Carlisle's downward header from a
corner was cleared off the line by Scott Parker. West Ham were then denied
by the woodwork after Franco's header from Collison's cross came off the top
of the bar, and eventually took the lead on 18 minutes.
Caught cold
Parker's quickly-taken free-kick caught the Burnley defence cold as Collison
beat a static offside trap to run clean through and slot past Brian Jensen.
Before Burnley could recover, West Ham doubled their lead on 34 minutes as
the busy Franco slipped a reserve pass through to Stanislas on the right.
The England Under 21 winger looked to have missed his opportunity when
Jensen made a smart save at his near post - only for the Burnley keeper to
get his angles all wrong from the rebound, as Stanislas guided the ball
inside the far post. West Ham had a penalty just before the break when
Jonathan Spector charged on to Radoslav Kovac's pass and into the right side
of the area, before being brought down by Robbie Blake. Cole - still limping
after needing treatment for a foot injury - stepped up to drill in the
spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season. The England striker, who had
just come back from injury, was replaced by youngster Hines for the start of
the second half, with West Ham making it 4-0 on 50 minutes. Stanislas
whipped a free-kick from the right across the six-yard box, where Franco got
in front of the Burnley defenders to head home. Burnley substitute David
Nugent missed two golden chances in quick succession to pull a goal back for
the visitors, before referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot once again after
Chile forward Jimenez was brought down by Jensen as he dashed into the right
side of the penalty area.
Jimenez, on loan from Inter Milan, stepped up to take the spot-kick himself,
and lashed it into the right corner for his first West Ham goal. To their
credit, Burnley kept going - and at least had something to show when
Fletcher netted a late double, both after good work from Eagles, whose
long-range free-kick then struck the post. Burnley, though, finished with 10
men when, in stoppage time, Caldwell was shown a straight red for pulling
down Hines, before Eagles netted a third.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola - Win was tainted
Hammers boss admits late goals tarnished performance
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola thinks the 5-3 win over Burnley could have
been 'much better'. The Hammers went 5-0 up against the Clarets at Upton
Park and were in total cruise control, but some sloppy defending and
lethargic play allowed Owen Coyle's side to score three times in the last 25
minutes.
Jack Collison put the home side in front after the energetic Scott Parker
played him in well from a quick free-kick. Zola's side then went clear
thanks to goals from Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco and a penalty apiece
for Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez, before a brace from Steven Caldwell and a
late strike from Chris Eagles gave Burnley some pride. The Hammers boss was
pleased with his side's cutting edge in the final third, although bemoaned
their poor performance towards the end of the game "It could have been a
fantastic day. It's been, somehow, a very good day for us, but it could have
been much better," he told Sky Sports. "I think at a certain point we tried
to make it complicated and something that we need to improve because you
can't score five goals every time to win the game. "To be fair to my players
they gave everything until 5-0, and then physically they went a little bit
down and we thought the game was over. "Also, Burnley had a lot to give and
they caused us a few problems. "It's a good victory for us, it's important
to get the feeling of three points at home, it makes a big difference for
us."
Asked why he thought his team took the foot off the gas, Zola added: "I
think a bit of fatigue, a bit of they (Burnley) played quite well. "Anyway,
it is three points for us which is the most important thing - I don't want
to make the wrong thing that we are not here celebrating. "It could have
been better, certainly we need to make sure that that doesn't happen
anymore. "But on the other hand we were quite good going forward. We are
very good coming forward right now, I thought Guillermo (Franco) again was
outstanding today. "But the whole team, the defence and the midfield was
really good as well. There are a lot of things that are going very well,
some others not working as well. It's down to us to sort them out. "It was a
very good win. We did need to win this game and we've done quite well."
West Ham now move out of the bottom three in the Premier League with the
win, and are just three points behind the Turf Moor outfit. Asked whether he
was concerned that a comeback was on the cards, Zola remarked: "No, no I
don't think it was going to happen today. It could have been easier for us
but we can learn from this and do better next time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coyle unhappy with referee Foy
Clarets boss criticial of decisions
By James Riach Last updated: 28th November 2009
SSN
Burnley manager Owen Coyle was disappointed with referee Chris Foy in the
aftermath of the defeat to West Ham. The Clarets went down 5-3 at Upton Park
and Coyle criticised the official for not getting important decisions
correct throughout the game. West Ham twice scored from the penalty spot and
were cruising at 5-0 before a spirited Burnley fought back to score three
times in the last 25 minutes. Coyle was unhappy at Foy although he did
concede that his side had played poorly and conceded sloppy goals. "I'm
loathe to start speaking about the officials but what I would say was anyone
who watched the game, please you be the judge of it - of what you think went
on," he told Sky Sports. "I was certainly disappointed by one or two things.
I know it's a difficult task so we'll leave it at that. "But again we made
some poor decisions ourselves, defensively, my players. They know - I've
spoken to them at length. "We can't, at this level, continue to give away
goals. We know we're effective when we go forward, we know we can pass and
move the ball as well as anybody, I believe. "But we have to obviously brush
up on that and we didn't do it today. Again, some decisions went against us,
sorry, big moments in the game. "I certainly felt that Franco had handballed
(for the second goal) when the ball was thrown in and controlled it with his
arm. I thought that was a free-kick, it wasn't given, and Brian made the
save and maybe we could have reacted to it better.
"The fourth goal I thought was our free-kick and it was given against us.
But having said that we still have to defend it when it comes in. "I just
felt we came out on the wrong side of some of decisions today, hopefully on
another day we'll get a little bit of favour for us, although it's not
happened too often." Burnley started the game extremely well and were on top
before West Ham took the lead through Jack Collison. Coyle thought that his
team did not deserve to be behind by five goals, feeling the Clarets
controlled large periods of the match "It probably sounds bizarre to say it,
but I think if somebody was to watch the entirety of that match you'll know
that was never a 5-3 scoreline against us," he added. "For huge periods of
that game we've controlled the game, passed the ball really well, scored
three goals, if truth be told we could have had seven or eight on the day.
"Having said that I'm annoyed obviously at the goals we conceded, one or two
contentious decisions.
"Any goal changes the course of a game, there's no doubt about that. I mean
their first goal was a quickly-taken free-kick with Scott Parker who, to be
fair to West Ham, I thought was an outstanding player on the day, I mean a
really gifted player. And we made a poor decision. "It is an unhappy away
day because we came here to get all three points and as strange as it
sounds, being 5-0 down in the game, you see yourselves we controlled the
first half prior to West Ham scoring the goal and then they got their tails
up. "We offered an awful lot to the game. We showed unbelievable courage and
bravery at 5-0 down because it's easy to feel sorry for yourself. "But we
didn't, we scored three goals and in that period we could have had a few
more to add to that.
"The courage and bravery that my lads show, they do it on a game-to-game
basis and we know we're on a learning curve and trying to evolve and get
better at this level, and there's things we can brush up on."
Burnley captain Steven Caldwell was sent off in the last minute for a foul
on Zavon Hines, and Coyle was also annoyed at that decision. He said: "The
lad (Hines), from my take on it, certainly careered into the back of him and
it's a double blow - one to concede the free-kick and obviously to have my
captain suspended."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 5 Burnley 3: Match Report
West Ham Till I Die
How on earth is it possible to leave a game you have won 5-3 feeling utterly
deflated? Only at West Ham, eh?
For once in our lives we got the rub of the green, despite yet another awful
performance from the match referee. We were thoroughly outplayed in the
first 15 minutes, when we barely strayed over the half way line. How on
earth we ended the first half 3-0 up I defy anyone to explain. Maybe we
would have deserved to shade it by one goal, but 3? don't make me laugh.
However, in our predicament, we'll take what we can get.
And what we got were two very dodgy penalty decisions – and we didn't get
two other cast iron penalty shouts. Jack Collison's opener was a great goal,
and clinically taken. At first sight it looked offside but the linesman
played a blinder. It wasn't. Stanislas's goal was either incredibly skilful
or very lucky, depending on your point of view. Up to that point he had
contributed absolutely nothing to the game, but the mark of a good player is
to sniff a goal when you're having an off day. It was nice to seem him
desperate to take both penalties too.
Prior to the first penalty, Carlton Cole had suffered a very bad injury and
most of us thought he wouldn't make it back on the pitch. I was horrified to
ssee him grab the ball to take the penalty a few minutes later, but he
banged it home and has now scored 7 in 13 this season. It is also worth
bearing in mind that in his career at West Ham he has a strike ratio of
better than 1 in 3 (23 in 66).
After the break we carried on where we left off with Guillermo Franco
grabbing a sniffer's goal, getting on the end of a superbly struck cross. In
the first half he was unlucky not to score with two bullet headers and all
round he had a brilliant game. It was after he went off in thw 65th minute
that our collapse started. Zola presumably took him off in order not to risk
him picking up a knock.
Just prior to that Luis Jimenez scored his first goal from the penalty spot,
after he was brought down – or dived, depending on your viewpoint.
After that we went to pieces. Chris Eagles was a constant menace throughout
the game and was by far and away Burnley's best player. He gave Spector a
fearful time down the left and his goal at the end was no more than he
deserved. Burnley's two previous goals had come from left wing low crosses
which Stephen Fletcher got on the end of. Our defending was truly woeful.
But the main praise must go to Scott Parker who seems to get better and
better with every game. I have never given a 10 to anyone before, but he got
as close as anyone can. All he lacked was a goal. Franco was my second best
player with Da Costa third. He looks a real prospect. Sadly the same cannot
be true of Kovac, who had a truly terrible game apart from one superb low
diagonal cross field pass towards the end of the first half.
To score five goals with what looked like our weakest lineup of the season
was a feat. OK, we need to shore up defensively, but this performance showed
why we can be confident that we will not be relegated. If Cole and Franco
can develop their strike partnership and the midfield can chip in with goals
like they did today we can all look forward to the rest of the season with
optimism.
Green 7
Ilunga 6
Spector 5
Da Costa 8
Gabbodon 6
Kovac 3
Parker 10
Collison 7
Cole 6
Franco 9
Stanislas 6
Jimenez 6
Hines 4
Faubert 6
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CLARET AND BOOS FOR HAMMERS
West Ham 5 Burnley 3
The News Of The World
By Rob Shepherd, 28/11/2009
IT'S come to something when at the end of a 5-3 win there are groans, moans
and even a few boos from the stands. But that was the initial reaction of
some West Ham fans despite their best win of the season so far. What should
have been a morale-boosting, resounding victory weirdly ended up seeming
like a defeat when the whistle blew. It was only after a minute's reflection
that there was a ripple of applause, but it was hardly ecstatic as they had
seen their team end up clinging on despite taking a five-goal lead in the
63rd minute. Yes, clinging on. If there had been just a few more than five
minutes of stoppage-time, Burnley could have gone on to win it. Seriously.
That's how much Owen Coyle's men were dominating - and how badly West Ham
had slumped and how desperate they were for referee Chris Foy's final
whistle. "How much more time do you think you needed to win it?" Burnley
boss Owen Coyle was asked. "About five minutes," he smiled. "But I tell you
what, it was bizarre, because even at 5-0 down we didn't feel we deserved
that. It was certainly no reflection of the game."
It wasn't but, when the dust settled and all the late drama was put aside,
it was still a significant victory for the Hammers as they strive to turn
around their poor start to the season, move up the table and make sure they
are not dragged into a battle for Premier League survival. The trouble is
the way it finished diluted what should have been a massive confidence boost
for the club. As Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola said: "We should be cheering.
We scored more than the opposition and got three points. That is the game.
Today is to celebrate. "People are negative when we draw, negative when we
lose and now negative when we win! But, yes, it wasn't good for my heart -
but I guess it was great entertainment." He is right - it was.
Burnley started the strongest and almost took the lead in the 10th minute
when Clarke Carlisle rose and met Robbie Blake's corner with a thumping
close-range header. But midfield general Scott Parker, who was West Ham's
outstanding driving force, cleared off the line. That proved a turning point
as Burnley's defence collapsed away from Turf Moor yet again. The warning
was posted in the 12th minute when a lack of concentration by centre-halves
Carlisle and Steven Caldwell allowed diminutive Mexican striker Guillermo
Franco to leap above them and loop a header, which bounced off the bar. Six
minutes later, the Hammers started their goal spree. It was sharp thinking
by Parker to take a quick free-kick after being tripped by Wade Elliott. But
sloppy defending by the Burnley back four saw them caught flat-footed and
square as the Hammers skipper clipped the ball in behind. Jack Collison
appeared to time his run perfectly as full-back Stephen Jordan stood and
stared with his arm raised, pleading for an offside flag which never came,
and the Welsh ace calmly side-footed past keeper Brian Jensen.
In the 33rd minute another simple through ball beyond the last man from
Franco undid Burnley because they defended the line far too high. Junior
Stanislas nipped in, shot poorly straight at Jensen but, from the rebound,
he cleverly tucked the ball in at the far post from an acute angle. Burnley
were again caught on their heels at the back two minutes before the break.
Radoslav Kovac speared in a low through ball, which overlapping right-back
Jonathan Spector latched on to before he was clumsily brought down by Blake.
Carlton Cole rattled home the penalty. But the Hammers striker failed to
appear for the second half, having picked up a knee injury. Initially that
did not seem a problem. Franco, who displayed some impressive touches,
nipped in at the near post to head in a low Stanislas free-kick.
And 13 minutes later, substitute Luis Jiminez managed to win a penalty as he
tumbled over Jensen. The Chilean converted the spot kick - the 25th away
goal Burnley have conceded this season. But after that Jiminez failed to
offer the front line the focal point Cole or Franco had given. And with
David Nugent on to give striker Steve Fletcher proper support, West Ham
found themselves on the back foot and badly missing the injured Matthew
Upson. Nugent missed two great chances in quick succession but, in the 68th
minute, Fletcher turned home a Chris Eagles cross. And six minutes later,
Fletcher again converted from close range following an Eagles assist. West
Ham went 2-0 up in recent trips to Hull and Sunderland - only to end up
drawing. Surely they could not let a five-goal lead slip? Judging by Zola's
anxiety, he was not entirely convinced.
But after a few close shaves, the Hammers seemed home and dry when last man
Caldwell was sent off for fouling Zavon Hines in injury-time. Yet, within
seconds, Eagles scored another from close range. Zola concluded: "We're a
bit fragile in defence at the moment." No kidding. Manchester United come to
Upton Park on Saturday. If the Hammers defend like this they will need a
five-goal start to stand any chance.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham coming to terms with the fact the Matthew Upson will be sold
By Rob Draper, Mail on Sunday Chief Football Writer
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 28th November 2009
Even West Ham sources now accept Matthew Upson will be allowed to leave in
January if they can get the right money for him, something that has long
been evident as failed Icelandic bank Straumur stay in control of the club.
Liverpool remain the most likely bidders, though with their own financial
difficulties, they are likely to wait until the summer to secure Upson at a
reduced £5million fee, when he has just one year left on his contract. If
there are no serious Premier League takers, West Ham still insist they will
not be forced to sell the likes of Carlton Cole and Rrob Green. But with
Harry Redknapp in the market for a new goalkeeper and with his initial
choice David James struggling with injury, it will be intriguing to see
whether West Ham would be able to resist am £8m offer for Green, the man
likely to be England's No 1 at the World Cup. West Ham are searching for new
buyers, but the most credible candidate, Air Asia's Tony Fernandes, has
cooled his interest for now, meaning the club must hope they are not
marketing a Championship club for sale come May.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guillermo Franco exceptional in eight-goal thriller
West Ham 5 Burnley 3
Times Online
IT IS a sign of West Ham United's straitened circumstances that their chief
executive and sporting director took salary cuts to fund the acquisition of
Guillermo Franco. The joy for manager Gianfranco Zola is that his superiors
invested well. In the Mexico international the indebted Hammers have found a
striker capable of keeping them in the Premier League.
Franco was exceptional in this crazily open game, constantly exploiting the
manifest weaknesses of Burnley's back four. He made one goal, scored another
and generally ensured that West Ham could continue their own profligate
defending.
"Guillermo has been outstanding for us," said Zola of a player signed from
Villarreal on the last day of the summer window. "He gave us balance. His
quality has surprised everybody, including myself. He's getting better and
better."
The doyen of playmaking midfielders in his former career, Zola employed no
such thing in a utilitarian 4-4-2 topped by the bullish Franco and Carlton
Cole. The emphasis was on steadying a defence that had shipped 20 goals in
nine preceding league games.
The nausea did not disappear. Andre Bikey waltzed into the box to fire two
shots at Robert Green; Clarke Carlisle had a header cleared off the line.
Burnley were the better side until it was the turn of their defence to be
tested.
Franco was finding space between the centre-backs, planting one header
against the bar, another just over. Scott Parker won a free kick close to
halfway, grabbing the ball on his descent and recovering his feet to launch
it swiftly forward. As his teammates stepped up, Burnley's Stephen Jordan
dropped back to play Jack Collison onside to finish.
The lead doubled when Jordan again misread his the line from the left flank,
allowing Junior Stanislas in for another one-on-one with Brian Jensen, who
saved one shot but was suckered by a second. Next came an unnecessary
penalty, Jordan allowing Collison to cut inside him before Robbie Blake
knocked over the winger. The shot by Cole, suffering knee pain from an
earlier Jensen challenge, was weak yet evaded the keeper's dive.
It got worse. With the fleet- footed Zavon Hines on for Cole at half-time,
the home side won a free kick, Franco steaming ahead of any markers to
pummel home Stanislas' diagonal delivery. Jensen dived wildly at Luiz
Jimenez's feet, granting the substitute a penalty with which to score his
first West Ham goal. If an over-eager flag from the referee's assistant and
Chris Foy's oversight stopped Hines from winning third and fourth spot
kicks, there was to be no clean sheet for the home defence.
Twice Chris Eagles manufactured space down the left and crossed to the back
post. Twice the ceaseless Steven Fletcher muscled in to convert. In stoppage
time, the Scotsman's stepover granted Eagles one of his own. How much longer
before they levelled? "Probably about five minutes," smiled Owen Coyle,
finding fault with all of West Ham's goals but losing no faith in his team.
"We'll win games away from home, hopefully at Portsmouth next week." It
doesn't matter how bad your defence is, there's always Avram Grant's to look
forward to.
Star man: Guillermo Franco (West Ham)
Yellow cards: West Ham: Kovac, Ilunga Burnley: Jensen
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 34,003
WEST HAM: Green 7, Spector 6, Da Costa 6, Gabbidon 7, Ilunga 6, Collison 7
(Faubert 78min), Kovac 6, Parker 7, Stanislas 6, Franco 8 (Jimenez 59min),
Cole 6 (Hines 46min)
BURNLEY: Jensen 6, Mears 6, Carlisle 5, Caldwell 5, Jordan 4 (Kalvenes
55min), Alexander 6 (McDonald 70min), Bikey 6, Eagles 7, Elliott 5, Blake 5
(Nugent 55min), Fletcher 7.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 5 - 3 Burnley
ESPN
Gianfranco Zola's men recorded only their third Premier League win of a
difficult campaign after three goals in the first half put them in command.
Jack Collison capitalised on some static defending to race on to Scott
Parker's free-kick and fire the Irons ahead on 18 minutes. Junior Stanislas
slotted home a second, before Carlton Cole converted a penalty as Burnley
were made to pay for poor defending after what had been a bright start by
the visitors when Clarke Carlisle's header was cleared off the line. It was
damage limitation for the Clarets - who have just one point from seven away
matches on their return to the top flight - after the hard-working Guillermo
Franco headed in a fourth on 51 minutes. However, there was still time for
substitute Luis Jimenez to net another penalty after he was brought down by
keeper Brian Jensen to give the Irons a morale boost ahead of next week's
visit of champions Manchester United. Steven Fletcher's late double gave
Burnley some consolation, before Steven Caldwell was sent off during
stoppage time and Chris Eagles then netted a third. The visitors had
actually started well and West Ham looked nervy at the back as England
keeper Robert Green spilled a near-post strike from Andre Bikey and Eagles,
the former Manchester United trainee, whipped over a cross from the right
which flew through the six-yard box. The Clarets - who have won five times
at Turf Moor, including victory over United - almost took the lead on nine
minutes when Clarke Carlisle's downward header from a corner was cleared off
the line by Parker.
West Ham were then denied by the woodwork after Franco's header from
Collison's cross came off the top of the bar, and eventually took the lead
on 18 minutes. Parker's quickly-taken free-kick caught the Burnley defence
cold as Collison beat a static offside trap to run clean through and slot
past Jensen. Before Burnley could recover, West Ham doubled their lead on 34
minutes. The busy Franco slipped a reserve pass through to Stanislas on the
right.
The England Under-21 winger looked to have missed his opportunity when
Jensen made a smart save at his near post - only for the Burnley keeper to
get his angles all wrong from the rebound, as Stanislas guided the ball
inside the far post. West Ham had a penalty just before the break when
Jonathan Spector charged on to Radoslav Kovac's pass and into the right side
of the area, before being brought down by Robbie Blake. Cole - still limping
after needing treatment for a foot injury - stepped up to drill in the
spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season.
The England striker, who had just come back from injury, was replaced by
youngster Zavon Hines for the start of the second half, with West Ham making
it 4-0 on 50 minutes. Stanislas whipped a free-kick from the right across
the six-yard box, where Franco got in front of the Burnley defenders to head
home.
Burnley substitute David Nugent missed two golden chances in quick
succession to pull a goal back for the visitors, before referee Chris Foy
pointed to the spot once again after Chile forward Jimenez was brought down
by Jensen as he dashed into the right side of the penalty area. Jimenez, on
loan from Inter Milan, stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, and lashed
it into the right corner for his first West Ham goal. To their credit,
Burnley kept going - and at least had something to show when Fletcher netted
a late double, both after good work from Eagles, whose long-range free-kick
then struck the post.
Burnley, though, finished with 10 men when, in stoppage time, Caldwell was
shown a straight red for pulling down Hines, before Eagles netted a third.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was happy to finally enjoy that winning
feeling again after watching his relegation-battlers move clear of the
bottom three as Burnley were beaten 5-3 at Upton Park. "It was an
entertaining game, although I would have preferred to have conceded fewer
goals - but you can't have everything,'' said the Hammers boss. "Right now
we are very good coming forward, we just need to keep the balance when we
are defending. We switched off too early. But we wanted the three points
today, and we have to be happy with that. "I will take a lot of positives
from this game - we scored another five goals. Going forwards we are doing
very well. Come on - if we lose it is negative, if we draw it is negative,
we score five goals and win, and it is still negative. "We should be
cheering. It has been a great game, and we have scored five goals. We must
all enjoy it. We scored more goals than the opposition, and that is the most
important thing. "We know we have to get better in defence, but if you keep
watching everything under the microscope, you will always find something
wrong. I want to see good things, and we will keep working.''
Zola revealed Cole, who had just come back from injury, was set for a scan
on his knee. "It is too early to say how bad it is. We have to wait a bit to
assess him,'' said the West Ham boss, "Hopefully it is not going to be too
bad.''
Burnley manager Owen Coyle said: "We were the architects of our own
downfall. We gifted some soft goals, and made individual errors at the wrong
time. I am loath to criticise officials, because I know how difficult the
job is, but there were some big decisions which went against us, like on the
second goal when Franco controlled the ball with his arm. Is the third a
penalty? I don't know. On another day, maybe they will go for us. But at
5-0, it would have been really easy to feel sorry for ourselves and hide.
However, they showed tremendous bravery and courage to score some tremendous
goals. It was another learning curve for us. "We need to brush up on the
individual mistakes, because you will not get away with it against the
quality the Premier League holds. We will take our medicine, continue to
work hard and look to get better because we have the players who can pick up
points.''
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Five-star performance by West Ham as Burnley comeback falters
David Lacey at Upton Park
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 November 2009 17.15 GMT
Goals were going cheap at Upton Park. Only West Ham could take a 5-0 lead
and still leave their supporters anxiously awaiting the final whistle. The
three Burnley scored in the last 23 minutes spared Owen Coyle's side another
severe mauling in London, where they had lost 5-0 to Tottenham at the end of
September, but again they paid heavily for a series of naive errors usually
punished at Premier League level.
"We gave away soft goals," Coyle said afterwards. "There's no getting away
from it. I'd rather be beaten by a bit of quality rather than shooting
ourselves in the foot." This was a bit hard on the winners and Coyle did
make a point of singling out West Ham's Scott Parker as the game's
outstanding player. Yet he was right when he declared that the 5-0 lead West
Ham built up in just over an hour did not reflect the pattern of play.
Burnley have lacked points away from Turf Moor this season yet have retained
a sense of attacking adventure. They have also acquired a habit of defensive
misadventure. The game offered an accurate résumé of their form on the road;
a bright, positive start that looked like seizing the initiative from a West
Ham side whose home form has been frail, followed by sluggishness at the
back that found Burnley 3-0 down by half-time.
Upton Park feared a familiar tale was about to unfold when Chris Eagles and
Robbie Blake began to turn West Ham's defence on either flank with Wade
Elliott and Steven Fletcher lurking dangerously through the middle. A goal
for Burnley in the ninth minute, when Clarke Carlisle met Eagles's corner
with a firm downward header that Parker cleared off the line, would have
been a just reward for Burnley's positive approach. Defensively, however,
they remain ingenues at this level, forgetting everything and learning
nothing. The free header from Guillermo Franco that hit the Burnley bar
after 11 minutes proved a portent.
Time and again West Ham caught Burnley square and slow at the back with
well-judged through passes matched by equally well-timed runs. Parker began
the deluge after he had been brought down by Elliott. The midfielder had
barely got to his feet when he surprised the opposition with a quick
free-kick that found Jack Collison striding past the defence to beat Brian
Jensen.
The rest was equally elementary. Twelve minutes before half-time Franco sent
Junior Stanislas clear with only the goalkeeper to beat. Jensen blocked the
first shot but was out of position when Stanislas gathered the rebound and
found the net from a narrow angle.
A limping Carlton Cole having further increased West Ham's lead with a
penalty after Blake had brought down Jonathan Spector, Upton Park sensed a
rout once Franco, with a free header, and Luis Jiménez, with another
penalty, this time after he had been brought down by the goalkeeper, took
West Ham's total to five and apparently out of reach.
Strange are the ways of football teams, and suddenly West Ham's defence
borrowed some of their opponent's sloppy habits, allowing Fletcher to score
twice for Burnley in the 68th and 74th minutes, both goals following low
centres from Eagles that found the scorer sauntering through a petrified
forest of defenders.
West Ham never looked in danger of losing after establishing a huge lead,
but their porous defence was in evidence as they allowed Burnley in to fray
the nerves.
The dismissal of Steven Caldwell in stoppage time after the Burnley captain
had brought down a goal-bound Zavon Hines just outside the penalty area
spared West Ham further discomfort, but still enough time remained for
Eagles to end Burnley's afternoon on a note of optimism by meeting a low
cross from Tyrone Mears with a simple finish.
"At the moment we are very frail at the back," Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham
manager, admitted. "If you keep looking under a microscope you will always
find something wrong."
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West Ham United 5 Burnley 3: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic
and Sunderland at the DW Stadium on Saturday Nov 28 2009.
Telegra[h.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 4:59PM GMT 28 Nov 2009
West Ham United scored five goals for the first time under Gianfranco Zola
to secure only their second home win of the season against Burnley. But
after relinquishing two-goal leads against Sunderland and Hull in recent
weekes, they showed they have to score a considerable number of goals to
make certain of the points. Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas gave West Ham
the early advantage before Carlton Cole converted a 43rd minute penalty.
Guillermo Franco continued the rout soon after the interval before Luis
Jimenez scored West Ham's fifth from the game's second penalty. Steven
Fletcher's two late goals and another in added time from Chris Eagles made
for a nervous finale. But Burnley finished with 10 men after Steven Caldwell
was sent off in added time, for a professional foul on Zavon Hines. The game
began in lively fashion yet it was Burnley who look most likely to open the
scoring before Collison's 18th minute goal.
In the fifth minute Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, blocked a shot
from Andre Bikey with his chest and then Chris Eagles delivered a dangerous
cross but there wsa nobody available to convert. Soon afterwards Clarke
Carlisle was denied when his solid header, from an Eagles corner, was
cleared off the line by Scott Parker, the West Ham captain. But West Ham
responded positively, firstly when Collison's cross was headed against the
cross bar by Franco and, secondly, when Collison scored. The goal was a
touch cruel on Burnley, but they were caught out by the quick thinking of
Parker. The midfielder was fouled by Wade Elliott and he took the kick
immediately, his ball catching Burnley's defence by surprise and dropping
invitingly to Collison, who finished with ease.
And seven minutes later Herita Ilunga offered Franco the chance to add a
second but the Mexican international's header dipped just over the cross
bar.
The pressure continued with Parker shooting over before the second goal, in
the 34th minute. Franco chested the ball down before sending Stanislas
through and, after his first attempt was blocked by Burnley goalkeeper Brian
Jensen, then midfielder was successful with the rebound from an acute angle.
And with three minutes of the first half remaining, Burnley's Robbie Blake
brought down Jonathan Spector and Carlton Cole converted the kick for his
seventh goal of the season.
Having relinquished two-goal leads against Sunderland and Hull in recent
weeks, the crowd were relieved to see a third. But Cole, injured before the
penalty, failed to emerge for the second half, with Zavon Hines his
replacement. And within seven minutes of the re-start, West Ham scored their
fourth and again it came from a free-kick. Stanislas's kick was weighted
perfectly and Franco caught the Burnley defence out with a low header.
Burnley made a double substitution with David Nugent and Christian Kalvanes
introduced, but it was West Ham who continued to control affairs and in the
64th minute substitute Jiminez, having been upended by Jensen, converted the
game's second penalty. Eagles set up Fletcher twice, in the 68th and 74th
minutes, provoking closing nerves but the goals were of little consolation
for Burnley, who had Caldwell dismissed before Eagles claimed Burnley's
third.
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