WHUFC.com
The West Ham United manager was delighted with the resolve shown by his
players at Blackburn Rovers
21.03.2009
Gianfranco Zola heaped well-earned praise on his West Ham United team after
their valiant performance in gaining a hard-fought 1-1 Premier League draw
at Blackburn Rovers.
The Hammers took a 35th-minute lead through Mark Noble's exquisite strike
before conceding an equaliser to Rovers substitute Keith Andrews seven
minutes after half-time. From then on, Sam Allardyce's side threw everything
at the visitors but West Ham, marshalled expertly by captain Lucas Neill,
held out for what could turn out to be a vital point. Indeed, there was even
a late shout for a penalty on the returning Kieron Dyer.
Zola, who was forced to reshuffle both his team and his tactics after
Matthew Upson and Savio were ruled out through injury, was delighted with
the resolve shown by his players. The manager was particularly pleased with
the way the Hammers dealt with the aerial bombardment launched by Blackburn
winger Morten Gamst Pedersen in shape of a succession of long throws into
the penalty area.
"We were really, really good but we had to do that because they were putting
so many big bodies in the box. It is very difficult when they create
confusion when they keep booming balls in there and it is not easy for
anybody. We were excellent. We didn't have, in the second half, that extra
physical strength that might have allowed us to cause them a few more
problems.
"Honestly, after the first half, in the second half they gave everything. It
was one of those games, I tell you, that both sides could have won and I'm
pleased with the way my team played."
While he was happy with his defence, which was also without the injured
James Collins, Zola was also purring over Noble's goal that ensured a fourth
match unbeaten. The England Under-21 midfielder, making his 100th appearance
for the club, started a sweeping three-man move involving Luis Boa Morte and
Diego Tristan before expertly steering the ball past Paul Robinson.
"It was a very good goal. I must confess I didn't expect it because I
thought he was crossing the ball. It was a very good goal and good movement.
There was another good move in the first half when Boa Morte put Tristan
through on the right and offside has been given. I'm not sure. I'll have to
check that one. At the end, I think the result was right.
"We played some very good football in the first half, especially in
transition. That was what I was looking for in the second half as well but
obviously it wasn't easy so we couldn't do that. The first half was
excellent."
Following Noble's strike, West Ham spent much of the remaining 55 minutes on
the back foot as Blackburn launched an almost non-stop assault on the
visiting penalty area. While the Hammers continued to try and play a short
passing game, Rovers reverted to sending a succession of high balls into the
box in an attempt to unsettle their opponents.
The tactic worked once, with Andrews latching on to Herita Ilunga's headed
clearance to fire past Robert Green, but otherwise West Ham held firm thanks
in the main to plucky performances from defenders Neill, Jonathan Spector
and James Tomkins. There was also the encouraging sign of a late cameo from
substitute Dyer. A footballing artist himself, Zola was philosophical about
Blackburn's more direct approach to the game.
"What can I say? It's certainly not my style or type of football but I do
respect it. I believe that Sam is going to do well here. Since he came he's
brought some very good points to the club. It's certainly not my idea but I
respect it. I understand that in football not all the teams can play in the
same way. I think not all the managers have the same ideas. I am one of the
managers who likes to see differences in football. I don't like to only see
one way to play because it's not reality. In Italy we say you can get to
Rome in different ways. The important thing is to get to Rome."
Saturday's point at Ewood Park saw West Ham close the gap on sixth-placed
Everton to seven points with eight matches left to play - including a
potentially crucial trip to Goodison Park on 16 May. With a place in next
year's UEFA Europa League within his team's grasp, Zola has urged his
players to make one last push and would not be worried about extra games
next season.
"It would be a nice problem to have, I tell you. I wish I could have that
problem next year but as far as I'm concerned, playing in Europe is always a
great thing and we'll be trying everything we can to achieve that."
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Ton-up Noble earns draw
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble celebrated his 100th appearance for by scoring in a tight game at
Blackburn Rovers
21.03.2009
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United
Mark Noble celebrated his 100th West Ham United appearance by earning the
Hammers a brave 1-1 Premier League draw at Blackburn Rovers.
The England Under-21 midfielder started and finished a sweeping 60-yard move
involving the re-called Luis Boa Morte and Diego Tristan by expertly curling
the ball inside Paul Robinson's far post with the outside of his right foot
on 35 minutes. Substitute Keith Andrews earned Rovers a point as the home
side laid siege to the West Ham goal during the second half, but the Hammers
held on for a point.
Saturday's stalemate lifted Gianfranco Zola's team to within seven points of
sixth-placed Everton, who went down to a surprise 2-1 defeat at
relegation-threatened Portsmouth in the lunchtime kick-off at Fratton Park.
Zola made three changes - two of them enforced by the calf and knee injuries
suffered by Matthew Upson and Savio respectively - from the team that drew
0-0 with West Bromwich Albion on Monday. Jonathan Spector and Luis Boa Morte
deputised, with former Rover Lucas Neill reverting to centre-half. Up front,
Diego Tristan made his first start in a West Ham shirt, replacing Freddie
Sears in a 4-3-2-1 formation.
The Hammers quickly slipped into their neat, short passing game, but it was
the home side who shaded the opening exchanges and should have gone ahead on
eight minutes. A Christopher Samba flick-on somehow eluded Spector, but
South Africa international striker Benni McCarthy launched his left-foot
volley high and wide from no more than 12 yards.
Two minutes later and the visitors survived another close call. Ryan
Nelsen's cross was punched clear by Robert Green, only to land at the feet
at Morten Gamst Pedersen. Luckily for the Hammers, however, Spector was on
hand to block the Norwegian's low shot.
Scott Parker fired in West Ham's first attempt at goal on 14 minutes, but
his 30-yard effort flew well off-target. Two minutes later, David Di Michele
linked well with Noble, but the Italian could only curl his shot straight
into the hands of Paul Robinson.
It was Rovers who continued to do the bulk of the attacking, however, with
West Ham content to soak up the hosts' pressure and hit them on the break.
The tactic continued to work well, with James Tomkins - who made fine blocks
from Roberts and Pedersen - and captain Neill in particularly resilient
form.
Blackburn thought they had taken the lead on 31 minutes when El-Hadji Diouf
hooked the ball into the net, only for the celebrations to be muted by the
assistant referee's flag. The Senegal forward had been yards offside when
Samba flicked on Pedersen's long-throw.
All West Ham's hard defensive work paid off ten minutes before the break as
Noble won the ball from Stephen Warnock before racing 50 yards upfield.
After a slick interchange involving Boa Morte and Tristan, the 21-year-old
scored his fifth goal of the season with an inch-perfect finish.
A goal down at the break, Rovers manager Sam Allardyce sacrificed veteran
defender Andre Ooijer for former MK Dons midfielder Keith Andrews, and it
took just six minutes for last season's League Two player of the year to
make an impact. The Republic of Ireland international was in the right place
to rifle the ball through a sea of legs and past Green after Herita Ilunga
had only half-cleared yet another Pedersen throw.
Having drawn level through Andrews' third goal for the club, Rovers laid
siege to the West Ham goal. Roberts' shot was blocked by Noble before Nelsen
headed Pedersen's throw wide of the far post. The former Tromso winger then
lashed a right-foot volley five yards wide of the target. Allardyce's side
were cranking up the heat, while West Ham were struggling to get out of
their own half.
The pressure appeared to have paid off on 63 minutes when Diouf turned the
ball into the net from-close range after Green had done brilliantly to parry
Roberts' volley, but again the 'goal' was rightly chalked off for offside.
Blackburn, with Pedersen continuing to lauch bomb after bomb into the West
Ham penalty area, continued their aerial barrage. A Rovers winner looked
inevitable, However thanks to another heroic Tomkins block, this time from
McCarthy's volley, Zola's men clung on bravely.
Finally, with 14 minutes remaining, the Hammers broke clear and, following
good work from Noble and Kovac, Tristan fired a rising shot over Robinson's
crossbar. It was a brief respite, though, and Blackburn were soon back on
the attack, only for the peerless Tomkins to pull of yet another superb
block to deny Roberts.
With 12 minutes to go, Zola chose to bolster his defensive ranks by
replacing Boa Morte with Uruguay international Walter Lopez. Two minutes
later, the returning Kieron Dyer was sent on for Di Michele for his first
appearance since facing Fulham on 18 January.
Just 60 seconds after coming on, Dyer's pace almost conjured the opportunity
for the Hammers to nick a dramatic late winner, but referee Chris Foy waved
away claims that the 30-year-old had been impeded by the giant Samba. Dyer's
introduction handed the Hammers a vital outlet up front and it was not long
before he had won the visitors a late corner that Tomkins could only head
out for a goal-kick.
Into the final minute and Parker was booked for a late challenge on Samba as
the former Hertha Berlin defender strode forward.
West Ham held on for a hard-fought share of the spoils, but not before Josh
Payne had been handed his Premier League debut by replacing Tristan deep in
added time.
The Hammers, who have now lost just one of their last ten away league
matches, will look to extend their unbeaten run to five matches when
Sunderland visit the Boleyn Ground following the international break on
Saturday 4 April.
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Okus ensures U18 draw
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr's young charges had to settle for a share of the spoils in their
weekend fixture with Cardiff
22.03.2009
A Conor Okus goal helped West Ham United to a 1-1 draw against Cardiff City
in an inter-group Premier Academy League fixture on Saturday morning.
The lively 17-year-old midfielder opened the scoring with a fierce drive in
the 35th minute after a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the penalty
area. Cardiff fought back after the interval but for Okus the goal completed
a memorable personal week, having made his first start in the reserves in a
right wing-back role on Monday night.
Okus played the full 90 minutes against Aston Villa's second string and then
followed that with the Hammers' goal against the Bluebirds. It was his
second goal in 17 appearances this season at Academy level. Tony Carr's
U18's are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Milton Keynes Dons.
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Blackburn 1-1 West Ham
By Phil Dawkes
BBC.co.uk
A Keith Andrews goal earned Blackburn a deserved share of the spoils against
a resolute West Ham after Mark Noble had given the visitors the lead.
Noble's superb, curling finish with the outside of his foot gave West Ham
the lead against the run of play. Andrews equalised for Blackburn, following
up a half-cleared Morten Gamst Pedersen throw to rifle in. El-Hadji Diouf
twice had goals ruled out by a linesman's flag as Blackburn largely
dominated the game. Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce had intimated before the
match that West Ham's league position, nine places above Rovers in seventh,
was as a result of their defensive resolve, a virtue he largely attributed
to their assistant manager Steve Clarke. If this is indeed the case Clarke
can feel rightly proud of his role in the earning of this hard-earned point
for the Hammers. Blackburn pressed throughout and central to most of the
threat they posed was towering centre-back Christopher Samba, primarily from
the delivery of Pedersen.
After 10 minutes his header from a Pedersen throw fell into the path of
Benni McCarthy, but the striker showed all the rustiness of a man who had
been out for a month in miscuing his shot well over from 10 yards. Two
minutes later Samba's sheer presence in the West Ham penalty area for a
corner resulted in a melee with the ball ricocheting around before it fell
to Pedersen, but his shot was well blocked by the diving Jonathan Spector.
In one instance Samba almost proved as destructive in his own half. West Ham
midfielder Noble, crossed from the right and the Congolese defender rose
with goalkeeper Paul Robinson in a confused attempt by both to clear only
for the ball to fall to Diego Tristan. Fortunately for the home side, the
striker could not get his shot away and the ball was cleared. At the other
end West Ham's defensive resolve was coming under increasing pressure but
their response was a testimony to Allardyce's pre-match assessment of their
virtues.
On numerous occasions Hammers defenders threw themselves in the way of
Rovers players to block goalbound strikes, so much so that goalkeeper Robert
Green barely touched the ball. On the half hour Blackburn did have the ball
in the net as Samba's presence again created room, this time for Diouf, who
turned and poked in. However, the linesman's flag ruled it out with replays
illustrating that the Senegalese striker was both offside and then infringed
against Green.
As a reward more for their defensive application than their adventurous
spirit West Ham took the lead just before half-time.
Noble ran 30 yards and fed Boa Morte, who replays later revealed to be
offside, and the Portuguese in turn found Tristan in the box. The Spaniard's
subsequent lay-off was curled expertly into the far bottom corner by the
outside of Noble's right foot. It took only five minutes of the second half
for Blackburn to draw level. Pedersen's arrowed long throw from the left was
only half cleared by Herita Ilunga and Andrews was on hand to rifle in to
the far right corner of the net from an angle.
With their tails up Blackburn seized the attacking initiative again but were
denied once again by a linesman's flag when a diving Green could only palm
out Samba's shot to Diouf who side-footed in but from an offside position.
Blackburn pushed hard for a winner but time and again they were denied by
West Ham's resolute and dedicated backline. In truth West Ham may feel they
could have grabbed all three points when substitute Kieron Dyer raced
through only to be felled by the backtracking Samba. Dyer animatedly
remonstrated with referee Chris Foy, intimating that his shirt had been
pulled, but the official waved his pleas away.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce: "We feel bitterly disappointed we have not
got three points and in many ways that is our fault but it is also the fault
of the referee's assistant and it is a hard one to take. "We had two goals
disallowed for offside but unfortunately the key area lies with the West Ham
goal which nobody can argue is not offside - and we don't know why the
referee has not given it (as he was) in such a good position. "What can be
done about it? Nothing. But I have to express my disapproval publicly
because we are in a very difficult position and we can't afford to have
major decisions going against us."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: I think there might have been a penalty
for us as well when Kieron Dyer was fouled so that would balance it out.
"When you have got a big team like they are who boom balls into the box it
is not easy for anybody.
"My team were excellent really and it is a pity we did not have the extra
strength that might have allowed us to cause them a few more problems. But
it was a close game and both teams could have won it."
Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer (Andrews 46), Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Diouf,
Mokoena, Warnock, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Kerimoglu, Dunn, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Treacy.
Booked: Nelsen, Mokoena.
Goals: Andrews 51.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Spector, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Kovac, Boa
Morte (Lopez 79), Tristan (Payne 90), Di Michele (Dyer 82).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas.
Booked: Parker.
Goals: Noble 35.
Att: 21,672
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: West Ham's Scott Parker 6.88 (on 90
minutes).
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Zola on ... Blackburn
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st March 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on another decent away performance.
On the game...
It was quite hard, especially in the second half. They put as many bodies as
possible - big ones! - up and it's not easy to play against a team like
that. But my team, especially in the first half was excellent and we got out
with a deserved point.
I say that after the first half, the way we played we could have scored more
than once. In the end obviously it's normal that when you play against a
team like Blackburn you're going to be suffering but we handled it and in
the end maybe with a penalty it could have been a different story.
On Lucas Neill...
He had a massive impact on the game, he really played very well. Also
[James] Tomkins who was excellent. But the team is defending very well so
its good, we are confident and the team is doing very, very well.
On Kieron Dyer's welcome return to action...
I'm very pleased for him. To be honest when he came on he had a very good
impact on the game and it's good for us. It's massive because we're going to
have him fully recovered in a few weeks and he's going to be a big help to
the team.
On Dyer's 84th minute penalty shout...
It looked like a penalty. Obviously it's not an easy decision and I'm not
blaming the referee who was excellent today but my point is that a draw was
a fair result for both teams.
On Blackburn's claims of offside for West Ham's goal...
I don't know, I haven't seen it. But there was another move in the first
half when we put Diego Tristan in front of the goalkeeper and it ws given
offside when maybe it wasn't. So I don't know, it was a close game.
On bare bones...
Consider that we are missing so many players and that some of the players
are playing with injuries. Considering everything my team is not [made of]
steel, but double steel! It's good for me because it means that they really
care about what they're doing - and they're not willing to lose anything.
Sam Allardyce: Blackburn Rovers
Sadly we've not secured the three points we deserved. Unfortunately it's
always difficult to come back from a goal down.
We've been guilty over the last two games of it being our own fault. This
time it wasn't, it was the assistant referee's. We couldn't quite find the
winner we deserved which would have made the assistant's decision null and
void.
That is a decision that's major that has gone against us.
* Gianfranco Zola and Sam Allardyce were talking to the BBC.
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Rovers battle back for a point
Andrews cancels out Noble's opener at Ewood
Last updated: 21st March 2009
SSN
Man of the Match: Chris Samba. Towering performance and kept Diego Tristan
very quiet. Some neat touches and surging runs in possession as well.
Goal of the Match: Allardyce might have felt Boa Morte was offside in the
build-up, but nothing can be taken away from Mark Noble's finish. He
superbly placed the ball inside Robinson's far post with a pin-point shot.
Miss of the Match: Benni McCarthy had a good early chance to put Rovers in
front, but he snatched at his left-footed effort and skied the ball over
when El Hadji Diouf was better placed to test Rob Green.
Talking Point: Will Rovers striker McCarthy ever recapture his best form and
how big of a boost is it for Gianfranco Zola to have Kieron Dyer back and
available for selection?
Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to secure a deserved share of the
spoils in a 1-1 draw against West Ham. The Hammers deservedly led at
half-time courtesy of Mark Noble's expert finish, but it was a game of two
halves as Blackburn dominated after the break. Substitute Keith Andrews
levelled matters within six minutes of the re-start after being at the right
place at the right time to slot home at the near post. It was all Rovers for
the rest of the game and although El-Hadji Diouf had the ball in the back of
the net on more than one occasion it finished a fair result. The point sees
keeps West Ham seventh in the table a point clear of Fulham while Rovers
have dropped a place following Stoke's win over Middlesbrough. The absence
of Roque Santa Cruz will have been noted in the opening stages with Rovers
guilty of wasting too much possession up front and letting the Hammers off
the hook in an otherwise bright start. Benni McCarthy saw an early effort
blocked in the box by James Tomkins and there were also chances for El-Hadji
Diouf and Jason Roberts as the home side continued to press.
The Hammers finally fashioned a shot on target in the 16th minute when Noble
played David di Michele into space on the right and the Italian's sweeping
shot was comfortably gathered by Paul Robinson. Robinson then had to race
from his goal to beat Diego Tristan to a long ball by Di Michele as the
Hammers showed signs of improvement against a Rovers team in danger of
paying for their missed opportunities. The home side had a lucky escape in
the 25th minute when Noble's cross from the right prompted a mix-up between
Robinson and Christopher Samba which allowed the ball to spring free in the
box with no visiting player lurking. Diouf thought he had put Rovers in
front in the 31st minute when he hooked home a corner from Morten Gamst
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce believed Luis Boa Morte was offside in the
build-up to West Ham's opener, although Zola felt his side could have won a
late penalty when Chris Samba felled Kieron Dyer.
The last 10 minutes of the contest marked Dyer's first involvement in the
Hammers' first-team this season and the Italian tactician was delighted to
have him available for selection following a lengthy lay-off. "To be honest
I've not seen the [build-up to our goal] but I think there was a penalty for
us so I think that might balance everything," he continued. "When Kieron was
challenged by Samba. "He's brilliant. I was very pleased for him. He's a
player that especially in games like this he can make a difference for us.
"Today he played 10 minutes and now he'll have two more weeks to prepare
himself properly. It's very important to have him back."
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HOTLINE - Hammers Mou-vein
EXCLUSIVE BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
By Dave Kidd And Alan Nixon
The People
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola will join the battle to sign Sporting Lisbon
midfield star Joao Moutinho - and he also hopes to snap up Fulham skipper
Danny Murphy. Zola will have funds available this summer now the Carlos
Tevez affair has been settled and is targeting Moutinho and Murphy to
transform his midfield. Portugal international Moutinho, 21, likely to cost
about £8million, is a long-term target for Everton. Zola wants to improve
the quality and quantity of his squad, particularly if West Ham manage to
secure in UEFA'S new Europa League. Despite their financial problems, he was
allowed to sign Ugandan-born German winger Savio for £9m in January.
Moutinho was also a target for Luiz Felipe Scolari before the Brazilian was
sacked by Chelsea. Sporting, humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions
League, know they are unlikely to hold on to the player. A West Ham move for
Moutinho will not hamper a bid for Murphy, Fulham's best player this season.
Sources close to the former England man claim he will move in the summer -
with the Hammers hot favourites. Zola fears Scott Parker could be tempted
away by a bigmoney move in the next window, although West Ham would be happy
to have both in their squad. Murphy has an automatic one-year extension at
Craven Cottage after playing a certain number of games, but at 32 is looking
for long-term security. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Robert Green, 29, will be
offered improved terms on his £25,000-a-week Upton Park deal to ward off any
summer bids.
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Rovers draw closer to danger
Blackburn Rovers 1 West Ham United 1
By Guy Hodgson at Ewood Park
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Independent.co.uk
Blackburn may have lost only three Premier League matches since Sam
Allardyce took over as manager, but their inability to finish off wounded
prey could yet prove fatal. At the moment they are suffering the slow
torture of the draw. Before this game Allardyce had stressed the need for
home success, so this will go down as another chance lost. Blackburn
overcame the surrender of a goal to Mark Noble, equalised through Keith
Andrews but could not apply the coup de grace on West Ham even though they
dominated the second half. Currently the only thing they cannot draw is
blood.
They have now been held in 10 matches this season – many of which they
should have won – and with Portsmouth and Stoke winning yesterday Blackburn
are in deep peril. They have only four home matches left and two of their
away games are against Liverpool and Chelsea.
In mitigation, Blackburn did not enjoy much luck yesterday. Luis Boa Morte
was offside in the build-up to the Hammers' goal while Rovers had two
efforts ruled out (rightly) by the linesman. "It looked like there was only
going to be one winner," Allardyce said after he had finished complaining
about the officials, "but we haven't converted our chances. We're bitterly
disappointed not to have got three points."
Blackburn were pulverised 4-0 at Arsenal last week so it was not a surprise
that they were lacking in confidence. Benni McCarthy snatched at a chance
after eight minutes and there was more than a hint of the insecurity when
Paul Robinson and Chris Samba became entangled in a web of indecision in the
25th minute and West Ham would have taken the lead if Diego Tristan could
move faster than an statue. The Spanish striker looked as sharp as a pillow
10 minutes later, too, but at least his oh-so-slow turn from Boa Morte's
cross had an end product. Tristan played a pass to Noble who curled an
exquisite low shot with the outside of his right foot past Robinson and in
off the post.
Blackburn needed a quick response after the interval and got one in the 50th
minute. A long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen was teed up rather than
cleared as Herita Ilunga and Lucas Neill tried to head away and substitute
Andrews reacted quickest to thump a shot through a thicket of players. The
game was laid out for Blackburn to prevail but their efforts had the
subtlety of a fog horn and West Ham held out through a series of last- ditch
blocks. "We must convert really good performances into wins," was
Allardyce's verdict. And soon.
Attendance: 21,672
Referee: Chris Foy
Man of the match: Samba
Match rating: 5/10
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Gianfranco Zola hails West Ham spirit after dogged point
Many more performances like this and West Ham will gain themselves a
reputation after a display of real grit saw them come through a second-half
barrage to hold on for a point at Ewood Park.
Telegraph
By Graham Chase at Ewood Park
Last Updated: 6:26PM GMT 21 Mar 2009
Having taken the lead through Mark Noble, the game's only moment of real
quality, West Ham, whose front three of David Di Michele, Luis Boa Morte and
Diego Tristan were dreadful, conceded to Keith Andrews five minutes after
the break but managed to withstand incredible pressure to cling on.
"They put so many bodies in the box, so many big bodies, it is difficult,"
the West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola said.
West Ham suffer on as Watford dump Gianfranco Zola's team out of the Carling
Cup
David Di Michele stars in Gianfranco Zola's new system"They create
confusion, keep booming balls in there so it is not easy for anybody and my
team was excellent."
The visitors took the lead after 34 minutes when Noble won the ball in his
own half and ran 60 yards down the right before touches from Boa Morte, who
Sam Allardyce complained was offside, and Tristan returned the ball to
Noble, who swept the ball inside the far post with the outside of his foot.
Blackburn drew level when the half-time substitute Andrews drove into the
corner of the net after Herita Ilunga failed to clear Morten Gamst
Pedersen's long throw with a convincing header.
El Hadji Diouf had two efforts ruled out and Blackburn remain deep in
relegation trouble but Allardyce felt West Ham's goal should have been ruled
out.
He said: "We're in a very difficult position and can't afford to have these
major decisions go against us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blackburn salvage important point
Blackburn 1 West Ham 1: Keith Andrews comes on to score a vital equaliser
for Rovers in the tightening relegation race
Noble effort: Mark Noble of West Ham celebrates scoring the opener against
Blackburn Rovers
The Times
Paul Rowan at Ewood Park
THIS time last year Keith Andrews was preparing for an appearance in the
final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and plying his trade in League Two,
but he always felt he was destined for better things and yesterday he was
proved right, rescuing a valuable point for Blackburn Rovers with an
equaliser after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Mind you, with the home side keeping niceties to a minimum and bombarding
the West Ham penalty area with long balls, Andrews might have been forgiven
for thinking at times he was still playing in English football's lowest
league.
However, at least Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, has brought a sense
of direction and purpose to the club after a confused few months under Paul
Ince, the boss who can at least claim the credit for signing Andrews, with
whom he worked at MK Dons. And in the end West Ham were barely hanging on
for a point after they had taken the lead through a spectacular goal from
Mark Noble.
Going in at half-time, West Ham appeared to have got the measure of
Blackburn in this version of beauty and the beast. With a handful of their
senior players missing through injury and suspension, they had
counter-attacked sweetly throughout the first half. Hammers forward Diego
Tristan looked particularly dangerous on his full first-team debut, with
David Di Michele and Luis Boa Morte also threatening.
Noble, making his 100th appearance for West Ham, also looked more
comfortable on the ball than any member of the opposition and it was he who
started and finished the opening goal. The midfielder was allowed to run
unchallenged nearly 40 yards and then played the ball to Boa Morte, who may
have been in an offside position.
However, he produced a nice flick to Tristan, who cleverly found Noble
continuing his run into the box.
Close to the left-hand edge of the six-yard box Noble curled a beautiful
shot with the outside of his left boot, across the face of Paul Robinson's
area and in off the goalkeeper's right-hand post.
With former Blackburn player Lucas Neill seemingly indomitable at the back,
that might have been enough for West Ham. All they would have to do for
their seventh successive victory over Rovers was contain the Blackburn
onslaught which would inevitably come after the break. They didn't manage
it, the home side equalising only five minutes after the interval.
Another long throw into the box from Morten Gamst Pedersen finally found a
chink in the West Ham defence. Herita Ilunga's misjudged header was down
rather than out and found Andrews about six yards out who blasted the ball
past Robert Green.
Blackburn were thereafter first to virtually every ball and though Roberts
came close a couple of times and Pedersen sowed more panic in the West Ham
defence with his long throws, Blackburn never conjured up a clear chance for
the winner.
"It was a terrific performance and I can't ask any more of my players in
terms of passion and commitment," said Allardyce afterwards.
Of El-Hadji Diouf's two disallowed goals for offside, Allardyce was
incandescent. "What can be done about it? Nothing." he said. "But I have to
express my disapproval."
Star man: Lucas Neill (West Ham)
Yellow cards: Blackburn: Nelsen, Mokoena West Ham: Parker
Referee: C Foy
Attendance: 21,672
BLACKBURN: Robinson 6, Ooijer 5 (Andrews ht, 7), Samba 7, Nelsen 7, Givet 6,
Diouf 6, Mokoena 5, Warnock 5, Pedersen 7, Roberts 6, McCarthy 5
WEST HAM: Green 6, Spector 6, Tomkins 7, Neill 8, Ilunga 5, Kovac 6, Parker
6, Noble 7;, Boa Morte 6 (Lopez 78mins), Di Michele 6 (Dyer 81mins); Tristan
6
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Blackburn boss Allardyce angry after being held by West Ham
22.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was angry with the match officials after
their 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Allardyce insisted Hammers striker Luis Boa Morte was clearly offside in the
build-up to Mark Noble's 35th-minute opener and described the decision to
allow the goal as "a kick in the teeth".
Allardyce said: "We feel bitterly disappointed we have not got three points
and in many ways that is our fault but it is also the fault of the referee's
assistant and it is a hard one to take.
"We had two goals disallowed for offside but unfortunately the key area lies
with the West Ham goal which nobody can argue is not offside - and we don't
know why the referee has not given it (as he was) in such a good position.
"What can be done about it? Nothing. But I have to express my disapproval
publicly because we are in a very difficult position and we can't afford to
have major decisions going against us."
Despite his disappointment, Allardyce was proud of the effort from his
players who finished the game well on top, following their equaliser from
Keith Andrews, and were unfortunate not to grab a winner their dominance
deserved.
Allardyce added: "We had terrific performances and at the end of the day you
need the ball to drop for you or that little bit of luck. We got a good goal
from Keith and looked like going on to get the winner.
"If we keep that performance up we should be okay. I don't think we can ask
any more in terms of the amount of effort and passion and commitment they've
given today."
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Blackburn 1 West Ham 1: Neill puts his body on the line to leave Rovers
frustrated
By Joe Bernstein Last updated at 12:38 AM on 22nd March 2009
Daily Mail
Predictably, Sam Allardyce left Ewood Park snarling about referee Chris Foy
after Blackburn failed to lift themselves away from relegation trouble. Big
Sam and his pal at Hull City, Phil Brown, seem to take it in turn to berate
match officials and yesterday Allardyce was fuming at West Ham's 35th-minute
opener through Mark Noble. Never mind that the goal was created with a
classic series of one-touch passes, completed when Noble tucked away Diego
Tristan's pass with the outside of his boot, the Rovers boss was angry that
nobody had spotted Luis Boa Morte marginally offside earlier in the move. He
fumed: 'I have been angry at losing early goals this season but not today.
It wasn't the fault of my players - it was the fault of the referee's
assistant. With so much at stake, the officials' decisions have to be
spot-on. There was no excuse for the assistant not to see the
offside.'Fortunately for the more sophisticated supporter, West Ham manager
Gianfranco Zola is as charming as Allardyce is confrontational, even though
his side conceded a 51st-minute equaliser to sub Keith Andrews.'I didn't see
the offside, but we also might have had a penalty when Christopher Samba
pushed Kieron Dyer. It was very, very close,' twinkled the Italian.Zola
inherited a club in crisis owing to the Icelandic banking crash and an
anticipated £20million pay-out to Sheffield United over Carlos Tevez,
leading to a January fire sale of top players, including Craig Bellamy. But
somehow they are in seventh place and looking good for the final European
spot. 'I hope we can have the problem of being in too many competitions next
season,' he said. 'It will be a nice problem. Playing in Europe is always a
fantastic experience and we will do everything we can to get there.' West
Ham's escape from Ewood Park owed more to heroic defending than the
beautiful game Zola is known for. Ex-Rovers defender Lucas Neill, booed
throughout by home fans on his return, will be battered and bruised this
morning having got so many blocks in.
West Ham scored with a Zola-style goal when Noble started a glorious move in
his own half. Boa Morte may have been offside in the build-up, but what
followed after was exquisite, with the Portuguese winger and Tristan
exchanging passes before Noble finished with aplomb. Allardyce's decision to
introduce Andrews at half-time paid quick dividends when Morten Gamst
Pedersen's long throw was headed by Herita Ilunga straight to the Rovers
sub, who scored his first Ewood Park goal from eight yards. Rovers might
have gone on to win it but James Tomkins, Scott Parker and Neill got their
bodies in the way of everything fired at them.
BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Robinson; Ooijer (Andrews 46min), Samba, Nelsen, Givet;
Diouf, Mokoena, Warnock, Pedersen; McCarthy, Roberts.
Subs (not used): Brown, Tugay, Dunn, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Treacy.
Booked: Nelsen, Mokoena.
WEST HAM(4-4-2): Green; Spector, Tomkins, Neill, Ilunga; Noble, Parker,
Kovac, Boa Morte (Lopez 79); Tristan (Payne 90), Di Michele (Dyer 82).
Subs (not used): Lastuvka, Sears, N'Gala, Stanislas.
Booked: Parker.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
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West Ham boss Zola delighted with Dyer comeback
22.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola was delighted with Kieron Dyer's
comeback after their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
Zola said: "He's brilliant. I'm very pleased for him. "He's a player who can
make a big difference, especially in games like this. He has two more weeks
to prepare himself and maybe next time he will play for longer."
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