Daily WHUFC News: 05/03/09

Stoke 0-1 West Ham United
WHUFC.com
02.05.2009

Barclays Premier League
Stoke City v West Ham United
Britannia Stadium
Saturday 2 May
3pm
Referee: Peter Walton

Full time - Mr Walton brings the proceedings to close to a huge cheer from
the away support. It was a battle out there at times but Zola's side stood
up to everything that was thrown at them. Fulham's defeat at Chelsea mean
they move back up to seventh, a position they will want to further secure
when Liverpool visit the Boleyn Ground next Saturday.

95 min - The ball is safely cleared, but in the process Kovac picks up a
knock and the game is delayed. Surely when it restarts the game must be
over?

94 min - One last long throw in for the hosts. This really would be
heartbreaking if West Ham were to concede here.

92 min - Tristan so nearly wraps up the points. The Spaniard collected a
long ball forward, out-powered his marker and run into the box. Sadly, his
attempted chip over the goalkeeper bounced just inches wide. Just seconds to
go now surely.

90 min - The fourth official rules there will be five more minutes. Can the
Hammers hang on for a famous away day win?

89 min - He is and it is Di Michele that makes way.

88 min - It looks as though Sears may be joining us soon as well.

87 min - Walter Lopez joins the fray in place of Noble and Stoke respond by
swapping Wilkinson for Ibrahima Sonko.

86 min - Stoke may still have something to say about that though as Stoke
win two corners in a row. The second is dealt with by the most towering of
headers from Upson.

83 min - The sun is out and it is not just the weather that is looking
bright for West Ham right now. Not only do they lead, but Fulham are losing,
which means if the scores stay the same Zola's side will go back up to
seventh.

82 min - West Ham make their first change as Boa Morte is taken off to be
replaced by Collison. Boa Morte is bid farewell with another rendition of
his song. Great support from the Hammers fans there.

80 min - More superb goalkeeping from Green as he rushes out to dive at the
feet of Fuller, just as the striker looked set to score.

77 min - If Zola wants to make changes he has options, with Lopez, Spector
and Collison all warming up on the touchline. Collison is given a hearty
round of applause from the travelling support when he appears.

76 min - The home side are turning up the pressure now and after a series of
three corners are all cleared a Delap throw in is headed clear by Upson.
Finally a bit of breathing space for United.

75 min - Stoke come close to an equaliser as Faye wins a header at a corner
which looks to be going in until Noble heads it off the line. That was a
close call.

72 min - Stoke make the game's first change as Beattie and Pugh leave the
field and are replaced by former Henri Camara and Seyi Olofinjana.

71 min - A couple of minutes of concern then as Noble stayed down after
winning a 50/50 challenge strongly. The No16 is back up on his feet now
though and appears to be OK.

68 min - West Ham have really been up for the physical battle so far, but
they've also played a bit at times. Neill bursts down the right and cuts the
ball back for Di Michele. It squirts through to Stanislas, but the England
Under-20 star can only curl his shot well over the top into the Boothen End.

65 min - Neill makes a great sliding tackle to deny Etherington as his
former team-mate attempted to burst on to Lawrence's through-ball. If the
Australian had got that wrong, it would have been a spot-kick for sure. From
Delap's resulting throw-in, Stanislas clears the ball straight into
Lawrence, but the ball bounces harmlessly wide.

62 min - Delap hurls another missile into the Hammers penalty area. Lawrence
volleys goalwards, only to see his shot blocked by Stanislas. The Stoke
winger appeals for handball and a penalty, but nothing is given.

61 min - Fuller goes down under an Upson challenge and requires treatment
from the Stoke physio for a knock to his right knee. The crowd here at the
Britannia is 27,500 on the nose.

60 min - Fuller beats Tomkins to the bouncing ball before knocking a rather
weak volley well wide of Green's far post.

58 min - Faye earns a round of applause and a laugh from the crowd after
falling over, rolling around near the ball, then getting up and running past
Di Michele.

53 min - The half-time break saw a number of the Hammers' subs warming up.
The likes of Freddie Sears, Jonathan Spector and Zavon Hines were all out
enjoying the sunshine while limbering up.

52 min - Normal service is resumed as Delap launches another huge throw into
the box. This time Junior Stanislas of all people is back there to head
clear.

48 min - The TV cameras also seem to have picked up James Collins in the
away support and he seemed to spend the whole half posing for pictures and
signing autographs with fans. It's great to see a player spending the
afternoon with the fans.

47 min - The half-time entertainment at the Britannia involved Sir Geoff
coming out onto the pitch for a draw and he was warmly applauded by both
sections of the crowd.

46 min - Tristan and Di Michele get the second half going and straight from
the kick-off Tristan tries a shot on Sorensen's goal. It is not quite strong
enough to test the Stoke stopper, but all credit to him for trying.

Half-time - Mr Walton brings what has been an lively first half to a close.
The West Ham players leave the field to a huge cheers from their supporters.
Green gets a special rendition of "England's No1!" as he is the last to
leave the field.

49 min - We are deep into stoppage time and Lawrence picks up a booking a
fairly feeble attempt to win a penalty.

43 min - The first moment of controversy as Boa Morte and Delap tangle. The
other players crowd round and after everything has calmed down, Mr Walton
issues yellows for both players.

42 min - Another great run for Boa Morte, but his shot goes high into West
Ham fans.

41 min - Another quick stat for you. Stoke have only lost three times at
home this season, so a win today would be some result for Zola's side.

40 min - If the stats are anything to go by then this could be a good
afternoon. West Ham have lost just once all season having led. Let's hope it
stays that way this afternoon.

39 min - Great goalkeeping from Green as he comes out bravely to dive at the
feet of Fuller. Straight away the No1 throws the ball out so he can get some
medical attention.

35 min - The goal is Tristan's third for the club and his second against the
Potters after his winner against them in December.

34 min - West Ham have the chance to double their lead straight away as
Stanislas backheels the ball into Di Michele's path, he shoots but it goes
just over.

33 min - GOAL! And from it the Hammers take the lead! Diego Tristan whips it
in right-footed and it flies into the top left-hand corner. What a strike!

32 min - Free-kick to West Ham right on the edge of the area after Di
Michele was fouled.

25 min - Stoke win the game's first corner as Kovac tracks his man back and
clears behind. Liam Lawrence takes the kick and Abdoulaye Faye heads over
when well placed. The Stoke City captain really should have done better
there.

22 min - Boa Morte has started the game strongly and the away support
recognises that with a chant of "Do do doo Luis Boa Morte"

19 min - The home side are certainly not prepared to lie down here and a run
from Etherington is hacked clear by Tomkins. Delap throws another long ball
into the area but it is headed over.

17 min - Good work Stanislas on the left makes space for him to cross but
his delivery is just a little too hard. West Ham are on top here, now all
they need is to create some more chances.

13 min - West Ham get the ball in the net after a superb passing move, but
it is ruled out. Di Michele had thought he's scored after Tristan had pushed
Boa Morte's cross into his path. Referee Peter Walton blew his whistle for
what we think is a handball. Much better from the visitors.

11 min - Stoke have the ball in the net after Delap's second long throw of
the afternoon. Green went up to collect it with Fuller, who fouled him in
the process of beating him to the ball.

9 min - Rory Delap's first missile of the afternoon passes without too much
damage. The midfielder's long throw was headed goal-wards by Ryan Shawcross,
but Green gathered comfortably.

8 min - Sir Geoff Hurst has been spotted in the crowd here. The West Ham and
England hero was also a favourite for today's hosts.

6 min - An early blow for Stoke as Etherington is down. The winger looked
like he injured himself when trying to block a Boa Morte cross. The Stoke No
26 is back on his feet for now.

4 min - There appears to be no surprises in West Ham's set up. The back four
is as expected with Kovac sitting just in front of them. Boa Morte and
Stanislas are set to provide the width on the right and left respectively
with Di Michele and Tristan up top.

3 min - The first point of note as Neill clatters into Etherington on the
left-hand touchline. The set piece is floated in but Green comes out to
gather safely

1 min - Stoke City get us under way

2.59pm - Neill has won the toss and opted to change ends so Stoke will not
be attacking the end they are used to in this half.

2.59pm - The players are having their final warm up as the teams are read
out. Ludo is warming up Robert Green while Neill has a kick around with the
West Ham mascots. Etherington's name is met with a rapturous round of
applause.

2.58pm - That has been corrected as to an almighty introduction the two
sides enter the field from the tunnel, right next to the away support. Lucas
Neill leads out the Hammers, who are playing in the change strip of light
blue.

2.57pm - Just three minutes until kick-off and there is still no sign of the
teams yet.

2.55pm - The visitors look to have some great support today in the stand
over to my right. I would guess there are 2,500 Hammers fans crammed into
the stand and they are getting into the swing of things with a chant of
"Irons! Irons!"

2.52pm - Eight minutes until kick-off and the players have gone back into
the dressing rooms for the final time. There is a good buzz about the
Britannia Stadium today and both sets of fans seem to be in good voice thus
far, but who will be singing come quarter to five?

2.35pm - Dyer's injury is not thought to be serious and the England
international is expected to be back in full training next week. A good job
too, with Liverpool up next.

2.25pm - Etherington was in the last West Ham side to win at the Britannia
Stadium back in the promotion year of 2005. A single strike from Bobby
Zamora, 30 seconds after coming on as substitute, was all that separated the
sides that day.

2.20pm - Stoke City make one change from their side that lost by a single
goal at Fulham. Full-back Andy Wilkinson comes into defence with Stephen
Kelly dropping to the bench. Former Hammer of the Year Matthew Etherington
starts against the team he left just four months ago.

2.10pm - Gianfranco Zola makes one change from the starting XI that lost 1-0
to Chelsea last weekend. Kieron Dyer is ruled out with a muscle strain so is
replaced by Radoslav Kovac. The subs bench also shows one change with Jack
Collison making a welcome return after eight weeks out with a knee injury.
The Wales international takes the place of Savio, who misses out through
illness.

West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte (Collison
82), Noble (Lopez 87), Kovac, Stanislas, Di Michele (Sears 89), Tristan
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Spector, Payne. Hines,

Stoke City: Sorensen, Wilkinson (Sonko 87), Faye, Shawcross, Pugh
(Olofinjana 72), Lawrence, Whelan, Delap, Etherington, Beattie (Camara 72),
Fuller
Subs not used: Simonsen, Cresswell, Kelly, Tonge,

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Tristan smashes Potters
WHUFC.com
Diego Tristan's exquisite free-kick fired West Ham United to victory at
Stoke City on Saturday
02.05.2009

Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United

An inch-perfect free-kick from Diego Tristan earned West Ham United a superb
1-0 win at Stoke City, sending the Hammers back into seventh place in the
Premier League table and re-igniting the club's challenge for a place in
next season's UEFA Europa League.

Gianfranco Zola's men became just the fourth away team to leave the
Britannia Stadium with three points this season, notching up their fifth
consecutive victory in the Potteries. West Ham's last defeat at Stoke came
back in October 1983.

The match-defining moment came on 33 minutes, when the Spaniard curled a
wicked, curling shot into Thomas Sorensen's top right-hand corner after
David Di Michele had been brought down by Potters' defender Abdoulaye Faye.

The goal marked Tristan's third for the club and the second time he had
scored the winner against Stoke. The 33-year-old also netted in the 2-1
Premier League victory at the Boleyn Ground on 28 December.

Manager Gianfranco Zola made one enforced change to the side that lost 1-0
at home to Chelsea a week ago, replacing muscle strain victim Kieron Dyer
with Radoslav Kovac, who made his first start since the 1-1 draw at
Blackburn Rovers on 21 March.

Wales midfielder Jack Collison was named among the substitutes after
recovering from the dislocated kneecap he suffered at Wigan Athletic on 4
March. Striker Zavon Hines, 20, was also on the bench in place of the ill
Savio.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis named former Hammers winger Matthew Etherington in his
starting eleven, while ex-West Ham loanee Henri Camara was among the
substitutes.

A lively first half was played in a cauldron-like atmosphere at the
Britannia, with both teams seeing goals chalked off for infringements within
the opening 13 minutes.

Stoke were the first to be denied by referee Peter Walton's whistle when
Ricardo Fuller - sent-off in the reverse fixture four months ago - was
penalised for a foul on Robert Green as he challenged the goalkeeper for a
trademark Rory Delap long throw.

Less than two minutes later, Di Michele was also denied as Walton spotted a
handball by strike partner Tristan in the build-up to the Italian's 'goal'.

While Stoke's tireless pressing and aerial bombardment meant West Ham could
never be 100 per cent comfortable, it was the visitors who played the better
football and created the better chances throughout.

Before half-time, Tristan saw two efforts blocked by Ryan Shawcross. Then,
just a minute after the striker's memorable opener, Di Michele blazed a
searing shot narrowly over the crossbar from Junior Stanislas' neat
backheel.

At the other end, Shawcross flashed a header well wide from another Delap
throw-in, while Faye should have hit the target from Liam Lawrence's
right-wing corner. Green then showed admirable bravery to dive head-first at
Fuller's feet to deny the Jamaican a shooting chance.

The half closed with Boa Morte and Delap being booked after the Irishman
took exception to a sliding challenge from the Portuguese winger. Seconds
later, Lawrence also saw yellow after Walton adjudged him to have dived over
a Kovac challenge on the edge of the West Ham penalty area.

The second half was less incident-packed than the first, but did begin with
Tristan making an audacious attempt to double his tally by shooting straight
from the kick-off, only for the ball to trickle through to Sorensen.

West Ham continued to play the neater football and could have gone further
ahead on 68 minutes, only for Stanislas to blaze wastefully over the top
following a fine burst down the right flank by captain Lucas Neill.

Pulis shuffled his pack with 17 minutes remaining, sending on Camara and
Seyi Olofinjana for James Beattie and Pugh respectively. The substitutions
had an almost immediate impact as Noble did superbly to head Faye's header
from Lawrence's far-post corner out from under his own crossbar.

Stoke continued their airborne attack in the closing stages courtesy of a
host of Delap throw-ins and Lawrence corners, but the Hammers' defence held
firm. Green made another courageous intervention with eleven minutes
remaining, throwing himself at the feet of former team-mate Camara to block
the Senegal striker's low shot.

Neill was booked for taking too long over a throw-in before Collison made a
welcome return to action, replacing Boa Morte with eight minutes to go.
Walter Lopez and Freddie Sears also saw action late on, replacing Noble and
Di Michele on 87 and 89 minutes respectively, while Pulis added to his
aerial armoury by sending on Ibrahima Sonko for Andy Wilkinson with three
minutes remaining.

Tristan nearly wrapped the game up in the second minute of added-time, but
could only lift his shot over Sorensen and agonisingly wide of the far post.
Fuller then did likewise, firing well over from just eight yards.

With Fulham losing at Chelsea, West Ham climbed back into seventh place in
the standings with three matches remaining, starting with next Saturday's
visit of Liverpool to east London.

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Zola system works again
WHUFC.com
After the Stoke success, Gianfranco Zola was yet again left to heap
superlatives on his resilient team
02.05.2009

Gianfranco Zola has pledged his team will continue to show the spirit that
defeated Stoke City in the final three games standing between West Ham
United and Europe.

A sublime 33rd-minute free-kick from Diego Tristan settled a hugely
competitive contest at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday and left Zola's men
back in seventh spot - the position required to earn a UEFA Europa League
place next season. "It was great result," said the manager. "In the first
half we played with quality and we played some good football. The goal was
an example of that.

"In the second half, we knew they were coming back and I knew it would be
more difficult for us because you can't pretend to play the same level
throughout the game. So we knew we had to concede something to them but even
in those moments we never gave up and came out with the three points."

Few neutral observers would have predicted the impact Zola and his staff
would have had when he took over back in September. Zola, who is thinking
only of the future in east London with the ink barely dry on a new four-year
contract, is keen to keep on confounding the experts though. "It is good. W
are very happy to surprise people and we are working every day to make it
happen.

"Defensively we are very good and this was another display of that but we
have been like that for a long time. I am delighted." He also paid tribute
to the squad with Radoslav Kovac coming back in for his first start in the
absence of Kieron Dyer, with a hamstring problem, and Jack Collison back on
the bench for the unwell Savio.

"There is a fantastic atmosphere right now at the club - so everybody who
comes in is committed, really has the desire to achieve and what can I say.
I am delighted. With these conditions you can really achieve many things.

"We always give the players a focus and they know we are fighting for
Europe. We want to get to that position so everybody is very much committed
to not giving anything away and it is as simple as that. It is about the
desire of the players, and the willingness to be there and competitive is
making the difference.

"We are going to be competing to the end. We might make it, we might not but
we are going to give it our best shot."

Regarding Stoke and the way they use the long throws of Rory Delap to start
many attacks, Zola said his team were well prepared. He added that there was
no specific advice about avoiding giving throw-ins away. "It is very
difficult to say that to the players otherwise they might not play, they
might not challenge the players when they had to."

Instead, the rearguard stood firm with the goalkeeper and back four again
equal to everything thrown at them. "Robert Green has been excellent. I
can't remember one mistake. His standard has always been high and it just
gives you such confidence. That is the best I can say about my goalkeeper.
The resilience of the team and the willingness not to concede anything is
that I keep praising. They are simply amazing.

"We knew what the task was so we have been working on that. I think it is
more the awareness and the desire to win that was the difference. We knew
the way we prepare we could handle these situations. We just had to have
confidence."

He also was not worried about the towel tactic deployed by Delap to get
further distance on his throw-ins - something that Lucas Neill himself did
on one occasion in the second half with a touch of good humour - before the
referee called time on the towel. "We didn't object," said Zola when asked
if he had requested the ban. "There was a lot of time lost with that and it
is OK when you are winning!"

Should his team keep on picking up points, the European dream will be on
although next week's visit of Liverpool will be a stern challenge. "Even
before the game we were eighth and we never lost focus. We think it is in
our possibilities and we are going to try hard until the end. That's for
sure. The players want that and they want to play until the end of the
season.

"I realise [Europe could be] a big task but I know also that I have so many
young players and to play in Europe would be a big thing for them. It would
improve them very much. I go for that way, although I know it would be
difficult. Obviously I was dreaming to do a good job [this season] but I
wasn't expecting to be like this. It has gone very well."

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Diego does it again
WHUFC.com
Diego Tristan has weighed in with yet another priceless goal to help keep
West Ham United moving forward
03.05.2009

Gianfranco Zola has hailed the contribution of Diego Tristan for his
match-winning goal in the 1-0 success away at Stoke City on Saturday.

The 33-year-old former Spain striker showed his class with a spectacular
free-kick just after the half-hour mark to settle a tricky contest. It
followed up his point-earning header away at Aston Villa a fortnight ago and
the winner he struck against Stoke in the reverse fixture back in December.

In the continued absence of Dean Ashton, who is aiming for pre-season to
make his return, and recent groin injury suffered by Carlton Cole, Tristan
has more than stepped up - his latest goal the reward for extra finishing
practice after training with the manager.

Zola said Tristan's form, including his insightful link-up play, was a
strong argument against those who had questioned whether he could cut it in
the Premier League after years at the top in Spain before a disappointing
season in Italy with Livorno. "That's the good thing about football. You can
always be proved wrong at any moment and that goes for people who have good
knowledge about football as well.

"Diego Tristan has got quality but also a lot of strength of mind. I can
rely on him. He can produce something special in a moment."

Tristan has three goals in eleven league appearances - only six of which
have been starts - since he arrived as an out of contract signing last
October. The manager paid tribute to the way he had worked hard to get fit
and said the glimpses of the form that got him 87 goals in 177 games for
Deportivo La Coruna between 2000 and 2006 were giving him food for thought
for next season - especially if Europe is part of the schedule.

"You never know [about extending his stay]. Why not? Diego Tristan is
working very hard. I have got an open mind. I don't put barriers in front of
me ad the players. If he keeps performing like this he is doing a good job
for me and for himself as well."

Meanwhile, Zola said he expected Cole to be back working with the first-team
squad this week with an outside chance of making the bench against
Liverpool. It remains to be seen whether James Collins (calf), Kieron Dyer
(hamstring) and Savio (sickness) will also be back to join the fit-again
Jack Collison although Scott Parker is not expected to have recovered from
his groin problem.

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Youths beaten at Spurs
WHUFC.com
The Under-18s ended their league campaign with a 4-1 reverse at Tottenham
Hotspur
02.05.2009

West Ham United Under-18s ended their FA Premier Academy League season with
a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The first half ended goalless, only for Group B leaders Spurs to score four
second half goals against the Hammers, who now look destined to finish
either fourth or fifth in Group A. Ahmed Abdulla netted a consolation for
the visitors, but Tottenham eased to victory at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell.

Tony Carr's team completed their 28-match league campaign with ten wins,
eight draws and ten defeats. West Ham's best results of the season came in
the shape of a 6-1 win at Southampton in November, a 4-1 victory at Crystal
Palace and a 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City at Little Heath on 24 April. The
free-scoring Hammers notched 51 goals in 28 league games, conceding just 38.

Tottenham's victory keeps them top of Group B with two matches left to play.

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Kyel's title delight
WHUFC.com
Kyel Reid is targeting a West Ham United comeback after helping Wolves to
the Championship title
02.05.2009

On-loan West Ham United winger Kyel Reid will get his hands on the Coca-Cola
Championship trophy following Wolverhampton Wanderers' final home match of
the season on Sunday.

Wolves were crowned champions and secured promotion to the Premier League
after Reid scored a dramatic late equaliser at Barnsley last Saturday.

This weekend, Mick McCarthy's men will be presented with the Championship
trophy but, Reid hopes, not before the champions complete their campaign
with a win over Rovers at Molineux.

Reid has made eight Championship and one FA Cup appearance for Wolves,
scoring one goal. Following Sunday's climax, the 21-year-old will return to
Chadwell Heath to train with West Ham ahead of next weekend's fixture
against Liverpool at the Boleyn Ground.

"My loan spell has gone very well. It was good for me to get out there and
play a few games and catch a few people's eyes as well, including Gianfranco
Zola's. We have a very young team at Wolves and good team spirit. It was
just good to be among the champions!

"The goal I scored at Barnsley was the highlight of my career so far, but I
must admit I had mixed emotions during the game as I spent a time on loan at
Barnsley two seasons ago. I played 26 games for them so going back there was
also good. To be fair, scoring the equaliser against them to clinch
promotion was a good feeling as well, so I had slightly mixed feelings. As I
came on, the Barnsley fans gave me a nice round of applause, but after I
scored I went to the Wolves fans."

Reid, who spent five weeks on loan at Blackpool earlier this season, has
thoroughly enjoyed his time under Mick McCarthy at Wolves. There, he played
alongside a host of promising young players, including the Championship's
top-scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and England Under-21 winger Michael Kightly.

"Wolves have got a good, young team with players like Ebanks-Blake and
Kightly and the team spirit there is just great. Mick likes to play
attacking football with wingers so it was fun to play in.

"They are a great club and the facilities were good. In a way, they deserve
to be in the Premier League because they are a big club with history."

Now his loan spell is coming to an end, Reid has revealed his intention to
force his way into Zola's thoughts for the final three Premier League
fixtures of the season. The left-sided wideman has not featured in the
top-flight this term, but did appear as a substitute in the Carling Cup ties
against Macclesfield Town and Watford, scoring in the former.

"My job now is to come back here and work as hard as I can to impress the
manager and force my way into the squad at West Ham. I was back in training
on Tuesday and was hoping to be involved in the big game we've got against
Liverpool. That would be a good turn around for me! I'd like to be involved
in the last few games."

To force his way into the West Ham first-team, Reid will have to dislodge
fellow Academy graduate and close friend Junior Stanislas, who has burst
into Zola's squad in recent weeks.

"Junior is a good friend of mine. We came up through the youth team together
and we also come from the same area, so it's good to see him doing well and
getting games. I've also been pleased to see Jack, James and Josh coming
through and doing well. It's good for everyone that West Ham have so many
youngsters coming through the ranks."

Elsewhere, Lee Bowyer is suspended for Birmingham City's vital trip to
Reading. The Blues need to a victory to join Wolves in the Premier League
next season, while a draw will be enough should Sheffield United fail to win
at Crystal Palace.

On Saturday, Jordan Spence will end his loan spell at League One Leyton
Orient with a home fixture against Huddersfield Town. Left-back Joe
Widdowson will end his loan spell at Grimsby Town with the Mariners needing
to pick up a point at home to Macclesfield Town to guarantee their League
Two survival.

In the Premier League, Calum Davenport's Sunderland will host Everton on
Sunday afternoon in a match being screened live by Sky television.

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Ladies' youngsters win League
WHUFC.com
Yet more silverware has won by one of West Ham United Ladies' young sides
02.05.2009

West Ham United Ladies Under-16s have won the Essex County Girls League
after a 3-0 win against Silver End.

The victory means the youngsters have clinched the title with a game to
spare and now have the opportunity to secure a league and cup double when
they play in the League Cup final against the same opponents on Sunday 10
May.

They could take then take their trophy haul for the season to an incredible
three if they can triumph at the National Finals of the Tesco Cup. West Ham
will face Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and the winners from the
south-west region that is still to be decided at the event.

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Stoke 0-1 West Ham
By Saj Chowdhury
BBC.co.uk

A spectacular strike from Diego Tristan gave West Ham victory at Stoke. The
former Deportivo la Coruna player struck just after the half-hour mark when
he fired a 20-yard free-kick past keeper Thomas Sorensen. Stoke had chances
to equalise, with Mark Noble clearing Abdoulaye Faye's header off the line
and Robert Green blocking a Ricardo Fuller effort. The home side also had an
appeal for a penalty turned down when Liam Lawrence fell to the ground in
the first half. An enjoyable match was played in a good spirit until moments
before the break. The Hammers were ahead by that stage after dealing
successfully with early pressure from the home side, but then a couple of
contentious decisions fired up not only the players on the pitch but also a
packed crowd at the Britannia Stadium. The first occurred when Stoke
midfielder Lawrence hit the deck inside the penalty area and claimed a foul
by Radoslav Kovac but referee Peter Walton ruled that he had dived and duly
showed him a yellow card. A few minutes later West Ham forward Luis Boa
Morte went in studs first on Rory Delap and the former Southampton player,
aggrieved by the challenge, kicked out in response. A brief scuffle
involving players from both sides followed before the referee booked both
players, although Delap may have fortunate to avoid a red card. West Ham
fans were irate and stewards were called upon to prevent keep them apart
from home supporters. Despite the unsavoury incidents, there was plenty of
good football played by two sides who had fought their way out of the
relegation mire they occupied earlier in the season. Stoke created the
lions share of the chances with Ryan Shawcross testing Green with a header
from Delap's long throw and Fuller finding the net, only for the referee
rule that he had fouled the Hammers keeper in the process. After the break,
Lawrence had a goalbound shot blocked by Junior Stanislas, Noble cleared
Faye's header off the line and Green saved at the feet of Fuller.
Generally, however, the, West Ham defence, led by Matthew Upson, coped well
with the danger from Stoke's set-pieces posed, in particular Delap's long
throw-ins, which peppered the penalty area in the closing stages. Stoke are
not mathematically safe from relegation, although two points from their
remaining three games should be enough, while the victory by Gianfranco
Zola's men has given them a great chance of claiming a place in Europe next
season.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis: We are disappointed with the result - but that is
the nature of this league. "West Ham had a really good spell in the first
half and got their goal, although our goalkeeper was not really tested that
much. "We did not have the breaks today but we were not sharp enough either
in and around the box."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: Every team that has won at Stoke this
season has had to work hard. "My team has shown that they are determined to
fight for European qualification. "It was a great effort and I am very
pleased. I am proud of my centre backs and the whole team is playing well.
The team has been defending well like that for a long time."

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson (Sonko 88), Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Pugh
(Olofinjana 73), Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Fuller, Beattie
(Camara 72).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Cresswell, Kelly, Tonge.
Booked: Shawcross, Lawrence, Delap.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Stanislas, Noble (Lopez 87),
Kovac, Boa Morte (Collison 82), Tristan, Di Michele (Sears 89).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Spector, Payne, Hines.
Booked: Boa Morte, Neill.
Goals: Tristan 33.

Att: 27,500
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: West Ham's Lucas Neill (7.88 on 90
minutes).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola wants Europe for youngsters
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola believes qualifying for next season's
Europa League would be a boost for the younger players in his squad. The
Hammers, who beat Stoke 1-0 on Saturday, occupy seventh place in the Premier
League, which would be enough to qualify for European competition. "Some
teams do not want Europe because of the number of games," said Zola. But we
have so many young players that Europe would be a big thing for them. They
would improve very much." The victory at the Britannia stadium pushed Zola's
side above Fulham and a point above fellow European hopefuls Tottenham and
Manchester City. The West Ham matchday squad for the game included six
players under the age of 21: Jack Collison, Zavon Hines, Josh Payne, Freddie
Sears, Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins. "We will try hard until the end.
I know the players are very determined to achieve this," said Zola after the
win. "To be honest I am quite surprised to be in this position. "I was
dreaming of doing a good job but I was not expecting to be pushing for
Europe. It is going well." Zola's enthusiasm for the Europa League contrasts
with some Premier League managers' apparent concern over the number of
matches modern-day European competition demands teams play. Manchester City
played 16 times simply to reach the quarter-final stage of this season's
Uefa Cup, the competition which the Europa League will replace from next
season. By contrast, City required just nine games to win the European Cup
Winners' Cup in 1970. Following his side's 1-0 home victory over West
Bromwich Albion, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted he was no fan of
hectic European schedules.
Redknapp said it would be "hard" to qualify for the Europa League, adding:
"West Ham have two home games next, now we have to win away. We need six
points to have a chance. "It would be lovely from a selfish point of view,"
he said, "but the actual competition is draining. Thursday to Sunday is not
easy."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola on ... Stoke
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd May 2009
By: Staff Writer

Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on this afternoon's vital win the
Brittania Stadium...

On the game ...

We knew that coming to this pitch against this team you have to work very
hard, so everybody has done that. In the end we gained these three points
and I'm delighted.

Every team that has won here has had to work very hard to get the victory so
I'm please because the team showed everybody how determined we are to
qualify for Europe and it was a great, great effort from everybody. I'm very
very pleased.

On Diego Tristan - and that winning goal...

It was a fantastic goal. To be honest he's been playing quite well and it
was just the reward he deserved. He's been so professional and is giving us
a lot of satisfaction.

It was a great goal and I hope he can score many between now and the end of
the season. Then we'll see; it's open to everybody and Diego is working very
hard to make it possible for the next year as well. I'm pleased with that.

On the value of experience...

That is what we've always taked about - you need a bunch of young players to
give you enthusiasm and freshness but also you need experienced players who
can guide them. So far it is working very well, and I'm very pleased.

On a blossoming defensive relationship...

I'm very proud of them [Upson and Tomkins], they've been exceptional
together. But the whole team has been defending well and today was a team
performance - and it's been like that for a long time.

On England's number six...

I told you already what I think about Robert Green. For me it's easy to say
because he's my goalkeeper but I'm sure he's got consideration from the
England manangement and I'm sure if he carries on with these performances
he'll be there.

On Europe...

It would be great. It's a big achievement for the club, and for me it's very
important to see my players playing in Europe. It will make them better, in
my opinion, and give them more experience, focus and knowledge of the game.

So I'm really looking forward to seeing West Ham play in Europe.

Tony Pulis - Stoke City

Especially second half the lads had a right go and on another day things
would have dropped for us and we'd at least scored a couple of goals.

I've not seen it [Fuller's disallowed 'goal']. I've seen the penalty
incident and that's the last two home games we've had 50/50 decisions that
we've not got. But we'll have to take it on the chin and just get on with
it.

The players that have played today have given it a right go and I've got no
complaints.

* Zola and Pulis were talking to Sky Sports and the BBC.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stoke City 0 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd May 2009
By: Staff Writer

A first half Diego Tristan striker has put the Hammers firmly back in the
hunt for Europe.

Tristan notched the only goal of a tight game to give the Hammers a much
needed three points - their first on the road since the 1-0 win over Wigan
on March 4th - and condemn the Potters to their first home defeat of 2009.

The victory lifts the Hammers back into seventh spot in the table with 48
points from 35 games - just a point ahead ahead of Man City (3-1 winners
against Blackburn), Fulham (lost 3-1 at Chelsea) and Spurs (beat WBA 2-0)
who all have 47 points from the same number of games.

The winning goal arrived after 33 minutes when Tristan registered his third
strike of the season with a beautifully taken 20-yard free kick. The
Spaniard may have lost some of his pace and agility over the years but his
touch remains as good as ever - as perfectly illustrated with a strike that
curled away from Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen into the far corner of his
net.

In an entertaining game both sides saw efforts disallowed - and both were
slightly contentious decisions by referee Peter Walton. Firstly Stoke were
denied an 11th minute opening goal when Ricardo Fuller was adjudged to have
fouled Rob Green whilst climbing to reach a Rory Delay throw, even though TV
replays showed that Green was slightly fortunate to win the decision.

Two minutes later it was West Ham's turn to feel hard done by when David Di
Michele swivelled on the spot before firing home a Tristan through ball.
Although unclear why referee Walton denied the 'goal' Di Michele may have
brushed the ball with his arm as it fell to him; there didn't appear to be
any other noticeable infringement nor reason for its cancellation.

Following Tristan's strike the half ended in some controversy after a heated
moment in first half injury time involving Luis Boa Morte and Rory Delap. A
late challenge from the United player saw the former Derby defender lash out
with a kick; fortunately referee Walton decided to take the same option and
simply issue both players a caution.

The second half began quietly and both sides could only muster a single
effort each until the final 20 minutes when Stoke began to push on in search
of a late equaliser. A flurry of Delay throw-ins seemed to be the Potters'
best hope of restoring parity but Green's goal was only really threatened in
the fifth of seven added-on minutes when Fuller found himself in space
inside the six yard box - but the striker could only blaze his effort over
the bar.

For a change there were no (obvious) fresh injury worries for Zola and Steve
Clarke to contend with (even if the reason for the ommision of Savio and
Kieron Dyer from the 16-man squad is currently unknown), whilst the sight of
Jack Collison coming on as a late second half substitute was a welcome boost
to a severely stretched squad.

Zola will also hope to have Carlton Cole back in his squad for the visit of
title chasers Liverpool next week; a game from which the Hammers will almost
certainly need something in order to carry the fight for Europe to the end
of the season.

Stoke City 0 West Ham United 1: match facts

West Ham Utd: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Stanislas, Noble (Lopez
87), Kovac, Boa Morte (Collison 82), Tristan, Di Michele (Sears 89).
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Spector, Payne, Hines.
Goals: Tristan (33).
Efforts on goal: 7 (13, 16, 33*, 34, 44; 68, 90+3).
Booked: Boa Morte (45+1), Neill (80).

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson (Sonko 88), Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Pugh
(Olofinjana 73), Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Fuller, Beattie
(Camara 72).
Subs not used: Simonsen, Cresswell, Kelly, Tonge.
Efforts on goal: 8 (9, 11, 26; 54, 74, 78, 79, 90+4).
Booked: Shawcross (45+1), Delap (45+1), Lawrence (45+3).

Referee: Peter Walton (7).
Attendance: 27,500.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tristan strike sinks Potters
Faye has late header cleared off the line as Hammers hold on
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 2nd May 2009
SSN

Moment of the match: Abdoulaye Faye looked like he has snatched a point for
The Potters late on but Mark Noble headed off the line.
Attempt of the match: Ricardo Fuller had a glorious chance to score as he
turned in the box from eight yards out and blazed over.
Save of the match: Robert Green was brave throughout but on one particular
occasion got down at the feet of Fuller to deny the Jamaican from
point-blank range.
Talking point: Should Fuller's 'goal' have stood? On the replays it doesn't
look like much of a foul on the West Ham keeper and was a turning point in
the game.
Goal of the game: Only one to choose from but it is fully deserved, sweet
strike from the Spaniard.
Man of the match: Noble was particularly impressive despite going off early,
Green was solid but for me Lucas Neill was the driving force for the
Hammers.

Diego Tristan's free-kick was enough to claim a West Ham win over Stoke City
that enhances their chances of securing a lucrative European spot.
Gianfranco Zola's men travelled to the Britannia Stadium to face a Stoke
City side eager to ensure their Premier League survival, being one point
away from that magic 40-point safety mark.Tony Pulis's side had an effort
disallowed when striker Ricardo Fuller was adjudged to have fouled Robert
Green before firing home. Minutes later David Di Michele netted at the other
end, but it had already been disallowed due to a Tristan handball in the
build-up. However West Ham made sure of the opener just after the half-hour
when a foul from Abdoulaye Faye resulted in a freekick around 25 yards out.
Tristan stepped up to convert as he curled his effort superbly into the top
corner. Half-chances came and went for either side as late on Mark Noble
headed Faye's looping effort off the line to ensure all three points stayed
with the Hammers. Few changes were made from either side for West Ham's trip
north. Zola made one change from the side which lost to Chelsea as the
Italian boss opted for Robert Kovac ahead of Kieron Dyer. Tony Pulis
welcomed back James Beattie with his first start since shaking off a thigh
injury and Andy Wilkinson came in at the back.
As ever, Stoke were a threat from Rory Delap's long throws and he picked out
Ryan Shawcross in the opening minutes, only for the defender to head
straight at Green.
Fuller then found the net for Stoke two minutes later after beating Green to
the ball, but his effort was disallowed for an earlier infringement on the
England 'keeper. Di Michele then found the net in the 14th minute only to
have it disallowed after Tristan appeared to have handled the ball as he
laid it off to the Italian. A resilient Stoke side have been tough to
breakdown on home turf this season but Tristan gave West Ham the lead in the
33rd minute with a superb set-piece. Faye brought down Di Michele and
Tristan stepped up to lash the free-kick past Thomas Sorensen for his third
goal of the season. Stoke almost equalised in the 40th minute when former
Hammers midfielder Matthew Etherington found Fuller with a deft lay-off, but
Green reacted well to take the ball off his toes as he prepared to shoot
from point-blank range. The open game was slightly marred as it neared the
end of the first-half when Delap and West Ham's Luis Boa Morte both lunged
in for the ball. The long throw specialist seemed to come out of the
challenge worse off but reacted by kicking out at the Portuguese winger as
referee Peter Walton booked them both.
No changes were made during half-time as Stoke started to counter well and
began to string a few passes together. Fuller clipped a shot wide of the
post in the 59th minute as Stoke, urged on by their atmospheric home
support, pressed for an equaliser. The Potters came close to equalising
again in the 74th minute when Liam Lawrence delivered a corner from the
left. Faye powered in a header at the back post but Noble cleared off the
line. They kept pushing forward but West Ham should have added a second in
stoppage time as they went on the counter. Tristan had time on the ball with
substitute Freddie Sears unmarked at the back post, but the Spaniard opted
to chip the advancing Sorensen only to see his effort go wide of the far
post. Zola's side managed to hang on for the three points and also ended
Stoke's excellent unbeaten run of eight games to remain seventh in the
Premier League. The Hammers need to win their last three matches to have the
chance to play European football next season while Pulis' side will have a
nail-biting finish to their solid league campaign.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola happy with Hammers stars
Italian boss has Euro vision
By Hayley Paterson Last updated: 2nd May 2009
SSN

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola hailed his side's blend of youth and
experience after their 1-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Upton
Park has been a topic of conversation all season as the Italian boss
continues to bring through academy players who are making instant
impressions in the Premier League. But it was the slightly less youthful
Diego Tristan who claimed the win for the Hammers, as the 33-year-old's
free-kick against Stoke sailed past the flat-footed Thomas Sorensen. "It was
a fantastic goal. He's been playing quite well and it was just the reward he
deserved," Zola said of his Spanish striker. "You need a bunch of young
players to give you enthusiasm, to give you freshness, but you also need
experienced players who can guide them. "So far it is working very well and
we are very pleased."
West Ham travelled to the Britannia Stadium knowing they needed a win to
keep their dreams of European football alive. But they also knew Tony Pulis'
Stoke outfit would be no walk-over as they push for more points to cement
their place in the Premier League for another season. "You know that when
you have to come to this pitch you have to work very hard, so everybody has
done," Zola said. "In the end and we got three points and I'm very, very
delighted."
The win means West Ham are pushing for a place in next season's Europa
League after a consistently impressively season. The former Chelsea striker
has just extended his stay at Upton Park and is confident his side can
achieve the dream of European football. He said: "For us it is very, very
much realistic. We're working hard every day to make it happen and we never
give up. "It was easy today, after the defeat that we had last game against
Chelsea, to come here and play lax but we showed everybody that we are
determined to get there. "Defensively we've been fantastic throughout the
season. There is not enough words to say how pleased I am for them. "They
work very hard, they work as a unit all the time and they've given us a lot
of success."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola backs Green campaign
Hammer chief feels he has country's top goalkeeper
Last updated: 1st May 2009
SSN

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has championed Robert Green's bid to establish
himself as England's first choice goalkeeper. The Italian has been greatly
impressed by Green's performances during his debut campaign at Upton Park
and believes Fabio Capello could do a lot worse than employ his player when
David James eventually hangs up his gloves. There has been talk of Arsenal's
Manuel Almunia turning his back on Spain to play for England but Zola
insists Capello would be better off looking closer to home. "He has been one
of my key players, he has been great," Zola said. "He had a few problems at
the beginning of the season but after that he has just changed and has been
different class. "I can say, if he plays for England, he's going to be a
very good goalkeeper for England. "He can be easily the number one, and that
doesn't come because he is my goalkeeper - it's because I see he's very
good. He gives you so much security."
It has taken a while for Green to be called up by Capello, and Zola feels
his goalkeeper has shown plenty of character to keep going when he was out
of favour. "He has had disappointments in the past internationally, not
being selected for squads but he has never let his head drop, he has always
been very positive, always kept his spirits up," he added. "He is a strong
man. He has got a strong personality, he doesn't let anybody let him down.
It's a good point." Zola is confident that Green will follow the example of
himself and assistant boss Steve Clarke by signing a new contract to stay at
the club. The Hammers boss wants to keep the current squad together and add
only a few players over the summer. "I don't think we need more than that,
maybe two or three players that might be coming in," Zola said.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Williams race hots up
Premier interest in Welsh starlet
Last updated: 2nd May 2009
SSN

The race for Stockport County goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams is hotting up
after the club went into administration this week, skysports.com
understands. The Welsh shot-stopper is regarded as County's most prized
asset and now clubs are ready to take advantage of Stockport's perilous
position by luring him away. Williams is now set to have his pick of clubs,
with Premier League and Championship teams doing battle for his services.
The 22-year-old is currently overcoming a shoulder operation, but he is
expected to feature for Wales in the summer and earn his first caps for his
country as they face Estonia and Azerbaijan. But Williams could very well
have new employers before his international commitments kick in. Everton,
West Ham, Sunderland, Ipswich and Leeds are all understood to have made
contact about a possible deal.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Stoke Report
Vinny - Sun May 3 2009
WEST HAM ONLINE

Stoke City 0 West Ham United 1

A superb free kick from Diego Tristan was enough to give West Ham all three
points at the Britannia Stadium as our campaign for the Europa League
continues to progress.

This was a really top performance from our boys as we dug in and played our
way out of trouble many times. Playing a team like Stoke City can be a real
eye opener to the many aspects of playing football and how other teams and
other set of supporters find a different way of playing the game in such a
contrasting way to ourselves.

Stoke and West Ham appear to be opposites on everything football related and
this shone throughout the game. Stoke could not play any type of passing
football and when they attempted to do so it often fell apart which led to
them pressing the long ball and of course the long throw game.

Even when the ball came into the area there was no clever flick header
towards goal but just brute force like a Rugby team edging their scrum as
far forward as possible. Whilst we dug in and our defence was fantastic, I
felt the most wonderful thing about our performance is that we didn't stop
trying to play passing football.

Our football club are built on these traditions and although this may become
tiresome to hear for some fans (maybe even our own), we must keep this
tradition as long as we can for turning into a side like Stoke would surely
lose the soul of what West Ham are.

This brings me to the Premiership's bottom club West Bromwich Albion. Now
although this may be drifting slightly off topic in talking about a team who
had nothing to do with this game I think every team who attempt to play
passing football should feel a certain amount of sympathy with the Baggies
because this is what they have tried to do. Yes, they are bottom of the
league are going down, but they have never attempted to play anything else
but proper football.

Gianfranco Zola made just one change to the side which were beaten by
Chelsea last weekend at Upton Park. In centre midfield Kieron Dyer was out
injured once again and replaced by Radoslav Kovac.

The substitutes bench saw the welcome return of Jack Collison who has been
out with an injury picked up in our last away victory at Wigan. Savio was
missing from the bench so young striker Zavon Hines was in his place.

This was my first visit to the Britannia Stadium and it was a little
different to what I had expected. I had (for some reason) imagined it to be
a replica of all the other new age stadiums such as the Riverside, Ricoh
Arena and the Madjeski but it had a little more uniqueness to it than that.

This is not to say that it was a nice looking stadium with the stand to the
left of where we were situated being so far away from the pitch.

The first ten minutes flew by and we struggled to get involved in the game.
Stoke had possession of the ball but got to a point near the half way line
that they would have to knock the ball long. There only other outlet was
former hammer of the year Matthew Etherington (who had received a good
reception from the visiting support) but Lucas Neill even in those early
stages looked to have the better of the inconsistent winger.

The atmosphere was electrifying inside the stadium and we have all had a
moan this season about how quiet home support are and even though I had
heard than Stoke were loud I was still surprised at the noise inside the
Britannia.

Around the ten minute mark Stoke appeared to have taken the lead when a long
throw from Rory Delap (be prepared to read this phrase a number of times)
found Fuller who seemed to get there before Green and as the ball fell down
the striker who had been sent off at Upton Park earlier in the season
bundled the ball home with his knee only for referee Peter Walton to rule
the goal out for a foul on Robert Green.

The Stoke fans were incensed and boo's rang around the ground although as
time passed it seemed that the boo's and the whistling were not aimed at the
ref but were aimed at our players for simply having possession of the ball
much like they do on the continent.

With the amount of possession we would go on to have this faded out and
Stoke were nearly silenced completely when we too had the ball in the back
of the net only for the ref to rule it out.

I have seen this incident again and what confuses me is that it was either a
goal or a penalty. The ball was played into Tristan by Lucas Neill and the
Spaniard attempted to chest the ball through to Di Michele who shot past
Sorenson from close range.

The ref ruled the goal out for a handball by Tristan but replays to me show
quite clearly he was pushed in the process which should have seen the ref
play advantage or give us a penalty. This for some reason has been picked up
by no one but if you do get the chance, watch the replay again.

Despite Stoke's attempted bombardment of our area we started to settle and
get the ball out to the wingers Boa Morte and Stanislas with the former
finding a lot of room and the apparent beating of his marker.

Trouble seemed to break out on the segregation between both sets of
supporters and many police raced over to stop whatever was going on. I was
sitting at the other side of the West Ham support so did not see what really
went on.

As things started to heat up with the support we picked the perfect time to
take the lead. A strong run from Noble saw a pass through which was
intercepted by Faye but his touch was heavy and Di Michele took possession
only to be chopped down by Faye and free kick from just outside the area was
awarded.

Many of our players looked like they wanted to take the kick but it was left
to Diego Tristan to superbly curl the ball over the wall and into the top
corner.

A second should have followed soon after when an excellent counter attack
saw Di Michele shoot just over the bar after he had been played in by a
Stanislas back heel.

Fuller might have done better when he was played in on goal but his first
touch was poor and Green was out to bravely smother the ball.

Just before the half time whistle there was an incident which should have
resulted in the dismissal of Rory Delap. A loose ball saw both Delap and Boa
Morte go in hard for the ball with Boa Morte catching Delap with his studs.
It was a poor challenge from Boa Morte and he deserved to go into the book,
but Delap in front of the ref kicked out at Boa Morte. Delap was only yellow
carded when the laws of the game clearly state that it should have been a
red.

The Stoke fans would be up in arms a few moments later when winger Liam
Lawrence got the better of Upson and proceeded to go down in the area after
a Kovac challenge. The Stoke fans cried for a penalty but the ref instead
booked Lawrence for diving. Replays suggest that this was the correct
decision.

The second half was a compelling affair as Stoke literally threw everything
at us. We looked good on the counter attack but as the half wore on Stoke
seemed to have that desire as we began to tire.

We showed our gritty side and led by Lucas Neill we dug in and came out
winners every time. Neill himself had wound up the Stoke fans by demanded
one of the towels from the ball boys that Rory Delap seems to get given
every time. Neill was enjoying taking the piss of the Stoke fans who see no
problem with this act that Delap does whenever he takes a throw.

We should have made life comfortable for ourselves when a great run from
Neill saw his cut back find Stanislas who wastefully blasted over the bar.

Stoke had their best chance of the game from a corner which found Faye at
the back post but his goal bound header was cleared off the line by Noble
who had saved a certain goal.
With just under ten minutes to go the tireless Boa Morte was replaced by
Jack Collison and not long after a long ball forward saw Tristan cleverly
turn his marker and nod the ball in front of him for a clear run at goal but
his flick over the keeper when agonisingly wide.

Five minutes of injury time were awarded (where from I do not know) although
this became around seven minutes due to an injury to Kovac.

Despite the home sides ugly airborne attacks we held strong and came away
with all three points.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
Continues to put in consistent performances and this another one of those.
Made some brave saves and again in the air he was largely faultless.

Lucas Neill
My man of the match as he put in one of those performances you want to see
from your captain. Much like Parker's performance at Wigan, Neill kept us
going at times and Etherington struggled to beat him all day. Top stuff.

Matthew Upson
I thought he struggled a bit in the first half and seemed to mis judge the
flight of the ball on many occasions. Better in the second and needed to be
as most of Stokes attacks found their way into the six yard box but Upson
was often there to keep things out.

James Tomkins
That loan spell at Derby obviously did him the world of good because he
looks a much tougher player. He doesn't look it but he can really dig in and
did all those things a defender needs to do. Brilliant stuff from the
youngster.

Herita Ilunga
Up again Liam Lawrence the Stoke winger failed to get around Ilunga and
often had to play the ball back. When he tried to simply bludgeon his way
through Ilunga just stayed strong and didn't dive in.

Luis Boa Morte
Another wonderful effort from Boa Morte. You need players like him away from
home and without a player such as Scott Parker you need a midfielder to dig
in a make challenges other would not attempt.

Mark Noble
A number of mis placed passes put a bit of a downer on his performance but I
thought he did well and at times showed some great pieces of skill to
himself out of tight areas. What I also liked is when out full backs were
under pressure Noble would run into space and make an option available.

Radoslav Kovac
Her certainly put in a shift and worked right up until the end. He has no
great ability on the ball but stood strong time and time again and was often
there to stop any Stoke counter attack.

Junior Stanislas
Very pleased at how comfortable he looks in the side. Showing more sides to
his ability with every game that goes by. Should have scored in the second
half but this doesn't take away from another bright performance.

David Di Michele
Better than in recent games although this is down to the amount of time he
had on the ball when he received it which was considerably more than in the
last couple of games. Was unlucky to have a goal chalked off in the first
half.

Diego Tristan
Scored his second goal in three games and although the goal was outstanding
his performance was very encouraging. He kept the ball well and played the
right passes and the right time. Good stuff.

Subs Used

Jack Collison (on for Boa Morte 82 mins)
Did well in his short time on the pitch, made a few good interceptions and
started counter attacks. Great to see him back.

Walter Lopez (on for Noble 87 mins)
But his point Noble was obviously knackered and this is why Lopez found
himself on the pitch. Not much time for him to see much of the ball.

Freddie Sears (on for Di Michele 89 mins)
Hardly saw the ball.

Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Spector, Payne, Hines.

Overall

Every game from now to end of the season is vital if we want to make 7th
place but winning this gives us the advantage as we are still the ones who
occupy that place. This was one of those games that we had to win and we
have done just that.

This game for me will epitomise exactly what we have to do from now till the
end of the season which is dig in, create chances and make sure we are
taking at least one of them.

Today was also a victory for real football and not the anti football that
Stoke City like to play. I hope they are found out next season and go back
to where they came from. Their supporters are excellent but their team and
the football they play could turn me off football if I had to watch that
week in week out.

Next up is Liverpool and at this point I don't care who we are playing. We
need to win it and if we can create a good atmosphere at the Boleyn and work
as hard as we did in this one we could do it.

The Feelings of Franco

"It was great result, In the first half we played with quality and we played
some good football. The goal was an example of that.

"We are going to be competing to the end. We might make it, we might not but
we are going to give it our best shot."

Att: 27,500

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tristan strike breaks Stoke home rule
Stoke City 0 West Ham United 1
By James Corrigan at the Britannia Stadium
Independent

The joke doing the rounds about the Europa League is that it will be harder
to get out of than it is to get into. But at least West Ham look desperate
to gain entry into the much-pilloried replacement for the Uefa Cup; despite
it being such a bind it will require the winner to play up to 19 games
before lifting the new trophy next May.

If any place is a test of a team's resolve then it is the Britannia Stadium.
It is not an easy place to come and earn three points, as most of the
Premier League will testify. Indeed, this was Stoke City's first home defeat
of 2009 as their bubble was deflated by a Hammers outfit that refused to be
battered into late submission. Stoke pressed forward in a fraught finale as
if their lives depended on it. In truth, their lives did not depend on it.

Tony Pulis's above-their-weight punchers are already safe, a statement that
perhaps only pedantic mathematicians and the cautious Welsh manager might
doubt. Their recent heroic exertions may well have taken their toll,
although, to their credit, they never stopped running, or believing.

But Gianfranco Zola's side survived and in doing so leapfrogged Fulham into
seventh and the last Europa spot. West Ham's conviction appears as steely as
any of their rivals in the race for last spot, even if, with Liverpool and
Everton next up, their fixture list is daunting. Certainly their ambition is
admirable. "If the other teams don't want to take part in it [the Europa],
then we will be very glad to try," said Zola with a wink afterwards. "We
realise there will be a lot of games in the tournament and it will be a big
ask. But I also know that to play in Europe will be a big thing for our
young players and will improve them very much. That is why we will fight to
the finish this season."

They did just that yesterday – they had no choice but to. West Ham had
broken the deadlock just after the half-hour mark, when Diego Tristan's
sweet free-kick located the top corner, although, by then, both sides had
seen goals disallowed in controversial circumstances. If Ricardo Fuller's
foul on the excellent Robert Green looked harsh, then so, Zola said, was the
handball decision on Tristan a few minutes later. David Di Michele duly
found the net but only a split-second before Peter Walton found his whistle.

In fact, the referee had a busy and contentious afternoon all round. Rory
Delap probably should have been sent off when kicking out at Luis Boa Morte
after what in fairness had been a nasty challenge. ("I can only think that
the referee did not see it," commented Zola). A little later, the Brittania
was in absolute uproar when Mr Walton decided to book Liam Lawrence for
diving in the box when he claimed he had been tripped by Radoslav Kovac.
That came at the end of the first half and only served to ignite the Pottery
fires.

It was inevitable that Stoke would come out strongly in the second half and
so they did, barely pausing in their efforts to create the equaliser.
Delap's trademark long throw-ins were, in the main, dealt with in fine
fashion by Green. But Stoke do have other outlets. Abdoulaye Faye and Ryan
Shawcross both went near, yet it was Fuller who summed up the frustrations
best of all. With five minutes to go, only a block by Kovac kept him out and
then, after Tristan's lob had drifted inches wide up the other end, Fuller
failed to keep down his shot, when the headlines beckoned, on the edge of
the six-yard box.

Attendance: 27,500
Referee: Peter Walton
Man of the match: Tristan
Match rating: 6/10

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's future in the balance
The Mirror
By Paul Smith 3/05/2009

West Ham's future is hanging in the balance as they look to thrash out deals
with two potential buyers before the Icelandic government seize control of
the club. The Hammers have been given a stay of execution until June before
the Rejkyavik government step in and appoint bank executives to run the
Premier League side. They are set to take control from Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson at Upton Park as they seek to recover the money lost in the
collapse of their nation's economy. Two overseas consortiums have tabled
bids to purchase the club before the Icelandic Government make good on their
threat to intervene. But Gudmundsson is holding out for a better deal after
he slashed 50 per cent off his original Hammers' valuation of £250million.
The best deal on the table at the moment is about £80m as buyers look to
take advantage of the club's dire financial recession. Straumur, who
provided the bulk of the finance for Gudmundsson when he bought the club in
2006, was declared insolvent last month by the UK's Financial Services
Authority as it took steps to protect investors in London. Twenty-four hours
later it was nationalised by the Icelandic government. Gudmundsson's £85m
takeover saw the end of chairman Terry Brown's reign. But since the collapse
of the Icelandic economy and the meltdown of his investment vehicle Hansa
last year, Gudmundsson's ability to maintain ownership has been in serious
doubt. Straumur's banking creditors are now preparing to take advantage of
covenants on the debt that allow for the club to be taken over.
The banks have maintained they will form a new board, with Gudmundsson
making way for their appointments. Meanwhile, boss Gianfranco Zola says he
will have money to spend this summer - but intends to buy a maximum of just
three new players. With the club's finances still under scrutiny as owner
Gudmundsson suffers due to the credit crunch, it was unclear if the Italian
would be able to strengthen his squad. But having signed a fouryear contract
last weekend, Zola is adamant the club will back him in the transfer market.
"I don't know how much money I'll have to spend but I've been assured that
if we need to get a couple of players to improve the squad then we will,"
said Zola. "I don't think we need more than the two or three players that
may be coming in."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IRONS FORGED OF ZOLA STEEL By Ralph Ellis 3/05/2009
The Mirror

STOKE 0 West Ham 1 Tristan 33

Those West Ham fans who didn't want Gianfranco Zola had feared that he
wouldn't know the traditions of the club. And they were right. After little
more than seven months in the job, he's turned out a team that can not only
pass the ball prettily, but also go to somewhere like Stoke and scrap it
out. This was West Ham winning ugly - climbing for the headers, putting in
the tackles, getting first to the 50-50s. This was Zola's team taking hold
of the last qualifying spot for next season's Europa Cup using dirty words
like graft and determination. Spaniard Diego Tristan might have provided the
quality with a dazzling, dipping and unstoppable 33rd-minute free-kick. But
it was the grit that made sure the Hammers became only the fourth team this
season to come through the Britannia Stadium's ordealby-long-throw with all
three points. The others, incidentally, were Manchester United, Everton and
Chelsea - and if anything gives a guide to how far Zola has brought this
team it is that. "I was hoping to do a good job this year but it has gone
very, very well - it is quite a surprise to me," admitted Zola. "Today we
were prepared for what to expect, We had done some work on how to defend the
long throws and we had confidence we could deal with them. "But even so, the
resilience of the team and the willingness not to concede a goal is
something I keep highlighting and keep praising the players for. Today they
were amazing."
Robert Green especially was superb. He was perhaps lucky to get the benefit
of a decision by referee Peter Walton after only 11 minutes when he lost a
long throw to Ricardo Fuller's challenge. Fuller bundled the ball over the
line, only for Walton to blow for a foul. But after that the man who is
currently number three in Fabio Capello's pecking order showed he could have
what it takes to be number one. He flung himself at the feet of Fuller near
the end of the first half, did it again in the second, and came off his line
to catch a succession of Rory Delap's exocet throws. "Robert has been
excellent for the last 25 games - I don't know if I can remember one
mistake," said Zola. "It just gives me such confidence that he's there."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis felt himself hard done by that Fuller's effort was
disallowed. "I've not seen it again, but they tell me Green dropped the
ball," he said. "There were a few other decisions, but it's more about the
fact that we needed to be sharper in front of goal. There were occasions
when we should have hit the target."
The one time Stoke did - when Abdoulaye Faye's header from a corner finally
had Green beaten - Mark Noble headed off the line. It was that sort of
performance. "I'm disappointed because I want to keep the season going,"
said Pulis. "But that's this league. If you don't take your chances you get
punished."

Stoke are eight points clear of the relegation zone with three games to go
while West Ham lie in seventh spot, a point ahead of Manchester City, Fulham
and Spurs.

DID YOU KNOW?
Stoke have not beaten the Irons at home since 1983. Last time they met at
the Britannia the Hammers won 1-0 with a Bobby Zamora goal.

BEST BET
The Hammers could put the last nail in the coffin of Liverpool's title dream
next Sunday at Upton Park, but have only scored once in seven 'Big Four'
games this season. Back a Reds' clean sheet.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stoke unable to breathe easy after Diego Tristán keeps West Ham on course
for Europe
Stoke City 0 West Ham United 1 Tristan 33
Richard Rae at the Britannia Stadium guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 May 2009
17.12 BST

Wonderful footballer though he was, Gianfranco Zola could always handle the
tough stuff too, and it should not be surprising that his West Ham team have
a similar streak of resilience. Having gone ahead with a strike of real
quality from Diego Tristán shortly after the half-hour, the Hammers stood up
to a Stoke assault under which other teams might have buckled. The result is
that while City's survival celebrations are on hold for at least another
game, West Ham can continue to target Europe.

"I'm very delighted," said Zola. "We knew it was going to be like that. In
the first half we played some very good stuff and the goal was an example of
that. In the second half we knew they would come back strong, but we were
prepared and the resilience of the team is something I keep praising."

It was an absorbing match. Stoke had the ball in the net after nine minutes,
when Ricardo Fuller challenged Robert Green as the West Ham goalkeeper
attempted to catch a Rory Delap throw. The ball bounced free and Fuller
turned it in, but the referee, Peter Walton, decided he had fouled Green.

A couple of minutes later, Walton again intervened, deciding Tristán had
handled before David Di Michele shot past Thomas Sorensen, although it
appeared Tristán was fouled by Ryan Shawcross when the ball hit his arm.

With Liam Lawrence and Matthew Etherington giving them natural width, Stoke
were dangerous, and Abdoulaye Faye headed a Lawrence corner over from no
more than six yards. But it was West Ham who took the lead when Faye gave
away a free-kick around 20 yards from goal. Tristán stepped up and curled
the ball across Sorensen and beyond the goalkeeper's stretching right hand.

Lawrence was distraught to have a penalty appeal turned down shortly before
the break – and be booked into the bargain – but if there were fewer
incidents in the second half, it was no less compelling.

Stoke hammered away and Mark Noble, on the line, prevented Faye equalising
from Lawrence's corner. Deep into injury time, Fuller turned and shot just
over the bar, but as the manager Tony Pulis acknowledged, this was not their
day: "That's the first game we've lost at home this year and we had enough
opportunities to get something out of the game. But I can't fault the
players – they gave everything they had."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diego Tristan free kick stuns Stoke City
Stoke City 0 West Ham 1
The Times
Paul Rowan at Britannia stadium

Should West Ham United realise their dream of playing in the Europa League —
and Gianfranco Zola insisted it was their fervent wish to win that
competition — they can look back to six points ground out against Stoke City
as an important factor in realising that achievement.

Last December Diego Tristan struck the winner in a game more noteworthy for
the Stoke player Ricardo Fuller being sent off for striking a teammate but
yesterday there was no stealing the thunder of the Spaniard, who struck the
winner again with a superbly taken free kick on 33 minutes.

"We played some great stuff in the first half and the goal was an example of
that," said Zola. "In the second half they were trying to come back strong
but we were prepared and showed great resilience."

Stoke welcomed back James Beattie, while Andy Wilkinson managed to shake off
a back strain to take his place in the starting line-up. For West Ham, Jack
Collison made an unexpected return to the bench after his knee problems,
with Radoslav Kovac for Kieron Dyer being the only change from the team that
lost to Chelsea the previous week. That game was marred by some obscene
chanting directed at some Chelsea players, which continued yesterday, and
there was some scuffling between stewards and away supporters during a
feisty opening to the game.

That was a shame because their team were exemplary as they stood up to the
Stoke challenge and outclassed their opponents during an engrossing first
half. As usual the threat came from Rory Delap's long throws, one of which
after nine minutes found Ryan Shawcross unmarked, but he headed straight at
Robert Green. A minute later, Delap tried his luck again from closer to the
corner flag. The ball came hurtling into the opposition six-yard box, where
the West Ham goalkeeper was outjumped by Fuller, who at the height of his
enormous leap had his hand on Green's shoulder.

The ball then bounced on the ground, where the big Jamaican kneed it into
the roof of the net. It certainly wasn't pretty, but it looked legal — just
— though referee Peter Walton decided otherwise. Abdoulaye Faye then had a
great chance from a Liam Lawrence corner but headed over.

West Ham were always dangerous on the counterattack and had their own effort
disallowed when Tristan was adjudged to have handled the ball before David
Di Michele swept it into the net. On 33 minutes came the breakthrough when
Faye was penalised for a crude two-footed lunge on Di Michele. It looked as
though Mark Noble would take the free kick but instead it was Tristan whose
right-footed effort went just over the wall and then swerved away from
Thomas Sorensen into the corner of the net.

Stoke City might have been further on the back foot had Walton not shown
great leniency towards Delap, who kicked out and struck Luis Boa Morte as
the two men lay on the ground after he had been fouled. Instead, both
players were booked and Lawrence was also cautioned a minute before
half-time for diving after he fell over the foot of Kovac as he raced into
the box.

It had been a thoroughly entertaining first half but the second half
degenerated into a scrappy affair. As Stoke threw bodies and the ball
forward with increasing urgency, West Ham stood solid, Lucas Neill and
Matthew Upson outstanding as they got stuck into the aerial battle, while
Green looked increasingly confident in the air as the game went on and also
made a couple of brave saves at the feet of Fuller.

Stoke came closest to scoring when Henri Camara, on as a substitute for
Beattie, got his head on the end of a corner from Lawrence, but Noble was
parked on his goalkeeper's right post and directed the ball clear.

Then, on the stroke of full-time, Fuller had a chance but shot over as
Herita Ilunga put in a strong challenge.

It meant that the main talking point of the second half was the referee's
decision belatedly to stop Delap using a towel to dry the ball before
slinging in his throw ins.

"West Ham were excellent just before and after they scored, but Thomas
didn't have too many saves to make. We didn't get the breaks today and we
will have to take it on the chin," said Stoke's manager, Tony Pulis.

Star Man: Lucas Neill (West Ham)

Yellow cards: Stoke City: Delap, Shawcross, Lawrence. West Ham United: Boa
Morte, Neill.

Referee: P Walton.

Attendance: 27,500

STOKE CITY: Sorensen 6, Wilkinson 6 (Sonko 88min), Abdoulaye Faye 5,
Shawcross 6, Pugh 6 (Olofinjana 73min), Lawrence 5, Delap 6, Whelan 6,
Etherington 5, Beattie 5 (Camara 72min), Fuller 6.

WEST HAM UNITED: Green 7, Neill 8, Tomkins 7, Upson 8, Ilunga 7, Stanislas
6, Noble 6 (Lopez 87min), Kovac 7, Boa Morte 6 (Collison 82min); Tristan 7,
Di Michele 6 (Sears 89min).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stoke stunned as West Ham rolls them by a goal at home
The Mirror
2/05/2009

Stoke 0 - 1 West Ham

Diego Tristan kept West Ham on the road to Europe by scoring the winner at
the Britannia Stadium. The Spanish striker scored the only goal of a feisty
match in the 32nd minute to leave Stoke stunned. It was just the result
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola was looking for in his bid to claim seventh
place in the table. With relegation a slight threat, Stoke had different
reasons why they wanted to extend their unbeaten home league record. But
despite this defeat they should still have enough points on the board to
secure their status. Stoke looked good in the first half and pushed
forward in the ninth minute. Rory Delap picked out Ryan Shawcross with a
long throw but his header was safely taken by Robert Green. Ricardo Fuller
then found the net for the home side two minutes later after beating Green
to the ball but his effort was disallowed for an infringement. The striker
was left shaking his head in frustration but Tristan suffered a similar fate
in the 14th minute. Delap launched another long throw in the 20th minute and
Shawcross peeled away from his marker, only to head wide of the post. West
Ham were struggling to string their passes together at this stage of the
game as Stoke looked good going forward. However the visitors made the
breakthrough in the 32nd minute from a set-piece. Tristan was celebrating
after delivering a superb free-kick from 20 yards beyond goalkeeper Thomas
Sorensen. The foul was awarded after a challenge by Abdoulaye Faye on David
Di Michele as he raced forward. It was only Tristan's third goal for the
visitors in his first season at the club. Stoke responded and almost
equalised in the 40th minute following a swift counter-attack. Matthew
Etherington laid the ball off to Fuller, who had taken up a great position
in the penalty area. He looked odds-on to score but Green reacted well to
take the ball off his toes as he prepared to shoot. Then Delap and Luis Boa
Morte were booked after a tussle a minute before half-time and the match was
becoming feisty with so much at stake.
Lawrence thought he had won a penalty for Stoke in first-half stoppage time
after a challenge from Radoslav Kovac only to get a yellow card for diving.
Fuller then clipped a shot wide of the post in the 59th minute as West Ham
again found themselves on the back foot. It was a good spell by Stoke, who
were being urged on by a passionate home support. Fuller, though, was left
nursing his bruises a minute later after coming off second best in a
challenge with Matthew Upson. West Ham were playing some neat football in
the middle of the park with Mark Noble and Kovac having a lot of possession.
However they were finding it hard to break the opposition down after opening
the scoring through Tristan. Di Michele took matters into his own hand in
the 69th minute when he released Junior Stanislas but Shawcross made a
crucial block. Stoke then came close to equalising in the 74th minute when
Lawrence delivered a corner from the left. Faye powered in a header at the
back post but Noble cleared off the line. They kept pushing forward but West
Ham almost added a second only for Tristan to drag his effort from a good
position.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham look to European football as Stoke fall at home
West Ham want European football, and they did what only Manchester United,
Chelsea and Everton had achieved before them in the league this season,
defeating Stoke City at the Britannia.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Sandy Macaskill at the Britannia Stadium
Last Updated: 7:19PM BST 02 May 2009

Gianfranco Zola's players have now put themselves in prime position for
qualification to the Europa League, their performance a demonstration of
just the sort of grit that will be required in the final three games of the
season to hold onto seventh place.

Zola is so smooth that even the initials on his tracksuit top are made of
felt, but here his side were made of steel, not silk, withstanding the usual
barrage of direct balls and unrelenting aggression that is expected at the
Britannia, and holding onto the bridgehead established by Diego Tristan in
the 32nd minute, all amidst the cantankerous soundtrack of whistling which
at points reached pantomime proportions.

Gianfranco Zola plotting for West Ham future by using Arsenal?s templateIt
is no coincidence that 32 of Stoke's 39 points have come at the Britannia.
Opposition players simply do not enjoy coming here, for not only is it one
of the coldest grounds in the country, it must be one of the loudest too,
and as hospitable as a bear pit because of it.

Yesterday was no different, both sets of supporters quickly growing volatile
after early goals, one for each side, had been disallowed for little reason.
Agitators among the away support began straining against the thin,
luminous-yellow line of stewards, who were required to hastily radio for
reinforcements.

But it was Tristan, not the newly arrived throng of police, who brought the
hostilities to a temporary standstill with a humdinger of a free-kick swept
into the top left corner, which demanded at least a brief cease-fire to
enjoy such skill.

But the truce didn't last long, and the animosity filtered onto the pitch.
As half-time approached, Luis Boa Morte slid into Rory Delap, leaving his
studs planted in the Stoke midfielder's groin, showing no urgency in
withdrawing them. An infuriated Delap lashed out in retaliation, sheer
lunacy as referee Peter Walton was barely three feet away. Both were lucky
to escape with cautions.

Stoke, desperate for the three points that would have secured their status
in the top tier, were understandably frustrated. They had had their chances.
Faye had a header cleared off the line by Mark Noble for starters, and
Ricardo Fuller blasted over from seven yards. But West Ham's defence was
formidable. "The resilience of the team was amazing," Zola agreed, promising
more like it. "[Europe] is a possibility, but we will play hard until the
end."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
STOKE 0, WEST HAM 1
News Of The World
From DAVID HARRISON at the Britannia Stadium, 02/05/2009

WEST HAM'S road to Europe was paved with brave hearts and bruised bodies
yesterday - and they needed plenty of both. Gianfranco Zola's side stood up
to the kind of physical onslaught that has made better teams quake and
crumble on their visits to the Britannia Stadium this season. And a
33rd-minute goal from Spanish striker Diego Tristan sealed the three points
that lifted the aptly-named Irons into the seventh spot that will guarantee
them qualification into next season's Europa League. They will not have
worked harder all season to gain such a reward. It was bloody and brutal,
with both sides squaring up to each other for battle. And that was just in
the stands. West Ham fans and stewards fought furiously during a 10-minute
spell in the first half in scenes that were a throwback to the worst
hooligan violence of the 1970s. The police restored order and allowed the
focus to return to the pitch. But it turned ugly there, too. Luis Boa Morte
and Rory Delap were lucky to escape with yellow cards after a first-half
clash. The West Ham midfielder went in with a high challenge and his Stoke
opponent lashed out angrily. It brought bookings but it was that kind of
full-bloodied contest. West Ham stood their ground and refused to give an
inch to a City side who had the scent of survival in their nostrils. Tony
Pulis' side are still one win short of being safe but they surely have too
many points to be dragged back into the dogfight. Tristan's goal brought a
rare moment of quality to a game that had too much blunder and bluster. It
was difficult for West Ham to get the ball down and play their passing game.
But the accuracy of Tristan's free-kick from 25 yards into the top left
corner gave the visitors a lead they rarely look like surrendering. West Ham
keeper Robert Green found the ideal way to deal with Delap's long throw-ins.
He elected to come out and catch them and did so with a calm assurance. In
front of him, James Tomkins and Matthew Upson stood just as firm,
particularly in the final 20 minutes when Stoke hurled in a barrage of
crosses. It was not so much Route One - more an attempt to drive a motorway
into the visitors' defence. But Zola's team proved they have spirit as well
as artistry in their ranks. Stoke had their chances when Abdoulaye Faye
nodded an easy opportunity over the bar in the first half, then saw an
effort headed off the line by Mark Noble. Even when West Ham were under
siege, there was always an outstretched leg or a ribcage to stop the ball.
Tristan could have stolen a second in injury time but he sent his effort
wide with only keeper Thomas Sorensen to beat. There was still time for
Ricardo Fuller to lift a shot from six yards over the bar at the other end
as the two teams went at it hammer and tongs until the final whistle. West
Ham's Radoslav Kovac was stretched out on the ground at the end having taken
another blow for his team's cause. It summed up their afternoon's brave
endeavours.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ZO KEEN ON PORTANOVA
West Ham will move for Siena defender Daniele
02/05/2009
News Of The World

WEST HAM will move for Siena's Italian defender Daniele Portanova in the
summer. Boss Gianfranco Zola wants the 30-year-old centre-back to play
alongside Matthew Upson next season. And Portanova's agent, Dario Canovi,
admitted: "West Ham are extremely interested."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Trevor Brooking: 'I know how Alan Shearer feels'
A club with rich tradition and a large, passionate fan base is threatened
with relegation from the Premier League.
By Duncan White
Last Updated: 10:58PM BST 02 May 2009
Telegraph.co.uk
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Kick-off: Sun May 3, 1.30pm, Anfield, Liverpool
TV: Setanta Sports 1
Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live

A team full of internationals on big wages has failed to cut it and the drop
looms, with all its disastrous ramifications. The manager falls ill and the
panic intensifies. From the relative comfort of the TV studios a local hero
emerges, a great former player who forged a special bond with the
supporters, to try and rescue his club.

Shearer: Career in pics For Alan Shearer at Newcastle, read Sir Trevor
Brooking at West Ham: the parallels are striking. Six years ago, and with
three games of the 2002-03 season left, Brooking stepped in to the breach at
Upton Park. Glenn Roeder, the manager, had collapsed after a game with
Middlesbrough on the Bank Holiday weekend and was diagnosed with a brain
tumour. Under Brooking, West Ham won their first two games, keeping hopes of
survival alive. But Bolton kept remorselessly gathering points and after
drawing with Birmingham on the last day of the season, West Ham went down
despite gathering 42 points – which remains a record for a demoted club.

"It was 2½ weeks of my life I will never forget," Brooking said. "It went
like a blur but it was absolutely fascinating. My family didn't want me to
do it and I was concerned about jeopardising my relationship with the club
and the fans. Of course there are differences between what I did and what
Alan is doing but I know a bit about what he's going through. It's the
intensity of it that really gets to you – I think Alan will have been
secretly shocked by that."

Shearer has four games to save Newcastle, starting with the trip to
Liverpool on Sunday. They are three points behind Hull and the safety zone,
but with Middlesbrough only below them on goal difference, and due to visit
St James' Park next week, it is tense. Plus the form isn't good: in his four
games since taking over from Joe Kinnear – who is recovering from a heart
bypass operation – the side have managed just two points and just one goal.

"It is the dreaded cliché," Brooking said. "But in this situation as you get
closer to the end of the season, game by game, they assume greater and
greater magnitude. It is intensified if, like Alan and myself, you have been
doing punditry and not experienced managing first hand. You can rabbit on in
the TV studio all you want but when the decisions are down to you, well, you
appreciate more about what the job demands. It is all new to you and what
people don't appreciate is that as soon as you finish one game your mind
immediately drifts to the next one. It consumes you."

Shearer has had a little more time to settle into the job than was afforded
Brooking. He was a director on West Ham's board at the time and had to make
a decision within 48 hours, after senior players asked for his appointment.
"I did think that if I lost the first two games and we went down people
would ask what made me think I could do it? That went through my mind
momentarily, but when the players made it clear they wanted me that was my
mind made up. I thought we needed three wins out of three but as it turned
out not even that would have been enough.

"You suddenly have to deal with situations you might not appreciate watching
from the outside. In the first game at Manchester City we had detailed to
all the players who would be marking up where on set-pieces. Each player was
assigned a man. So I send on Frederic Kanoute, just back from injury, for
the second half to try and win it. Just five minutes into the half City get
a corner and there is Fredi on the edge of the box, hands on hips.

"He's completely forgotten who he is supposed to be picking up and his fella
is free at the far post. I'm shouting and shouting but there's a massive
noise in the stadium and he can't hear.

"You just feel helpless. If they score – and thankfully the corner didn't
get through to the far post – you end up looking stupid, even though you had
prepared as best you could. Those situations happen seven or eight times
during a game – and that's really frustrating."

Kanoute went on to score the winner in that game and more impressively
Brooking's team then beat Champions League chasing Chelsea at Upton Park in
the following fixture. The high of that triumph was swiftly followed by the
low of watching Bolton squeeze out a point at Southampton in the late
kick-off. "The atmosphere at the ground was electric. Paolo [di Canio] came
off the field in tears having scored the winner, throwing his shirt into the
crowd. It was his last home game for the club. Then, we were all crammed in
together to watch the Bolton game and Southampton missed unbelievable
chances. Every game was emotional."

The emotional toll will increase at an exponential rate for Shearer as May
goes on. Where Brooking had Di Canio, Kanoute, Les Ferdinand and Jermain
Defoe to turn to, Shearer is struggling to squeeze a goal out of his side.
What a time it would be for Michael Owen to rediscover the old touch, on the
Anfield pitch, if he plays.

Brooking was never going to go into management full-time and while he had a
second spell as caretaker, after the recovered Roeder was sacked, he was
never tempted to return. Shearer, though, has ambitions. "He must still
think he can get them out of it," Brooking said. "He'll have a points total
in his mind and he knows Hull and Sunderland have difficult fixtures. He has
made it clear he'll wait until the end of the season to make his decision.
There are two different scenarios that he could be faced with." If Newcastle
are relegated it will be an arduous job. The day after West Ham went down,
Defoe, having been poorly advised, handed in a transfer request and a total
of 19 players left that summer.

"Traumatic" is how Brooking recalls it. Shearer would have to work even more
radical changes should Newcastle be relegated but, like Brooking, his
affection for his club is sincere. Whichever division Newcastle are in next
season, you suspect the fierce competitor in Shearer will find it impossible
to turn away.

Sir Trevor Brooking is speaking at the Weekend Football Festival in Derby to
promote women's and girls football in the Midlands, ahead of Monday's FA
Women's Cup Final.

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Ray Winstone
Hollywood's most famous Hammer on his teenage boxing bouts and why Frank
Leboeuf is a 'funny old geezer'
The Observer, Sunday 3 May 2009

A lifelong West Ham fan, Ray Winstone, 52, recently appeared as a
referee-abusing father in an advert for the FA's Respect campaign. But
despite notable footballing roles in Green Street and There's Only One Jimmy
Grimble, it was his amateur boxing career that helped him break into acting,
as a thug in The Sweeney, after a director noticed his "boxer's walk" at an
audition.

How good were you back in your boxing days?

Never good enough to be a pro, never dedicated enough either, but I had 88
fights and I won 80. It was the kind of thing you did back then, a way of
keeping yourself out of trouble. I stopped because I got older and slower
and started to get hit. I'd rather be an actor; if you do something wrong,
you get booed. It don't hurt so much.

Did you win your last fight?

Yeah. I boxed a kid called Chris Christian in Silvertown. He went on to win
the Southern Area light middleweight title as a pro. So maybe I coulda been
a contender. Or maybe not.

Your role in the recent Respect advert involved some pretty serious
referee-bashing. Have you ever had a go at the man in black in real life?

Of course! When you go to a football match, part of the fun is the crowd and
the songs they sing about the referee. But it's getting a bit too strong, I
think, especially at the level of kids playing in a park. When you've got
nine-year-olds running around, and lunatics on the sidelines screaming and
hollering at the referee... why would you want to keep getting out of bed on
a Saturday morning for that? I wouldn't do it. I get enough of that when I
go down the pub.

Harry Redknapp says he'd cast you to play him in a film of his life. Up for
it?

Not much! He's one of my heroes, of course I would. To be honest, I think
I'm more likely to be offered a part as Terry Venables. But you could do a
good film about Harry; he's a character.

You're a big West Ham fan, but how hard is it to keep up with the team when
you're filming?

In the Australian outback you haven't got much chance beyond the odd
newspaper, but somewhere like New York it's great. You get up at seven
o'clock in the morning, go down to a pub on Third Avenue, all the London
kids who work on the stock exchange are out there, it's like having an
English crowd in an American boozer. It's always early morning, so you say
you're not going to drink...

Do you get much chance for West Ham chat in Hollywood?

They're getting better out there; it's the David Beckham effect, bringing a
kind of film-star image to the game. The Hollywood set are starting to get a
bit involved. You used to find yourself talking at cross-purposes all the
time - talking about a kind of football where you put loads of padding on
and throw the ball - but now you can sit and discuss football as we know it.

Didn't you play for Vinnie Jones's Hollywood United team?

Once. A couple of years ago, on the hottest day of the year. I was 50 years
old - by the time I got the ball I couldn't kick it from all the running
about. We lost 7-6 to a bunch of American athletes, which wasn't bad
considering we were mostly actors. Though we had Frank Leboeuf on our team.
Greedy player, funny old geezer. Maybe I'm a bit biased against the old
Chelsea boy.

Are your three daughters all Hammers fans?

Oh yeah, I blooded them early, made sure they weren't going to be Arsenal or
Chelsea.

Any other sports you enjoy?

I love going up to Newmarket for the old gee-gees. But I'm not a very good
gambler. If you're going to win, win big, so I very rarely back a favourite.
And I usually go with the ones in the West Ham colours.

• Ray Winstone stars in ITV's Compulsion on 4 May

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Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United - My View
Here are my key thoughts after yesterday's disappointing home defeat at the
hands of West Ham.
Stoke City Blog

Yesterday there was no shortage of effort from the Stoke side, particularly
in the second half, but ultimately, we failed to create enough good chances,
and squandered the ones we did make. It was a frustrating game for a fan and
I hope we'll produce better in the last three games of the season. Nothing
should be taken away from West Ham though, as they looked a very good side.

Although we lost yesterday, I still think we have no cause for concern as
far as relegation. We are currently eight points clear of the relegation
zone with just nine to play for, and our position will look even stronger if
the struggling teams still to play this weekend fail to win their tough
looking fixtures. A few days ago, someone carried out a statistical analysis
of our chances of staying up, taking into account form, odds for the
remaining matches and records from past seasons, and came out with the
result that even if we lose every remaining game, we still have a 93% chance
of survival, and that chance will be getting greater still with other
results going are way. If we gain just one more point, that probability
increases to greater than 98%, so we have no reason to worry. Still, with
every position up the league worth an additional £760,000, it would be good
to see us push on in the final weeks.

Since joining on loan from Wigan back in February, Henri Camara has not had
a great deal of first team matches for Stoke, yesterday being just his
fourth substitute appearance. I was impressed by what I saw though. He has
pace that can cause defences problems and battles to an extent that belies
his small frame. When he joined he said he was looking for first team
football, and I'd like to see him given it in the remaining matches, though
he is ineligible against Wigan is two weeks time.

Earlier in the season, Rory Delap was causing a huge strip with his
extremely effective long throws ins, creating lots of goals for us. In the
last few months this has not been the case though, as we have scored direct
from one just once since November. He'll be 33 in the summer, and seems to
have lost the stamina he once had, and teams are getting better at defending
his seemingly shortening throws, so perhaps it's time we phased out his
involvement. If I was Tony Pulis, I'd definitely be looking to bring in at
least one new centre midfielder in the summer, with Modeste M'bami and
Guinare N'daw, currently playing for Marseille and Nantes, being likely
targets. Delap also suffers from indiscipline, having again had a petty dig
at an opponent yesterday. I met the referee Peter Walton a few months back,
and he told me which pocket he keeps each of his cards in, so I was very
relieved to see him reaching for the yellow one only.

At the risk of sounding like someone who constantly moans at officials, I'll
say once again that I thought our referee, this time Peter Walton had a poor
game. He seemed loathe to give any free-kicks to Stoke for defenders
climbing on our forwards, or West Ham's forwards backing into our defenders,
our physical reputation perhaps stopping him from giving us these technical
fouls. The worst piece of refereeing from him though was in my opinion his
decision to disallow West Ham's "goal" in the first half. Having just ruled
one out for Stoke, it smacked of "let's even it up refereeing" and though it
favoured us, was not good to see.

I was very impressed with West Ham. They were up for the game, something a
lot of visitors to Stoke have not been this season, and should be commended
for their attacking play throughout. Their defence was particularly good,
dealing very well with our aerial threat. I was impressed with young centre
back James Tomkins again, after seeing him play very well against us whilst
on loan at Derby earlier this season. At just twenty, he's definitely one to
watch for the future. Gianfranco Zola has done an excellent job with the
Hammers, turning them from a troubled club on and off the field to genuine
European contenders. Well done to him.

In my preview of the game, I selected the clashes between Stoke's Ricardo
Fuller and Tomkins, Stoke's Liam Lawrence and West Ham's Herita Ilunga and
our Stephen Kelly and the Hammers' Luis Boa Morte as the most important.
Tomkins definitely got the better of the Stoke forwards, while Congolese
left-back Ilunga kept Lawrence relatively quiet. Kelly didn't play, so the
overall outcome here is 2-0 to West Ham.

Ilunga was an important part of a very well organised West Ham defence

Player ratings

Thomas Sorensen (gk): The Dane had a reasonable game, commanding his area
quite well and making the saves he did comfortably. He cannot really be
blamed for conceding the goal, which was an extremely well struck free-kick.
6

Andy Wilkinson (rb): I was enthused when I heard that Wilko was fit to play,
and he didn't disappoint with another strong, classy performance. He should
particularly be praised for a fine piece of defending when West Ham had a
man advantage on the break late in the first half. 8

Ryan Shawcross (cb): Shawcross had a pretty good game, and was rarely
troubled in the air by West Ham's forwards. 7

Abdoulaye Faye (cb): Who else but Abdoulayecould slip, losing the ball in a
very dangerous position, win it back by making a tackle with his chest and
then sprint out of defence, skinning three opposition players on the way.
The man is an absolute hero and on the whole had another assured game. 7

Danny Pugh (lb): Pugh is not a natural left-back and was often caught out by
the pace of West Ham's wingers. Unfortunately, it looks likely that he will
retain the position for the final three games though, as first-choice Danny
Higginbotham is out for the season. 5

Liam Lawrence (rm): Lawrence had a game that was neither here nor there. At
times he looked dangerous, but he never really imposed himself on the match.
6

Glenn Whelan (cm): Whelan tends to fade in and out of matches, pulling all
the strings for ten minutes then doing nothing for half an hour. This was
the case yesterday as he put in an average showing. 6

Rory Delap (cm): Much like Whelan, he did not have a huge effect on the
game, particularly as West Ham dealt well with his numerous long throw-ins.
6

Matthew Etherington (lm): I wonder if Etherington is not just a little
intimidated coming up against big, strong full-backs, as for the second home
game in a row he struggled against one in Lucas Neill. He had a few good
moments against his former clubs, but on the whole was quiet. 6

James Beattie (cf): Beattie didn't look fully fit after returning earlier
than expected from a thigh injury and struggled to trouble the well-drilled
Hammers backline. 5

Ricardo Fuller (cf): For the first time in a while Fuller had the right
attitude yesterday, but in truth struggled to get much change from West Ham.
6

Substitutes

Henri Camara (cf): Yesterday was the best we've seen of Camara yet as I've
said above. More of the same from him would be welcome for the remainder of
the season. 7

Seyi Olofinjana (cm): After losing his place in the side, the Nigerian's
contribution has been limited to cameos like this in the last few months. He
played well in his twenty minutes on the pitch though, retaining and passing
the ball well and adding to our aerial threat. 7

Ibrahima Sonko (cb): Sonko was not really on the pitch long enough to make
an impression either way, coming on with just two minutes of normal time
remaining. It's not often that you hear of a manager putting on a fresh pair
of arms, but his long throws, which now rival Delap's did look dangerous.
N/A

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Zola ponders Tristan extension
by Richard Field , 03 May 2009
setanta.co.uk

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says Spanish veteran Diego Tristan is on
course to earn another contract for next season. The former Deportivo
striker conjured up a special goal from a free-kick to earn West Ham a 1-0
win at Stoke as they continue to press for a place in the revamped Uefa Cup.
Two goals in the 33-year-old's last three games has given Zola food for
thought over the player's future with his current deal running out at the
end of the season. "Diego is playing so well and is so professional. He
gives us options," Zola said. "It was a great goal and I hope he can score
many more from now until the end of the season. "Then we will see what
happens. We are open to everybody. Diego is working very hard to try to make
it possible for next year as well. I am pleased about that."

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Zola won't be too busy in the transfer market
Sport.co.uk
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on: 03 May 2009 - 2:33 PM

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola says he will have money to spend this summer
but has revealed he intends to buy a maximum of just three new players.With
the club's finances still under scrutiny as owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson
suffers due to the credit crunch, it was unclear if the Italian would be
able to strengthen his squad. But having signed a four-year contract last
weekend, Zola is adamant the club will back him in the transfer market. "I
don't know how much money I'll have to spend but I've been assured that if
we need to get a couple of players to improve the squad then we will," said
Zola. "I don't think we need more than maybe the two or three players that
may be coming in."

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Spanish striker Tristan to be offered new West Ham deal
04.05.09 | Ian Ferris

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is considering offering a contract
extension to Spanish striker Diego Tristan. The Italian told Setanta Sports:
"Diego is playing so well and is so professional. He gives us options. "It
was a great goal and I hope he can score many more from now until the end of
the season. "Then we will see what happens. We are open to everybody. Diego
is working very hard to try to make it possible for next year as well. I am
pleased about that."

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Curbishley must wait for West Ham pay-off
03.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

Alan Curbishley must wait for his compo pay-off from West Ham United. The
Mirror says Curbishley faces a six-month wait to settle his payoff claim
with West Ham.
The former Hammers chief has learned that his court case date has been set
for November after the preliminary hearings ended without an agreement.
Curbishley is looking for around £3m from his former employers.

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West Ham boss Zola happy to have Keen around
03.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola is delighted to have Kevin Keen on his
coaching staff. Zola told whufc.com: "Kevin has been very important. I like
his attitude and he has been positive all the time and the players they feel
that. They can recognise people like that. "He has been very good and he
helps me a lot."

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West Ham skipper Neill: We deserve Europe place
03.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United captain Lucas Neill is excited about the prospect of playing
in the Europa League next season. He told whufc.com: "The boys deserve it,
the fans deserve it, and the club deserves it. But we have to get there
still. "We have had a much better than expected season to what many people
may have thought we would have, but we want to finish on a high and I think
that it is something that everyone associated with the club deserves, the
team getting into Europe."

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Reid hopes to see West Ham action after Wolves loan ends
03.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

Kyel Reid hopes to see action for West Ham United in the remaining weeks of
the season after his loan at Wolves expired. The midfielder told whufc.com:
"My job now is to come back here and work as hard as I can to impress the
manager and force my way into the squad at West Ham. I was back in training
on Tuesday and was hoping to be involved in the big game we've got against
Liverpool. That would be a good turn around for me! I'd like to be involved
in the last few games."
To force his way into the West Ham first-team, Reid will have to dislodge
fellow Academy graduate and close friend Junior Stanislas, who has burst
into Gianfranco Zola's squad in recent weeks. "Junior is a good friend of
mine. We came up through the youth team together and we also come from the
same area, so it's good to see him doing well and getting games. I've also
been pleased to see Jack, James and Josh coming through and doing well. It's
good for everyone that West Ham have so many youngsters coming through the
ranks."

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West Ham interest confirmed for Siena defender Daniele Portanova
03.05.09 | tribalfootball.com

Siena's Italian defender Daniele Portanova is interesting West Ham United.
Boss Gianfranco Zola wants the 30-year-old centre-back to play alongside
Matthew Upson next season. And Portanova's agent, Dario Canovi, admitted:
"West Ham are extremely interested."

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