WHUFC.com
The manager's only focus on Saturday night was to think about how to turn
things around
27.03.2010
Gianfranco Zola has said he will consider over the weekend how to react
after a sixth successive "painful" defeat for West Ham United. The manager
reiterated that he would be committed to the cause until "I see that I
cannot do a good job for this club", after repeatedly being asked to clarify
his future. "I am here just for that," he added. "I have no other agendas
other than doing a good job for this club, so I will consider overnight
whether I am doing a good job or not."
Zola has though turned his attentions to the trip to Everton on Sunday week
and stressed that he believed he had the support from his team to turn
things around. "The players are behind us. I just think we need to change
something to be more helpful to them. "Six defeats with a difficult game
coming on Sunday is not great, but as I said, looking out there, the players
are committed and we're going to be working on making that commitment more
effective."
Despite going down 1-0 to Stoke City, it was a different contest than the
3-1 reverse at hands of Wolves on Tuesday. "The good thing was that at least
the team performed better as a team. We just couldn't get the final touch.
The end product was not as good as I expected it to be and that was the
difference, really. "We had better team shape and we tried really hard.
[Stoke scorer Ricardo] Fuller made a difference when he came on with a piece
of quality. Sometimes in games, especially when they are in a tight
situation like this one, one bit of quality can make the difference and that
was definitely the case. "Looking at the results, I can honestly say no [I'm
not getting the best out of the players], but there are circumstances. As I
said, that's one of the considerations that I have to make. I'm not looking
for excuses - we are not performing as well as we should and I take
responsibility for that, so we need to improve them. "Right now, I'm flat
because we lost another game and that was the sixth game in a row that we
have lost and that's not good for me. I have to see what the problem is. I'm
not doing any other considerations other than finding out the problems."
He was full of praise for the supporters who backed the team despite yet
another disappointment. "The fans have been very good and I have to say
'Thank you very much' to them. That was a good response. It was a pity we
could not give them what they were looking for."
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Hammers beaten again
WHUFC.com
Stoke City compounded West Ham United's relegation fears with a 1-0 win at
the Boleyn Ground
27.03.2010
West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City
West Ham United's miserable run continued with a sixth straight defeat on
Saturday as Ricardo Fuller scored the only goal of a scrappy contest at the
Boleyn Ground. The Jamaica striker had only just come on when he beat Manuel
da Costa and Matthew Upson to smash the ball past the helpless Robert Green
midway through the second half. It was harsh on the home side, who had the
better of the openings before and after that crucial strike. The manager had
made five changes but there was little to show in the first ten minutes of
an instant reaction to Tuesday's heavy defeat against Wolves. It was a
tentative start to say the least with only a Jonathan Spector run in the
first quarter of an hour giving the crowd anything to get excited about
although it came to nothing. At the other end, Stoke were getting the ball
into the penalty area as quickly as possible but Robert Green was in no mood
to hang around, punching or catching anything close to his six-yard box. The
visitors made an early change introducing Andy Wilkinson with Abdoulaye Faye
hurt in a challenge on Carlton Cole. The first real chance came soon after
with Julien Faubert crossing for Mido - in for Benni McCarthy - but his
header was off target. Kieron Dyer, another change on the right wing at the
expense of Junior Stanislas, then showed some neat footwork in the box but
Stoke stifled his attempt on goal.
It was the half-hour mark before Stoke really threatened with Robert Huth
getting a free header but he wasted the chance. The home side were
struggling to make inroads, with their best moments coming with anyone
prepared to bring the ball forward as Parker did on 33 minutes, only just
missing Cole with his defence-splitting pass The England man definitely
connected two minutes later, turning his marker before fierce effort from 25
yards that Sorenson could only parry into the path of Mido. However, the
striker could not get a proper contact and the chance was gone. Parker and
Dyer had further thrusts forward but there was to be no scoring by
half-time. Gianfranco Zola made a switch at half-time, replacing Dyer with
Alessandro Diamanti while Stoke's first change came two minutes in when Dave
Kitson pulled up and Tuncay Sanli entered the fray. Parker was the main man
for the home team and his charge down of a fierce Huth free-kick summed up
his desire.
The first yellow card came on the hour with Glenn Whelan penalised for a
foul on Cole but the resulting free-kick from Diamanti only troubled those
in the the Bobby Moore Stand. Chances were few and far between after that
before Fuller, only just on for former Hammers winger Matty Etherington,
weaved his way through and scored. Ilan arrived for the final 20 minutes,
replacing Mark Noble, and the Brazilian only just failed to connect properly
with a deep Faubert cross on 79 minutes. Spector jinked his way through on
84 minutes but his final shot was never going to bring him his first West
Ham goal as Benni McCarthy arrived for Mido for the final push. That late
surge did not really materalise though with neither side doing anything of
note in the final third. Stoke seemed content to hang on to what they had
while the Hammers were to be frustrated by some resolute defending. Home
hopes went when Cole just flicked a Spector cross wide and Diamanti hit the
wall with a free-kick, leaving nerves jangling for the final six games.
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Hall heads busy weekend
WHUFC.com
There was delight for Robert Hall but disappointment for Holmar Orn
Eyjolfsson this weekend
27.03.2010
Robert Hall was on target as England kicked-off their UEFA European Under-17
Championship Elite Round qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Sweden at
Northampton Town's Sixfields on Saturday. The West Ham United striker scored
England's third goal in a comprehensive victory which puts them in a strong
position ahead of their remaining Group 7 matches against Malta and
Slovakia. The group winners will qualify for the finals, which will be held
in Liechtenstein in May. England face Malta at Burton Albion's Pirelli
Stadium on Monday and Slovakia at Sixfields on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Holmar
Orn Eyjolfsson will not play in the Belgian Cup final after KSV Roeselare
were edged out 4-3 on aggregate in their semi-final with KSV Cercle Brugge.
West Ham loanee Eyjolfsson was suspended for the second leg on Friday night
after picking up two yellow cards in previous ties. Roeselare went into the
game 3-0 down from the first leg, and fell a further goal behind when Jelle
Vossen scored for Cercle after just three minutes. Roeselare refused to give
up, scoring three times through Mahamadou Dissa's brace and Jeremy
Huyghebaert to set up a grandstand final 20 minutes. However, defender Damir
Mirvic was sent-off with 12 minutes to go, and the home side were unable to
force a dramatic victory. Eyjolfsson will remain with Roeselare for the
club's promotion/relegation play-offs, which will take place in May. After
finishing 15th in the Belgian First Division, the Flanders-based club will
take on three Second Division clubs for a place in next season's top-flight.
On Saturday afternoon, three more Hammers loanees were in action. Freddie
Sears played a full 90 minutes for Coventry City as the Sky Blues snatched a
1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The draw saw the Sky Blues stay 12th in
the Championship, nine points adrift of the play-off places. In League One,
Frank Nouble played for an hour of Swindon Town's 1-0 League One win at
Hartlepool United. Victory saw the fourth-placed Robins close the gap on
second-placed Leeds United to just one point. Elsewhere, Bondz N'Gala played
a full game for Plymouth Argyle in their 2-0 home Championship defeat by
Blackpool. The loss leaves the 23-placed Pilgrims six points from safety.
Finally, defender Matt Fry missed out on making his debut for League One
promotion-chasers Charlton Athletic in their 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.
The teenager is recovering from a knee injury and will link-up with his new
team-mates on Monday.
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West Ham 0 - 1 Stoke
BBC.co.uk
By Oliver Brett
A goal of individual brilliance from Ricardo Fuller condemned West Ham to
their sixth straight League defeat. Substitute Fuller had only been on the
pitch for two minutes when he skipped past three Hammers defenders and fired
his shot past goalkeeper Robert Green. And the result left West Ham level
with 18th-placed Hull, who have played one match fewer than the London club.
The hosts' best passage of play came in the first half, with Mido making a
terrible mess of an inviting chance. With the game still goalless, and
Stoke's early threat successfully nullified by a Hammers defence who had
started nervously, Mido found himself unmarked when Carlton Cole's shot
rebounded into his path following Thomas Sorensen's shot. But the Egypt
international, one of five changes made by under-pressure boss Gianfranco
Zola following co-owner David Sullivan's brutal public assessment of his
side's defeat by Wolves in midweek, failed to bring the rebound under
control with the ball bouncing off his thigh and the chance passed.The
quality shown by Fuller on the other hand - in what was otherwise a match of
limited calibre - lit up the game. Though his goal must have provoked
despair for Hammers fans whose team are only outside the relegation zone by
virtue of goal difference, following Hull's 2-0 win over Fulham. Fuller, who
replaced Matthew Etherington on 67 minutes after Tony Pulis had already made
two injury-enforced switches, received a long ball outside the area with his
back to goal - and there appeared to be little threat for the West Ham
defenders. However, with one skilful touch Fuller turned Manuel Da Costa,
leaving the Portuguese defender on his back, and as Scott Parker and Matthew
Upson arrived late on the scene with weak tackles the Jamaica striker calmly
drilled the ball home.
Kieron Dyer's pace down the right wing proved a menace to the Potters'
defence, but with his fitness clearly still an issue, he failed to start the
second half, giving way to Alessandro Diamanti. The Potters had four corners
in the first half and might have scored from three of them. Abdoulaye Faye,
who only lasted 25 minutes before limping off with a twisted knee, was at
the far post to meet one corner, after Dave Kitson had flicked on the
initial delivery from Liam Lawrence. His volley was cleared off the line by
Mido, and when Etherington sent over the next one, Faye headed wide from a
clear header. By then, Lawrence could have opened the scoring for Stoke but,
in a rare blemish from what was otherwise a productive performance, he
blazed a promising opportunity wide. West Ham, too enjoyed some excellent
chances of their own - Cole missing the best of them, unable to get enough
control of the loose ball to test Sorensen after being put free following an
error from Robert Huth. In a frantic finale, West Ham were sucked into
drilling long, speculative balls into the area - and generally Stoke coped
well. In injury time, they may have grabbed an equaliser when Jonathan
Spector's cross found the back of Cole's head, but the ball just sailed over
the corner of Sorensen's goal. And as the rain came down, Stoke held on to
take the points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Stoke manager Tony Pulis: "It was a fantastic goal. Ric can do that. As a
player, if he gets in that position he is so strong and his feet are so
quick he can do that. It was a special goal. "If we can get to 40 points
[Stoke are 10th with 39] that is definitely safe. We finished 12th last year
with 45 points. "It would be lovely to get 46 points. To reach the
quarter-finals of the FA Cup and to beat that tally would be a real good
season for us."
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Gianfranco Zola to consider future as West Ham boss
BBC.co.uk
Gianfranco Zola said he will consider his position as West Ham boss after
his side lost a sixth straight match on Saturday, beaten 1-0 at home to
Stoke. Zola told BBC Sport: "It is very painful and I would have to think a
lot about how the situation stands. "I need to find out what is the problem
- and if the problem is me. I will have to think about that overnight. "I
don't think it's that the players are not trying. The bottom line is to see
whether I can help them or not." West Ham co-owner David Gold, who had
backed the manager before the game, said he remained "100%" behind Zola.
Ricardo Fuller scored the winner to leave West Ham above the relegation zone
only on goal difference - and the Londoners are now on their worst losing
run in the top flight in 43 years. Initially, Zola said his thoughts were
only on "the game today and how we can sort it out". "We tried very hard, it
is very disappointing and painful for me," he added. "We are in a difficult
situation. We were pressing hard, expending a lot of energy and the goal
flattened us a little bit. "It's tough. I thought in the first half we did
quite well, it was close, Mido had a great chance. It was a balanced game.
Fuller changed the game." The result leaves West Ham level on points with
Hull but having played a game more than the Tigers, who beat Fulham on
Saturday to greatly improve their chances of climbing out of the drop zone.
West Ham's humbling 3-1 defeat by Wolves on Tuesday had left Zola under
tremendous pressure, with co-owner David Sullivan heavily criticising the
team on the club's website.
Zola felt his side gave a better performance than against Wolves but could
not hide his despair at the loss. "I told them I was much more pleased than
I was on Tuesday. Better shape and teamwork. It is just a pity," he said.
"Everything is important. The players need to be confident and to be helped,
so we can improve the situation. "It's about confidence and believing in
themselves. We have to come though these tough moments. I have total faith
that players will react in the right way. "It's going to be tough but we are
still out of the bottom three."
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They shoot horses, don't they?
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Irons winger Kieron Dyer faces another spell on the sidelines after breaking
down during today's 1-0 home defeat against Stoke. The 31-year-old former
English international started today's game against the Potters but was
substituted at the break after sustaining an injury, the details of which
remain unknown at present, during the first half. Dyer, who moved from
Newcastle to West Ham for £6million in August 2007 has made 11 appearances
for the Hammers this season but is yet to play a full 90 minutes. Today was
his fifth start of the season but barring the recent defeat at Chelsea, Dyer
- who still has another 17 months of his four-year contract remaining - has
failed to play for more than an hour since last September.
Dyer-y of a Sicknote - 2009/10 season
August
Wolves (a) - 73 minutes (subbed)
Blackburn (a) - (sub) 23 minutes
September
Liverpool (h) - (sub) 24 minutes
Bolton (a) - 75 minutes (subbed)
December
Man Utd (h) - (sub) 23 minutes
Birmingham (a) - (sub) 22 minutes
Bolton (a) - 21 minutes (subbed)
February
Man Utd (a) - (sub) 15 minutes
March
Bolton (h) - (sub) 43 minutes
Chelsea (a) - 68 minutes (subbed)
Stoke (h) - 45 minutes (subbed)
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Zola on ... Stoke
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
The predicatable barrage of questions regarding his immediate future were
waiting for Gianfranco Zola as he reflected on defeat to Stoke....
Improvement on Wolves?
I think that the good thing was that at least the team performed better as a
team. We just couldn't get the final touch. The end product was not as good
as I expected it to be and that was the difference, really.
We had better team shape and we tried really hard. Fuller made a difference
when he came on with a piece of quality. Sometimes in games, especially when
they are in a tight situation like this one, one bit of quality can make the
difference and that was definitely the case.
What about your future?
I think the defeats were very painful and I will have to think a lot about
how the situation stands and find the solutions. We'll see what we can do.
Could you walk away?
I'm saying that I will have to consider a lot about today's game. There is a
lot to think about. I'm not saying or hinting towards anything.
Have you spoken to the owners?
The owners are behind us. They support us. They saw that the team tried very
hard today and they were very supportive. That is a very good starting
point.
Do you feel you have player backing?
I think the performance was okay. If you saw the way the players worked hard
for us, it tells you a lot about it. I don't think the players are playing
against us. I don't see that. Trust me, if I had seen something like this,
you wouldn't be talking to me right now.
Are you getting the best out of them?
Looking at the results, I can honestly say no, but there are circumstances.
As I said, that's one of the considerations that I have to make. I'm not
looking for excuses – we are not performing as well as we should and I take
responsibility for that, so we need to improve them.
Are you seriously considering walking away?
Right now, I'm flat because we lost another game and that was the sixth game
in a row that we have lost and that's not good for me. I have to see what
the problem is. I'm not considering anything other than finding out the
problems – if the problem is me, why not, but I will have to think over a
lot.
Overnight?
I will think overnight and see what the problem is. I don't think the
problem is that the players are not trying hard for us. The bottom line is
if I can help them or not. I have a big bond and legacy with the players.
Fans still with the team?
The fans have been very good today and I have to say 'thank you very much'
to them. That was a good response. It was a pity we could not give them what
they were looking for.
You would resign if in club's best interests?
If I see that I cannot do a good job for this club, I am here just for that.
I have no other agendas other than doing a good job for this club, so I will
consider overnight whether I am doing a good job or not.
Thoughts on Sullivan comments?
I have already said what I think about that and I think it hasn't been
helpful, but today the owners came over after another defeat and they were
supportive, which is very good. The players appreciate that. It will be a
help for them. They are feeling down, I'm feeling down, so to have their
support is very good.
Do you think you'll be sacked?
I don't know. I don't think so, and anyway, it's not a problem, it's not a
danger for me. I know what my duties are and I know right now the situation
is not going the way it should. Obviously I'm prepared to accept the
situation.
Will you be in charge next weekend?
I think so. I think it would have to be… We'll see what happens. I can't say
what is going to happen, but I'm confident.
Let me think a lot overnight. That's the bottom line. I have to see if I am
really the right man. If I don't see that I'm the man then I will let you
know. Right now, I think the players are behind us. I just think we need to
change something to be more helpful to them.
How worried about relegation situation?
Six defeats with a difficult game coming on Sunday is not great, but as I
said, looking out there, the players are committed and we're going to be
working on making that commitment more effective.
Will you speak to owners again over weekend?
We will be talking. It will be a weekend when we are talking to each other.
Does admission make owners think you have admitted defeat?
Why? I'm honest and I tell you the situation. I'm not saying if I'm
confident or not. If I wasn't confident I wouldn't be… Don't try to change
the situation into another one. I'm trying to be honest. As I said, I want
to do a good job. If I'm not able to do a good job I will tell you.
Steve Clarke?
Steve is a fighter and we'll be working hard to improve the situation.
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20100327 Zola to consider future
Italian could walk after defeat to Stoke
Last updated: 27th March 2010
SSN
Gianfranco Zola will consider his future overnight after West Ham's 1-0
defeat to Stoke. West Ham equalled an unwanted 43-year record on Saturday as
Ricardo Fuller's 69th minute strike saw the Potters inflict a sixth straight
defeat on the Hammers at Upton Park. Only a better goal difference is
keeping the East Londoners out of the drop zone, but third bottom Hull City
- who beat Fulham to go level with Zola's side - have a game in hand on
their relegation rivals. Speculation has been rife about the Italian's
future throughout the week and the Hammers tactician has hinted he could
leave the club. "I don't want to talk about it (leaving), I'm so
disappointed about today's game - that is not in my mind now and the rest we
will see," Zola told Sky Sports. Asked whether he would consider resigning,
Zola said: "I have to find out what the problem is. If the problem is me
then why not? "The players are trying hard for us. The bottom line is to see
whether I can help them or not. "I will consider overnight whether I am
doing a good job or not."
West Ham's 3-1 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday saw co-owner David Sullivan
describe the performance as "pathetic" and "shambolic", but Zola thought his
side's latest loss was an improvement from the midweek result. "I think it
was better than the way we played the other day, unfortunately it wasn't
enough to win the game but it was better than the game midweek. "In the
first half we played well but in the second half it was a pity as Fuller's
goal changed the game." Mido replaced Benni McCarthy in the West Ham
starting line-up on Saturday and the on-loan Egyptian striker squandered the
Hammers' best chance of the match when he fluffed his lines from six yards
in the 35th minute. Zola admitted he spoke to the former Tottenham forward
about the miss and gave the 27-year-old the benefit of the doubt. "He told
me it bounced too high so he couldn't convert it and that was unfortunate,"
he added.
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Gold still backing Zola
West Ham co-owner '100 per cent' behind manager
Last updated: 27th March 2010
SSN
David Gold has told Gianfranco Zola that West Ham's owners remain '100 per
cent' behind him following the loss to Stoke. Ricardo Fuller scored the only
goal of the game at Upton Park to condemn the Hammers to their sixth
successive Premier League defeat. Zola's position as manager had already
come under intense scrutiny prior to the weekend and there was speculation
that his days in the job could be numbered. The Italian is to consider his
future overnight after holding talks with co-owners Gold and David Sullivan
immediately after the clash with Stoke. Gold maintains that he is still
backing Zola, although he admits results have not been good enough and must
start to improve at once. West Ham are currently outside the relegation zone
only by virtue of having a better goal difference than Hull City, while
there are six games of the season remaining. "All I can say to you is that
we had a meeting with him, we assured him that we were right behind him,"
Gold told Sky Sports News. "We have got six very, very difficult games and
he has got to get some results for us, but we are absolutely 100 per cent
behind him." Asked for confirmation that if Zola was to leave his post it
would be his decision rather than the owners', Gold replied: "It certainly
won't be my decision as we speak because my decision is that he is our
manager as we speak."
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Fuller magic sinks Hammers
Pressure mounts on Zola as Stoke take Upton Park spoils
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 27th March 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Ricardo Fuller may have only come on for the last 24
minutes but the Jamaican striker's wonderful individual effort proved the
difference on the day and he is a deserved winner of today's gong.
Miss of the match: On-loan striker Mido was guilty of squandering the best
chance of the first-half as he made a royal mess of his shot from six yards
and it proved a costly one bearing how the match turned out.
Save of the match: Robert Green was one of the few West Ham players to turn
out a decent performance and his stop to deny Tuncay's blast in the
second-half was his best of the day.
Talking point: Should Zola remain Hammers boss after this latest defeat and
can Stoke secure a top-10 finish after their latest away success?
West Ham's hopes of Premier League survival took another hammer blow as
Ricardo Fuller came off the bench to score Stoke's winner at Upton Park. It
was a moment of scintillating brilliance in an otherwise scrappy affair that
separated the sides as Fuller scored only his second league goal of the
season with a stunning solo effort to boost the Potters' hopes of a top-10
finish. But all eyes will be on Gianfranco Zola, whose side have now lost
their last six league games - their worst run in 43 years - and sink closer
to the relegation zone after Hull City beat Fulham to go level with the East
Londoners with a game in hand. Under-fire Zola was told he would not be
sacked even if his team lost, but with only goal difference keeping the
Hammers out of the relegation zone, pressure will be immense on the Italian
to deliver with just six games left in the season. West Ham co-owner David
Sullivan had blasted the midweek 3-1 defeat to Wolves as "pathetic" and
"appalling" and there was little evidence of an improvement on Saturday. In
an open letter to supporters Sullivan also pointed to West Ham's lack of
quality players and, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole apart, that was clearly
evident as they once again lacked passion and ideas.
Zola made five changes from the Wolves defeat, a couple of which raised more
than a few eyebrows around Upton Park. Mido, who came in for Benni McCarthy
up front, spent most of the game off the pace and missed a sitter while
Manuel Da Costa was at fault for Fuller's goal. Kieron Dyer came into the
team but only lasted until half-time while the industrious Mark Noble was
sacrificed early but Zola persevered with Mido. Stoke, who moved up to 10th
place with the victory, featured two changes with Liam Lawrence and Mamady
Sidibe both promoted into the starting team. It was the visitors who had the
first attempt on goal after Jonathan Spector's attempted clearance on the
edge of the West Ham box had crashed against Lawrence's arm. Referee Andre
Marriner waved play-on as Lawrence pounced on the loose ball but his shot
flew over the bar. West Ham dealt well with Rory Delap's long throws -
helped by the installation of some new advertising hoardings - but were less
than convincing in defending corners and were fortunate Abdoulaye Faye
squandered two chances. Dave Kitson's flick fell to Faye at the back post
but Mido dived in at the last minute to block his shot. When Matthew
Etherington, on his first return to Upton Park since leaving West Ham for
Stoke, whipped in another corner Faye rose highest but directed his header
wide. Parker sparked a West Ham counter-attack with another run through the
heart of the Stoke midfield and he slid a perfectly-weighted pass through
for Cole. But Stoke keeper Thomas Sorenson was off his line quickly and he
smothered the chance just as Cole looked to touch the ball past him. West
Ham had 19 shots on goal against Wolves, managing only a hollow injury-time
consolation, and they were similarly profligate today. Cole and Parker
apart, West Ham lacked the quality and composure in the final third as
chances went begging, with Mido twice the guilty party. Cole unleashed a
fierce left-footed strike from the edge of the box which Sorenson did well
to block but Mido made a hash of the rebound. Mido was 10 yards out and with
only a sprawling keeper to beat but he could not bring the rebound under
control and it ricocheted away off his thigh. Parker fed Valon Behrami on
the left of the Stoke box but the Swiss international midfielder blasted his
shot wide of the near post.
Dyer was replaced at half-time by Alessandro Diamanti and Stoke were forced
into a change two minutes into the second period when Tuncay Sanli came on
for the injured Kitson.
Parker raced out of the wall to block a Robert Huth piledriver and took the
ball flush in the face but picked himself up to continue as West Ham's
heartbeat. Cole needed treatment but continued and jinked his way into space
before attempting to curl a 25-yard effort round Sorenson but it hardly
troubled the Stoke keeper. Cole was then hauled down by Glenn Whelan and
Diamanti tried his luck from 35 yards out but blasted his shot high into the
Bobby Moore Stand and then held up his hands in apology. Behrami launched a
counter-attack after West Ham had dealt with a Stoke free-kick and he ran 70
yards but could not find space either to shoot or pick out Cole and was
eventually crowded out in the box. Fuller was sent on for Etherington and
within two minutes he had scored the winner with a brilliant solo effort.
Fuller collected the long ball from Collins on the left edge of the box,
left Da Costa flailing, cut past Parker and inside Matthew Upson before
rifling his shot past Robert Green. West Ham desperately chased an equaliser
but fired blanks. Cole saw a header drift just wide and Diamanti drilled a
last-minute free-kick straight into the wall - symptomatic of West Ham's
lack of quality.
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Zola set to weigh up future
The Sun
GIANFRANCO ZOLA has said he will consider his future as West Ham manager
following the 1-0 home loss to Stoke. Hull's victory over Fulham at the KC
Stadium means that only goal difference now separates West Ham from the
relegation zone. Asked whether he would consider resigning, Zola said: "I
have to find out what the problem is. If the problem is me then why not?
"The players are trying hard for us. The bottom line is to see whether I can
help them or not. "I will consider overnight whether I am doing a good job
or not." Zola continued: "Right now I am flat because we lost another game
and it is the sixth defeat in a row and it is not good for me. "It is very
painful and I will think a lot about how the situation stands and find a
solution. We will see what we can do. "I will have to consider a lot about
today's game. There is a lot to think about. I am not hinting towards
anything. "If I don't think I am the man I will let you know but right now
the players are behind us, we just need to change something to be more
helpful towards them."
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