WHUFC.com
Goals from Manuel da Costa and Ilan gave the Hammers a precious point away
to Everton on Sunday
04.04.2010
Everton 2-2 West Ham United
West Ham United battled back superbly to end a six-game losing run with a
dynamic second-half display at Everton on Easter Sunday that fully merited a
point.
The Hammers twice came from behind to equalise through Manuel da Costa and
Ilan, just when the game seemed beyond them after goals from Everton pair
Dinyar Bilyaletdinov and Yakubu. The only low note of the contest, aside
from a missed Mido penalty, was that man of the match - man of the season -
Scott Parker will be absent for the next two matches after a tenth yellow
card of the campaign.
The fantastic finish was a far cry to the start of the day when Valon
Behrami picked up a muscle injury in the warm-up, meaning Gianfranco Zola
had to draft in Junior Stanislas as a late change. The manager had already
left Alessandro Diamanti behind in London with a groin problem.
Everton, in contrast, began like a team who had not lost in nine matches at
Goodison Park, with the last seven of those being victories. They dominated
all of the opening stages and the visitors' feelings of being hard done by
were summed up by the harsh 16th-minute caution for Parker's foul on Cahill.
The second yellow card of the contest 20 minutes later was even more
controversial. Sylvain Distin tripped up Carlton Cole as he went clear from
Parker's perfect pass. Referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot but, despite
the certain goalscoring chance, the card for Distan was inexplicably not of
the red variety.
That was not the worst of it though. For the second awayday in a row, the
Hammers were to miss from the spot. After Diamanti had spurned a golden
chance at Arsenal a fortnight ago, Mido was the culprit this time. The Egypt
striker's tame kick was pushed around the post by Tim Howard.
The Hammers were livelier than at any previous time in the period just after
the interval. Mido was moved closer to strike partner Cole and the pair
looked to link up on a couple of occasions although there was still no
direct threat on Howard's goal. Parker, as ever was the driving force, and
his surge on 56 minutes led to Cahill being cautioned for a lunge.
Two minutes later, Stanislas did well to get into the area and he fed the
ball for Mido on the edge of the six-yard box. The striker's touch was not
the best but it was enough to lead to a corner. From that, the ball was
worked to Noble who showed tenacious play before crashing an effort against
the crossbar with Howard beaten.
Everton eventually cleared for a corner but Noble was able to make his next
contribution count. His delivery was perfect into the area and in a tangle
of legs, Da Costa did brilliantly to fire the ball beyond Howard. With an
hour gone, the Hammers were flying. On 65 minutes, Stanislas raced away and
slipped Cole in but the finish was wayward.
Noble's committed display saw him earn a 70th-minute yellow card and seconds
later the Hammers were handed a major slice of luck when Da Costa looked to
have fouled Louis Saha. The referee this time resisted the urge to point to
the spot.
While Yakubu was already on for Bilyaletdinov, Zola made his first change on
78 minutes when Mido was replaced by Ilan. By now the match was a scrappier
contest, with both sides showing industry but failing to trouble the
keepers. Jack Rodwell was Everton's second change for Leon Osman but it was
their first sub who shone on 85 minutes.
Leighton Baines was given time and space on the left wing to cross, and his
perfect delivery for Yakubu saw him direct his header beyond the despairing
Robert Green. That seemed that for the Hammers, and a seventh straight
defeat. However, barely two minutes later, a simply sublime right-wing cross
from Julien Faubert was met by Ilan with a wonderful diving header.
After a few nervous moments in the closing stages, referee Webb blew time on
the contest and, more significantly, the end of a dreadful run of results. A
precious point - coupled with results involving all the teams around them in
the table going the Hammers' way - is how it will be viewed by the
travelling fans heading home.
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Zola proud of players
WHUFC.com
The manager was delighted with the team spirit in earning a battling point
at Goodison Park
04.04.2010
Gianfranco Zola has spoken of the fighting spirit in the West Ham United
ranks after a tremendous battling display away at Everton on Easter Sunday.
The manager had said going into the 2-2 draw that his team had trained very
well in the week and shown a determination to prove they were better than
recent results had suggested. While those outside the club had lined up to
have their say, Zola said everyone at the club had resolved to stick
together.
"I and all the team decided we have to fight until the end," he said. "No
matter what, we are going to fight until the end. Today was a clear
demonstration that we will never give up. To go 2-1 down could have been a
massive blow but we reacted and it was brilliant. I was very pleased with
what they did."
Having been visited by the chairman in the tunnel post-match and witnesses
tremendous support from the travelling fans, Zola added: "Mr Gold was
pleased for the performance for the players as everybody was. It has been a
great day for us. The result gave us a great satisfaction. Everton are not a
bad team, they have beaten all the best teams here so it is a very good
performance."
Zola had asked his men to have "no regrets" when they came off the pitch and
that was the case. No one embodied that more than Scott Parker, who was
simply magnificent yet again. The most nailed on Hammer of the Year ever, it
would seem. However, the manager said they would cope with his two-match
suspension while the club wait for news on Valon Behrami's injury in the
warm-up.
"Scott is an important player but I am sure that the others will run and
fight hard to make sure his absence is not too big. It is important that
after a long spell of defeats to have this point. It will give us a lot of
confidence plus I believe we have found extra spirit for the next match."
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Parker perfect
WHUFC.com
The club's star man was again in fine form at Goodison Park - to the
surprise of no one
04.04.2010
Hammer of the Year, player of the month, man of the match. Scott Parker's
display at Goodison Park on Sunday summed up a man in the form of his career
and the determination of a team to ensure a disappointing campaign finishes
on a high. The midfielder was a powerhouse against a strong Everton team and
led by example as the Hammers kept going to earn a precious 2-2 draw.
"It was a battling point," said Parker. "You could see at the end how we are
delighted with that. We have been on a bad run and a lot has been in the
press over the last couple of weeks - some right stuff and some wrong stuff.
We have got a big spirit in the training ground and we deserved a point and
we can push on from here.
"It is a statement of character. We needed to come out and show we have a
siege mentality. We have gone down twice at Goodison and kept going. It is a
good starting point. It is going to be tough for the rest of the season but
we are up for it."
Parker had benefited from three days' break at the start of the week and
said he had seen a terrific attitude at Chadwell Heath in recent days. "The
one thing is we have really dug in. We have stuck together all week and put
in some good training sessions and worked as a unit
"We were much more organised as a team and as an outfit. In the second half
we were the better side. We maybe could have got them on the counter but we
won't get greedy."
To see Everton take a 2-1 lead so late in the contest would have been a
Hammer blow for many sides - "when you are down where we are, when one goal
goes in sometimes it feels like two" - but Parker reiterated the fightback
showed "good spirit".
He added: "I really hope we can push on. We all deserve it - players and
fans - and hopefully we can go on and do that."
The England man will miss the next two matches through suspension but has
faith in his colleagues. "I am very disappointed to miss two games having
been sitting on [a tenth yellow card] for six or seven games. I only had the
next game to get through and it was cleared.
"I will take the result over that though any day and hopefully when I come
back we will be in a good position and kick on."
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Fanimo and Turgott denied
WHUFC.com
The club's two England Under-16 internationals were frustrated as England
lost to Portugal on Monday
05.04.2010
Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott had to settle for runners-up medals after
England lost out on penalties in the final of the Montaigu Tournament in
France. The U16 event has been played out over the last week with the West
Ham United pair more than playing their part in the Young Lions reaching
Monday's final against Portugal. In the showpiece, the Iberian nation took
the lead on 13 minutes but Robbie Cotton equalised just before the half-hour
mark. Turgott played for 72 minutes while, Fanimo was a 49th-minute
substitute. Neither could add to the scoring though and the match - and the
tournament - was destined to be decided in a shoot-out. England, who had not
tasted defeat in their previous seven matches, lost out 3-1 from the spot
but can still hold their heads high. The Young Lions had already won the
Victory Shield event for home nations.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
A united squad and a resolve to avoid relegation were evident for Gianfranco
Zola to see at Everton
05.04.2010
Gianfranco Zola talked up the seriousness of the survival fight facing West
Ham United despite the euphoria of a late equaliser at Everton on Sunday
afternoon.
Evoking the memorable words of Bill Shankly, the Hammers manager said: "I
wouldn't say the last five games are a matter of life or death but it is
very close. We know what football is like. We are determined to fight until
the end. We are not going to leave anything in the bag. It is a great
encouragement for me and everybody."
The point earned from the 2-2 draw - thanks to equalising goals from Manuel
da Costa and Ilan after Everton twice took the lead through Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov and Yakubu - could well prove pivotal to the prospects of
securing Premier League safety after the club's main rivals all slipped up.
Zola said the achievement was magnified by the obstacles his team had
overcome.
"It was tough out there. We have had everything against us again. We lost
Valon Behram in the warm-up and we went one-nil down. It was the only
mistake we made in the first half but we never gave up. We came back and in
the second half we equalised, we played well.
"The last goal [from Yakubu] could have been a blow for everybody but we
reacted and scored an equaliser straight away. It showed that we don't give
up for anything. That is the point. Don't forget that Everton have beaten
all the best teams at this ground and are a team on top form. What we did
was not a simple thing."
Behrami had wanted to travel to Goodison despite a knee knock that
ultimately did not stand up to the rigours of the warm-up. With the
outstanding Scott Parker suspended for two matches, Zola is hopeful Behrami
will be back to face Sunderland next week when Alessandro Diamanti should
also return from a groin problem.
"Parker has been very good. A leader, he is one of those who leads by
example. We are going to miss him obviously but I am sure with this spirit
and everyone else will work harder to make sure his absence is not too big.
Valon was doubtful before but he wanted to come here and try but
unfortunately he felt it again in the warm-up."
Whoever he fields next time around in the crunch home date with Sunderland,
Zola is confident in the attitude he has seen in the camp. "It was a
difficult situation but despite that we didn't want to stop fighting. That
is what we said to each other yesterday. No matter what we fight until the
end.
"We didn't give up and this was a perfect example.I am delighted for my
staff. This week, Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen, Antonio Pintus and Kevin
Hitchcock have been working hard with the players - to keep them together,
to cheer them up and to organise them. They did a brilliant job. I want to
share everything with them."
Zola was questioned in some quarters for giving his players a break but he
was adamant. "It was very important. It was massive. They had played three
tough games in seven days - three defeats. You can imagine what the
condition was. It was necessary for them to go and clear their minds and
then come back to train hard."
Revealing that the dressing room atmosphere afterwards was "fantastic", Zola
said there was a resolve that has him confident in the chances of avoiding
relegation. "Sometimes we have made mistakes but we have been together. All
the criticism has probably made us stronger. We were together but it has
made us stronger.
"We are very much into [what we have to do]. No doubt about it. Getting a
draw was very important because it will give morale, strength and confidence
for the next match we are going to play on Saturday."
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Everton 2 - 2 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Ilan brought West Ham level for the second time with a flying header
By Phil Dawkes
Struggling West Ham ended a run of six straight defeats by earning a
deserved and vital point at in-form Everton. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov headed
Everton into a first-half lead that keeper Tim Howard preserved by saving a
penalty from Mido after a foul on Carlton Cole. West Ham were rewarded for
their second half endeavour when Manuel Da Costa bundled in to level from a
corner. Everton substitute Yakubu's late header seemed to have won it, but
two minutes later Araujo Ilan squared the match. The point is a hard-earned
but fully warranted reward for Gianfranco Zola's struggling Hammers, who
after a first half in which nothing went right for them, rallied in the
second and looked far from a side who prior to this game had lost a club
record six successive Premier League games.
During a frustrating first half, the West Ham boss cut an exasperated figure
on the Goodison Park touchline as his side not only allowed a largely
under-par Everton to take the lead with their first - and a rare - effort on
goal but proved their own worst enemy by wasting an opportunity to draw
level from the spot. Bilyaletdinov's opener could have been avoided had
Jonathan Spector's headed clearance from a Leighton Baines cross been better
but instead it allowed Tim Cahill to nod the ball back into the six-yard box
where the Russian was lurking to glance a header of his own past Robert
Green. Mido's penalty, awarded after Cole had tumbled following a tangle of
legs with Toffees defender Sylvain Distin, was tame and Howard was able to
palm it past the post with relative ease. However, after the break West Ham
emerged a transformed side with the bit between their teeth and took the
game to their opponents with the fight and desperation you would expect from
a side in their predicament. That they came back from a goal down not once
but twice demonstrates a spirit many thought had deserted the Upton Park
ranks and suggests they are fully equipped with the qualities they need to
avoid dropping out of the division. On the hour their new-found belief was
rewarded when Da Costa muscled his way through a body of players to bundle
the ball home after Cole and Cahill had challenged ineffectively for it from
a corner It sparked an enthralling final half hour, in which Cole dragged an
effort wide for the visitors and Louis Saha saw a penalty shout waved away
for the home side after he fell under a tackle from Da Costa, before Yakubu
headed home a pinpoint left-wing cross from Baines to seemingly earn Everton
their eighth successive home league win.
However, two minutes later Julien Faubert delivered a superb cross from the
right and substitute Ilan threw himself forward and head home to earn the
Hammers what could be a crucial point. But it comes at a cost for West Ham,
who will be without influential midfielder Scott Parker, who put in a
towering performance here, for the next two matches because of suspension
after collecting his 10th booking of the season for a lunging tackle on
Cahill.
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Gianfranco Zola delighted with West Ham fighting spirit
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola hailed his team after they twice fought back
from one down to draw 2-2 at Everton. The point avoided a seventh successive
loss and leaves them one point above the drop zone with five games left.
Following Araujo Ilan's dramatic late headed equaliser, Zola said: "At 2-1,
it could have been a massive blow but we reacted and it was brilliant. "It
has been a great day. It will give us a lot of confidence and that will be
very important for the next matches." The Italian manager went into the
match under huge pressure having suffered a Premier League club record six
straight defeats which left West Ham hovering one place above the three
relegation spots, but only on goal difference.
Zola gave his players three days off to recharge their batteries after
successive home defeats against Wolves and Stoke, and they put in a spirited
performance. Despite Mido missing a penalty, Zola's men twice came from
behind. Manuel da Costa cancelled out Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's first-half
header, and Ilan scored just three minutes after Yakubu's strike appeared to
have sealed it for the Toffees, who had won their previous seven matches at
home. "We decided to fight until the end and today was a clear demonstration
that we kept our promise because we never gave up," Zola added. "I'm very
pleased with my team. If you have that kind of attitude, you have no
regrets. It was fantastic. I am going to get drunk tonight! "I wouldn't say
the last five games are going to be a matter of life and death - but very
close. We know what football is like but we are not going to hold anything
back."
The big disappointment for Zola was a booking for midfielder Scott Parker
who will now miss the next two games - at home to Sunderland and a trip to
Liverpool - through suspension after he collected his 10th yellow card of
the season. Although Everton boss David Moyes conceded a draw had been a
fair result, he was angry his side had been denied a penalty when Louis Saha
went down under a Da Costa challenge. "I think that was a crucial moment,"
said Moyes. "We've played better this season but we looked as though not
playing great we were going to win the game, but it was not to be. I don't
think either team did enough to worry the keepers. "I have to give West Ham
credit, though. They made it hard for us with a lot of people behind the
ball and we just didn't have enough to break them down."
The draw leaves Everton in eighth with only a mathematical chance of
qualifying for the Champions League as they are nine points behind
fourth-place Manchester City.
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Everton 2 West Ham Utd 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 4th April 2010
By: Staff Writer No.2
United came away from Goodison Park with a well-deserved point after today's
encounter with Everton. Despite a busy start for the Irons it looked like
another defeat was on the cards after a first half in which absolutely
nothing went right for Zola's men who were looking to end a run that had
seen them lose six on the trot. Things started to go wrong before the match
had even started with Valon Behrami picking up what looked like a muscle
strain in the pre-match warm up. Things went from bad to worse when ref
Howard Webb issued a yellow card for a Parker challenge that had clearly won
the ball. What was not to be Webb's last bafflingly inept decision of the
day means that Parker will miss the forthcoming matches against Sunderland
and Liverpool.
Things went from bad to worse on 24 minutes when Spector headed a ball
straight up in the air and Bilyaledtinov flicked Cahill's unchallenged
header past Green from close range. Hammers were granted a lifeline on 37
minutes when Carlton Cole was put clean through by Parker's superb through
ball. Distin upended the striker when clean through but disgracefully
avoided the red card that the denial of goalscoring opportunity should have
brought as Webb decided that a yellow should suffice.
Mido decided to take the penalty but his weak effort made it far too easy
for Howard to save down to his right and the half ended with most observers
wondering what more could go wrong.
Whatever was said at half-time it certainly worked for once. Hammers started
the second period by far the better team and might have levelled just short
of the hour when Noble's clever chip came back off the crossbar before being
smuggled away for a corner. The respite for the home side was short lived as
Cole and Cahil challenged for the ball, Da Costa was closest to the loose
ball and, despite falling forward, managed to get enough on the ball to push
it past Howard to give the visitors a much-deserved equaliser.
Carlton Cole then scuffed a shot wide following a good move before United
enjoyed their first spot of good fortune at the hands of Webb. Saha beat Da
Costa to the ball and went down under a challenge best described as clumsy.
However, possibly mindful of his numerous errors in favour of the home side
in the first half, Webb elected to wave play on to deny the home side a
penalty - though it appeared that the initial contact had taken place
outside the box.
All the hard work seemed to have been for nothing with 5 minutes of normal
time left when poor defending in the air once more allowed sub Yakubu to put
another close-range header.
However, the home side's lead lasted but two minutes as Julien Faubert
capped a decent run with an inch-perfect ball for sub Ilan to place a
marvellous diving header home to level the scores and give the visitors the
least that they deserved after an excellent 45 minutes.
The point leaves the Irons three points behind Wigan with a vastly superior
goal difference and it is to be hoped that the spirit shown on Merseyside
can be carried forward into the next few vital matches.
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Zola on ... Everton
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 5th April 2010
By: Staff Writer
A delighted Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on a vital draw at Goodison
Park...
You must be proud?
I am. It was tough out there. We have had everything against us again. We
lost Valon Behram in the warm-up and we went one-nil down. It was the only
mistake we made in the first half but we never gave up. We came back and in
the second half we equalised, we played well.
The last goal could have been a blow for everybody but we reacted and scored
an equaliser straight away. It showed that we don't give up for anything.
That is the point. Don't forget that Everton have beaten all the best teams
at this ground and are a team on top form. What we did was not a simple
thing.
Does it prove you were to right to carry on?
I have no thoughts other than the fact I am pleased for my team. It was a
difficult situation but despite that we didn't want to stop fighting. That
is what we said to each other yesterday. No matter what, we fight til the
end. I know there are things against us but we don't give up and today was a
perfect example.
Let me say, I am delighted for my staff. This week Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen,
Antonio Pintus and Kevin Hitchcock have been working hard with the players,
to keep them together, to cheer them up and to organise them for today. They
did a brilliant job. I want to share everything with them.
Show of character? Make you more certain about what you are doing?
It is great encouragement for me and everybody. I wouldn't say the last five
games are a matter of life or death but it is very close. We know what
football is like. We are determined to fight until the end. We are not going
to leave anything in the bag.
Important to have time off?
It was very important. They came from playing three tough games in seven
days - it was three defeats and two at home. You can imagine what their
condition was and it was necessary for them to go and clear their minds and
then come back to train hard.
Comments brought you together?
I don't think that we have been… this team has been together. Sometimes we
have made mistakes but we have been together. All the criticism probably
made us stronger. We were together but it has made us stronger
Did you expect Parker to take penalty?
No. The penalty taker was Mido.
Way to respond?
At the end of the day what matters is what you do on the pitch. The players
have shown that we only want to focus on football. Other things we can't
stop because people want to give opinions and judge us. But as far as we are
concerned, we are 100 per cent concerned on football and have to make it
right on the pitch.
Confident about avoiding relegation?
We are very much into it. No doubt about it. Getting a draw here today was
very important because it will boost morale and give us strength and
confidence for the next match.
Parker outstanding?
He has been very good. A leader, he is one of those who leads by example. We
are going to miss him obviously but I am sure with this spirit everyone else
will work harder to make sure his absence is not too big.
Mood in the dressing room?
It was a fantastic atmosphere. I am going to get drunk tonight!
Behrami?
A knee problem. He was doubtful before but he wanted to come here and try,
but unfortunately he felt it again in the warm-up.
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Upson backing Zola
Hammers defender feels side can beat the drop
By Mike Barton Last updated: 5th April 2010
SSN
West Ham defender Matthew Upson has maintained that the whole squad are
united behind under-pressure boss Gianfranco Zola. Upson was part of the
side that battled to salvage a 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park on
Sunday to end a week of turmoil in East London on a positive note. Zola has
come under increasing fire after a run of six straight league defeats left
the Hammers on the brink of the relegation zone. However, Hull's defeat at
Stoke on Saturday allowed the struggling Hammers to move a point away from
their rivals, and Upson wants the side to kick on under their current boss.
"I think we can stay up, I think we are good enough," he said. "We are aware
of the situation and the manager's feelings and commitment. The manager
deals with it with the players to their faces. "Whatever else is said and
done, we know the truth and we are together as a group. "We are totally
understanding and clear of the picture of what is going on. We are putting
everything we can together."
With just five games to go until the end of the season, the England defender
is confident that his side can put together the run of results required to
save their Premier League status after stopping their string of defeats. "We
had a really good week, we got together as a group and worked hard on the
training pitch on things we had been doing poorly over the last few games,"
Upson added. "It is something to build on but there is plenty of work left
to do. "There are not a lot of hours of football but we are in the mix and
it is up to us to drag ourselves out of it. "We had a really good week, we
got together as a group and worked hard on the training pitch on things we
had been doing poorly over the last few games."We need to get together again
this week, have a good strategy for the weekend and commit to it."
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Zola delighted with spirit
Hammers boss buoyed with last-gasp point at Goodison
By James Riach Last updated: 4th April 2010
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was delighted with his team's fighting
spirit after they fought back to draw 2-2 with Everton. Despite going behind
twice at Goodison Park, the Hammers hit back to earn a vital point in their
quest to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season. Indeed, even
after Yakubu had given the Toffees a 2-1 lead on 85 minutes, the Londoners
responded two minutes later with an excellent diving header from Ilan to
save the game. After a torrid run of results the draw looked to have buoyed
the Upton Park outfit at the final whistle, and manager Zola expressed his
pleasure. "We decided to fight until the end and today was a clear
demonstration that we kept our promise because we never gave up," he told
Sky Sports. "At 2-1, it could have been a massive blow but we reacted and it
was brilliant. "I'm very pleased with my team today. If you have that kind
of attitude, you have no regrets. "It has been a great day for us. I think
it will give a lot of confidence to the players and that will be very
important for the next matches. "The result gave us great satisfaction
because this team Everton is not a bad team. "It is important after a long
spell of defeats to have this point. I think it will give a lot of
confidence to the players. "Plus I believe that we found extra spirit today.
That will be very important for the next matches."
The only downside for the Hammers is that man of the match Scott Parker will
be suspended for two games after picking up another booking. Zola added:
"Scott Parker is an important player but I'm sure that the others will run
and fight hard to make sure his absence is not too big." The Italian
tactician was under immense pressure before the match on Merseyside, with
the threat of relegation becoming a reality in East London in recent weeks.
Zola opted to take a break to Sardinia during the week, whilst giving his
players a couple of days off, and he thinks his decision paid dividends. He
remarked: "I didn't feel vindicated about it. I just thought it was the
right thing and today's result proved that I was right." Asked what co-owner
David Gold said after the match, Zola said: "He was pleased, pleased for the
performance, for the players."
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Hammers hold on at Everton
Zola's men show fighting spirit to secure a crucial point on Merseyside
By James Riach Last updated: 4th April 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Parker was everywhere today, breaking up the play while
offering a creative spark also.
Goal of the match: Substitute Ilan met Faubert's inviting cross with a fine
diving header to stun Everton.
Moment of the match: Distin only received yellow for bringing down Cole
inside the area but he was the last man.
Save of the match: Mido's penalty lacked conviction but Howard still had to
be at full stretch to tip the penalty wide.
Talking points: Can Everton forget about Europe now? Will this result and
performance galvanise the Hammers?
West Ham earned a valuable point in their quest to avoid relegation from the
Premier League after a 2-2 draw at Everton. With Burnley and Hull both
suffering defeats on Saturday, Gianfranco Zola's men travelled to Goodison
Park in the knowledge that they could climb away from the chasing pack at
the bottom of the table. But their intentions were dealt a blow in the 24th
minute when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov glanced a header in from close range to
give the Toffees the lead, and things went from bad to worse before
half-time as Mido saw a penalty saved by Tim Howard after Carlton Cole had
been fouled by Sylvain Distin just inside the Everton box. The Hammers
stepped up the pace after the break, though, and equalised when defender
Manuel Da Costa bundled the ball in after a scramble from a corner. Everton
looked to have broken the visiting fans' hearts when Yakubu put them in
front once more with a precise header on 85 minutes, but just two minutes
later substitute Ilan netted a superb diving header to secure a vital point
for the Londoners. After a disjointed first-half display, gaining a draw was
an unexpected bonus that lifted West Ham one point clear of the bottom
three. That was no more than the visitors deserved for a battling showing
after the break, Scott Parker typifying their effort with an outstanding
display in defence and attack. The only blight on his performance was a
booking which means he must now serve a two-match suspension.
Fate had appeared to be conspiring against under-pressure Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola before kick-off. Having already lost Kieron Dyer, the
Italian was forced to make a late change when Valon Behrami was injured in
the warm-up. After initially been named among the substitutes, Junior
Stanislas was unexpectedly promoted to the side while Josh Payne was handed
a place on the bench. Everton made just one change, and it proved a key one,
with goalscorer Bilyaletdinov starting ahead of Jack Rodwell. The match
started slowly but West Ham finally got a sight of goal when Parker fired
well over from a corner. Everton's first opportunity came from a free-kick
but Leighton Baines shot straight into the wall from 20 yards. The hosts got
another chance from slightly greater distance after Parker earned that
costly booking for a late challenge on Tim Cahill. This time top scorer
Louis Saha took aim but sliced his effort well wide. Everton stepped up the
pressure to claim the lead after 24 minutes. Jonathan Spector attempted to
head away a Baines cross but found only Cahill, who nodded back for
Bilyaletdinov to glance in from close range. Cahill then threatened a second
after a driving run but dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box. The
Hammers were gifted a potential route back into the game as referee Howard
Webb pointed to the spot after 37 minutes. Distin clipped the back of Cole's
legs in a clumsy attempt to shepherd the ball back to Howard as the striker
raced onto a fine ball from Parker. Distin was the last man but Webb showed
leniency and brandished only a yellow card, but Howard saved Mido's
spot-kick. The on-loan Middlesbrough forward's effort was destined for the
bottom corner but the travelling fans' general dissatisfaction with his
performances became evident as they sarcastically called for him to be sent
off after a poor challenge on Steven Pienaar. Bilyaletdinov then spurned a
chance to compound West Ham's misery when he curled a shot over before the
break.
The opening to the second half was scrappy but the Hammers were at least
competitive and did most of the pressing. Another chance almost opened up
for Mido from a Stanislas pass but his touch was heavy and Phil Jagielka
cleared. That gave the visitors encouragement and Mark Noble was unlucky to
see an opportunistic chip from the edge of the area hit the crossbar with
Howard beaten. West Ham earned their reward on the hour as a Noble corner
fell between a group of players in the Everton area. Da Costa was the
quickest to react in the ensuing scramble and forced the ball home for an
equaliser. The Londoners at last had momentum and Cole went close to adding
a second with a low shot that just went wide. Everton had been lethargic
since the interval but felt they should have had a penalty when Saha went
down under a Da Costa challenge. The Frenchman appeared to have nicked the
ball past Da Costa when he was tripped but Webb told him to get up. Everton
looked to have snatched victory five minutes from time when Yakubu, a
replacement for Bilyaletdinov, rose to meet a Baines cross with a powerful
header. Robert Green had little chance of saving it but the Hammers were not
beaten. They responded instantly as Julien Faubert broke down the right and
delivered a pinpoint cross for the onrushing Ilan. The Brazilian, who had
ended Mido's unhappy afternoon when he came on with 13 minutes remaining,
dived forward to meet the ball with an excellent header that flew past
Howard. Zola leapt for joy and his side held on to claim a deserved and
potentially vital point.
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Noble - Relegation can't happen
Hammers ace determined to beat drop
By Chris Burton Last updated: 4th April 2010
SSN
Mark Noble admits relegation would be catastrophic for West Ham, and he is
determined to prevent it. The midfielder is a local lad made good, having
progressed through the ranks at Upton Park to become an integral part of the
first-team fold. Should the club succumb to the drop, he would be among
those expected to be offloaded during the summer. Noble has no intention of
allowing that to happen, but admits the fear factor is driving him crazy at
the moment. West Ham have just six games to steer clear of trouble, starting
with Sunday's trip to Everton, with only goal difference keeping them
outside of the bottom three at present. "I think about it (relegation)
45,000 times a day, but I don't want those negative thoughts in my head,"
Noble told The People. "The Premier League is the best in the world and I
intend to play in it for all my career, but I want it to be with West Ham.
"I don't know where it would leave me if we go down, but I have three years
left on my contract. We would have to cross that bridge if we come to it,
because I cannot even think about it right now. "Staying in the league is
critical. Rob Green is England's No.1, and he won't want to play in the
Championship. Fabio Capello won't want him to either. "It all comes down to
whether we stay up, because when clubs go down they need money. If you have
the players we have then clubs will want to buy them. That will be the case.
"This club is too good to go down and I honestly think we will get through
this. I keep telling the lads that we will stay up."
Noble has endured countless ups and downs with West Ham since making his
debut in 2004, but hopes the club can soon establish some stability and
start moving in the right direction once again. He added: "I think we need
two wins and a draw to keep us up. The good news is that this is in our own
hands. That is the best thing you can hope for.
"It seems like every year the club goes from one situation to another. Since
I made my debut in the Championship we went on to lose a play-off final to
Crystal Palace, then eventually won promotion. "A new chairman then came in
and spent a lot of money, but then the club went bankrupt. "It's like a
roundabout here, but hopefully we can stay in the Premier League and get the
foundations right under these owners. It means everything to me."
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Ilan : I'll save you Franco
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
ILAN has told West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola: Put me in and I'll save your
skin. The Brazilian striker also hopes his goals can secure him another
year's contract at Upton Park.
Ilan's £20,000-a-week deal expires this summer but the Hammers have an
option to extend it by 12 months. Their survival fight was boosted by his
super headed leveller in the 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday after he came on
as a sub. Ilan, 29, said: "We didn't win but it was a vital point. "We've
got five games left and need to win two or three of them." Ilan, who has
netted twice since signing on a free from St Etienne in February, added:
"I've not had many opportunities here but I've scored a couple of goals. If
I play more, I might score more."
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Dive bomber has Zola smiling
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS: Everton 2 West Ham 2
Published: 05 Apr 2010
FLYING Ilan gave West Ham's Premier League survival hopes a major lift at
Goodison. The supersub's brilliant diving header rescued a point for
Gianfranco Zola's strugglers two minutes after Yakubu nodded Everton back in
front. But boss David Moyes was fuming after ref Howard Webb did not give
his side a penalty for Manuel Da Costa's challenge on Louis Saha. Moyes
said: "It was a stonewall penalty for us. The decision not to give us a
penalty was a poor one." The 2-2 draw leaves West Ham one point above the
drop zone with five matches left to play. But the Hammers still have it all
to do with trips to Liverpool and Fulham. This draw will be a huge lift for
Zola after last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Stoke had left him clinging on
to his job. Everton's failure to hang on for all three points is a blow to
their hopes of qualifying for Europe. They are eighth in the table after
losing only twice in the Prem since New Year. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov opened
the scoring for the home side before Da Costa scrambled home a leveller.
Yakubu headed in from a Leighton Baines cross for 2-1 before Ilan's big
moment. Referee Webb will be England's representative at the World Cup. He
was in the action throughout by giving West Ham a first-half penalty after
Sylvain Distin fouled Carlton Cole. Moyes added: "I thought it was a penalty
and on another day it might have been a sending off. "We didn't play well
enough to merit more but sometimes when you don't play great you hope to win
it - and it looked like we had done that late on. "We tried to do it right
but we never quite got to the level."
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Matthew Upson relishes return of West Ham's fighting spirit
Squad is 'united' behind Gianfranco Zola
England defender confident of avoiding relagtion
guardian.co.uk, Monday 5 April 2010 16.05 BST
Matthew Upson has spoken out in support of West Ham's manager Gianfranco
Zola after the 2-2 draw with Everton. Matthew Upson has said West Ham have
taken heart from the battling 2-2 draw with Everton and their performance at
Goodison Park proves the squad is united behind the manager, Gianfranco
Zola. The result left them still only one point above the bottom three, but
the manner of performance and spirit shown in adversity suggested it may be
a turning point. The days before the match had been dominated by speculation
over Zola's future and his apparently uneasy relationship with the club's
co-owners, David Gold and David Sullivan."We are aware of the situation and
the manager's feelings and commitment," said the England defender. "The
manager deals with it with the players to their faces. Whatever else is said
and done, we know the truth and we are together as a group. "We are totally
understanding and clear of the picture of what is going on. We are putting
everything we can together. I think we can stay up, I think we are good
enough."
West Ham have five games left to avoid relegation, starting with next
weekend's home match against Sunderland. After finally breaking a run of six
successive defeats, Upson feels they can now generate some momentum. "It is
nice to break that cycle because it is a poor cycle and not nice to go
through. It was nice to stop the rot," said Upson. "It is something to build
on but there is plenty of work left to do. There are not a lot of hours of
football but we are in the mix and it is up to us to drag ourselves out of
it. "We need to get together again this week, have a good strategy for the
weekend and commit to it. If we deliver a performance I am sure we can win
the game."
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Sullivan reveals reason behind Fulham complaint
Harry Harris
April 5, 2010
Espn
David Sullivan says the Premier League needs to clarify its rules © Getty
ImagesWest Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed that his complaint about
Fulham's weakened team was made because he felt the rule needed urgent
"clarification". The Hammers issued a complaint to the Premier League after
Fulham's defeat at Hull on March 27 as Roy Hodgson elected to rest the likes
of Danny Murphy and Damien Duff ahead of their Europa League tie with
Wolfsburg. Wolves were fined earlier in the season for changing their team
in a game at Manchester United and Hull's victory could have a big effect on
the relegation battle. Sullivan told Soccernet on Monday: "We have done this
not because we have anything against Fulham but because the rules need
clarification so we all know exactly what the rule means. "I think it's good
that we will all have the question clarified by the Premier League, so we
all know where we stand for the future."
Sullivan and fellow co-owner David Gold might consider putting forward a
motion whereby the rules mirror that of the Champions League, where clubs
must name their first-team squad and can only select directly from it,
changing it only at certain pre-assigned points. Sullivan's decision to
lodge the official complaint was questioned by the club's own manager,
Gianfranco Zola, who publicly declared that Hodgson was doing what was best
for his club. Sullivan was also heavily rebuked by Fulham chairman Mohamed
Al-Fayed.
"I stick two fingers up to West Ham," Al-Fayed said. "If they don't like the
team we had in this match then I don't care. Only our manager chooses the
players. We can pick whoever we want and it's nothing to do with them."
Sullivan responded by saying: "We fully respect the stand Mr Al-Fayed is
taking and his views as he is a man we greatly admire and like. However,
we'd ask for a ruling by the Premier League. Our complaint in effect is a
test case for the benefit of all Premier League clubs."
While there are constant issues off the field to deal with, at least there
was something for Sullivan and his co-owner David Gold to smile about with
the battling point at Goodison Park. Sullivan, who has been deeply critical
of the players' attitudes in recent weeks, told Soccernet: "We are all
really pleased with the huge effort put in by the whole team. I was very
proud of them all."
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