WHUFC.com
The Hammer of the Year was at it again on Saturday with a driving display in midfield
18.09.2010
Scott Parker was pleased with the battling display at Stoke City on Saturday that got West Ham United a precious point. The Hammers midfielder scored his third goal in six games this season to put the visitors in front at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke came back into the contest in the second half and earned a draw with Kenwyne Jones' header. Both sides had their moments, Frederic Piquionne rattled the bar and Victor Obinna saw a low drive well saved, and Parker felt the 1-1 draw was "a fair result". He said: "We controlled the game in the first half and probably deservedly went one-nil up. In the second half, we knew they were going to come at us, which they did. "We can take huge positives out of today. We have come here, they have put us under immense pressure and we have defended really well. We have got a point and it is much needed."
Parker was named man of the match by broadcasters Sky Sports but there were other strong displays, with Manuel da Costa and Danny Gabbidon solid after coming into the defence on the day and Piquionne and Obinna looking lively in attack. Robert Green also had to pull off a couple of great saves from Jones and Matthew Etherington. The display was one to cheer the manager Avram Grant, who was not present because he was observing Yom Kippur. "It is always going to be difficult when the manager is not there. We all understand the circumstances. That is football. We have just got on with it and got the result which is good. "It is a platform for us to build on. We have got off to a bad start and come here low in confidence. We can leave high in confidence and take a lot of positives. We look forward to Tottenham next Saturday." Before the London derby, the Hammers will head to Sunderland on Carling Cup duty on Tuesday night.
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Manu targets win double
WHUFC.com
Manuel da Costa believes West Ham United can defeat Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur this week
19.09.2010
Manu da Costa believes West Ham United's first Barclays Premier League point could spur the Hammers on to a double success this week. The giant Portuguese defender made his first appearance of the 2010/11 season in the 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Saturday, producing a resilient display that was only spoiled by Kenwyne Jones' 52nd-minute equaliser. Da Costa was effective at both ends of the pitch, winning a succession of important defensive headers as the Potters threw a typical aerial barrage into the West Ham penalty area. On the attacking front, the centre-back came close to snatching all three points for the Hammers, only for Thomas Sorensen to claw his downward header out from the base of his left-hand post. All things considered, the Saint-Max born player was happy enough with a point from his trip to the Britannia Stadium. "It was a good performance from all the team - from everybody," he told whufc.com. "We played well against a very strong team. When you play against Stoke City, every ball is a long one. You have to keep your eyes on the ball, because it is always in the air. They are a hard team to play against. "On Saturday, we played well. We stayed strong, even after they equalised, and could even have won the game. In the circumstances, we will take the draw and the point."
Having helped the team to break their duck, Da Costa believes Avram Grant's side can cause a pair of upsets by first winning at Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round, then defeating UEFA Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground next weekend. "It is important that we have got a point on the board. Now we have to think about achieving a victory in the next game - first at Sunderland in the cup, because this competition is very important for everybody, and then after that on Saturday against Tottenham at home. "It's very important for the team and for the supporters that we win next weekend because it is a derby match. At the moment, though, I am not thinking about Tottenham. First, I think about the next match, about Sunderland and about getting through to the next round. "I know Tottenham are a big team, a strong team and are a Champions League team, but beating them is possible."
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Coaches step up
WHUFC.com
Zeljko Petrovic, Paul Groves and Kevin Keen all had a big part to play at Stoke on Saturday
18.09.2010
Paul Groves spoke of the togetherness in the team and the coaching staff after an excellent day's work in securing a 1-1 draw away to Stoke City on Saturday. While a strong rearguard action helped secure a first point of the campaign, Avram Grant's backroom staff all ensured the manager's plans and preparation were put into action. Scott Parker's goal was all the Hammers had to show for a dominant first half while an early Stoke equaliser after the interval led to the defence standing firm under some incessant pressure. "It is a difficult place to come to," said senior coach Groves. "It was pleasing that we stood up to the challenge. The work-rate of the group was fantastic as it has been this season. "It was a decent performance. We created a number of half chances in the first half and probably controlled the first 45 minutes as much as you possibly can against Stoke in dealing with what they throw at you.
"It was different in the second half, but I felt that we showed good character, good spirit and good togetherness in terms of asking one or two questions when they scored."
Kenwyne Jones' equaliser prompted Stoke to push for a second but the Hammers kept going and through lively forwards Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna, as well as a fine Manu da Costa header, could have had a winner of their own. "When they scored was a difficult time but we came out the other side and started to get a grip of the game a little bit. You are always going to face that in the last ten minutes ut we weathered that as well."
Indeed, Groves said he, assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic and first-team coach Kevin Keen all felt the Hammers could have taken a precious first victory but for some better fortune. "There is always a tinge of little disappointment because we felt in the first half we could have gone in two-nil up.
"It is a difficult place to come and get points. They are a strong powerful side and you have to deal with that."
Groves said the manager would be delighted with the effort everyone put in, ahead of a big week that sees Sunderland up next in Carling Cup action on Tuesday before Tottenham Hotspur come calling to east London next Saturday. "The responsibility gets shared amongst us all, there is Zeljko and don't forget Kevin Keen. He is a big part of the set-up. Things were covered [by the manager] going into the game. You are prepared as much as you possibly can. You have to react different situations. I was speaking to Kevin and to Zeljko. We pooled our knowledge and you try to make the right decisions."
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Winning start for Frank
WHUFC.com
The Hammers two young loan stars both saw action on Saturday and got positive results
18.09.2010
Frank Nouble made an instant impression with an effective 65 minutes for Swansea City as they won 2-0 at home to Scunthorpe United in the Championship on Saturday. The Welsh side signed the Hammers youngster on a three-month loan on Friday and promptly handed him a start the following day. Nouble nearly opened the scoring on ten minutes but just hit the side-netting. The powerful forward gave the visitors plenty to think about and his all-action display helped wear them down, before Scott Sinclair and Stephen Dobbie scored the all-important goals in the closing stages. The win lifts Swansea up to sixth after seven games of the new season.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said: "He's still only 18 and only arrived at the club yesterday. He's got a good physical presence and plenty of pace. As each day goes by he will get better and better. I was very pleased with his performance." Elsewhere, Matthew Fry helped Charlton Athletic to earn a 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers, with a 17-minute run-out off the bench. The on-loan Hammers centre-back came on with the scores level and helped keep out the Tranmere attackers. Charlton are tenth in the League One standings.
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Stoke 1 - 1 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
By Paul Fletcher
West Ham picked up their first point of the Premier League season with a hard-fought draw against Stoke. Scott Parker put the visiting side in front with a close-range finish after Stoke failed to clear a free-kick. Kenwyne Jones equalised with a header and had a strike tipped on to the post by Robert Green, while Robert Huth and Ricardo Fuller also hit the woodwork. West Ham struck the post through Frederic Piquionne, while Thomas Sorensen denied Manuel da Costa. It was a tough and uncompromising contest between two teams who started the day in the bottom three. The result ensured that the Hammers, without boss Avram Grant as he observed the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, remained anchored to the bottom of the table but they have at least ended their sequence of four straight defeats, during which they conceded three goals in each. Referee Lee Mason dished out five yellow cards, but turned down several penalties appeals, with West Ham furious that Ryan Shawcross was not punished for a handball following a Victor Obinna strike in the opening half. A foul from Shawcross led to West Ham's goal, with Stoke failing to deal with Obinna's subsequent delivery into the box.
Delap attempted to hack the ball clear but it struck team-mate Shawcross and was bundled home by Parker. The goal came just after the half-hour mark and Piquionne almost immediately doubled their advantage with a long-range shot that thundered against the crossbar. Shawcross was later fortunate to escape sanction when he appeared to elbow Carlton Cole in an off-the-ball incident that saw the striker fall to the turf. Stoke, who defeated Aston Villa with a last-ditch winner on Monday, looked strangely off the pace but were almost handed a goal by the unsure handling of Green. The Hammers keeper fumbled a delivery from out wide and Huth almost tucked the ball home from a tight angle but the defender's shot struck the post. Jones should then have converted a long throw from Delap but he too was wasteful, heading over from six yards.
However, the former Sunderland striker was on target shortly after the restart, rising above Da Costa, making his appearance start of the season, to convert a brilliant cross from the right by Jermaine Pennant. The goal brought the crowd to life and they were almost celebrating again when the athletic Jones dispossessed Matthew Upson before cutting inside and unleashing a fearsome shot that Green diverted against the woodwork with a superb one-handed save. West Ham responded, with a neat interchange of play creating an opening for Obinna but Thomas Sorensen palmed his long-range effort around the post and brilliantly denied a Da Costa header from the subsequent corner. The last effort of the match fell to former Hammer Matthew Etherington, whose long-range effort with the outside of his boot was saved by Green.
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Kieron Dyer denies allegations of row with Avram Grant
BBC.co.uk
Kieron Dyer's representatives deny claims the midfielder was involved in a row with West Ham manager Avram Grant. Dyer was told by Grant he would not be part of the travelling party for Saturday's match at Stoke. But a spokesman for Dyer, who is struggling with a thigh injury, insists the decision did not lead to an altercation with his manager. Spokesman Graham Shear said: "Kieron confirmed there has been no dispute of any nature with Avram Grant." Mr Shear, of BLP Solicitors, added in a statement: "Kieron Dyer read with concern and bemusement reports on Saturday morning in several newspapers that he supposedly had a "row" or "bust-up" with West Ham manager Avram Grant. "Kieron confirmed that this is untrue and that there has been no dispute of any nature with Avram Grant about Kieron's selection to play against Stoke today or about any other topic. "Kieron is uncertain why he was not selected for the squad and, whilst he does have a thigh injury, if he had been selected, he would have willingly joined the squad on the trip to Stoke today." Grant will not be in charge of the Hammers for Saturday's match at the Britannia Stadium as he observes the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The 55-year-old has delegated control of the team to senior coaching staff Zeljko Petrovic, Paul Groves and Kevin Keen.
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Stoke City 1 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 18th September 2010
By: Staff Writer
Scott Parker's first half strike was enough to earn West Ham their first point of the season at the Brittania Stadium this afternoon.
West Ham's vice captain gave United the lead on the half hour mark - a lead which the Hammers took into the half time break. But Stoke pulled level within two minutes of the restart through Kenwyn Jones to earn a share of the spoils.
Much had been made before the game of Avram Grant's planned absence as a result of the Jewish calendar's Day of Atonement. However his shoes were ably filled by first team coaches Paul Groves and Kevin Keen, who did an admirable job as they led United to their first Premier League point of the season.
Always a lively affair, this fixture lived up to its name with four first half bookings, two for each side. Valon Behrami was first in referee Lee Mason's notebook on 20 minutes for a foul on Jermaine Pennant before being followed by Rory Delay for Stoke four minutes later.
Carlton Cole became the third name taken when he clattered into former team mate Matthew Etherington five minutes ahead of the break and Dean Whitehead made it two each when booked in first half injury time. In stark contrast, only Danny Collins managed to find his way into referee Lee Mason's notebook after the break.
Parker - registering his second strike of the season - put the Hammers ahead on 32 minutes. Victor Obinna's free-kick led to a scramble in the six yard area and West Ham's number eight profitted from the melee by stabbing the ball home from no more than a yard out.
Frederic Piquionne went closes to adding a second goal for the Hammers when he struck the crossbar with a dipping drive from the edge of the box four minutes after Parker had given United the lead. The Hammers could also have been awarded a penalty when Ryan Shawcross clearly handled Piquonne's striker from the edge of the box - though strangely perhaps, there were no appeals from West Ham.
The second half started in the worst possible fashion when Jones - an £8million summer signing from Sunderland - equalised with a simple header at the far post following some good work on the right flank by Jermaine Pennant less than two minutes after the restart.
Travelling Hammers fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst at this stage, and when Stoke began to pile on the pressure a second goal for the home side was beginning to look inevitable. Jones went close to adding it when a 59th minute effort smashed against Rob Green's far post after Matthew Upson had, not for the first time this season, been beaten far too easily.
However, to their credit, the Hammers dug in and produced enough chances to win the game themselves; the lively Victor Obinna forced a great stop from Thomas Sorensen whilst both Parker and Noble also brought the best out of the veteran 'keeper.
Stoke almost grabbed a winner in the closing stages when yet another Rory Delap throw was hurled into the box; substitute Ricardo Fuller climbed highest but he saw his downward header rebound off the crossbar to safety; Rob Green had already given it up as a goal and was more surprised than anyone to see it stay out of the net.
A goal at that stage would however had been hugely unfair on west Ham, who had more than deserved a point which, hopefully, will be the kickstart this campaign has required. Next up for Avram Grant and his side is the visit of local beighbours Tottenham.
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Groves hails togetherness
West Ham senior coach pleased with side's display
Last updated: 18th September 2010
SSN
West Ham senior coach Paul Groves hailed the Hammers' togetherness after they held on for a point against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. The Hammers went into the game on the back of four successive top-flight losses but belied this form when Scott Parker gave them a deserved lead on 32 minutes. But Stoke came out much improved after the break and equalised via Kenwyne Jonesbefore putting the Hammers under heavy pressure. But the bottom side, whose boss Avram Grantwas observing the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, held on to earn a vital point. Asked if it was a good result or if he was disappointed that the Hammers could not build on their excellent work in the first half, Grovestold Sky Sports: "A little bit, yes, I thought we created one or two chances, half chances. "It's a difficult place to come and create chances but I felt in the first half we were in control as much as we could be with the style of play that you face here so that was quite pleasing. "In the second half, obviously, the early goal gave them a little bit of impetus but I thought we weathered that just after that and we came again a little bit. It's a good point." He added: "The players really showed a good togetherness today, a good spirit. "They faced a little bit of adversity there when that goal went in, you could have quite easily have gone under but I felt they stuck together, they stuck at it and like I say I think they came out of it as well."
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Potters come back for point
Jones equalises Parker opener in hard-fought battle at Britannia
Last updated: 18th September 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Scott Parker. Scored and worked tirelessly in midfield to earn the Hammers their first point of the campaign.
Goal of the match: Kenwyne Jones'. Jermaine Pennant put in a fantastic cross from the right which the big striker nodded home.
Moment of the match: Parker's opener. Gave the Hammers a platform to go on and get something from the game.
Save of the match: Thomas Sorensen pulled off a fantastic reaction save to his left to deny Manuel Da Costa's six-yard header.
Attempt of the match: Matthew Etherington hit a curling effort at the end which Robert Green had to tip over.
Talking point: Can this vital draw now help the Hammers climb the table?
Kenwyne Jones headed home as Stoke came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with West Ham at the Britannia Stadium. Scott Parker had put the Hammers ahead on 32 minutes with a close-range tap-in after Rory Delap's goal-line clearance hit Ryan Shawcross and fell into his path. But Stoke upped the tempo in the second period and Jones equalised three minutes after the restart with a close-range header from Jermaine Pennant's fine cross. Jones and substitute Ricardo Fuller then hit the woodwork but the Hammers - whose manager Avram Grant was observing Yom Kippur and not present at the game - held firm for their first point of the campaign. The two teams had lost seven out of eight Premier League games between them before the start of play and it was a scrappy opening. Delap sent a long throw into the box which Abdoulaye Faye could not connect with properly and at the other end Carlton Cole struck an effort well wide of Thomas Sorensen's goal. Victor Obinna had a little more conviction moments later when he fired in a volley, but it took a deflection and Sorensen was able to catch comfortably. Robert Green, who had spilled a Didier Drogba free-kick in the build-up to a goal in the Hammers' previous match against Chelsea, almost repeated the error when he failed to deal with Pennant's delivery into the box, but his blushes were spared as Robert Huth hit the loose ball against the post.
Valon Behrami then picked up the game's first booking on 21 minutes to give away another free-kick in a similar area which Pennant used to tee up Jones, but the Trinidadian sliced his shot over the bar. Having seen Stoke fail to make the most of their set-pieces, West Ham then took the lead via a free-kick of their own. Obinna crossed the ball from near the right byline into the box and there was a scramble before Delap's clearance off the line hit Shawcross and fell into the path of Parker to prod over the line. Looking energised, the visitors almost doubled their lead within two minutes as Frederic Piquionne unleashed a drive from the edge of the area which cracked against the bar. Stoke attempted to regroup and Jones got his head to another Delap throw-in but sent it over. Tony Pulis' half-time team-talk had inspired the Potters to come from behind and win against Aston Villa last time and it seemed as if the manager's words at the interval had made an impact again as the hosts pulled level within three minutes of the restart. Jon Walters released Pennant down the right channel and the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger played in a delightful cross which Jones headed in at the far post, out-muscling Manuel Da Costa to head home. Former Hammer Matthew Etherington had a chance to put Stoke ahead soon after having been fed by Jones, but saw his effort deflect behind for a corner.
Pennant was providing plenty of impetus and delivered another great ball into the danger zone which Walters was just unable to meet. Green then gave a reminder of his quality by pulling off a fantastic save, tipping Jones' strike against the post after the striker had out-muscled Matthew Upson. Pulis brought on Fuller for Walters with 20 minutes remaining and Pennant lofted another handy ball into the box for Jones, who was flagged offside. West Ham had barely mustered anything in an attacking sense since half-time, but suddenly called Sorensen into action, the Danish goalkeeper diving at full stretch to palm Obinna's shot around the post. From the resulting corner, Mark Noble sent in a cross which Da Costa headed goalwards from six yards, but again Sorensen kept West Ham at bay, getting down low to his left with a superb save.
Jones was then substituted, with Eidur Gudjohnsen receiving a fantastic reception from the Stoke fans as he came on for his debut. With 10 minutes to go Fuller came close to finding a winner with a header from Delap's throw which bounced into the turf and up off the bar. Green then pushed a curling strike from Etherington over as West Ham hung on to secure a precious point.
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Stoke 1 West Ham 1
The Sun
Published: 18 Sep 2010
WEST HAM picked up their first point of the season as they battled to a draw at Stoke. The Hammers were without boss Avram Grant, who was observing the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. But they put in a dogged display to hold out a confident Potters side. Midfielder Scott Parker fired the visitors ahead after a mix-up in the Stoke defence. But record signing Kenwyne Jones headed in a second-half equaliser. Tony Pulis' men should have gone on to win the match with Jones and Ricardo Fuller hitting the woodwork. However, West Ham showed grit and determination to deny a rampant Potters attack. Parker said: "I think we controlled the game in the first half and probably deserved to be 1-0 up. "I think we can take huge positives out of today. They put us under immense pressure and we defended really well. "We came here today low in confidence and we can leave high in confidence."
Asked about the absence of Grant, Parker added: "It was going to be difficult when your manager's not here but we understand the circumstances. We just got on with it and came here and got a result." Robert Huth and Robert Green were the respective heroes and villains for their clubs last weekend. And they picked up where they left off as Hammers keeper Green spilled at the feet of Huth. But the giant German defender, who scored a 93rd-minute winner against Aston Villa on Monday, could only hit the post. The Potters were on top early on but fell behind when they suffered their own comedy of errors.
Victor Obinna's free-kick into the box caused havoc as Rory Delap smashed his clearance into the face of team-mate Ryan Shawcross. The ball fell kindly to Parker who hammered the ball in from close range. With the Hammers growing in confidence going forward, Frederic Piquionne then crashed a curling effort against the bar. However, at the back they were still a nervous wreck with Jones rising above everyone to head over a trademark Delap throw-in.
That indecision proved vital at the start of the second half when Jones levelled.
Jermaine Pennant, signed on deadline day from Real Zaragoza, showed just why Pulis wanted him with a fantastic cross. And Jones lept easily above Manuel da Costa to power home the equaliser. Another Hammers defensive howler, this time from Matthew Upson, allowed Jones in again. But his blistering effort from a tight angle was brilliantly tipped on to the post by Green. The lively Jones hit the woodwork again from a dinked Pennant cross but was ruled offside. Potters keeper Thomas Sorensen then had to be alert to keep out the Hammers twice in a minute. First, Victor Obinna struck from long range and the Dane tipped the ball around the post. And from the corner, Sorensen got down well to deny Da Costa's header. Ricardo Fuller, on as a sub in the closing stages, almost stole victory for Stoke with five minutes left. Once again, it was Delap's dangerous long throw that caused West Ham trouble as Fuller headed down off the ground and on to the bar. In added time, ex-Hammers star Matt Etherington forced Green into a smart save as the visitors held on for the draw.
Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins, Pennant (Whelan 83), Delap, Whitehead, Etherington, Walters (Fuller 66), Jones (Gudjohnsen 73).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Higginbotham, Wilson, Wilkinson.
Booked: Delap, Whitehead, Collins.
Goals: Jones 48.
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Upson, Gabbidon, Behrami (Kovac 52), Parker, Noble, Piquionne, Obinna (Boa Morte 90), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Stech, Tomkins, Barrera, McCarthy, Faubert.
Booked: Behrami, Cole.
Goals: Parker 32.
Att: 27,028
Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
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Kieron Dyer denies having 'bust-up' with West Ham manager Avram Grant
Representatives of Kieron Dyer have dismissed allegations the midfielder was involved in a bust-up with West Ham manager Avram Grant.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 11:15AM BST 18 Sep 2010
A number of this morning's newspapers claimed the pair had a heated exchange after Grant told Dyer he would not be part of the travelling party for the Premier League match at Stoke. The 31-year-old, who is currently struggling with a thigh injury, did not make the journey to the Britannia Stadium but insists the decision to omit him did not lead to an altercation with his manager. ''Kieron Dyer read with concern and bemusement reports on Saturday morning in several newspapers that he supposedly had a ''row'' or ''bust-up'' with West Ham manager Avram Grant,'' the player's representative Graham Shear said. ''Kieron confirmed that this is untrue and that there has been no dispute of any nature with Avram Grant about Kieron's selection to play against Stoke today or about any other topic. ''Kieron is uncertain why he was not selected for the squad and, whilst he does have a thigh injury, if he had been selected, he would have willingly joined the squad on the trip to Stoke today.'' Grant was not in charge of the team at the Britannia Stadium to instead observe the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The 55-year-old delegated control of the team to senior coaching staff Zeljko Petrovic, Paul Groves and Kevin Keen.
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Stoke City 1 West Ham United 1: match report
Read a full report of the Premier League match between Stoke City and West Ham United at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday Sept 18 2010.
STOKE CITY 1 - 1 WEST HAM
Saturday, September 18 12:45
Premier League
Britannia Stadium
ATT: 27,028
By Oliver Brown at the Britannia Stadium
Published: 2:30PM BST 18 Sep 2010
For West Ham United, this was as much a display of defiance as of solidarity. Avram Grant might be besieged by critics for his side's struggles, but his decision, borne of his strength of Jewish conscience, to stay away from the Britannia to observe Yom Kippur formed no distraction as his players earned a first point of a wretched season thanks to Scott Parker's first-half strike.
While Kenywne Jones equalised early in the second half for Stoke City, ensuring West Ham would stay bottom of the Premier League, Grant's honouring of the Jewish day of atonement drew respect from the dressing room. The Israeli had travelled to the Potteries to prepare his players, although was prevented on religious grounds from watching the match on television.
Such a positive result in this stadium's unforgiving atmosphere was sure to please him, even if he had courted controversy by leaving out Kieron Dyer, recently brought back to the squad after a long-term knee injury. The midfielder was believed to have had a dispute with Grant, refusing a place on the substitutes' bench after being offered one.
Asked about Dyer's omission, Paul Groves, the West Ham coach deputising for Grant, said: "Most players want to play. But he's being managed in terms of his fitness and availability. He is a fantastic professional."
The scrambled nature of Parker's goal reflected the dearth of inspiration among two teams desperate not to lose. Quite why Sky had chosen this as their live lunchtime game was a mystery for much of a dismal first half. Parker, though, could hardly have cared less about the aesthetics after delivering another committed performance. "We can take huge positives; Stoke put us under immense pressure and we defended really well," said the midfielder, who was quick to mention his absent manager. "We understand the circumstances, and we hung on to get a result. We have come here low on confidence but can leave on a high."
Nerves at first paralysed West Ham's players, not least Robert Green, assailed by chants of "dodgy 'keeper" from Stoke fans for the error that had allowed Chelsea's Salomon Kalou to score last weekend. He did little to disprove the charge here, spilling the ball under pressure from Jermaine Pennant and gulping at the sight of Robert Huth walloping the loose ball against the post.
Stoke sought to seize on Green's angst when a Pennant free-kick struck the wall but trickled through to Jones, who let fly with an errant half-volley. Such wastefulness proved West Ham's incentive. When Valon Behrami was fouled near the corner flag by Danny Collins, Victor Obinna whipped in a delivery for Danny Gabbidon to head goalwards, only for Parker to poke the ball beyond Thomas Sorensen. The West Ham supporters were rapturous in their relief.
Alas their spirits could not be sustained, as Stoke resorted to some familiar weapons. Rory Delap launched one of his prodigious throws to entice Jones, but again the giant Trinidadian miscued with an effort high above Green's crossbar. Stoke's hopes lay with the flourishing forward partnership of Jones and the ever-lively Pennant. The effect of his arrival was plain to see in the 48th minute, when his first-time cross was dispatched past Green via the imposing head of Jones. Six of the striker's last seven goals have come from headers, just to underline the £8 million signing's aerial threat. Emboldened, Jones was back in the fray 10 minutes later, using all of his natural strength to outmuscle Matthew Upson and unleash a strike tipped expertly against the far post by Green.
After a summer in which the West Ham goalkeeper has been baited mercilessly for his World Cup mistake for England against the United States, then for his Chelsea gaffe, it was hard not to begrudge him a rare moment of reprieve.
West Ham were showing the "great togetherness" for which Groves gave praise, rallying from a period of pummelling by Stoke to try to find the winner.
Obinna almost succeeded, forcing Sorensen to save well from his long-range shot, while Green was having precious little rest at the other end.
He looked as if his luck had run out when a header from Stoke substitute Ricardo Fuller looped past him, but the ball bounced away off the underside of the bar.
Grant, should he have decided to sit through the highlights of this doughty draw, would have every reason to feel relieved.
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Parker and Jones on scoresheet
ESPN
Updated: September 18, 2010, 8:52 AM BST
Kenwyne Jones netted his second goal in two matches as Stoke drew with West Ham at the Britannia Stadium. The visitors, whose manager Avram Grant was observing Yom Kippur and not present at the game, took the lead in the first half thanks to Scott Parker's close-range finish. Stoke came back strongly after the break, with Jones following up his goal at Aston Villa on Monday by heading home in the 48th minute after connecting with a cross from the impressive Jermaine Pennant. The two teams had lost seven out of eight Premier League games between them before the start of play and it was a scrappy opening. Rory Delap sent a long throw into the box which Abdoulaye Faye could not connect with properly and at the other end Carlton Cole struck an effort well wide of Thomas Sorensen's goal. Victor Obinna had a little more conviction moments later when he fired in a volley, but it took a deflection and Sorensen was able to catch comfortably. Robert Green, who had spilled a Didier Drogba free-kick in the build-up to a goal in the Hammers' previous match against Chelsea, almost repeated the error when he failed to deal with Pennant's delivery into the box, but his blushes were spared as Robert Huth hit the loose ball against the post. Valon Behrami then picked up the game's first booking to give away another free-kick in a similar area which Pennant used to tee up Jones, but the Trinidadian sliced his shot over the bar. Having seen Stoke fail to make the most of their set-pieces, West Ham then took the lead via a free-kick of their own. Obinna crossed it into the box in the 32nd minute and the ball bounced off two red and white shirts before Parker prodded it over the line. Looking energised, the visitors almost doubled their lead within two minutes as Frederic Piquionne unleashed a drive from the edge of the area which cracked against the bar. Stoke attempted to regroup and Jones got his head to another Delap throw-in but sent it over. Tony Pulis' half-time team-talk had inspired the Potters to come from behind and win against Villa and it seemed as if the manager's words at the interval had made an impact again as the hosts pulled level within three minutes of the restart. Jon Walters released Pennant down the right channel and the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger played in a delightful cross which Jones headed in at the far post.
Former Hammer Matthew Etherington had a chance to put Stoke ahead soon after having been fed by Jones, but saw his effort deflect behind for a corner.
Pennant was providing plenty of impetus and delivered another great ball into the danger zone which Walters was just unable to meet. Green then gave a reminder of his quality by pulling off a fantastic save, tipping Jones' strike against the post after the striker had outmuscled Matthew Upson. Pulis brought on Ricardo Fuller for Walters with 20 minutes remaining and Pennant lofted another handy ball into the box for Jones, who was flagged offside. West Ham had barely mustered anything in an attacking sense since half-time, but suddenly called Sorensen into action, the Danish goalkeeper diving at full stretch to palm Obinna's shot around the post. From the resulting corner Mark Noble sent in a cross which Manuel Da Costa headed goalwards, but again Sorensen kept West Ham at bay, getting down low to his left. Jones was then substituted, with Eidur Gudjohnsen receiving a fantastic reception from the Stoke fans as he came on for his debut. With 10 minutes to go Fuller came close to finding a winner with a header from Delap's throw which bounced into the turf and up off the bar. Green then pushed a strike from Etherington over as West Ham hung on to secure a point.
Parker taking positives from result
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker said the Hammers can take "huge positives" out of the result. I think we controlled the game in the first half and probably deserved to be 1-0 up," Parker told Sky Sports 2. "I think we can take huge positives out of today. They put us under immense pressure and we defended really well. We came here today low in confidence and we can leave high in confidence." Asked about the absence of manager Avram Grant, who was observing the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, Parker said: "It was going to be difficult when your manager's not here but we understand the circumstances. We just got on with it and came here and got a result."
Jermaine Pennant, who set up Jones' equaliser, was later substituted after suffering an injury. "I can walk and there's no pain so hopefully it will not be long," he said. West Ham senior coach Paul Groves said: "It's a good point. The players showed a good togetherness today. They could have quite easily have gone under."
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