WHUFC.com
A setback at Sunderland still contained positives for Avram Grant to take
into a big week in training
06.12.2010
Avram Grant was keen to emphasise the achievement of his players over the
previous seven days as a whole following the obvious frustration of a 1-0
reverse at Sunderland. The final match of a three-game spell saw the Hammers
undone by one superb first-half move by the home side at a frozen Stadium of
Light - with Asamoah Gyan beating the offside trap and pulling back for
Jordan Henderson to score the only goal. It was tough to take after the wins
against Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, especially as the manager knew
his men could - and perhaps should - have added a precious point.
At the back, James Tomkins and Matthew Upson were particularly solid again
as a central defensive partnership in front of a hard-working Robert Green.
But, while Sunderland's potent strikeforce of Gyan, Danny Welbeck and Darren
Bent were kept out, so were the forward thrusts equally repelled at the
other end. Victor Obinna hit a post in the second half while he, Jonathan
Spector and Carlton Cole all flashed decent efforts just wide. "It was a
disappointing end to a good week," said Grant, who was mainly left to lament
the failure to find the killer final ball in attacking positions. "Although,
I was pleased with the spirit we showed, in the first half we didn't show
the quality we can - even if the organisation was there. The second half we
were better but we needed to score and they then started to hit us on the
counterattack. "The difference between one-zero and zero-zero is not so
great. We need to do something because we cannot keep not winning away from
home - even it if it is very difficult here where not even one team has won
this season in the league. Sunderland's home record is amazing and it was
not easy for us. "We need to pay attention to all details if we want to
win."
That winning mentality is certainly familiar to Grant's team after the
previous two results and he was certain they would soon reproduce that on
the road - even if it is now 26 awaydays since August 2009 since the last
league triumph. "We have been very good in the last two games at home. This
is great and we need to now bring that to our away form. The home fans were
great this week and the fans who came such a long way today were also great,
especially in this weather. We have everything behind us to do it and we
will do it. "It is a case of putting this defeat behind us and showing again
what we have done at the start of the week. We are not cut adrift in the
league and this is a gap we can close - especially if we reproduce the form
we had at the start of the week. "This week as a whole has given us
confidence. The second half showed us today that we can do it. The spirit is
there and there is a long way to go. I have seen enough to give me plenty of
encouragement. But we have to fight hard."
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Sunderland 1 - 0 West Ham
By Mike Lawrence
BBC.co.uk
A first-half goal by Jordan Henderson earned Sunderland victory and sent
West Ham United back to the bottom of the Premier League. Record signing
Asamoah Gyan crossed from the right to find Henderson who fired past Hammers
keeper Rob Green. Victor Obinna hit the post in the second half with Scott
Parker also going close to an equaliser. Gyan and Kieran Richardson both had
chances to increase the lead for Sunderland. The result moves Sunderland up
to seventh in the Premier League table while West Ham slip below
Wolverhampton Wanderers on goals scored with both sides having the same goal
difference.
With injury problems at the back, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce decided
attack was the best form of defence and selected Gyan, Darren Bent and Danny
Welbeck up front. Sunderland were looking to maintain their unbeaten home
record in the Premier League, while the visitors arrived in the North East
on the back of two wins, 3-1 over Wigan in the league last weekend and 4-0
against Manchester United in the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Both sides started
the game in a positive fashion but scoring chances were at a premium before
the goal. After Richardson had skied a good chance into the upper stand,
Henderson then placed a dangerous looking cross into the penalty area which
West Ham defender Tal Ben-Haim had to head behind for a corner.
Bent also tried a speculative shot from the edge of the box which went wide,
while at the other end Obinna scuffed a long-range effort which failed to
trouble Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon.
Despite the number of Sunderland strikers on the pitch, the opening goal
came from midfielder Henderson on 34 minutes. Nedum Onuoha floated a long
ball to record-signing Gyan and the Ghanaian placed a superb cross into the
box from the right which Henderson fired home for his first goal in almost a
year. West Ham almost drew level at the start of the second half when Obinna
took advantage of a mix up in the Sunderland defence to find Carlton Cole,
whose shot whistled past Gordon's left-hand post. The lively Gyan then
struck a fierce shot which Green parried but the game lost some of its flow
as it entered the final 20 minutes, with both managers making substitutions.
Despite the defeat West Ham manager Avram Grant - assisted on the touchline
by new defensive coach Wally Downes who was barking out orders throughout
the game - will certainly feel the team are starting to look more difficult
to beat. His opposite number Bruce will be relieved that his team were able
to hold on to their lead as they have conceded late goals on a number of
occasions this season.
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West Ham boss Grant optimistic despite defeat
BBC.co.uk
Avram Grant believes West Ham will soon be moving off the bottom of the
table despite suffering their eighth league defeat of the season at
Sunderland.
The Hammers lost 1-0 as a result of Jordan Henderson's strike, leaving them
with 12 points from 16 games. "The team are progressing and lately we've
been more efficient than we have been before," said manager Grant.
"Unfortunately, it didn't happen on Sunday, but we can take a lot from this
game and move forward."
West Ham last won away on the opening day of last season when they beat
Wolves 2-0, but Grant added: "In the second half we could have earned a
draw. "We were better after the break and created a few chances to score. In
the first half. They had a lot of possession but I think the only chance
they create d led to their goal. "On most of our away defeats the difference
has been a single goal which means we can turn it around and we have to do
it as we don't want to go the whole season without winning away. "We are
three points from 17th place and six points from I don't know which place,
but this is a gap we can close if we continue to play like we have played in
the last two months."
Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said he was delighted with the way
scorer Jordan Henderson responded to hints that he may rested as his side
moved up to seventh in the Premier League. "Sometimes you just throw a
little sprat now and again - to be fair, he trained as if to say 'Please
don't leave me out' in the last couple of days, so he did it himself," said
Bruce. "He was desperate to play, like he is every week. He was terrific
today and it was good to see him score again. "There will be a time when the
kid needs a rest. He has played for 18 months now solid and has had a
meteoric rise to a month ago playing for England, which is fantastic. "My
job is to look after and protect him. There is going to be a time with a
young player when they do need a rest to give him a break now and again."
Sunderland's win meant that they retained their unbeaten record at home this
season. And Bruce is hoping that they can maintain their good form of the
first half of the season into the New Year. "Last year we faded away - we
had a wonderful start and were in a position similar to this and we faded
away," he added. "I do believe the squad has got better and we've got more
depth which we didn't have last year, so that just shows what a decent squad
we are building."
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Sunderland 1 West Ham Utd 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 5th December 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are back at the bottom of the Premier League after going down at
the Stadium of Light to Jordan Henderson's first half strike. The new
England international scored the only goal of the game on 34 minutes to heap
more misery on Avram Grant and his squad, now in serious danger of going
into Christmas bottom of the league. United went into the game in 19th place
following Wolves' 3-0 defeat at Blackburn yesterday - but their respite from
the bottom of the pile lasted just 24 hours as the single-goal defeat was
enough to see them fall below Wanderers by virtue of goal scored (Wolves' 17
to West Ham's 14, with both teams having a goal difference of -13). Despite
the refreshing performance against Manchester United in midweek it was back
to the old ways today as once again, the Hammers positioned ten men behind
the ball in hope of catching their hosts on the break. New coach Wally
Downes, praised so highly in the past week for his influence in the last two
solid performances will ceertainly have questions to ask of his defensive
unit today - for it was a failed offside trap that led to the game's only
goal.
An unattentive Tal Ben Haim, retained in the starting XI following Tuesday
night's excellent outing found himself adrift of his three fellow defenders
allowing Asamoah Gyan to break down the right. Gyan's cross was perfectly
weighted for the young Henderson who found the back of the net from 10 yards
with a placed effort, giving the Black Cats a win that takes them to an
impressive 7th place. Although the Hammers had their chances - most notably
Jonathan Spector almost replicating his mazy run of Tuesday night with an
effort that missed it's target by inches and Victor Obinna hitting the post
with a second half effort - there was little of the desire or drive that
typified the thrashing of Manchester United.
West Ham set out their stall to defend in numbers early on, hoping to catch
Sunderland on the break. Only at Birmingham this season has this style of
play proved fruitful - not withstanding how painful it is to watch a West
Ham team position ten (sometimes 11) men behind the ball, in their own third
of the pitch, in hope of snatching a 1-0 win. Former manager Alan Curbishley
went from hero to zero in a matter of months as a result of his dour,
negative tactics. Avram Grant - with just two league wins to boast of this
season - will do well to note that West Ham supporters expect more from
their team - and not just in one-off cup games.
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Sunderland seal Hammers win
Local boy wins game for Black Cats as Hammers go bottom
Last updated: 5th December 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Young midfielder Jordan Henderson wins the prize following
an enterprising display.
Goal of the match: Asamoah Gyan found space down the right before squaring
for Jordan Henderson to guide the ball deftly past Green...a superb finish!
Moment of the match: Luis Boa Morte was lucky not to see a straight red card
for a late two-footed tackle on Kieran Richardson six minutes into the game.
Save of the match: Defender James Tomkins did well to block Danny Welbeck's
goalbound effort late on.
Talking point: Are Sunderland strong enough to claim a European spot this
season? Can West Ham put a run of winning results together to stay up?
Sunderland snatched all three points at the Stadium of Light thanks to
Jordan Henderson's first goal of the season, which sent West Ham back to the
foot of the table. The Black Cats struck decisively on a cold afternoon on
Wearside in the 34th minute thanks to a well-worked team goal. Nedum Onuoha
lifted the ball into the channel for Asamoah Gyan, whose reverse pass found
the run of 20-year-old England international Henderson, who slotted his
left-foot shot past Robert Green. Just minutes after the opening goal, Gyan
clipped the top of the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot. And, towards the end
of the half, Craig Gordon was relieved to see Jonathan Spector shoot just
wide after a surging run towards goal. Besides the goal, the main talking
point arrived six minutes into the contest when Luis Boa Morte was lucky not
to see a straight red card for a late two-footed tackle on Kieran
Richardson. Victor Obinna came closest to snatching a point with a late
effort which struck the outside of the post, but the Black Cats were good
value for a victory which left them in seventh place. The Hammers are still
looking for their first away win since the opening game of last season when
they defeated Wolves.
Brighter
Manager Steve Bruce has spent much of the season to date pleading with his
midfielders to help out strikers Darren Bent and Gyan on the goals front,
and Henderson's contribution will have been as welcome to him as it was to
the bulk of a crowd of 36,940 on a bitterly cold Wearside afternoon. The
Hammers arrived on Wearside still basking in the glory of their midweek
Carling Cup demolition of Manchester United, but knowing the revival they
launched in the league with last weekend's 3-1 win over Wigan was the
overwhelming priority. Avram Grant's men had climbed from the foot of the
table without kicking a ball as a result of Wolves' defeat at Blackburn 24
hours earlier, and as the only side to have won at the Stadium of Light this
season - a 2-1 Carling Cup success in September - they had high hopes of
extending a run of six games which had brought just one defeat. However,
that home record has been jealously guarded by Bruce's men and, having lost
just their third league game of the campaign at Wolves last Saturday, they
were determined to improve it further. The hosts started the game in far
brighter fashion, and their cause might have been helped had referee Martin
Atkinson ruled that Boa Morte's two-footed sixth-minute challenge on
Richardson was worthy of a red rather than a yellow card.
Skipper Lee Cattermole forced the first save of the game from Green with a
long-range 15th-minute effort which skidded trickily off the turf in front
of the keeper, although opposite number Gordon had to get his positioning
right to claim Obinna's free-kick seven minutes later. But as the first half
wore on, Sunderland started to threaten on a more regular basis and, after
Bent had warmed Green's hands with a dipping long-range shot, they forced
their way ahead 11 minutes before the break. Record signing Gyan, back in
the starting line-up in place of Bolo Zenden, found space down the right
before squaring for Henderson to guide the ball deftly past Green. Gyan
clipped the bar with a curling shot two minutes later, but the Hammers might
have got themselves back on to level terms with 44 minutes gone. Midfielder
Spector, who scored twice against United, embarked upon a surging run which
took him deep into the Sunderland penalty area, but he lost his balance as
he shot under pressure from Anton Ferdinand and stabbed his effort just
wide.
Determined
The Hammers returned in determined mood and might have wiped out
Sunderland's lead within four minutes. John Mensah slipped as Carlton Cole
turned on Obinna's pass and drilled a left-foot shot across Gordon, but
unfortunately for him, just wide of the far post. The visitors were enjoying
their most dominant period of the game, but despite Sunderland's
carelessness in possession, were finding clear-cut chances at a premium.
Gyan spooned a 57th-minute effort high over the crossbar as he failed to
make the most of Richardson's lay-off, but as Kieron Dyer started to make
his presence felt, the impetus was very much with the Hammers. Richardson
forced a 64th-minute save from Green, who had to be at his best to turn away
Gyan's stinging drive two minutes later, but the Hammers might have snatched
a point with 11 minutes remaining. Obinna picked up possession inside the
box and blasted towards Gordon's bottom right-hand corner, only to see the
ball clip the outside of the post and drop to safety. However, Sunderland
should have killed off the Hammers once and for all with five minutes
remaining. Substitute Steed Malbranque went into a 50-50 with Green and saw
the ball come back off the keeper and fall to Welbeck, only for James
Tomkins to get in a vital block as the fans behind the goal waited for the
net to bulge.
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Parker earns Grant praise
Hammers boss hails all-action midfielder
By Chris Burton Last updated: 5th December 2010
SSN
Avram Grant feels Scott Parker has matured into one of the best all-round
midfielders in England. The West Ham boss has seen Parker become an integral
part of his plans this term, with his endless energy helping to inspire
those around him. The 30-year-old filled a similar role for the Hammers last
season, leading from the front as survival was secured under the guidance of
Gianfranco Zola. Grant admits that Parker must now be regarded as one of the
Premier League's leading lights, with his consistency marking him out an
elite performer. The Israeli coach said: "Even defensive midfielders need to
attack sometimes and cause problems to the other team, because if you look
at the game five years ago it's physically more quick, and you need
intelligent players to think quickly. I think that's one of his qualities.
"Teams are more organised than before and you need someone that can come
from the back. He's intelligent enough to know when to do it."
Grant is also of the opinion that Parker deserves a regular place in the
England squad, with there being few players capable of doing the job he
does.
"He'd be very good for England," he added. "He's not easy to play against
because he knows how to tackle, to block, to play very physically and also
to cause problems to the other team. "Look at all the midfielders in Europe,
there's not many like him that can do many things. I was a national team
manager (with Israel). Sometimes you need to look."
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Grant remaining positive
Hammers boss convinced first away win will come
Last updated: 5th December 2010
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant maintained that his squad will remain in
positive mood despite a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Grant believes he has the
squad to survive the drop this season after watching his side fall back to
the bottom of the Premier League table following Jordan Henderson's
match-winning strike. The Hammers have not collected all three points on the
road since the opening day of last season which is proving a costly failing.
He told Sky Sports: "We were better in the second half. We started the game
not so good. We had chances to score so we're disappointed. "We are playing
away at Sunderland and we had chances in the second half. They had
possession and they scored."
Improve
When asked about the Hammers' miserable away form, having secured just three
points and scored four goals all season, Grant replied: "It's fair to say
that we need to improve, the gap is not too big, we came here and got a
one-goal loss. "I think we have a very good squad to stay up. We showed that
in our last two games." Grant remained confident he has the players to
survive relegation but hinted at strengthening his squad come January,
adding: "We have a good squad but we do want to be stronger."
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Blues - Gold is welcome
City offer olive branch to former co-chairman
Last updated: 4th December 2010
SSN
Former Birmingham chairman David Gold will be a 'welcome visitor' the next
time West Ham travel to St Andrews. The current Hammers co-chief was banned
from attending the East Londoners' Premier League clash at the Blues last
month after a war of words with City acting chairman Peter Pannu.
But Birmingham now say he will be welcome to attend the Carling Cup clash
between the two sides in January. Pannu added: "Birmingham City would like
to take this opportunity to confirm David Gold is welcome at the stadium and
the Blues' board look forward to seeing him, and of course David Sullivan
and all members of the West Ham Board, at the game." Gold and Sullivan
agreed a deal to take over the Hammers earlier in the year and following
their departure from Birmingham, Gold was quoted as describing Pannu as
'disgusting'. This came after the experienced businessman claimed promises
that he would be given an honorary role with the Blues were not fulfilled.
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Hend of the road for Hammers
The Sun
By DAVID FACEY
Published: Today
JORDAN HENDERSON sent West Ham crashing back to rock bottom of the Premier
League on a day when he was supposed to be kicking his heels in the stands.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce announced he planned to give the England new-boy
a rest after deciding his whirlwind start to the season was catching up on
him. But the 20-year-old forced Bruce into a rethink after showing a
tremendous appetite for work in training - and he rewarded his manager by
smashing home only his third goal for the club and his first since last
December. That means Avram Grant's Hammers are still looking for a first
away win in 16 months - and unless they find a way to halt that horror run
they are going down. But Grant insisted: "We have a squad which is good
enough to stay up as we showed by winning the last two games against Wigan
and Manchester United - and even before that. "The difference between us and
15th is only five or six points and that's what we're looking at. It's a gap
we can close if we continue to play like we did in this game. "It's fair to
say we need to improve our away record and I'm sure we will. The gap is not
so big, it was one goal today. "When it is one goal it means we can turn it
round and we will. If you've seen our away games we've played well in 60 to
70 per cent of them. The possession has been good.
"Every game we play away we analyse the team we're playing and I'm sure
we'll not stay without an away win for much longer. "We've been good at home
in the last two games. We played really well and we wanted to continue with
that. "But we played against a team with an amazing home record. It was not
an easy game for us. It's very disappointing. "The boys showed great spirit,
good quality and organisation but Sunderland took their chance well.
"The lack of attempts on goal was the main disappointment. We didn't start
the game well. There was a lot of energy and possession but not many
chances. "In the second half we were better but not so much in front of
goal."
While Grant was fretting about his side's poor finishing, Bruce was purring
about Henderson's first-half strike which he felt was worthy of winning any
game. Bruce said: "Jordan's a wonderful young talent. Arguably his best
position could be in a wide area because of his delivery. We all know he has
a goal in him, it was a matter of getting it. Hopefully there is a lot more
to come from the young man and that will do his confidence no end of good.
"The biggest challenge for me is managing Jordan. He's played for 18 months
solidly. Of course you are always monitoring him but I thought there was an
edge to him in training this week. "Maybe he got a sniff I wanted to give
him a rest and he didn't want that. He showed that today - I thought he was
excellent.
"We look a threat going forward and we've got goals in us. "We looked
dangerous today but we didn't convert as many as we should have done. I
think West Ham have too many good players to stay where they are - but
nothing surprises you in this league."
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We have players to stay up, insists Grant
Published 18:51 05/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham manager Avram Grant maintained that he has the squad to survive the
drop this season after the Hammers lost at Sunderland to go bottom.
He said: "We were better in the second half. We started the game not so
good. We had chances to score so we're disappointed. "We are playing away at
Sunderland and we had chances in the second half. They had possession and
they scored. "It's fair to say that we need to improve, the gap is not too
big, we came here and got a one-goal loss. "I think we have a very good
squad to stay up. We showed that in our last two games." Bruce admitted that
his biggest task is making sure that Henderson is able to perform as well
week in, week out. He said: "He's a wonderful young talent and arguably his
best position could be out wide because he's got a terrific delivery. "We
all know he's got a goal in him and hopefully there's more to come from him.
"The biggest challenge I have is managing Jordan. He's played solidly for 18
months so you're always monitoring him. There was an edge to his training
all week as he'd maybe had a sniff I was going to leave him out. "He showed
me he didn't want to be."
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Sunderland 1-0 West Ham: Daily Mirror match report
Published 22:00 05/12/10 By Simon Bird
The Mirror
So much for a West Ham revival. So much for the Save our Season victories of
the previous week heralding a fresh start for Avram Grant. Instead it was
back to the bottom of the Premier League, and a return to stubborn inability
to get an away win that is threatening to drag the Hammers into the
Championship. The fleeting return to form that heralded wins against Wigan
and Manchester United, including seven goals, in the previous eight days,
proved as reliable as a promise from a FIFA World Cup voting executive.
Grant's men have not won on their travels since the opening day of LAST
season, and as he conceded last night, that is unsustainable if they want to
avoid relegation. It wasn't a case of Grant's side being abject. They just
couldn't turn possession or Scott Parker's usual perpetual motion heroics
into a goal. How long Grant will get to turn it around is debatable. If they
play reasonably well in the context of this scrappy, poor game, and come out
losers, that will surely extinguish any confidence recently garnered? Steve
Bruce though can be reassured that although Sunderland were far from totally
convincing, they were resilient enough to hang on to the lead provided by
Jordan Henderson in the first half, with his first goal of the season. The
win lifted the Wearsiders to seventh and if they can maintain that until the
end of the season it will count as a success. Boss Grant admitted: "We do
not speak about the away record. We just prepare for away games and look at
how to win. I am sure we will do that this season. It is good that we have
won two at home and we need to keep that record up. We need to keep doing
that and pick up points away."
Insisting they are not adrift at the bottom he added: "We are looking at the
difference between us and say, 15th, it is six points, and just three points
behind 17th place. That is what we look at. It is not too far a gap. We can
close it if we continue to play like that. "I was happy with the spirit. We
didn't play well first half. Sunderland only had one chance and scored.
Second half it was better but we needed to score so it is disappointing.
"The difference from winning away and losing is not much. We cannot stay in
this league without winning away from home. We need to improve it. I am sure
we can do it. You see out away games and 60-70pc we play well in and we
don't deserve to lose."
Henderson has been asked to add goals to progress his Sunderland and England
career. He has been less than prolific during his 45 starts and 10
substitute appearances for his club. But the 20-year-old's finish yesterday
in the 33rd minute was perfection. Defender Nedum Onuoha opened up play by
chipping a fine ball down the right for Asamoah Gyan that provoked offside
protests from the Hammers' defence. However Matthew Upson was playing the
striker onside and he cut back expertly into Henderson's path and he used
his left foot to glance powerfully past Robert Green. It was almost a year
since his last and only Premier League goal when he notched against
Manchester City in December last season. The youngster also scored in the
Carling Cup against Birmingham last season, and is now hungry for more. The
first half hour was a scrappy affair with Bruce rocketing Gyan just before
he set up the goal demanding better movement. Gyan certainly responded,
notably with a chip from 25 yards that left Green flat footed but bounced
off the top of the bar. The best Sunderland created before that was a
wayward shot from Kieron Richardson after neat set up work by Gyan and Danny
Welbeck down the left. Skipper Lee Cattermole had a drive blocked by the
head of James Tomkins and another shot wide. As usual Scott Parker was the
liveliest Hammers player, running play with energy and commitment, but it
was Jonathan Spector who came closest. The USA midfielder, fresh from his
double against Manchester United, took two men out with a drag back turn,
then surged past three players to shoot wide. After the break Carlton Cole
came close when Gyan was dispossessed allowing Victor Obinna to set up his
partner's shot wide. There was a feisty edge to play, with Luis Boa Morte
lucky only to be booked for a two footed tackle on Richardson and Cattermole
also booked for his crunching retaliation tackle on the winger. Avram Grant
changed his cup heroes and brought in Danny Gabbidon, Kieron Dyer and Parker
at the expense of Julien Faubert, Pablo Barrera and Radoslav Kovac. While
Bruce rested Bolo Zenden with Gyan preferred.
West Ham mounted a fight back in the second half, with Bruce's men off the
pace and looking nervous holding on to a lead. Darren Bent was substituted
with 15 minutes left, and looked surprised to be hauled off as Bruce tweaked
his system to shore up the points. But shortly after Scott Parker won the
ball on the edge of the box and played Cole clear on the right. His blasted
cross evaded Spector's attempted volley allowing Piquionne to gather the
loose ball and fire against the post. Then Danny Welbeck should have sealed
the game without the last ten minutes form fretful. Gyan broke and played a
ball in behind the defence for Richardson to challenge for with Green diving
at his feet. The Engalnd keeper spilled the ball gifting Welbeck a free shot
at goal, but Tomkins got in an unlikely block.
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Avram Can't cure West Ham's travel sickness
By MICHAEL WALKER
Last updated at 12:23 AM on 6th December 2010
Daily Mail
How long this remains the case - the manor, not the nickname - is now back
on the agenda because yet another pointless Hammers away day took the club
back to the pressurised foot of the Barclays Premier League table. There
are only so many times West Ham can stage 'Save Our Season' Saturdays but
there is another coming this weekend when Manchester City bring their swag
to the East End. At least it is a home game, because while the claret and
blue sceptics may doubt Grant, it is not his fault that West Ham have now
not won away from home in the league since the opening day of last season.
Gianfranco Zola (remember him?) played a part in that record, as of course
did the squad. As far as winning away goes, it's: West Ham Can't - 26
Premier League away games have disappeared since Wolves were beaten away and
while last season that was not bad enough to take West Ham down, it is
unlikely to suffice in this extra-competitive division.
As Grant knows all too well, Portsmouth, with their points and finances,
made for an exceptional table. The other two teams relegated were Hull and
Burnley, both on 30 points. West Ham finished fourth-bottom. The club were
relieved at that, and so was Zola. This season, with the three promoted
clubs over-achieving so far - in terms of our expectations - the revised
opinion is that survival may require a 2007-type points tally when Sheffield
United won 10 games and still went down on 38 points. Goal difference cut
the Blades then - as did West Ham, Carlos Tevez and all that - and it was
the Hammers' goal difference that dropped them below Wolves to the bottom
yesterday. The defeat leaves West Ham on 12 points. They remain only three
off 'safety' and there can be such a thing in December, as Grant confirmed.
'We are looking now, between us and 15th place it's only five points and
this is what we're looking at,' he said. 'The gap is not too far. It is a
gap that we can close. We don't speak about the record, a statistic is a
statistic. I'm sure that we will win away this season. In the last 12 games
we have lost three and if we continue like this all season then we will stay
in the Premier League.' When asked if there was consolation in not being
adrift, Grant asked: 'What is adrift?' An alleged comedian said he should
look outside at the snow. No, West Ham are not adrift. But the
uncomfortable reality is that with 16 games gone the Hammers may be as many
as 26 points off avoiding relegation next May.
The way the fixtures fall can seem cruel and this was the first of three in
four league games away from Upton Park. Unpromisingly, a trip to Blackburn
awaits followed by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Boxing Day. It can seem
premature to ponder these things three weeks before Christmas, but it isn't
too early in the Upton Park boardroom. There they have already been making
such bleak calculations, which presumably is why Wally Downes was stalking
the visitors' technical area. Intense, verbose and demonstrative, Downes
was what Grant appeared not to be. As Downes urged and cajoled, Grant had
that man-of-constant-sorrow demeanour we know him by. One is not necessarily
superior to the other and for their sake it is to be hoped opposites attract
and they can find some anti-chemistry that works. In the second half they
spoke to each other on occasion. 'You can see Wally Downes's influence on
the team straightaway,' commented Steve Bruce. 'Two banks of four, they were
very rigid.' Bruce shared Grant's optimism about that state of the table,
too.
'They have an England goalkeeper, an England centre half, an England
midfielder and an England centre forward,' Bruce said. 'But I've never known
a league quite like it. Put back-to-back wins together and you can be
mid-table. It's that tight. West Ham have too many good players, but then
nothing surprises me.'
Those good players were close to earning a morale-boosting point at a ground
where Arsenal, Manchester United and City have failed to win this season.
Revolving once again around the unlimited Scott Parker, West Ham showed a
good deal more cohesion and desire than Chelsea, for example, did at
Newcastle the previous Sunday. Grant saluted 'the spirit of the boys' and
there seemed enough to build on. Bruce is right, the tightness of the table
means that we tip from toe to toe as each weekend's results come in. We may
do so the whole way to May, but West Ham surely need to stumble to an away
victory soon if Avram Grant is going to be around then, if Avram Can't is to
earn the time to change that to Avram Can or, even better, Avram Did.
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Bruce's tactical switch pays dividends with Henderson strike
Sunderland 1 West Ham United 0
Independent.co.uk
By Simon Turnbull at the Stadium of Light
Monday, 6 December 2010
It remains to be seen whether West Ham United can truly save their season.
Perhaps the next attraction at the Stadium of Light could enlighten Avram
Grant and his side. There happens to be "An Evening of Clairvoyance" in the
Banqueting Suite at Sunderland's home ground tonight, hosted by one Steve
Holbrook, author of such works as "Light in the Darkness" and "Survival".
Having glimpsed a couple of chinks of light on home ground, with victories
in their "Save Our Season" contest against Wigan and in their Carling Cup
quarter-final against Manchester United, the Hammers suffered another one of
their dark days on the road yesterday. The East Enders have not won away in
the Premier League since their visit to Wolves on the opening day of last
season and their barren run stretched to a 26th match after Jordan
Henderson's 34th minute goal consigned them to defeat on Wearside.
The Hammers did win 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in the third round of the
Carling Cup in September, but after their 4-0 midweek demolition of
Manchester United in the same competition they could not summon the
attacking clout to end Sunderland's unbeaten home league record - nor to
salvage a point for their top-flight survival mission.
"We need to pick up points away from home," Grant lamented, after a result
that took his team back to the bottom of the Premier League pile. "We have
to do something about it, because we can't stay without a win away from
home."
Sunderland started with Asamoah Gyan and Darren Bent up front, the first
time Steve Bruce had deployed his chief goal scorers from the off in a
Premier League fixture. It meant a switch out to the left flank for Danny
Welbeck and in the opening quarter the Wearsiders missed the livewire
central attacking influence of the in-form Manchester United loanee.
In the first 30 minutes, Bruce's side only managed to fashion a couple of
half chances, long range efforts from Lee Cattermole and Bent, both
comfortably saved by Robert Green. It was only when the Sunderland manager
switched Gyan and Welbeck that the contest sparked to life.
Bruce had to venture to the apron of the pitch and bark at Gyan to "get
wide" before the Ghanaian shifted - initially to the left. Within a couple
of minutes, though, the move paid dividends. Roving out to the right, Gyan
sprung West Ham's offside trap, latching on to a ball up the line from Nedum
Onuoha and cutting a low pass into the middle for Henderson to beat Green
with a first-time left-footed shot.
It was the midfielder's first goal for a year and it was very nearly
followed by a second for Sunderland, Gyan clipping the top of the crossbar
with a shot from the left edge of the penalty area. At that stage, West Ham
had yet to pose a threat to Craig Gordon in the home goal, but might have
been level a minute before the interval.
Jonathan Spector - retained in central midfield following his two-goal
contribution against Manchester United - dribbled his way through to the
left edge of the Sunderland penalty area but then scuffed his shot wide of
the target. It was a close call for the Black Cats and there was another
four minutes into the second-half, Carlton Cole dragging a shot across the
face of the home goal.
Sunderland had their moments in the second period but the big question
always was whether the Hammers could find an equaliser. After substitute
Freddie Piquionne drove a low shot on to the outside of the left post, the
answer was: no.
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