WHUFC.com
Papa Bouba Diop is planning a successful Christmas after enjoying his best
day in a West Ham United shirt
18.12.2011
Papa Bouba Diop used his head - literally - to inspire West Ham United to a
vital 1-0 npower Championship victory over Barnsley. The Senegalese
midfielder nodded in his first goal in claret and blue to cap a dominant
display at the heart of the Hammers midfield. Diop's sixth-minute strike was
his also his first goal in English football since he scored for Fulham
against Blackburn exactly six years previously on 17 December 2005. Speaking
to whufc.com, Diop revealed that he had had a premonition that he would use
his head to open his West Ham account against the Tykes. "That was one of my
best games for West Ham because we needed this victory and the three points
because we lost two games," said the 33-year-old. "We had to win this game
so we never thought about anything except the win - not playing good
football but just getting three points. "It's good now because we can look
forward to going to play Birmingham. "Last year I scored four headers in
Greece and I said before the game to James Tomkins that I thought I was
going to score another one! I was feeling very good and I got my goal. We
scored early and we kept going and going and going and we got the three
points. It didn't matter if we played good or bad as long as we got the
three points. I'm happy."
With Sam Allardyce's squad being severely hit by injuries and suspensions,
the experienced No21 knew he had to meet the challenge of an in-form
Barnsley side head-on. Thanks to countless headers and tackles won and at
least three crucial interceptions or blocks inside his own penalty area,
Diop helped the Hammers to rise to that challenge. With the busy festive
season up next, the midfielder is ready for the tests to come at Birmingham
City and Derby County. "Saturday was hard because we only had eleven
experienced players available. We kept going and we were talking before in
the dressing room because we knew this game was very important. It was a
game where we needed to start, score a goal and keep going. "After this win,
we can get everyone back and we have the chance to play good football and
continue to win away and come back home and do well. "I know after 70 years
in England that we have no Christmas! It is harder and everyone knows this
and I think we'll get some injured players back, which will be better."
While Diop and his fellow senior professionals showed their worth against
the Tykes, it was a player young enough to be his son that caught the eye.
At the age of 17, Dan Potts produced a mature display on his debut at
left-back, hugely impressing his more-experienced colleague. "We talked with
him and said 'It's simple and it's only football. Football is football' and
told him to play as if he was in training. We told him 'Play your game' and
you saw he played and he had confidence. His first tackle and his first pass
got him into the game and he continued to play because he had the
confidence. It was good for him. "He impresses me. He is aggressive and has
the mentality. He never loses his head and is always concentrating on the
play. He is not normally a left-back because he normally plays at
centre-back, but on Saturday he played very good."
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Barnsley victory boosts Big Sam
WHUFC.com
Papa Bouba Diop's first goal for the club was enough to send the Hammers
into Christmas happy
17.12.2011
West Ham United returning to winning ways with a deserved 1-0 home win
against Barnsley that delighted Sam Allardyce. The impressive Papa Bouba
Diop's sixth-minute header, his first for the club, from Mark Noble's corner
was all that separated the sides in front of a sold-out Boleyn but the match
was also noteworthy for Big Sam being sent to the stands late on by referee
Scott Mathieson. The manager had seemingly reacted in the wake of an
"outraegous" challenge on debutant Daniel Potts and then a foul on Freddie
Sears as he broke on goal, having already been fuming when a first-half
penalty appeal by Freddie Piquionne was waved away.
Despite his dismissal, the manager preferred to focus on the tremendous
defensive display from a makeshift back four that saw Abdoulaye Faye limp
out in the warm-up and 17-year-old Potts, who only signed his first pro deal
this week, rising to the occasion. "It was a fantastic win," said Big Sam.
"What we had to cope with was not just Barnsley being a very good team but
also a very potent striking force. They have won four out of the last five
and they even scored three in the one they lost.
"They are on their best run of the season and I think that to have a back
four like we had in the end - Henri Lansbury, George McCartney, Daniel Potts
and James Tomkins - and get a clean sheet is great credit to the whole team.
The lads in front worked so hard knowing that our back four was weakened."
Potts, son of club legend Steve, was a star turn at left-back, sending in
some great crosses and standing up manfully to the challenge posed by the
visitors. It was Kevin Nolan who was named by the match sponsors as the
player of the game but few in the crowd agreed - with Potts seemingly the
popular choice. "It was a great debut from Pottsy, really very good
defensively and in possession," said the manager. "We had Daniel in the last
couple of days in case Abdoulaye wasn't going to be fit, we played him in a
couple of sessions with the back four. As in terms of training with the
first-team squad, he has been doing that for a few weeks now. He has been
used to coming and training with the senior players and of course to perform
like that is great credit to him and his family. "This is a 1-0 win that is
very important to us on the back of the circumstances we come into the game.
We had Injuries and suspensions before we started and when we did start, one
player in the warm-up pulls up. It went from bad to worse to desperate but
we still won the game and won well."
The manager confirmed that John Carew went off with a back spasm while
right-back Julien Faubert could not finish the game because of a hamstring
complaint. It meant Henri Lansbury returned off the bench for the first time
since 18 October and had to fill in at the back, making the clean sheet even
more remarkable.
Robert Green was a huge factor in that too and earned individual praise for
a couple of outstanding stops, including one in the crucial early stages of
the second half. Carlton Cole also led the line well and one twisting
turning move had the Barnsley defence in knots and nearly led to a second
Hammers goal. "Arguably we should have been more up at half-time and more
comfortable. The Robert Green save became a match-turning point just after
half-time and I thought overall we deserved to win it. "Everything was
against us today and we have come through with a victory. I am really
pleased for the boys."
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Hammerhead is here!
WHUFC.com
The club marked a special claret and blue debut before the Barnsley match on
Saturday
17.12.2011
West Ham United's brand new mascot Hammerhead is here! Foundered in the
Thames Iron Works many decades ago, the workers who crafted a new champion
drew on the spirits of heroes old and new to create the ultimate goal
machine. When a bolt of lightning hit the Iron Works, a might warrior of
iron was born - Hammerhead. As strong as iron, as fast as Billy Bonds and
blessed with the goalscoring prowess of Vic Watson, some say Hammerhead was
once a shipbuilder at the Thames Iron Works, while others say he is a knight
from the historic Boleyn Castle.
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West Ham 1 - 0 Barnsley
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 17:49 GMT, Saturday, 17 December 2011
West Ham moved level with Southampton at the top of the Championship thanks
to a rare goal from Papa Bouba Diop. The sixth-minute winner came when Mark
Noble's corner was headed past Luke Steele in emphatic fashion by Diop. The
Hammers should have extended their lead but Carlton Cole and Frederic
Piquionne squandered good chances. Barnsley almost equalised after a stray
cat had interrupted proceedings, but Rob Green made a fine save from Rob
Edwards's header in the second half. West Ham went into the clash riddled
with injuries and suspensions with 17-year-old Daniel Potts, son of former
Hammers skipper Steve, fast-tracked into his debut. Potts only signed a
professional contract the day before the game, and his first appearance came
two years after he was given the all-clear after a battle with leukaemia.
And the Hammers enjoyed the perfect start in front of a sell-out crowd when
veteran Senegal midfielder Diop found the net for the first time in English
football since he scored for Fulham against Blackburn - exactly six years
ago. Barnsley fought hard for an equaliser but with seven minutes left West
Ham manager Sam Allardyce felt Freddie Sears should have been awarded a
penalty after the youngster went down in the box, and in his frustration
aimed a kick at some plastic bottles before being sent to the stands by
referee Scott Mathieson. Allardyce took his seat among the fans and watched
his side see out a nervy ending to get back to winning ways.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was a great debut from [Daniel] Potts
both in defence and attack. It was a fantastic result under the
circumstances, I'm not sure anyone's squad could cope with being as
stretched as ours is in this league."
Barnsley manager Keith Hill: "We were foraging for a point, but I won't go
to direct, percentage football. It's killing English football and I won't
resort to it."
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Hill on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 18th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
In an out within two minutes, Barnsley boss Keith Hill still found time to
have a dig at opposing manager Sam Allardyce as he reflected on his team's
1-0 defeat at the Boleyn Ground...
What are your thoughts on the match Keith?
I'm not too sure just yet. Disappointed with the result, that's the only
thing I'm really disappointed with. I thought we more than matched and held
our own against a team that's going to get promoted; there's no question
there.
Were you disappointed with the early goal?
Yeah, definitely. But we knew what to expect with respect to set plays.
Very, very good at set plays - and it's something we should have dealt with
but we've fallen foul, if you like, over a set play today.
Our general play, the way we managed the ball - more than happy. But when
you consider the strike force they've got - and the physical ability of the
players they've got on display - it's going to be very difficult for teams
like ourselves to be competitive. I thought we were.
You made a few changes from the Ipswich game; what was the thinking there?
Just [to] freshen it up. We've used the international breaks to freshen up
the squad before but we haven't had an international break, so I looked at
the two recent lapses in the second half if you like, Peterborough and
obviously at Ipswich. So we just wanted to freshen it up and maybe [add] a
little bit of a surprise element.
We had to definitely look a little bit more physical in this game today
prior to kick off than we have done, because there's a certain way we want
to play but we could have got bullied today - and I don't think we did.
What was the injury to Nile Ranger?
I think he's just gone over on his ankle slightly.
Any other knocks today?
No, none at all.
Were you concerned that once you went behind you didn't create enough
chances..?
You're always foraging for one. I will not change and go to direct
percentage football; it's killed English football and I won't resort to it.
So hire me or fire me.
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West Ham Utd 1 Barnsley 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 17th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
It was a day to remember for Papa Bouba Diop and Danny Potts as West Ham
edged past Barnsley at the BG this afternoon. Diop's sixth minute strike -
his first goal for West Ham - was enough to earn three precious points for
Sam Allardyce's side as they returned to winning ways following two
consecutive defeats. Sharing Diop's joy was young full-back Danny Potts, who
replaced Abdoulaye Faye (who was injured during the warm-up) for his first
team debut. Potts - the son of former Hammer Steve - was impressive at
left-back in a re-shuffled back four that saw George McCartney switch to
centre half and Julien Faubert recalled at right back. The goal that won the
game came straight from the training ground; Mark Noble's floated corner was
met by Diop who firmly planted it into the back of Luke Steele's net.
Although West Ham continued to threaten their opponents they failed to add
to Diop's early strike - although quite why Freddie Piquionne wasn't awarded
a penalty by referee Scott Mathieson for what appeared to be a fairly
blatant foul 19 minutes in was a mystery to the vast majority inside the
Boleyn Ground. Sadly the focus was to fall on Mathieson several times during
the game; after he ignored yet another apparently clear foul on Freddie
Sears as the substitute burst through on goal midway through the second half
the Boleyn faithful responded with the loudest rendition of "the referee's a
w*nker" for many a season.
Sam Allardyce was so incensed by the decision that he berated the fourth
official to such a degree that he was sent to the stands by Mathieson - a
beautiful irony given that Allardyce had opened his programme notes with a
reference to the double sending-off at Reading on which he stated, "we
simply cannot afford to lose our discipline like we did last weekend'.
Barnsley, for a side that went into the game with four wins from their last
five outings were surprisingly ineffective given that West Ham were missing
some eight first team players. However Rob Green still had to perform
heroics to deny Edwards when his header from Vaz Te's free kick seemed
destined for the net after just two minutes of the second half.
The win lifts West Ham to 43 points - level with Southampton at the top of
the Championship but with an inferior goal difference (the Saints - who play
at rivals Portsmouth tomorrow - have +21, West Ham +17).
West Ham Utd 1 Barnsley 0: match facts
West Ham United: Green, Faubert (Lansbury 68), Tomkins, McCartney, Potts,
Diop, Noble, Nolan, Piquionne, Cole, Carew (Sears 56).
Subs not used: Stech, Driver, Montenegro.
Goals: Diop (6).
Shots on/off target: 7/6.
Booked: McCartney (60).
Barnsley: Steele, McEveley, McNulty, Wiseman, Addison, Edwards, Perkins,
Butterfield, Vaz Te (O'Brien 67), Davies, Ranger (Haynes 67).
Subs not used: Preece, Hassell, Foster.
Shots on/off target: 4/7.
Booked: Davies (87).
Referee: Scott Mathieson (4).
Attendance: 34,749.
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Rare Diop strike sees off Tykes
Last updated: 17th December 2011
SSN
A rare goal from Papa Bouba Diop sent West Ham joint top of the Championship
with a 1-0 victory over Barnsley at Upton Park on Saturday. The veteran
Senegal midfielder found the net for the first time in English football
since he scored for Fulham against Blackburn - exactly six years ago to the
day. The Hammers wasted numerous chances to add to Diop's early header, but
Barnsley could not take advantage and a sell-out Upton Park was able to
celebrate victory after two successive defeats had dented their promotion
bid. The win moved Sam Allardyce's side level on points with leaders
Southampton, who play at south-coast rivals Portsmouth on Sunday.
West Ham went into the clash riddled with injuries and suspensions, so boss
Allardyce could have been forgiven for thinking the world was against him
when Abdoulaye Faye pulled out of the warm-up. That meant left-back George
McCartney filled in at centre-half with 17-year-old Daniel Potts, son of
former Hammers skipper Steve, fast-tracked into his debut. However, the home
side shrugged off that early blow and took the lead after just six minutes,
Mark Noble swinging in a corner and Diop launching his considerable frame
above the Tykes defence to crash his header past Luke Steele.
Potts only signed a professional contract the day before the game, and his
first appearance came just two years after he was given the all-clear after
a battle with leukaemia. The youngster was showing no signs of letting the
occasion get to him and twice almost set up another goal with fine
left-footed crosses which Carlton Cole and James Tomkinsfailed to make the
most of.
The Hammers shouted for a penalty after 18 minutes when Fredi Piquionne's
run into the box was halted by Jay McEveley, but referee Scott Mathieson was
not impressed. Cole should have doubled the lead on the half-hour when,
having run on to Noble's through-ball, he appeared to have done the hard
work in holding off two defenders and side-stepping Steele only to screw his
shot wide. And just before the break a last-ditch challenge from Rob Edwards
prevented Piquionne from finding the net.
Allardyce has bemoaned his side's lapses of concentration for letting in
crucial goals this season and they dozed off again at the start of the
second half, moments after a stray cat had interrupted proceedings, but Rob
Green made a fine save from Edwards' header. With seven minutes left
Allardyce felt Freddie Sears should have had a penalty as the youngster
tumbled in the area, and in his frustration aimed a kick at some plastic
bottles before being sent to the stands by referee Mathieson. But Allardyce
took his seat among the fans and watched his side see out a nervy ending to
get back to winning ways.
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Allardyce sees red mist
West Ham boss disappointed with ref after win over Barnsley
Last Updated: December 17, 2011 6:51pm
Ssn
Sam Allardyce was relieved that key decisions did not cost West Ham after
being sent to the stands during the 1-0 win over Barnsley, while Keith Hill
said long-ball tactics were 'killing English football'. A Hammers side
missing a host of players through injury and suspension clung on to Papa
Bouba Diop's early goal to move joint top of the Championship. To add to
their woes they lost Abdoulaye Faye in the warm-up and John Carew and Julien
Faubert to injuries during the match. And Allardyce's frustration boiled
over when he was banished from the dugout having protested once too often
about some of referee Scott Mathieson's decisions.
Allardyce felt Frederic Piquionne and Freddie Sears could have had penalties
while he was furious with Jim O'Brien's challenge on 17-year-old debutant
Daniel Potts.
The Hammers boss kicked out at some plastic bottles on the touchline and had
to watch the last seven minutes of the match with the fans. He said: "The
most disappointing thing for me was the challenge on Potts. It was reckless
and dangerous. "That's what flicked the red mist for me today, as well as
the Fredi Piquionne one, and kicking the bottles was the last straw. "The
fourth official called the referee over and told him to send me to the
stand. "I haven't been in trouble for 10 or 12 years now, but if I am in
trouble I want to know what they are going to do about those decisions.
Fortunately they didn't cost us today."
Allardyce was certainly not going to let referee Mathieson ruin his
satisfaction of a job well done in the most trying of circumstances, and he
reserved special praise for Potts. "It was a great debut from Pottsy both in
defence and attack," added Allardyce. "It was a fantastic result under the
circumstances, I'm not sure anyone's squad could cope with being as
stretched as ours is in this league."
Barnsley reaction
Barnsley failed to trouble goalkeeper Robert Green in the second half but
their manager, Hill, was unrepentant about his team's passing style. "We
were foraging for a point, but I won't go to direct, percentage football,"
he said. "It's killing English football and I won't resort to it."
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Potts Impresses as Hammers Go Joint Top
December 17th, 2011 - 11:31 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
"It was a great debut from [Daniel] Potts both in defence and attack." Sam
Allardyce
This game will be remembered for one thing. The debut of 17 year old Dan
Potts, son of Hammers legend Steve. On the teamsheet he was a substitute,
but as Bubbles echoed around the Boleyn, there he was, number 48, walking
out making his full debut due to a pre kick-off injury to Abdelaye Faye. And
young Dan didn't put a foot wrong. It really was like watching his Dad. I
don't have access to the match stats but he seemed to win every tackle and
virtually every pass found its target. And he delivered several pin point
crosses. He even managed a 35 yard shot on goal. This was a man of the match
performance and it was astonishing that the match sponsors saw fit to give
that accolade to the (again) largely anonymous Kevin Nolan.
There were many positives to be drawn from this match, but also a few
negatives. Barnsley had far too much of the possession, largely because
Nolan went absent in midfield too often and it was left to the ever
impressive Mark Noble and an on form Pap Bouba Diop to win back possession.
The three man attack of Cole, Carew and Piquionne was never going to work.
Too often they got in each other's way, but Cole had a very good game and
improved as the match went on. Piquionne was his usual frustrating self and
Carew was completeky out of sorts.
The makeshift defence did its job well. Faubert was oustanding and McCartney
slotted very comfortably into the centre of defence. Indeed, he looked
better there than he does at left back.
It was good to see Henri Lansbury back on the pitch. He will need a few
games to re-adjust, but he is a class player and I think we're going to see
some fantastic thngs from him in the second half of the season. Freddie
Sears replaced Carew after 56 minutes but was never at the races. Again. To
be fair, he should have had a penalty, but otherwise, failed to impress.
We held on for a narrow victory, but it could easily have been three or
four. Carlton Cole in particular fluffed a fantastic chance after beaing
about 5 players on a mazy run.
So all in all, we're back on track, joint top, with three games over
Christmas which will hopefully help us consolidate that position.
Green 7
McCartney 7
Potts 8
Tomkins 7
Faubert 7
Noble 8
Nolan 5
Diop 8
Carew 5
Piquionne 6
Cole 7
Sears 5
Lansbury 6
PS Were you all as embarrassed by that Hammerhead mascot stuff before the
game as I was? Truly cringemakingly pathetic. What on earth were they
thinking of?
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West Ham 1-0 Barnsley: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 19:50 17/12/11 By Steve Stammers
The Mirror
The pressure of the promotion chase claimed Sam Allardyce at Upton Park
yesterday. Allardyce faces a touchline ban after he was sent to the stands
by referee Scott Mathieson during the win over Barnsley. Papa Bouba Diop
headed the early winner but Allardyce was furious after a series of
decisions went against his team and showed his frustration by kicking water
bottles near the West Ham bench. "I saw the red mist," admitted Allardyce,
who complained to fourth official Ian Cooper after Frederic Piquionne was
denied a penalty, when debutant Dan Potts was poleaxed by a challenge from
Barnsley's Jim O'Brien and, finally, after Freddie Sears was brought down by
the same player when through on goal. Cooper summoned the referee to
highlight Allardyce's behaviour and the boss spent the last 10 minutes in
the stand. "It was definite penalty on Frederic, there should have been a
red card for the challenge on Danny and Freddie was brought down," claimed
Allardyce. "I haven't been in trouble for 10 or 12 years. I was complaining
to the fourth official and when I kicked the bottles it was the last straw
for him."
Allardyce, though, was delighted with the result from his patched-up team.
"Dan didn't know he was playing until 20 minutes from the kick-off when
Abdoulaye Faye picked up a calf injury in the warm-up," he said. " I don't
think anybody's squad has been affected like ours with injuries and
suspensions. It was a vital win."
Barnsley manager Keith Hill said: "I was disappointed with the way we
conceded from a set-piece because we knew the threat they would pose with
the size of some of their players."
The win helped West Ham bounce back after two defeats to share the
Championship lead, but as his team looked to build on the lead given them by
Diop, substitute Sears was sent tumbling in the area by O'Brien. Mathieson
ruled no foul and Allardyce exploded. The game started with two debuts. One
was a ridiculous mascot called Hammerhead - when will the club owners
realise that gimmicks and West Ham fans do not go together? The other was of
far more relevance. The late withdrawal of Faye meant a debut for Potts, son
of former West Ham stalwart Steve, and someone who has shown an abundance of
courage during his 17 years as he recovered from leukaemia. Potts was not
fazed as he settled comfortably into the re-shaped back four. And the
ingredients were there for a dream start to his career after just six
minutes as West Ham took the lead, Diop heading home Mark Noble's corner.
Diop has scored more famous goals - think Senegal against world champions
France in the 2002 World Cup. But in the context of West Ham's season, it
was just what they needed. The Hammers then stayed in control and Barnsley
barely troubled Robert Green.
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West Ham 1 Barnsley 0: Collector's item from The Wardrobe gets Hammers back
to winning ways
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 6:23 PM on 17th December 2011
Daily Mail
A rare goal from Papa Bouba Diop sent West Ham joint top of the npower
Championship with victory over Barnsley. The veteran Senegal midfielder
found the net for the first time in English football since he scored for
Fulham against Blackburn - exactly six years ago to the day. The Hammers
wasted numerous chances to add to Diop's early header, but Barnsley could
not take advantage and a sell-out Upton Park was able to celebrate victory
after two successive defeats had dented their promotion bid. The win moved
Sam Allardyce's side level on points with leaders Southampton, who play at
south-coast rivals Portsmouth on Sunday. West Ham went into the clash
riddled with injuries and suspensions, so boss Allardyce could have been
forgiven for thinking the world was against him when Abdoulaye Faye pulled
out of the warm-up. That meant left-back George McCartney filled in at
centre-half with 17-year-old Daniel Potts, son of former Hammers skipper
Steve, fast-tracked into his debut. However, the home side shrugged off that
early blow and took the lead after just six minutes, Mark Noble swinging in
a corner and Diop launching his considerable frame above the Tykes defence
to crash his header past Luke Steele. Potts only signed a professional
contract the day before the game, and his first appearance came just two
years after he was given the all-clear after a battle with leukaemia. The
youngster was showing no signs of letting the occasion get to him and twice
almost set up another goal with fine left-footed crosses which Carlton Cole
and James Tomkins failed to make the most of.
The Hammers shouted for a penalty after 18 minutes when Fredi Piquionne's
run into the box was halted by Jay McEveley, but referee Scott Mathieson was
not impressed. Cole should have doubled the lead on the half-hour when,
having run on to Noble's through-ball, he appeared to have done the hard
work in holding off two defenders and side-stepping Steele only to screw his
shot wide. And just before the break a last-ditch challenge from Rob Edwards
prevented Piquionne from finding the net. Allardyce has bemoaned his side's
lapses of concentration for letting in crucial goals this season and they
dozed off again at the start of the second half, moments after a stray cat
had interrupted proceedings, but Rob Green made a fine save from Edwards'
header. With seven minutes left Allardyce felt Freddie Sears should have had
a penalty as the youngster tumbled in the area, and in his frustration aimed
a kick at some plastic bottles before being sent to the stands by referee
Mathieson. But Allardyce took his seat among the fans and watched his side
see out a nervy ending to get back to winning ways.
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West Ham United 1 Barnsley 0: match report
Telegraph.co.uk
By Rajvir Rai at Upton Park6:21PM GMT 17 Dec 2011
Being sent off and series of poor referring decisions marred an otherwise
pleasing afternoon for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce. Having seen his side
ship six goals in back-to-back defeats against Barnsley and Reading, a
comfortable 1-0 win - courtesy of a Papa Bouba Diop header after six minutes
- was the early Christmas present Allardyce would have wanted. A red card
seven minutes from time, for protesting that his side were denied a penalty,
was not. West Ham looked threatening going forward, but more importantly
after recent results were solid at the back, despite a reshuffled back four
which included 17-year-old debutant Daniel Potts, son of Upton Park hero
Steve, at left-back after Abdoulaye Faye was ruled out 20 minutes before
kick off with a calf injury. With eight first team players unavailable due
to injury or suspension even before Faye's withdrawal, Allardyce praised his
team's character to win under difficult circumstances. "I'm not sure
anyone's squad could be stretched like ours was today and win a game off
football like that," he said. "Everything was against us today, but we have
come through with an important victory. "To get a clean sheet was a great
credit to the whole team, the lads in front of the defence worked so hard
today knowing our back four was weakened today. "It was a great debut for
Pottsy, he was very good defensively and in possession too."
Barnsley were second best for much of the game and, despite an improved
second half performance, failed to create any genuine goal scoring chances.
Manager
Keith Hill summed up the difference between the two sides. "When you
consider the strike force they have got and the physically ability of their
players, it is going to be very difficult for teams like us to compete," he
said. Allardyce said it was a culmination of poor decisions - a missed
penalty on Frederic Piquionne in the first half and a clear foul on Potts
from Jim O'Brien in the second - that led to his anger. "The challenge on
Potts was reckless and dangerous. The lad hasn't played the ball and he has
only jumped into the man. That is what flicked the red mist for me, as well
as the Picquionne penalty was so blatant."
Having taking the lead early from a corner, West Ham controlled the match
and Carlton Cole should have doubled their lead when he out-muscled two
defenders before firing wide from six yards, although he was off balance.
Barnsley's best chance fell to Craig Davies, but he was denied by an
excellent last-gasp challenge in the area from George McCartney. Early in
the second period, Rob Green preserved West Ham's lead with a fantastic
acrobatic save from a Rob Edwards header.
At the other end Freddie Sears, a second-half substitute for John Carew, and
Mark Noble saw efforts go over the bar
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