WHUFC.com
Robert Green was simply brilliant as the Hammers once again showed great
attacking flair away from home
05.11.2011
Sam Allardyce pointed to a devastating spell at the start of the second half
that paved the way for his team's tremendous 2-0 win at Hull City. The
manager reorganised his team at the interval by replacing John Carew with
Carlton Cole, who he had warming up on the KC Stadium pitch for the whole of
half-time, and shifting Kevin Nolan back into a deeper-lying position. That
allowed the Hammers to wrest the initiative and score goals before the hour
via Sam Baldock and Jack Collison to strengthen their grip on second place.
Cole was behind both strikes. The first saw him nod Mark Noble's corner to
the back post, where Baldock was waiting to pounce on the volley for his
fifth Hammers goal and eleventh overall of the season. The second was a
delightful team effort that once again proved the side's ability to play
precise and poised football, with Cole slipping through the decisive last
pass for Collison. Naturally, Big Sam was delighted. The most praise was
reserved for Robert Green, who had to be alert on a number of occasions as
you would expect against a home side boasting the likes of Dele Adebola and
Matt Fryatt in attack, as well as the livewire Robbie Brady off the bench.
All in all it was a hard-fought contest, that saw the rearguard cope well -
even with Julien Faubert having to revert to right-back in place of
hamstring victim Joey O'Brien. "It is a difficult place to come and play,"
the manager said, acknowledging that Hull had not lost at home since August
and that he was so limited in options that promising 17-year-old defender
Danny Potts - son of Steve - was on the bench. "We know how good Hull are
and we set out to see what they had to offer. We defended very well in the
first half but apart from Julien Faubert's three crosses down the side,
which were very good and we didn't get on the end of, I think we could have
done a bit more in possession. "We changed it around in the second half by
bringing Carlton Cole on and dropping Kevin Nolan deeper into midfield. We
wanted to get control and we said let's go and score first, let's go and
attack Hull City from the very start."
That second-half salvo, with the Hammers roared on by 2,500 travelling fans,
was what finished off the home side's hopes. "It allowed us to win the game.
First the corner - a good ball, great header, great finish with Sam pulling
off to score. The second goal was great passing and movement and resulted in
a one-on-one and a very composed finish from Jack. "We had won the game so
we don't need to go and chase it. We can sit and let the opposition have
possession in front of us and see the game out. We broke when we got the
opportunity. "We didn't do that as well as I would have liked but it was a
fantastic result and a great performance in terms of how we changed
tactically throughout the game. We were ruthlessly clinical when it came to
our good period. We nailed Hull and come away with a well-earned 2-0
victory."
There was no doubt, though, that Green was star man and he rightly took the
post-match plaudits. "You are seeing a man with great stature and great
ability between the posts. At the moment, he looks pretty impregnable and
the opposition come up against him and it feels like he will save
everything."
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Hull 0 - 2 West Ham
Page last updated at 19:18 GMT, Saturday, 5 November 2011
BBC.co.uk
West Ham overcame a spirited Hull side to keep pace with Southampton at the
top of the Championship table. Jack Collison's composed finish added to Sam
Baldock's close-range volley to keep the Hammers within five points of the
Saints. Both goals came in the second half to complete a sixth away victory
of the season for Sam Allardyce's men. Poor finishing and good goalkeeping
from Robert Green denied City, who dominated in the opening 45 minutes.
Robert Koren and Matty Fryatt both went close in a first half which was
one-way traffic towards the West Ham goal. It took the Hammers 31 minutes to
register their first effort on goal, but they were soon into their stride
after the interval. The catalyst for the turnaround was the introduction of
Carlton Cole, in place of John Carew. The switch seemed to pay almost
instant dividends when Papa Bouba Diop set up Baldock to lash home from six
yards out. And, as the Tigers pushed men forward in a bid to get back into
the game, Cole's neat pass split the home side's defence and Collison showed
great maturity to pick his spot and double his side's advantage. Hull did
everything to get themselves back into the contest, but good defending by
Julien Faubert and more top saves from Green denied them a deserved share of
the spoils.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
On being linked to Leicester, Hull boss Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio
Humberside: "Did we deserve to lose the two games we've played? Probably
not. "We get back to working hard for the next game because the division is
still pretty tight. "As far as I am concerned, my job is my job and I do it
as best I can and I will always do that.
"So I am now not going to turn it around the other way. You will have to ask
the club if they have had an approach but I don't think they have. "My job
is to do this job as well as I can and if that changes then you'll know from
the club, you won't hear it from me."
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Hull City 0 West Ham Utd 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have secured a fifth Championship away win of the season thanks
chiefly to super-sub Carlton Cole. Cole, a half time replacement for the
ineffective John Carew played a major role in both of West Ham's goals at
the KC Stadium this afternoon as United kept up the pressure on league
leaders Southampton with their first win at Hull since September 1954. With
Hull having won their last four successive home games today's fixture was
always going to be a tough one for West Ham, who made four changes to the
team that drew 0-0 with Bristol City at the Boleyn on Tuesday night. That's
pretty much how it's proved for Sam Allardyce's side in the first half, who
found goalscoring opportunitites at a premium. Bar a couple of half-chances
for James Tomkins and Kevin Nolan, the Hammers barely threatened Peter
Gulacsi's goal.
Conversely, Rob Green - who was outstanding all afternoon - had to be at his
very best to deny the home side a certain goal in the final minute of the
half. Robert Koran, sent through on goal ater a mistake by John Carew was
denied by the legs of the England international, making his second
appearance in the first team following a lengthy lay-off.
City were also inches away from opening the scoring around 25 minutes
earlier when veteran striker Dele Adebola's effort took a deflection off
James Tomkins and evaded Rob Green's far post by a matter of inches. The
only other major talking point of the opening half was a booking for West
Ham captain Kevin Nolan after eight minutes, to which the Liverpudlian
appeared to take issue with for the remainder of the half - so much so that
he came dangerously close to receiving a second caution. Having replaced
Carew with Cole at the break - and no doubt having received a few strong
words from manager Allardyce for a fairly indifferent performance - the
Hammers came out for the second half transformed, and had the hosts on the
backfoot from the off.
Just four minutes after the restart, West Ham found themselves in front. Sam
Baldock, who was yet to score for United away from home prior to today
popped up at the far post to volley home a Cole flick-on from a Mark Noble
corner, to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Nigel Pearson's side barely had time
to recover from that blow before they found themselves two behind. Yet again
it was the same trio of Hammers involved, with Noble finding Cole on the
edge of the box before the England international threaded a clever ball
through to Jack Collison. The Welsh international took one touch before
calmly passing the ball into the bottom right corner of 'keeper Gulacsi's
goal to make it 2-0 to West Ham; the perfect answer to the critics who
maintain Sam Allaryce's team can only play one way. Although no further
goals were forthcoming that was largely due to the excellence of Robert
Green, who made three world-class saves in the dying stages to deny the
Tigers a consolation. With 90 minutes on the clock, Green denied Matt
Fryatt, clean through on goal, from 10 yards.
A minute later it was the turn of Jack Hobbs to be denied, with Green
acrobatically tipping his goalbound header over the bar. Finally, in the
third minute of added-on time, Corry Evans was prevented from scoring when
Green tipped his dipping effort over the bar. Despite Southampton winning
4-2 at Coventry - a result that ensures the Saints maintain their five point
lead at the top of the Championship - it was a good afternoon for West Ham
who are now four points clear of third-placed Cardiff (although
Middlesbrough, in fourth place, play this evening and can reduce the deficit
to one point). Sam Allardyce - who has enjoyed an excellent month
results-wise - can now breath a sigh of relief with the two-week
international break looming, a break that he recently admitted he will
welcome as a result of the club's lengthy injury list.
Big Sam will be hoping to have players such as Joey O'Brien, Winston Reid
and Matt Taylor back in contention when West Ham visit Coventry a fortnight
from today.
Hull City 0 West Ham Utd 2: match facts
West Ham Utd: Green, Faubert, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Diop (Sears 83),
Noble, Nolan, Collison, Baldock (Piquionne 87), Carew (Cole 46).
Subs not used: Kurucz, Potts.
Booked: Nolan (8), Tomkins (85).
Goals: Baldock (49), Collison (57).
Hull City: Gulacsi, Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dudgeon, McKenna, Evans,
Koren, Mclean, Fryatt, Adebola (Brady 61).
Subs not used: Basso, McShane, Cairney, Harper.
Referee: Nigel Miller.
Assistants: Barry Gordon and Michael Salisbury.
Fourth Official: Alf Greenwood.
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Tigers taken down by Hammers
Last updated: 5th November 2011
SSN
Sam Baldock and Jack Collison struck early in the second half as West Ham
won 2-0 at Hull to claim their fifth away victory of the season. Striker
Baldock volleyed home his fifth goal for the Hammers since arriving from MK
Dons in August in the 49th minute of Saturday's Championship clash at the KC
Stadium, and Collison applied a cool finish eight minutes later after the
visitors had withstood a first-half bombardment. Hull completely dominated
the first 45 minutes, but squandered several chances, while former England
goalkeeper Robert Green was in fine form for the Londoners. Green pulled off
fine saves to deny Robert Koren and Matty Fryatt in the first half and
turned away Aaron Mclean's goalbound effort in the second, but Sam
Allardyce's side refused to yield and clinically despatched their chances to
maintain their impressive away form this season. Dele Adebola made his first
start since the opening day of the season for Hull, up front alongside
Fryatt, and Peter Gulacsi replaced injured goalkeeper Adriano Basso who was
out with a knee injury. Defender Abdoulaye Faye, striker John Carew and
midfielders Papa Bouba Diop and Collison all returned for West Ham following
their goalless midweek draw with Bristol City. Green was by far the busier
of the two goalkeepers in the opening exchanges.
The former England number one turned away Koren's angled drive at full
stretch in the fourth minute and twice denied Fryatt, holding his shot from
inside the penalty area and then the striker's header from Liam Rosenior's
cross. Hull made all the early running and Green was at his best again in
the 28th minute when keeping out another long-range effort from Slovenia
international Koren. West Ham's travelling fans had to wait until the 31st
minute before their side's first effort on goal, defender James Tomkins
heading Kevin Nolan's corner wide.
Nolan then headed off target himself soon after following Julian Faubert's
cross, but Hull finished the first half on top and only a timely
intervention from Faye prevented Adebola's goalbound shot from inside the
area giving the home side a 42nd-minute lead. Green did well to hold another
shot from Fryatt and Mclean squandered a gilt-edged chance from 12 yards on
the stroke of half-time. Hammers boss Allardyce withdrew Carew in favour of
Carlton Cole at the break and the switch appeared to pay dividends when the
visitors snatched the lead. Bouba Diop's headed pass teed up Baldock inside
the area and he lashed home a volley high into the roof of the net from six
yards. Hull were rocked having dominated the first half, but worse was to
follow for Nigel Pearson's side.
Forced to chase the game in search of an equaliser, the Tigers were caught
on the counter-attack as West Ham doubled their lead. Cole's neat pass
caught the home defence flat-footed and sent Collison clear on goal and the
Hammers midfielder kept his composure to bury the ball into Gulacsi's bottom
right-hand corner. Hull rallied and Hammers defender Faubert blocked Jack
Hobbs' angled drive and Green turned away Mclean's left-footed effort from
the left side of the area. Green held another effort from Koren in the 82nd
minute and kept out Hobbs' header, while Tigers substitute Robbie Brady
dragged a shot wide as Hull slipped to a second successive defeat.
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Allardyce applauds Green
Hammers boss happy after 2-0 victory
Last Updated: November 5, 2011 8:06pm
SSN
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce praised goalkeeper Robert Green for his
performance in the 2-0 victory over Hull City, while Nigel Pearson was left
to bemoan the crucial first goal. Sam Baldock's fifth goal since signing
from MK Dons in August put the visitors in front four minutes into the
second half at the KC Stadium, and eight minutes later Jack Collison slotted
home a well-taken second to secure West Ham's 2-0 win. However, having
soaked up pressure for long spells, West Ham were reliant on the heroics of
Green, who recently returned from a lay-off following knee surgery. "Robert
had the operation and recovered two weeks ahead of schedule, so his
wellbeing as a goalkeeper is far better than before he had his operation,"
Allardyce said. "He's got great stature and ability between the posts and at
the moment he looks pretty impregnable. He looks like he's going to save
everything and although Hull worked us hard, Robert was there to stop them.
"The difference between us and Hull was that we were clinical at one end and
our goalkeeper produced excellent saves at the other end."
Allardyce, who is hoping to bring in a central defender on loan during the
coming international break, added: "We were ruthless when it came to the
good period we had and we were very good tactically. "We defended very well
in the first half but we didn't do enough in attack. "We changed things
around in the second half by bringing on (Carlton) Cole and we got a
fantastic result with two goals in a great 10-minute spell."
Pearson reaction
Hull boss Pearson said: "I thought it was a good game and we played pretty
well but unfortunately for us the first goal was important. "We changed our
shape with three in attack and we did very well in the first half, but we
weren't able to score when we were on top. However, it was a positive that
we came up against a side in second place and we think we were as good as
them. "We have to look at it as being a learning experience for the players.
I'm delighted with how they are as a group and the division remains very
tight."
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Hull City 0 West Ham United 2: match report
4:50PM GMT 05 Nov 2011
Telegraph.co.uk
Sam Baldock and Jack Collison struck early in the second half as West Ham
kept pace with npower Championship leaders Southampton with their fifth away
win of the season. Striker Baldock volleyed home his fifth goal for the
Hammers since arriving from MK Dons in August in the 49th minute and
Collison applied a cool finish eight minutes later after the visitors had
withstood a first-half bombardment at the KC Stadium. Hull completely
dominated the first 45 minutes, but squandered several chances, while former
England goalkeeper Robert Green was in fine form for the Londoners. Green
pulled off fine saves to deny Robert Koren and Matty Fryatt in the first
half and turned away Aaron Mclean's goalbound effort in the second, but Sam
Allardyce's side refused to yield and clinically despatched their chances to
maintain their impressive away form this season. Dele Adebola made his first
start since the opening day of the season for Hull, up front alongside
Fryatt, and Peter Gulacsi replaced injured goalkeeper Adriano Basso who was
out with a knee injury.
Defender Abdoulaye Faye, striker John Carew and midfielders Papa Bouba Diop
and Collison all returned for West Ham following their goalless midweek draw
with Bristol City. Green was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers in the
opening exchanges. The former England number one turned away Koren's angled
drive at full stretch in the fourth minute and twice denied Fryatt, holding
his shot from inside the penalty area and then the striker's header from
Liam Rosenior's cross. Hull made all the early running and Green was at his
best again in the 28th minute when keeping out another long-range effort
from Slovenia international Koren. West Ham's travelling fans had to wait
until the 31st minute before their side's first effort on goal, defender
James Tomkins heading Kevin Nolan's corner wide. Nolan then headed off
target himself soon after following Julian Faubert's cross, but Hull
finished the first half on top and only a timely intervention from Faye
prevented Adebola's goalbound shot from inside the area giving the home side
a 42nd-minute lead. Green did well to hold another shot from Fryatt and
Mclean squandered a gilt-edged chance from 12 yards on the stroke of
half-time. Hammers boss Allardyce withdrew Carew in favour of Carlton Cole
at the break and the switch appeared to pay dividends when the visitors
snatched the lead.
Bouba Diop's headed pass teed up Baldock inside the area and he lashed home
a volley high into the roof of the net from six yards. Hull were rocked
having dominated the first half, but worse was to follow for Nigel Pearson's
side. Forced to chase the game in search of an equaliser, the Tigers were
caught on the counter-attack as West Ham doubled their lead. Cole's neat
pass caught the home defence flat-footed and sent Collison clear on goal and
the Hammers midfielder kept his composure to bury the ball into Gulacsi's
bottom right-hand corner. Hull rallied and Hammers defender Faubert blocked
Jack Hobbs' angled drive and Green turned away Mclean's left-footed effort
from the left side of the area. Green held another effort from Koren in the
82nd minute and kept out Hobbs' header, while Tigers substitute Robbie Brady
dragged a shot wide as Hull slipped to a second successive defeat.
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Allardyce overjoyed at Hammers' finishing with a flourish
Hull City 0 West Ham United 2
SIMON HART KC STADIUM SUNDAY 06 NOVEMBER 2011
Independent.co.uk
"Ruthlessly clinical" is not a phrase associated too readily with West Ham
United down the years but that was exactly how Sam Allardcye described his
team yesterday after they maintained their pursuit of Southampton at the
Championship summit with another away success. Allardyce himself was still a
month shy of making his entrance into the world - anything but Big Sam -
when West Ham last posted a win at Hull in September 1954 yet they ended the
wait for a victory here thanks to goals early in the second half from Sam
Baldock and Jack Collison.
West Ham have the Championship's best away record - 17 points from a
possible 24 now - and they earned this fifth away victory, obvious as it
sounds, thanks to their efforts in both penalty boxes. "The difference
between us and Hull today was our clinical finishing at one end and our
goalkeeper making the right saves at the right time at the other end," said
Allardyce.
Hull had been seeking a fifth straight home win but paid the price for
failing to score when on top in the first period. Robert Koren was twice
foiled by Robert Green, Dele Adebola saw a deflected shot whistle inches
wide, and then with half-time approaching Matty Fryatt broke clear only to
shoot against Green with Abdoulaye Faye scrambling the ball clear.
"I thought we played pretty well but unfortunately for us, as with most
games in the Championship, scoring first is important," said Nigel Pearson,
the Hull manager.
West Ham's only real threat before the break had come from Julien Faubert's
crosses but with the help of Carlton Cole's half-time introduction in place
of the lumbering John Carew they turned the game on its head, taking the
lead four minutes after the restart when Cole flicked on Mark Noble's corner
and Baldock volleyed home.
They finished Hull off with a slick move for their second goal eight minutes
later, Noble supplying substitute Cole, who sent Collison clear to slot past
Peter Gulacsi. "It was great passing, great movement, which resulted in a
one-on-one and a composed finish," said Allardyce.
Hull tried to respond but Noble blocked a Fryatt shot on the goalline and
Green thwarted Aaron Mclean. The closing moments saw Fryatt's shot fly over
when a goal seemed certain and Green made two more eye-catching stops. "At
the moment he looks pretty impregnable," said a satisfied Allardyce.
Hull have less cause for satisfaction, having dropped out of the top six
with this second straight defeat. And their supporters went home fearing
another even bigger loss with rumours strongly linking Pearson to the vacant
Leicester City job. He said: "I am not talking about anything other than the
game, it is not being driven by anything I've done."
Hull (4-3-3): Gulacsi; Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dudgeon; Evans, McKenna,
Koren; Mclean, Adebola (Brady, 61), Fryatt.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Green; Faubert, Faye, Tomkins, McCartney; Diop (Sears,
83), Noble; Collison, Nolan, Baldock (Piquionne, 88); Carew (Cole, 46).
Referee: Nigel Miller
Man of the match: Green (West Ham)
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