Sunday, November 27

Daily WHUFC News - 27th November 2011

Big Sam all smiles again
WHUFC.com
The manager was once more delighted to see his team turn on the style after
a slow start
26.11.2011

Sam Allardyce was once again left to reflect on a strong second-half showing
as the Hammers made it five wins from six to cut the gap on leaders
Southampton to two points. As at Coventry City a week ago, Derby County took
the lead through debutant Tamas Priskin's first-half goal but the Hammers
came back strongly. Carlton Cole, one of two changes in the starting eleven,
headed in superbly after a right-wing cross from Joey O'Brien, the other
alteration from the week before.
After that it was plain sailing in the second half once Kevin Nolan had
lashed in a stunning volley for his first goal in the claret and blue at
Upton Park. Mark Noble's penalty made the game safe, meaning the only low
note was a hamstring injury for Sam Baldock. On the plus side, Matt Taylor
returned off the bench for a late cameo after his calf injury.

For Big Sam, there was much to savour about his team's 3-1 success which
made it 16 points out of a possible 18. "We have become the second-half
team," he said. "At the start of the season we were the first-half team,
scoring within 15 minutes of nearly every game. "I have to say it was tough
going today in the first half. It was probably down to the system we played,
the 4-4-2. We weren't controlling midfield enough and we weren't really at
the races compared to our normal form.
"The second half performance was more like we know we can be. We saw the
best of our players, better movement, better options and more fluent
football.
"It is always difficult to recover when you go down one nil. We have done
that twice on the trot now, not that I want to carry on like that mind. It
was a great win in the end, a great second-half performance and off we go to
Middlesbrough on Tuesday."

Baldock's loss was also keenly felt, with the striker having been the most
potent threat in the opening stages. "Sam got in a couple of times," said
the manager. "His injury was another reason for our first-half performance.
"One we weren't playing very well and two, Sam had been our strongest player
for sneaking behind their back four. We had him in a couple of times in the
first 15 minutes but Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan couldn't get a grip of the
game. "So we put Jack Collison into midfield, changed to a 4-3-3 and those
three talented players got us control of the match. It worked an absolute
treat and they never got out of their half in the second half."

With Julien Faubert turning in a man of the match display., the manager was
asked to describe the transformation in the Frenchman's form. "It is about
the atmosphere we have, and the culture we are building at the training
ground. It is about being comfortable with each other and looking forward to
training. Working hard and enjoying all the benefits together by producing
results. "Julien has felt comfortable in the environment for the first time.
I appreciate his ability and of course someone like Julien, we had to get
the best out of if we could because it was big money when he came here. Now
we are seeing the benefit of him playing consistently and consistently well.
"He was well deserving of the man of the match award and long may it
continue. The bottom line is he is working hard. He is creating so many
opportunities to receive the ball and hurt the opposition, that is the real
benefit for Julien."

The manager also reserved special praise for Freddie Piquionne, with another
star turn off the bench after his goal at the Ricoh Arena last week. He was
fouled in the area for the penalty, after tremendous build-up play by
Faubert and then Collison to set him free "For the second time, Freddie
Piquionne has come on and done a really good job. The only disappointing
thing is he should have scored again. He needs to crown a good performance
off with a goal. "He had two headers and one he ran into with his touch. We
know he is getting the chances which is the pleasing thing."

The manager was delighted with Nolan's "absolutely brilliant" goal, and he
was keen to remind that the skipper was not signed for his creative play,
good as it can be, but as a match-winner and goalscorer from midfield who
operates in the final third and in and around the penalty area. "It was the
goal of the game, and his first one here which is really pleasing. The fans
saw his outstanding quality. To get one at home, I hope he can kick on from
there."

It remains to be seen what changes the manager may make at the Riverside on
Tuesday, with Carlton Cole suffering from cramp in the closing stages and as
Baldock is set to be out for a period of time. The likes of Papa Bouba Diop
and Freddie Sears will be desperate to make the 16 as will Guy Demel, who
was an unused substitute. "It is just a disappointing loss with Sam. That
is why you have to go with four strikers. At least we have Freddie, John
Carew and Carlton Cole still to choose from. Bearing in mind where we came
from today, I thought it was an outstanding recovery and an outstanding
performance in the second half."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3 - 1 Derby
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 20:15 GMT, Saturday, 26 November 2011

West Ham narrowed the gap to Southampton at the top of the Championship to
two points as they came from behind to win 3-1 against Derby. Tamas Priskin
fired in his first goal for the Rams, only two days after arriving on loan
from Ipswich, after Jamie Ward's run and pass. Carlton Cole's header
levelled the scores shortly before half-time and Kevin Nolan's volley made
it 2-1. Mark Noble added a third from the penalty spot later in the second
half. The result means Sam Allardyce's side have extended their unbeaten run
to six games, while Derby suffered their fourth successive defeat. West
Ham's evening started badly when Sam Baldock had to come off with a
hamstring injury. Shortly afterwards, Jack Collison nearly caught goalkeeper
Frank Fielding out with a shot on the turn, but the visitors' keeper held
the ball at the second attempt. That, after 28 minutes, was West Ham's first
shot on target and Derby responded by scoring with the game's next chance
six minutes later. Collison was caught in possession on the halfway line and
that presented Ward with the chance to cut in from the left flank and find
Priskin. James Tomkins remained static, losing the Hungary international,
and he fired the ball into the far corner. West Ham were back on level terms
one minute before half-time thanks to Cole. The visitors had cleared
Abdoulaye Faye's free-kick but Joey O'Brien sent a first-time cross back in,
which Cole directed past John Brayford, who was covering on the line.
Baldock's replacement Frederic Piquionne nearly put the hosts ahead early in
the second half. Julien Faubert lofted a ball over the defence and the
French striker brought the ball down expertly but his shot was blocked by
Fielding. Allardyce's side continued to press and they got their reward when
Nolan fired them into the lead with a sublime show of technique 19 minutes
after the break. Collison diverted the ball in the midfielder's direction
and he waited patiently for it to drop before planting a volley into the
bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out. The hosts then wrapped up the
points 10 minutes later through Noble's spot-kick, slammed into the top
corner, after Craig Bryson had pushed Piquionne in the box. It could have
been worse for Derby had full-back Gareth Roberts not cleared Piquionne's
glancing header off the line near the end.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam set for scan
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th November 2011
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United striker Sam Baldock will have a scan tomorrow to determine
the extent of the injury sustained during Saturday evening's 3-1 win over
Derby County. The £2million summer signing pulled up 20 minutes into
tonight's game with what appeared to be a hamstring injury before being
replaced by Freddie Piquionne, who won the penalty that led to West Ham's
final goal in tonight's win. After initial checks, Baldock returned home -
but will undergo a scan tomorrow to confirm both the nature and extent of
the injury. West Ham's number seven arrived at the club on 26th August and
opened his account with a brace against Blackpool, in his second start after
moving from League One outfit MK Dons. He repeated the feat in his fourth
start when scoring two of West Ham's three goals against Leicester City at
the end of October, before scoring his most recent goal in the 2-0 win at
Hull (on 5th November). Prior to scoring his five goals for West Ham this
season, Baldock had hit six for his former club - including a hat-trick
against Chesterfield in front of a watching Sam Allardyce - giving him a
season tally of 11 goals from 17 appearances (three as a substitute).

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 3 Derby County 1
KUMB,com
Filed: Saturday, 26th November 2011
By: Staff Writer

A tactical switch at half time was the catalyst for a match-winning second
half performance by West Ham at the Boleyn Ground this evening. Sam
Allardyce's decision to revert to his favoured 433 formation at the break
saw United finally overcome a distinctly resilient Derby County side in
tonght's Championship clash. However it wasn't until Mark Noble's penalty 16
minutes from time that the Hammers could consider the three points finally
in the bag. With Southampton having surprisingly lost at lowly Bristol City
earlier in the day, West Ham went into the game knowing that a win would
leave them tantalisingly close to the current leaders who began the day five
points ahead of United. However Allardyce's team, who began the game in a
442 formation, were to be frustrated initially at the Boleyn by a side
content with placing ten men in their own half - before they were stunned by
Tamas Priskin's 34th minute opener totally against the run of play.

Having successfully soaked up all of West Ham's early pressure, the Rams
took the lead with one of their first forays into West Ham territory.
Although in credit to the visitors and manager Nigel Clough, it was a finely
worked goal. Having escaped from a melee on the half way line with the
ball, James Bailey sent a pinpoint cross-field pass into the path of the
advancing on-loan Priskin, who placed his first-time shot into Rob Green's
far corner. The move - a real sucker punch - had been Derby's first
meaningful attack of the game. It was also Priskin's first start for the
club having moved from Ipswich ahead of last week's loan transfer deadline.

As the half time break grew closer West Ham, if truth be told, looked more
likely to concede again rather than score. However Carlton Cole, making his
first start since the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on 1st October, had other
ideas. With mere seconds of normal time remaining Cole popped up inside the
six yard box to nod home a deliciously inviting cross from Joey O'Brien and
put United back on level terms. Whether they had deserved it or not was
neither here nor there, but West Ham were definitely the happier of the two
sides at the break.

The confidence gleaned from Cole's equaliser, combined with Allardyce's
decision to revert to a 433 formation created a potent concoction that
simply overwhelmed the visitors after the break. Indeed, the only surprise
was that it took West Ham until the 64th minute to take the lead for the
first time. The goal that put West Ham in front was a thing of beauty -
although there was more than a touch of the Keystone Cops at the way it came
about. Carlton Cole resembled Bambi on ice as he stretched to win a ball on
the perimeter of the Derby penalty area. Jack Collison, also at full stretch
pirouetted before toe-poking the ball toward the edge of the box where
Nolan, always the predator, was lurking with intent.

The next scene was textbook stuff from the club captain, who watched the
ball drop carefully before unleashing a volley that bounced twice before
flashing into the corner of Frankie Fielding's net. It was a classy goal by
the Liverpudlian, a clear contender for goal of the season and one eerily
similar to that scored by one of Nolan's Scouse brethren against the Hammers
at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium some five-and-a-half years ago.

With Derby stretched, West Ham, now in full flow pushed on in search of a
third that would effectively end the contest. It came, somewhat
controversially, with 74 minutes on the clock. Freddie Piquionne, a
replacement for the injured Sam Baldock was sent through on goal but his run
was prematurely halted by the over-enthusiastic attention of Craig Bryson
who bundled the Frenchman over. Initial contact was clearly outside the box
but Piquionne's momentum saw him tumble inside the area - and that was
enough for referee Webster to point to the spot. Mark Noble's clinical
execution left Fielding with no chance and the game was all but won.

So for the second game in succession West Ham's second half performance had
won the match - United's fifith win in their last six games. Just two points
seperate the Hammers from leaders Southampton now, whilst a sizeable gap is
opening beneath. Fifth-places Leeds are already nine points behind West Ham,
whilst Middlesbrough - who host the Hammers this coming Tueasday evening -
dropped to fourth after drawing 1-1 at Peterborough earlier in the day.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers beat Rams to narrow gap
Last updated: 26th November 2011
SSN

West Ham narrowed the gap at the top of the Championship to just two points
after coming from behind to win 3-1 against Derby at Upton Park. The
visitors had taken the lead nine minutes before half-time when debutant
Tamas Priskinscored his first goal for the club just two days after arriving
on loan from Ipswich. Carlton Cole's header ensured the Hammers were back on
level terms before half-time and Kevin Nolan's spectacular volley put them
ahead after 64 minutes. Mark Noble scored a third from the penalty spot
midway through the second half to hand Derby their fourth successive loss.
The Hammers' evening started badly when Sam Baldock had to come off with a
hamstring injury. Shortly afterwards, Jack Collison nearly caught goalkeeper
Frank Fielding out with a shot on the turn, but the Rams stopper was able to
keep hold of the ball at the second attempt. That, after 28 minutes, was
West Ham's first shot on target and Derby responded by scoring with the
game's next chance six minutes later. Collison was caught in possession on
the halfway line and that presented Jamie Wardwith the chance to cut in from
the left flank and find Priskin. James Tomkins remained static, losing the
Hungary international, and he fired the ball into the far corner to open his
account for the Rams. The Hammers were back on level terms one minute before
half-time thanks to Cole. The visitors had cleared Abdoulaye Faye's
free-kick but Joey O'Brien sent a first-time cross back in which Cole
directed past John Brayford who was covering on the line.

Baldock's replacement Frederic Piquionne nearly put the hosts ahead early in
the second half. Julien Faubert lofted a ball over the defence and the
French striker brought the ball down expertly but his shot was blocked by
Fielding. Allardyce's side continued to press and they got their reward when
Nolan fired them into the lead with a sublime piece of technique 19 minutes
after the break. Collison diverted the ball in the midfielder's direction
and he waited patiently for it to drop before planting a first-time volley
into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out. The hosts then wrapped
up the points 10 minutes later through Noble's spot-kick after Craig Bryson
had pushed Piquionne in the box. The contact was close to being just outside
the box but referee Colin Webster appeared to have made the right decision
in awarding the penalty which Noble slammed into the top corner. It could
have been worse for Derby had full-back Gareth Roberts not cleared
Piquionne's glancing header off the line near the end.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce - We must do better
Clough praises Priskin but rues injuries in Derby's squad
Last Updated: November 26, 2011 9:08pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce felt West Ham United produced a mixed performance in beating
Derby County 3-1 at home as Nigel Clough rued the injuries which have
disrupted his plans. On-loan striker Tamas Priskin marked his Derby debut by
putting the visitors ahead at Upton Park before Carlton Cole equalised
before half-time. Second-half goals from Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble secured
the win for the Hammers to lift Allardyce's side to within two points of
Championship leaders Southampton. However, Allardyce was unhappy with his
team's first-half display and accepted the pressure to capitalise on
Southampton's slip-up at Bristol City contributed to a first half wobble.

Great comeback

"We weren't very good today, there's no doubt about that," he said. "I think
the players saw the Southampton result and that plus the 4-4-2 formation I
picked affected them. "We changed to a 4-3-3 after the break and everyone
saw the best of our players after that. "It was very important that we
scored just before half-time, I think it knocked Derby back. But the chances
we created and the goals we scored show how much better we got. "We played
better against Bristol City than we did today, and we drew 0-0. We created
20-odd attempts at goal that night, but because we drew everyone was
unhappy. "Performances and results are two different things related by
people who watch football. "The performance was only good enough for 45
minutes. That needs to be better at home, especially, and it's something we
want for 90 minutes from the players, starting Tuesday at Middlesbrough. It
was a great comeback from one nil down, and in the end we ran out
comfortable winners."

Priskin's opener came only two days after his move from Ipswich and was the
result of a fine start to the game but Rams boss Clough claimed Cole's
equalising header knocked the stuffing out of his side. "We could have gone
in at half-time one nil up, and conceding right on the break affected us in
the same way that it gave West Ham a lift after half-time," he said. "It was
all going to plan for us. I felt a little bit hard done by for the free-kick
for the first goal. I haven't seen the penalty, I've heard it was outside
the box but the referee gave it very enthusiastically. It's these little
things that went against us. "The injuries haven't helped us on this current
run. I didn't see any West Ham players coming back after seven months.
"They're all very confident and experienced. We have to be at our best to
win at places like this. "It's always good for a striker to get a goal on
his debut. It was a lovely goal; a great ball from Jamie Ward and Tamas
finished well."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Good Result, But Shame About the Performance
November 26th, 2011 - 9:12 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

As half time approached, I wanted to slit my wrists. I was bored witless.
There was no urgency, no enthusiasm, merely a team of 11 lacksadasical
players putting in the bare minimum amount of effort. And then Carlton Cole
scored to give us hope that something might change in the second half. It
did, sort of, but even then this was not a performance to set the heart
singing. Yes, Kevin Nolan scored a spectacular goal and Noble put away
another great penalty, but is there a single one of us who believes this is
promotion winning form? But still we keep stacking up the points, which is,
of course, a huge positive. We're ten points clear of the team in seventh
place, so a play-off place looks a relative sure bet.

Defensively we only made one error and they scored from it. The commentators
placed all the blame at James Tomkins' door, perhaps fairly, but it was
further upfield where we lost the ball in the first place. Apart from that
incident, Faye and Tomkins looked assured and didn't put a foot wrong. It
was good to see Joey O'Brien back and it was he who crossed the ball for
Carlton Cole to head the equaliser.

In midfield Noble was his usual busy self, while Kevin Nolan was his usual
anonymous self – apart from the wonder goal, of course. Julien Faubert did
well and looked dangerous at times, but Jack Collison was again far too
quiet for his own good. It was only when Matt Taylor came on that we looked
at least partially dangerous.

Carlton Cole was definitely man of the match. He held the ball up
brilliantly and linked up well with Baldock until he went off. Let's hope
Baldock isn't out for too long as he really gives us something different. I
have to say Piquionne was better today – but that's not saying much. He
should have scored with a header which went well wide.

So all in all, a great result but a no better than average performance. We
won't get away with that against better teams.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3-1 Derby: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 21:09 26/11/11 By Mike Allen
The Mirror

Kevin Nolan scored a brilliant goal to heap the misery on Nigel Clough's
Derby. The West Ham midfielder volleyed home from outside the penalty box as
Derby were left licking their wounds from a run that has now brought just
one win in their last 10 Championship games. West Ham are now only two
points behind leaders Southampton, while the only good news for Clough was
that Tamas Priskin, his emergency loan signing from Ipswich, found his
scoring boots after a ­frustrating season of virtual inactivity at Portman
Road. Derby's dreadful run has seen them slip from among the early season
pacesetters, a familiar tale for manager Nigel Clough. It was around this
time last season that they dropped out of the play-off places in an alarming
slide down the Championship table that only saw them escape relegation by
the skin of their teeth.

And in east London they started nervously in front of the TV cameras. While
West Ham's home form has not been great, they attacked their visitors with
the energy of a side that was on an unbeaten five match run. Jason Shackell
and Shaun Barker had to be alert to keep out the threat of Sam Baldock in
particular. But after the first 15 ­minutes, Derby did start to find their
feet and began to put the ­Hammers under pressure, ­although Paul Green's
attempted chip of namesake Rob in the West Ham goal was a bit ambitious.
However, keeper Green was grateful when his attempted clearance hit the
closing Ben Davies, but bounced away to safety.

After Frank Fielding in the Derby goal did well to save from Jack ­Collison,
the breakthrough came at the other end. Jamie Ward picked the ball up on the
Derby left and cut ­inside where he found acres of space, which he used to
play a slide-rule pass through to the lurking Priskin. The Hungarian, played
­onside by Tomkins, needed no invitation to drive the ball home, across the
face of the goal in an object lesson of ­finishing. But West Ham hit back
with just a couple of ­minutes of the half ­remaining, Joey O'Brien's
excellent cross headed home by Carlton Cole, the ball just squeezing over
the line ­despite the best ­efforts of John Brayford. After the break,
Fielding ­reacted quickly and bravely to deny Frederic Piquionne, who came
on as a substitute midway through the first half for the unfortunate Sam
­Baldock, when the striker found ­himself free in the area.

A period of sustained ­Hammers pressure followed and they were soon to be
­rewarded in spectacular ­fashion. Cole, revelling in his role behind the
main striker, found the lively Collison, who flicked the ball on to Nolan,
who met the dropping ball first to score from outside the area. And Derby's
goose was well and truly cooked a few minutes later. With the visitors
chasing the game, West Ham broke upfield, ­Piquionne was brought down in the
area by Craig Bryson and there were no complaints when referee Colin Webster
pointed to the spot. Mark Noble blasted the kick home to secure the win for
Sam Allardyce's men.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3 Derby 1: Nolan hits a stunner for high-flying Hammers
By ALEX MONTGOMERY
Last updated at 10:03 PM on 26th November 2011
Daily Mail

Kevin Nolan wiped out West Ham's anxiety with a goal as good as you will see
in any league anywhere. It was a super strike that set the Hammers on the
road to a comprehensive victory that leaves them two points behind leaders
Southampton and on course for a return to the Premier League. For West Ham
manager Sam Allardyce it was the moment when a match which started on a slow
burner dramatically switched to overdrive and three comfortable points..

Allardyce's tactics may not always be pretty but it is effective. A series
of earlier results fell in West Ham's favour, significantly the Saints'
defeat at Bristol City, as the Londoners prepared for their evening
kick-off. But when Tamas Priskin scored for Derby and nerves took over, a
home shock was a distinct possibility. Carlton Cole equalised, Nolan shot
them in front with a spectacular and all-important drive and a late penalty
from Mark Noble brought a restrained celebration from Allardyce.
There may not have been much finesse but the high degree of effort expended
was something to admire. Not in the first half, according to Allardyce, who
said accusingly: 'Today's performance for us only amounted to 45 minutes.
'We were very disappointing in the first half, we changed things at halftime
and the second half was very pleasing. 'The goal from Kevin was quite
exceptional. It was a fabulous goal, certainly the goal of the match.' He
loved them all really and said so, but Nolan was the star when he ran on to
a pass from Jack Collison about 20 yards out. The situation seemed to
present no danger to Derby's defenders but Nolan produced something special
with a left-foot rocket that whipped past Frank Fielding. Before that
Derby's slight edge in the first half earned the lead in the 34th minute
with Priskin's strike directed from inside the 18-yard box low past Robert
Green. The first half was heading for time added when Cole struck with a
well-placed header. The big striker completed the finishing but the chance
was created superbly by Joey O'Brien's cross, which was both unexpected and
deadly accurate. After a tentative restart West Ham began to apply pressure
on the Derby goal and it was in the 64th minute when Nigel Clough's side
cracked and bent to Nolan's thundering shot. There was always the chance
Derby would fight their way back but that hope ended when Craig Bryson
brought down Frederic Piquionne, another of Allardyce's heroes, in the 74th
minute. It was left to Noble to end any anxiety Big Sam was suffering with a
well-placed shot. Nigel Clough felt the penalty award was outside the box
but added: 'At the same time West Ham can hurt you at any time.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 3 Derby County 1: match report
Telegraph.co.uk
By Thore Haugstad at Upton Park9:06PM GMT 26 Nov 2011

Sam Allardyce admitted the old adage 'a game of two halves' was fitting to
West Ham's performance against Derby, but with the gap to Southampton now
reduced to two points, few will complain about this drab first-half
performance. Carlton Cole's header just before half-time gave West Ham a
platform for the second half, after Tamas Priskin, the Hungarian striker who
signed on loan from Ipswich this week, had put Derby in the lead. Kevin
Nolan went on to strike a magnificent first-time volley before Mark Noble
converted a penalty, recording West Ham's third consecutive win – something
not managed since Alan Curbishley steered the club away from relegation at
the end of the 2006/2007 Premiership campaign. "We weren't very good in the
first half, let's face it," Allardyce admitted. "At least we went in 1-1 at
half time. The 4-4-2 didn't really work today so we changed to 4-3-3 and got
the best out of our players. We saw better movement, better options and more
fluent football." That was a similar story to their match at Coventry last
week, where a second-half comeback was needed to rescue a lacklustre
first-half display.

"It is a slight concern," Allardyce said of the trend. "But we're finishing
so strongly and changing it around to win football matches. But yes, I want
a more consistent performance over 90 minutes." Nevertheless, the result
threw West Ham back into the title race, with Southampton stumbling to a 2-0
loss at Bristol City. For Derby, it was a fourth consecutive loss, although
it looked as if things could change when Priskin scored the opener. West Ham
responded straight before half-time however, Cole meeting Joey O'Brien's
cross with a header that crawled over the line. "I hope we could have got
the 1-0 at half time," manager Nigel Clough said. "But what it does to us
and the effect it gives to West Ham, they came straight out of the blocks in
the second half and put us under pressure."

That pressure paid off when a high ball fell to Nolan, who struck it
beautifully first-time past a helpless Frank Fielding. Derby responded by
throwing men forward but West Ham countered. Frederic Piquionne was tripped
by Derby's Craig Bryson, leaving Noble to convert the penalty. Clough added:
"I haven't seen it but I've been told it was outside. The referee gave it
very enthusiastically."

Match details
West Ham (4-4-2): Green; O'Brien, Faye, Tomkins, McCartney; Faubert (Taylor
81), Noble, Nolan, Collison; Cole (Carew 75), Baldock (Piquionne 21).
Subs: Stech (g), Demel.
Booked: McCartney.
Derby (4-5-1): Fielding; Brayford (O'Brien 75), Barker (Hendrick 75),
Shackell, Roberts; Davies, Green, Bailey, Bryson, Ward (Doyle 77); Priskin.
Subs: Legzdins (g), Buxton.
Booked: Davies.
Referee: C Webster (Tyne and Wear).
Attendance: 27,864.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com