WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald said West Ham United will respect their goalless draw with
Crystal Palace
25.02.2012
Neil McDonald was keeping things in perspective after Saturday's goalless
npower Championship draw with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham
United's assistant manager admitted that the Hammers had not been at their
best against the Eagles, but had still created enough good chances to win
the game. After three straight matches in which they have had a player
sent-off and playing for 184 minutes with ten men over that span, McDonald
conceded that West Ham had not been at their best against Dougie Freedman's
side. After a subdued first half that saw Robert Green called into action
more than once, the introduction of substitutes Carlton Cole and Sam Baldock
and a change in formation swung the game in the hosts' favour. However, both
strikers missed chances to win the game for their team, with Cole shooting
wide and Baldock twice being denied by goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
"I think the last three games probably caught up with us physically and
mentally as well," said McDonald. "The lads have had to give everything they
possibly had and unfortunately it just didn't really work for us today.
Saying that, we still created two or three really good chances and if we had
put them away, we would have won the game. "I think the manager said after
the game that we've dropped points against Cardiff, Leeds and Ipswich here,
so it's important that we keep our feet on the ground and respect that
point, because it's a point that might just get us to where we want to get
to at the end of the season. "We didn't get our passing together and we
didn't move the ball as quickly as we have done in the previous three games
and we tried to change that in the second half with a substitution and a
change of formation. "Those put us on the front foot but I we didn't have
that killer instinct we have had in the last few games and that was the most
disappointing thing.
When asked if West Ham would have been better off playing with ten men, the
assistant manager laughed off the suggestion and vowed to help to put things
right when the East Enders head for Cardiff City next Sunday. "Certainly
not! We have done fantastically well when we have had ten men but we need to
do a little bit better, as everybody knows, with eleven. We'll put it right
in the next game, I'm sure about that."
One player who has been outstanding in West Ham's recent short-handed run
has been Mark Noble. The No16 was impressive again on Saturday, winning the
Man of the Match with yet another whole-hearted display. "He's been
fantastic. He's held the midfield together and driven the midfield on and
has been scoring goals as well, which is what we expect of him. He's playing
at a high, high level over the past six or seven games and we certainly want
that to continue. We think he's a little bit tired after the work he's done
over the last few games. "We've asked them all to stand up because we've
lost Kevin who is our captain. Mark has taken that on absolutely brilliantly
since Kevin was suspended and we want all the players to take on extra
responsibility. "We want to drive on and get to our goal that we set at the
start of the season and that is to get promotion."
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Lee sparks U18s
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee bagged a hat-trick as the U18s won 4-1 at Ipswich Town in the FA
Premier Academy League
25.02.2012
Elliot Lee smashed in his third hat-trick of the season as West Ham United
Under-18s returned to winning ways with a 4-1 FA Premier Academy League
victory at Ipswich Town. Blair Turgott was also on target as the Hammers
shook off their FA Youth Cup fifth-round penalty shootout defeat at Chelsea
in convincing fashion.
Lee took his tally to 18 goals in 25 appearances this season with a fine
treble, while Turgott grabbed his ninth goal of the campaign with superb
individual strike, delighting Academy Director Tony Carr. "We played well
and dominated most of the game," said Carr. "Ipswich got a goal back just
after half-time when we were 2-0 up but we broke up the other end soon after
the re-start and got a penalty after a great exchange of passes between
Dominic Vose, Pelly Ruddock and Blair. "Blair was taken out in the box and
Elliot made it 3-1 and then quickly 4-1 and the game was over.It was nice
for us to bounce back after a disappointing week that saw us lose at
Chelsea and then to Portsmouth in the league."
Carr was particularly impressed with Lee, who continued a fine individual
campaign with three well-taken goals, and the contribution of England
Under-18 winger Turgott. "Elliot scored three good goals - two left-footed
shots and one right-footed penalty. The left-foot shots were particularly
pleasing because they were with his so-called weaker foot. "Blair's goal was
a very good one. He collected a diagonal pass before cutting into the box,
rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the net. "It was a good
all-round performance from the boys. Ipswich are a young side this year, but
they are always a tough and competitive proposition. We are pleased to get
back into some sort of form, get over the Chelsea result and now we want to
finish the season on a positive note. "Sam Baxter and Josh Siafa came into
the side, which was good for them, while Nana Boakye-Yiadom also scored a
hat-trick in a 4-2 win for the Under-16s, so it was a good day for us. We
want to see players move on to the Development Squad and also to finish
strongly in the league if we can."
The U18s return to action this Saturday morning, 3 March, when Bristol City
are the visitors to Little Heath.
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West Ham v Crystal Palace
BBC.co.uk
25 February 2012
Last updated at 18:13
West Ham's failure to beat Crystal Palace saw them drop to second place in
the Championship table following Southampton's win at Watford. The Eagles
dominated the first half against their London rivals and home keeper Rob
Green made several fine stops, most notably from Wilfried Zaha. West Ham
improved after the break and substitute Sam Baldock had two late low strikes
saved by keeper Julian Speroni. But Palace, now unbeaten in five games, held
on for a deserved draw. West Ham undoubtedly had the edge after the interval
and will feel they created enough opportunities to earn maximum points.
However Palace, who remain 17 points behind their London rivals, could have
been three goals ahead by the end of the first period and the out-of-sorts
hosts had Green to thank for keeping the scores level. The England man made
two blocked saves from long-range Chris Martin strikes and also a decent
sprawling stop from a fierce Mile Jedinak effort.
But Green's best save saw him react brilliantly to tip over Zaha's deflected
strike. Palace played with a freedom and sharpness in the opening 45 minutes
but the introduction of striker Carlton Cole lifted the Hammers.
Cole almost curled home the opening goal with a clever, placed finish after
a Zaha mistake in midfield and Ricardo Vaz Te took a heavy first touch but
failed to get shot away when played in by Cole. As the home pressure began
to mount, James Tomkins headed over and Palace keeper Speroni twice blocked
Baldock shots with his feet at the near post. But the Hammers could not find
a way through a resolute Palace, whose best chance of the half saw Jermaine
Easter blaze wastefully wide.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "As a manager you have to take it but one or
two of the players in the dressing room were a little disappointed to get
booed because we are at the top of the league (until Southampton beat
Watford). "You build up the expectation as we have done recently having done
so well, and we didn't deliver today. But the fans have to stay with us and
have to be patient, and then we'll all benefit in the end. "It was not our
best day but the last three games, playing with 10 men, caught up with the
lads. I might have made a mistake picking the same team, but they had done
so well. We livened it up in the second half but didn't hit the heights we
know we can. "We had probably the two best chances with Sam, but we couldn't
convert them."
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman: "I'm pleased we could come to a big
club like West Ham and force them to change shape and personnel. "We had our
chances, so did they. West Ham will always cause you problems but we stuck
to our game plan and I felt a draw was pretty much a fair result. "In my
opinion West Ham will get promoted this season as champions."
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Freedman on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Crystal Palace's impressive young manager Dougie Freedman felt that a draw
was probably a fair reflection of 'a game of two halves'...
Dougie: you had your chances to win it?
We did. We played very well, I felt, in the first half. We created chances
by moving the ball quickly and counter-attacking them. You're right; in the
first half we did have our chances to win it. I was very pleased that we
could come to such a big club as West Ham, who are top of the league and
make them change formation and personnel.
But credit to them for doing that as it forced us back in the second half.
The second half was a different game for us as we had to show our defensive
qualities - which we did do, which was good, which was pleasing. In the end
we had our chances, so did they. I felt a draw was pretty much bang on.
You mentioned your defence; they were immense at times, weren't they?
Well they have to be when you come to West Ham and they throw everything in
there. You've got to be. You've got to make sure you're switched on, you've
got to be up for a physical battle but also concentrate for 90 minutes - and
I think they did that, which is credit to them.
Rob Green made a couple of very good saves in the first half. Was the policy
to try and go out and take those shots from long range?
No - I felt the areas in which we could get shots from, we've worked on. I
think we got our game plan nearly right in the first half in terms of where
we got our shots from.
West Ham are a very good defensive team who stay compact and maybe a little
deep. So we felt that was an area which we could combat, which we nearly
did. But when you've got an England goalkeeper in there - or whatever, he's
back in the team - he's going to save them.
That was pretty much the difference today I thought - Robert Green.
Were you surprised that he played?
If I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not surprised he was playing. I felt
it was the right decision but I just feel where are we with these rules? If
that was a centre midfielder tackling another centre midfielder would it
have been rescinded? I'm unsure; I'd just like it to be a little more clear
on that.
But that decision, no I'm not surprised because I think it was the right
decision to bring him back in - but I'm a little bit up in the air with the
rules in terms of what is a sending off and what's not now!
At the start were you trying to make them knock it a bit long? Because you
had a couple of players cutting off the inside pass?
West Ham, that is their style - so I felt that we had to be a little bit
deeper and allow them maybe one or two more straight balls to come in there.
We took our chances but we've got two good centre halfs who can win those. I
felt that that plan worked in the first half.
Second half, when they brought on two strikers I thought Sam Baldock was
good when he came on. He was sharp, it causes problems. But if you come to
West Ham they're going to cause you problems! They're going to cause you
problems no matter what you do because they've got a good manager who'll
change it round and you've got to be ready for it.
They did do that - and credit to them - but I felt we stuck at our game
plan. Even in the second half, once or twice we could have broke on them
which was unfortunate, but as I said before I think a draw was pretty much a
fair result. I'm not complaining.
Where does the first half performance rank in terms of this season?
You won't believe me when I say this but it's pretty much how we've been
playing for the last four or five games, if I'm honest. We're a growing
team; we couldn't go out in the January sales... It wasn't the sales, I mean
the January transfer window! [laughs] That was my missus telling me that!
The January transfer window... [we couldn't] go and buy the strike force
that maybe a West Ham could. So we're a growing club, we need to grow our
own players and nurture our own players through and that's what we're trying
to do.
So to come back to your question, the performance levels have been that high
- it's just getting the results that our performances have merited. That
could have been possible in the first half today but overall I think a draw
was roughly where we were at today.
Julian Speroni made some good save as well?
That's what he gets paid for; he's a good goalkeeper. He wasn't called upon
too much in the first half; in the second half? I think good goalkeepers
have good concentration levels and when he was called upon he's sharp, he's
agile and he makes them [saves] for us. I think everybody contributed to
keeping that point we turned up today with.
It must be satisfying after saying you think West Ham will be promoted? It
must be satisfying that they haven't managed to beat you over the course of
the season?
Oh yeah, that's true.
I think they will be promoted because they've got an experienced manager and
good strength in depth, so he [Sam Allardyce] can call upon different
players to produce bits of magic for them. The captain, Noble? He's the best
player I've seen in this division. For me he's head and shoulders above most
players.
So when you get strength in depth like that, that's why I think they'll be
champions. Maybe not on today's performance, but I've seen them four or five
times live and they will be - in my opinion - the champions.
Were you surprised that the home fans booed off their team?
Did they boo them off at full time? At half time I heard a few boos... Fans
pay good money these days and they're entitled to boo. I booed my little boy
at a rugby match the other day because he was rubbish, you know? [laughs]
I think fans, they're entitled to that. Modern day fans - especially at West
Ham - expect to be winning maybe at half time. At full time I wasn't aware
of that. But credit to West Ham; they didn't have a great day today but they
still got a point and they probably could have won it. I think that's what
will make them champions.
Sam Allardyce said that Crystal Palace spoiled West Ham's way of playing,
which is kind of a compliment in a way?
It's a fantastic compliment for us. As I said before, credit to our lads
that we made them change shape and personnel at half time as it means we
must have done something right.
Our mentality has changed; we no longer come to places like this and just
lie down expecting to get beat. We're a young team that's got energy in the
team, we're trying different ways to get the win but we're sticking to our
beliefs that we don't get beat.
I think that's a huge compliment that Sam would say such a thing, that we
spoiled their game plan. Why wouldn't we? In the second half he spoiled ours
because if it continued like the first half I felt we could win the game. So
I take that as a huge compliment.
Thanks guys.
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Allardyce on... Crystal Palace
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce reflects on a disappointing performance that saw his West Ham
side lose their lead at the top of the Championship, citing fatigue - and
team selection - as contributory factors...
Sam: they had the better of the first half and you had the better of the
second half - so a draw was probably a fair result?
Yes, probably; it hasn't been our best day. I think the last three games
caught up with the lads today as the vast majority of them turned out again.
I might have made a slight mistake in picking exactly the same 11 that
started at Blackpool, but I thought they'd done so well and deserved to come
and play at home in this game.
We livened it up in the second half and got a little better but still didn't
quite hit the heights we know we can. But it was still a very, very good
point - and one that increases our total at the top.
There was quite a long injury to James Tomkins; what was that all about?
Well it was concussion, if anything. We were concerned that he got concussed
and wouldn't be able to carry on but after a little bit of a recovery period
he said he's okay. We checked him again at half time just to make sure, and
he was okay.
We changed the system at half time, got the fresh legs on and nearly won it
with probably the two best chances of the game for both teams, which were
Sam [Baldock's] - but he didn't quite convert those.
So we're disappointed as a unit because we know we played our best but for
me, from that point of view I think it's just the effort that's been put
into the last three games caught up with us today.
Is it because you played the last three games with a man short?
Well it's two things; we've played three games with ten men, plus we played
Tuesday night and Crystal Palace haven't played this week. So the energy
levels were bound to be better for Crystal Palace.
I thought Palace set out their stall very well; it was very difficult for us
to find the right areas to break them down today. I think they defended very
well and that prevented us from getting our passing as good and [as] sharp
as it has been recently.
We failed - certainly in the first half - to create any real chances at all.
We did a little better in the second half but all the lads are disappointed,
to be fair to them. What they've had to face over the last four games, it's
been a magnificent achievement getting two wins and two draws.
With that run in mind and the fact that you're top of the table, you must be
disappointed that the players have been booed off?
The players are disappointed. As a manager you learn to accept anything, you
know what I mean? So anything that comes your way, you just have to try and
take it. Yes, I'll agree with one or two of the players [who] were a little
disappointed they got booed - they said that in the dressing room - because
we're top of the league.
But we've built up expectations by doing so well here against Millwall with
ten men, here against Southampton with ten men and by playing really well at
Blackpool - as all the travelling away fans would have told everybody. We
didn't deliver today, but I think I've just explained the reasons why.
But they've got to stay with us, they've got to stay patient and we'll all
benefit in the end. I've just said to the lads that we're all disappointed,
they've just shown their disappointment. They cheer us when we win, they're
not too happy that we didn't play so well today. That's the way it goes.
To be fair to the West Ham fans though, they kept their opinions until after
the end of the first half and until after the end of the game, didn't they?
What does that mean? [laughs] I'm not sure I can answer that one!
Baldock seemed to add a bit of a spark when he came on?
Yes, it's like I said - good substitutes nearly won us the game today. Maybe
on reflection, in hindsight I should have changed the side and put three
fresher players in and rested a few more. But on such a good performance I
couldn't find it in my heart or in my head this morning to do that.
We made a decision and then we tried to increase the level of energy first
and quality second - and I think because of Gary O'Neil, Carlton Cole and
particularly Sam we got better and better in the second half and nearly won.
And no sub goalkeeper - again?
Well if you look across most of the division, most of the division won't
have a sub goalkeeper. It's all about the ridiculous decision to reduce
seven subs to five. If I play a left-back at centre-forward you don't moan
or you don't pick it up - but if I play a central midfield player in goal,
you do!
I haven't got enough substitutes to fill every position if something
happens! Henri Lansbury's been a goalkeeper since he was 15 and he did a
great job; we didn't need him today - thank God.
Greenie? To be fair, in the first half - whilst they weren't clear-cut
chances - they were very good attempts from outside the box and he did his
job yet again, which is why we're top of the league.
Thank you...
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West Ham Utd 0 Crystal Palace 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
It was a disappointing afternoon for all concerned as the Hammers failed to
capitalise on being first to play this afternoon by recording a goalless
draw with Crystal Palace. With the rest of the Championship fixtures
starting a couple of hours later than the Hammers, who kicked-off at 12:45pm
for the benefit of the TV cameras, hopes were high of Sam Allardyce's side
extending their lead at the top of the table. That they did - temporarily at
least - but by just one point instead of three as the visitors from South
London clung on to grab a point that, in truth, they probably deserved for a
spirited and well-disciplined display. For the first time in four games,
United managed to finish a game with their full quota of 11 men - even if
substitute Gary O'Neil caused 30,000 people to collectively hold their
breath when scything down Jonathan Parr late on in the game as the ball
rolled out for a goal kick. But that extra man failed to provide the added
impetus required for West Ham to take all three points - and until the
final, frantic few minutes during which the Hammers created three golden
chances to win the game, Rob Green had been the far busier of the two number
ones.
Chris Martin and Mile Jedinal both saw first half efforts well saved by the
recalled England goalkeeper, but none were better than Wilfred Zaha's
deflected effort that produced yet another world-class save from Green on
the half-hour mark. The old adage of 'a game of two halves' certainly
applied this afternoon as West Ham, a different side following the half time
introduction of Carlton Cole were almost in complete control of the second
half. However Allardyce's men had to wait until injury time before
producing their best chances of the game, with James Tomkins - who somehow
recovered from a first half collision that left him concussed - and a
disappointing Jack Collison both failing to convert.
Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te, who opened their accounts at Blackpool
earlier in the week were both anonymous with neither lasting the full 90
minutes.
Maynard's replacement, Sam Baldock - making his first appearance since the
5-1 reversal at Ipswich last month - was guilty of spurning United's best
chance of the 90 minutes of normal time when he failed to beat Julian
Speroni in a one-on-one situation having been cleverly set up by striker
partner Cole. Other than that, West Ham produced very little to suggest they
deserve to remain top of the Championship pile; indeed, they ended the day
in second place after Southampton won 3-0 at Watford later in the day to
regain top spot.
Next up for West Ham is the trip to Cardiff next Sunday, for another
televised fixture.
West Ham Utd 0 Crystal Palace 0: match facts
West Ham Utd: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye, Reid, Tomkins, Noble,
Collison, Faubert (Cole 46), Vaz Te (O'Neil 58), Maynard (Baldock 73).
Subs not used: Potts, Lansbury.
Booked: O'Neil (71).
Shots on/off target: 5/6.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, McShane, Parr, McCarthy, Gardner, Ambrose (Scannell
63), Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Zaha, Martin (Garvan 82), Easter (Murray 74).
Subs not used: Price, O'Keefe.
Shots on/off target: 8/5.
Possession: West Ham 53%, Crystal Palace 47%.
Referee: Graham Salisbury (5).
Attendance: 34,900
Did you know? Today's attendance set a new record between the two clubs at
the Boleyn Ground. The previous record was 31,861 for an October 2003
Premier League fixture, which West Ham won 3-1.
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Allardyce pleads for patience
West Ham boss reflects on boos after draw; Freedman satisfied
Last Updated: February 25, 2012 6:08pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham's players were disappointed to get jeered
off after the goalless draw with Crystal Palace, while Dougie Freedman was
happy with a point. Sections of the Upton Park crowd voiced their
frustration at the end of each half after a lacklustre display from the
promotion favourites. Allardyce felt it was a harsh response considering
West Ham's position in the table, but accepted that expectations have
increased following such a strong run. "As a manager you have to take it but
one or two of the players in the dressing room were a little disappointed to
get booed because we are at the top of the league," revealed the Hammers
boss. "You build up the expectation as we have done recently having done so
well, and we didn't deliver today. But the fans have to stay with us and
have to be patient, and then we'll all benefit in the end. "I told the lads
we are all disappointed and the fans are showing their disappointment. "They
cheer us when we win and they were not so happy we didn't play well today,
but that's the way it goes."
The Hammers at least managed to keep 11 players on the pitch, having had a
man sent off in their previous three matches. Allardyce added: "It was not
our best day but the last three games, playing with 10 men, caught up with
the lads. "I might have made a mistake picking the same team, but they had
done so well. We livened it up in the second half but didn't hit the heights
we know we can. "We had probably the two best chances with Sam, but we
couldn't convert them."
Freedman
Palace have proved frustrating opponents for the Hammers, who were held 2-2
at Selhurst Park in October. Eagles manager Freedman said: "I'm pleased we
could come to a big club like West Ham and force them to change shape and
personnel. "We had our chances, so did they. West Ham will always cause you
problems but we stuck to our game plan and I felt a draw was pretty much a
fair result. "In my opinion West Ham will get promoted this season as
champions."
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Palace hold Hammers in stalemate
Last updated: 25th February 2012
SSN
West Ham kept 11 players on the pitch for a change but could not find a way
past Crystal Palace during a 0-0 Championship draw at Upton Park. The
promotion-chasing Hammers had goalkeeper Rob Green to thank for keeping them
in the game in the first half, and then some wayward finishing cost them
after the break.
Green was only able to play after winning an appeal against his midweek red
card, having become the third player West Ham player to be sent off in the
last three matches. From those games West Ham still picked up seven points,
including three on Tuesday in a stunning 4-1 win at Blackpool where
midfielder Henri Lansbury deputised for Green in goal during the second
half. However, they could only manage a single point with a full complement
of players against London rivals Palace.
The Eagles almost shocked their hosts with just 30 seconds played, Wilfried
Zaha wriggling free down the right and crossing for Darren Ambrose, who
curled a shot just wide.
A minute later James Tomkins created West Ham's first chance with a clever
throughball but George McCartney's chip floated the wrong side of the post.
Green, whose eventful week also included an England recall, was kept busy
throughout the first half, blocking a fierce Chris Martin drive and tipping
over the deflected follow-up from Zaha. From the resulting corner, Mile
Jedinak was left unmarked right in front of goal but the midfielder headed
over. Australian Jedinak kept trying his luck, though, and he forced another
fine save from Green with a 20-yard shot and also fired wide in first-half
stoppage time. Home boss Sam Allardyce hauled off the error-prone Julien
Faubert at half-time, sending on Carlton Cole to partner Nicky Maynard in
attack. The change almost paid immediate dividends when a mistake by Zaha
let in Maynard who found Cole on the edge of the area, but the striker's
curled shot was off target. Moments later Ricardo Vaz Te was denied by a
well-timed tackle in the area from Anthony Gardner just as he was about to
shoot. Tomkins then headed Mark Noble's cross over and Maynard's shot was
also too high.
Sam Baldock almost made himself an instant hero within seconds of coming on
as a substitute after Noble put him through, but his shot was too close to
Julian Speroni. Speroni denied Baldock again and Winston Reid late on,
before Jack Collison blazed over in stoppage time to cap a frustrating
afternoon for the Hammers.
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Big Sam: My leaders aren't happy at being booed by their own fans
Published 15:59 25/02/12 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has revealed some of his players were angry at being booed off
after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace - despite extending their Championship
lead.
Sections of the Upton Park crowd voiced their frustration at the end of each
half after a lacklustre display from the promotion favourites. "As a manager
you have to take it but one or two of the players in the dressing room were
a little disappointed to get booed because we are at the top of the league,"
revealed Hammers boss Allardyce. "You build up the expectation as we have
done recently having done so well, and we didn't deliver today. But the fans
have to stay with us and have to be patient, and then we'll all benefit in
the end. "I told the lads we are all disappointed and the fans are showing
their disappointment. "They cheer us when we win and they were not so happy
we didn't play well today, but that's the way it goes."
The Hammers at least managed to keep 11 players on the pitch, having had a
man sent off in their previous three matches. Goalkeeper Rob Green was able
to play after his midweek red card in the 4-1 win at Blackpool was
overturned, and he kept his side in the game during the first half. Green,
whose eventful week also included an England recall, blocked a fierce Chris
Martin drive and tipped over the deflected follow-up from Wilfried Zaha.
Allardyce threw on substitutes Carlton Cole and Sam Baldock after the break
and the strikers both had chances to win it. Cole curled an effort narrowly
wide and Baldock twice shot too close to Palace keeper Julian Speroni. "It
was not our best day but the last three games, playing with 10 men, caught
up with the lads," added Allardyce "I might have made a mistake picking the
same team, but they had done so well. We livened it up in the second half
but didn't hit the heights we know we can. "We had probably the two best
chances with Sam, but we couldn't convert them."
Palace have proved frustrating opponents for the Hammers, who were held 2-2
at Selhurst Park in October. Manager Dougie Freedman said: "I'm pleased we
could come to a big club like West Ham and force them to change shape and
personnel. "We had our chances, so did they. West Ham will always cause you
problems but we stuck to our game plan and I felt a draw was pretty much a
fair result. "In my opinion West Ham will get promoted this season as
champions."
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West Ham 0 Crystal Palace 0: Promotion-chasing Hammers held in drab London
derby
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:01 PM on 25th February 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham kept 11 players on the pitch for a change but could not find a way
past Crystal Palace. The promotion-chasing Hammers had goalkeeper Rob Green
to thank for keeping them in the game in the first half, and then some
wayward finishing cost them after the break. Green was only able to play
after winning an appeal against his midweek red card, having become the
third player West Ham player to be sent off in the last three matches. From
those games West Ham still picked up seven points, including three on
Tuesday in a stunning 4-1 win at Blackpool where midfielder Henri Lansbury
deputised for Green in goal during the second half.
However, they could only manage a single point with a full complement of
players against London rivals Palace. The Eagles almost shocked their hosts
with just 30 seconds played, Wilfried Zaha wriggling free down the right and
crossing for Darren Ambrose, who curled a shot just wide. A minute later
James Tomkins created West Ham's first chance with a clever through-ball but
George McCartney's chip floated the wrong side of the post. Green, whose
eventful week also included an England recall, was kept busy throughout the
first half, blocking a fierce Chris Martin drive and tipping over the
deflected follow-up from Zaha. From the resulting corner, Mile Jedinak was
left unmarked right in front of goal but the midfielder headed over.
Australian Jedinak kept trying his luck, though, and he forced another fine
save from Green with a 20-yard shot and also fired wide in first-half
stoppage time.
Home boss Sam Allardyce hauled off the error-prone Julien Faubert at
half-time, sending on Carlton Cole to partner Nicky Maynard in attack. The
change almost paid immediate dividends when a mistake by Zaha let in Maynard
who found Cole on the edge of the area, but the striker's curled shot was
off target. Moments later Ricardo Vaz Te was denied by a well-timed tackle
in the area from Anthony Gardner just as he was about to shoot. Tomkins then
headed Mark Noble's cross over and Maynard's shot was also too high. Sam
Baldock almost made himself an instant hero within seconds of coming on as a
substitute after Noble put him through, but his shot was too close to Julian
Speroni. Speroni denied Baldock again and Winston Reid late on, before Jack
Collison blazed over in stoppage time to cap a frustrating afternoon for the
Hammers.
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