Big Sam on Saints stalemate
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was delighted after his team once again secured a positive
result with just ten men
15.02.2012
Sam Allardyce was once again full of praise for his West Ham United side
after the secured a 1-1 home draw with second-placed Southamton. For the
second game in a row the Hammers had to play for the majority of the match
with ten men after Matty Taylor was sent off in the 18th minute. Mark Noble
had again put the home side in front from the penalty spot but the Saints
pushed hard for an equaliser and finally got back into the match when Jos
Hooiveld prodded home in the 75th minutes.
How would you sum up that performance Sam?
SA: It's an unbelievable performance as on for the second occasion it looked
like everything was going against us. I relate to the spirit of the team and
the squad and the belief of the team that even with ten men they said 'We're
not going to get beaten'. With the crowd behind us and cheering us all on
the lads did an unbelievable job again and it was only an unlucky bounce of
the ball into the defender's shins that put them in the right place to poke
it in. They couldn't break us down in open play and we had some good saves
from Rob Green when we needed them. Even with ten men Julien Faubert nipped
in front of the goalkeeper but it's just rolled out for a goal-kick when it
could easily have just dropped to his feet for a sidefoot into the back of
the net. Great credit to the lads and four points from two games with ten
men after eight minutes and ten men after 17 minutes is terrific stuff and
we've just go to pick it up from here. It's an unbelievable point and it
feels like a win. We're playing the team that's right up there at the top of
the league and they couldn't break us down."
What did you make of Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard?
SA: "Well with Nicky, it would have been a great goal had the one he hit on
the turn gone in. It would have been unbelievable for us to get the second
goal tonight but maybe we were asking a bit too much. He held it up and he
was up there on his own. You can see the quality that Vaz Te has got and he
nearly scored in the first minute and it was a good save from the keeper.
The way we started the game it looked like we were up for it and it looked
like we wanted it. We were in full flow and had Southampton were on the back
foot. We'll have to accept a draw as an outstanding result with ten men for
as long as had."
How vital was Mark Noble's early penalty?
SA: "To go as long as we did again and hold out is just terrific. We went
1-0 in front from the penalty which was very important as had we had to do
it from 0-0 then we would have found it harder. I've got great players and
great characters who believe in what we're trying to do. I imagine if we
have that same attitude when we have eleven versus eleven we should go on
and start to win a few more games."
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West Ham 1 Southampton 1
BBC.co.uk
14 February 2012
By Nabil Hassan
BBC Sport at Upton Park
Jos Hooiveld's late equaliser rescued a point for Southampton as the
Championship's top two clubs shared the spoils at Upton Park. Mark Noble put
the Hammers in front from the penalty spot before the break after being
fouled by Billy Sharp. The Saints striker was also involved in an incident
that saw Matt Taylor sent off shortly before West Ham's goal. Sharp was
later denied by Rob Green but Saints equalised when Hooiveld poked home from
close range. The result saw leaders West Ham maintain their one-point
advantage over Saints, but both sides missed the opportunity to strike a
significant blow on their nearest rival in the race for automatic promotion.
In fact, the draw allowed the chasing pack back into the mix asCardiff City
and Blackpool both won to close the gap on the top two. Saints' poor away
record continues with Nigel Adkins' side still without a victory on the road
over a side in the top half of the table.
Nonetheless, Adkins will see it as a point gained considering his side's
poor start to the game, while his opposite number Sam Allardyce will point
towards Taylor's disputed red card as the game's turning point. Still,
Allardyce's side remain top and it will take something special to prevent
them from returning back to the Premier League at the first attempt based on
tonight's evidence. Just a point separated these two sides before the game
but the gulf in class during the opening stages could not have been greater.
West Ham outclassed, outmuscled and outplayed their opponents early on but
once Taylor had been dismissed, a combination of great goalkeeping from
Green and poor finishing from Sharp prevented Saints clawing their way back
into the contest. West Ham came flying out of the traps with Ricardo Vaz Te
testing Kelvin Davis with a fierce half-volley in the opening minute and
they soon took the lead with a hotly-disputed penalty. Sharp was adjudged to
have brought down Noble and then became involved in an altercation with
Taylor. The Saints striker collapsed to the floor in a heap and referee Lee
Probert handed a red card to the unfortunate Taylor 18 minutes into the
game. Noble kept his cool to convert from the spot but with a man advantage
Saints came back into the game. Recent signing Sharp should have levelled
but struck Green from close range and the Hammers keeper later pulled off a
fine one-handed save from Rickie Lambert's 18-yard shot.
West Ham started the second half brightly but Lambert came close to
connecting from close range as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.
Hooiveld headed a Saints corner over from close range when he really should
have tested Green, but the big Dutchman made amends moments later when
poking home Lambert's knock down from six yards out. The Hammers introduced
debutant Nicky Maynard from the bench and the former Bristol City man forced
a decent save from Davis with five minutes remaining. It was the last
meaningful action of a pulsating contest which leaves the race for promotion
well and truly open.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "The Southampton player has held his face
when Matt Taylor pushed him in the chest. "The assistant referee has been
conned and unfortunately we lost a man from then on. "But the biggest
problem was the referee missed two of the most blatant penalties you will
ever see. Everyone in the ground could see they were penalties."
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins: "It was a good game of football with lots of
incident. "At the end of the day we've come away from home and got a point.
We've totally dominated the game on the balance of play. "We should have got
a penalty of our own in the second half. I've watched it again and it was a
clear penalty."
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Allardyce on... Southampton
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Despite sporting a heavy cold, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce had plenty to say
about the performance of referee Lee Probert in his post-match press
conference which we once again bring you exclusively in full...
Sam: it must be difficult to know how to react after that? A bit of triumph,
a little despair, some anger and frustration?
I think a triumph from the point of view of the result; that's a triumph.
The triumph is to play with ten men, again, for as long as we did against a
team who is battling it out with you in a top of the table clash. A terrific
effort and performance by the players.
Not only were they good at defending what they'd already got and stopping
Southampton, but they were also good at creating other chances, even with
ten men again. None more so than the unlucky bounce Julian Faubert got just
after half time when he got between the centre half and the goalkeeper.
Instead of it just dropping to him to side foot into an empty net it rolls
just wide of the post for a goal kick. Nicky Maynard, after they'd scored,
swivelling and hitting the target.
I know that Southampton had some good chances - particularly the one Greenie
made the double save on - but you've got to expect that when it's ten men.
I'd expect that when it's 11 versus 11 and a top of the table clash. So I'm
inspired by the players' performance, by their willingness to not allow the
opposition to beat them even though the odds were against us.
I'm disappointed in Matt Taylor raising his hands but I'm also disappointed,
when looking at it on the laptop, that it's on the chest and not in the
face. They all tell me that in the rule book if it's on the chest it's a
booking and if it's in the face, or on the neck, it's a red card.
I'm also disappointed that after seven minutes [Rickie] Lambert puts his
hand above his head and punches the ball away with his left arm. I'm also
disappointed that [Jos] Hooiveld, after 20-odd minutes, pulls his left arm
around in front of goal and punches the ball out.
And why do I know they're two penalties? Well, I knew they were two
penalties at the time because everybody in the stadium appealed for it. I
also know they were two penalties because I've just looked at it four times
on my laptop. So that means the second one, at least, is a sending-off and a
penalty for us and the first one might just be a penalty.
So before Matt Taylor's got sent off and we're down to ten men we've already
won the game - or could have won the game had major decisions been made
correctly, in my opinion. So I have a bitter taste in my mouth for that but
I have fantastic praise and admiration for the players who've done a
fantastic job tonight and created an entertaining game in the circumstances.
And a great response from the crowd which helped us along.
Were you disappointed with the way Sharp went down though? His reaction to
Matt Taylor's challenge?
Well yeah, because he held his face and rolled over on the floor which
obviously made the assistant referee tell the referee he's hit him in the
face to send him off. It's a great shame that, but from our point of view
there's major decisions been made the wrong way which have nearly cost us.
Well they have cost us, two points today.
I thought the way we started, we were up for it and it was going to be our
night - right from the very start when Vaz Te got through and hit the shot
on goal. The amount of pressure that we put them under and, as I said, the
two penalty decisions that should have been given to us in the first quarter
of the game.
With Mark Noble on the pitch you've got to bet that he's going to score
every penalty that he gets because he has done this year. So that could be
the game all in our favour and we could have had three points, but it wasn't
to be.
I just don't want any more officials to try and take away from what the
players and I are striving for. I'm really disappointed; I thought the
officials tried to do that today and that's a real shame based on how big a
game it was and how much we wanted to go out and try and win it.
Did you tell the referee what you thought about his performance?
I'll tell him later. I'll put it in my report like I always do and report it
the right way. But it is a great shame, because Lee Probert particularly is
a young up-and-coming Premier League referee. He referees in the Premier
League all the time, has been there for two or three seasons now and has got
a lot of experience.
If he can't see it then his assistant referee should. If the assistant
referee has seen what Matt Taylor has done I'm not convinced he's seen that
right. But he's got to see two hand-balls that have happened in the
opposition's box that are so blatant. All you have to do is get on your
laptops yourself, have a look at them and you'll know I'm right.
When the TV cameras showed a replay of the sending off there's a suggestion
that Billy Sharp aimed a punch at Taylor. Did you see that?
Well I was more interested in looking at where Matt put his hands but... I
don't know, it's just beyond me sometimes. I just have to keep my mouth shut
otherwise...
I've tried to go as far as I can to press my point without getting myself
into trouble because I don't want them taking my money off me for
overstepping the mark, for telling the truth. I'll just have to be careful
and not go too far. I think I've just kept it to the point of criticism in
terms of the criticism being correct and right and proper - and not to go
too far and get myself a fine which I don't want to do.
Can you explain why [Matt] Taylor was at left back instead of [George]
McCartney?
Yeah; George would have missed the Peterborough game with a hamstring which
he picked up [last week], that we didn't talk about. He's recovered from the
hamstring but I just said to be absolutely certain, to say you've recovered
for Tuesday was a bit too early for me. So Matt at left back and Vaz Te [in
midfield] is why we've got the squad we've got.
Like I said, it was a terrific start by us, a really good start. And even
having gone down to ten men it was a fantastic performance thereafter. Every
player should feel proud of himself because we've played with ten men twice
now and got four points - and how often does that happen?
Most of the time your players don't manage to hold on and lose both of the
games. Even when they scored it was going to be a big test for us but we
probably had the best chance after they scored, when Nicky Maynard had one.
Do you think having [James] Tomkins in midfield actually helped in a ten-men
situation?
Well we've found a new position for him, haven't we? The adversity of having
to cope with it twice when you've gone into midfield for the first time
tells you a lot about the lad! Basically we want him to use his football
ability and also his protection of the back four by playing the sitting
role. Both times it's not lasted very long and he's had to come and play in
the two - and been great.
But everybody has. Every man has played to the maximum they can to get a
result today.
How about Robert Green? Particularly on one occasion in the first half?
Well we got a throw in and the referee decides that he hasn't taken the
throw in from the right place. I'm not even sure the referee pointed where
he should take the throw in from in the first place, so I don't know how he
knows it's not the right place. You don't know where a ball has gone out
when you're 35 yards inside the pitch.
They nearly scored from it. I think we switched off because it was our throw
in, he blew up for it and then the double save was top class, wasn't it?
What did that tell you about Robert Green?
He's a great goalie... that's what it tells me. What do you want me to say?
[laughs]
Do you think he should play for England?
Yeah, he should.
Yeah?
Yeah. Why not?
Thanks lads.
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Leave West Ham, Olsen tells Carew
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Norway coach Egil Olsen has told West Ham United's out-of-form striker John
Carew to find a new club if he is to extend his international career. Carew,
who had been capped 91 times for the Norwegians has played just 65 minutes
for West Ham since the New Year. His sole appearance in 2012 came in the
1-0 FA Cup defeat at League One Sheffied Wednesday, where he was replaced
midway through the second half by rookie Frank Nouble. Attempts by West Ham
to find a new club for Carew during the January transfer window amounted to
nothing. As a result, the 32-year-old - who played for the likes of Roma
and Valencia during his heyday - has found himself even further down the
pecking order following the arrival of Nicky Maynard from Bristol City.
"Carew has played very little over the past year and it seems that he
probably needs to change club if he wants to get back in the national team,"
Olsen told reporters today, as he named his squad - minus Carew - for
Norway's forthcoming friendly against Northern Ireland. "A fit Carew is a
big plus for Norway because he is a rare type of player. But he must play
more often first and the signals I have received suggest he must change
clubs. "I hope he does," added the experienced coach. "If he does and plays
well, he will leads the national team. If not, he will not."
Carew signed for West Ham on a free transfer last August. Since then he has
made 17 appearances, scoring just two goals.
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Sam points finger at Probert
Hammers boss disappointed in referee's performance
Last Updated: February 14, 2012 11:16pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce believes referee Lee Probert cost West Ham the chance to move
four points clear of Southampton at the top of the Championship. Probert
appeared to miss two clear penalty claims for handball against Rickie
Lambert and Jos Hooiveld in the opening 15 minutes. And when the official
did finally point to the spot, after Mark Noble was tripped by Morgan
Schneiderlin, he promptly sent Matt Taylor off for shoving Billy Sharp in
the resulting melee. Noble picked himself up to score his seventh goal from
seven penalties this season, but Hooiveld equalised for the 11 men in the
second half to secure a 1-1 draw for second-placed Saints. "I'm disappointed
Matt Taylor raised his hands, but it's in his chest, not his face, and they
tell me the rules say that's a booking, not a red," said Upton Park boss
Allardyce.
"Sharp held his face and rolled over on the floor which tells the assistant
referee he has hit him in the face. "I'm also disappointed we should have
had two penalties. I've looked at them four times, and the second one is a
sending-off as well as a penalty. "You've got to guess Mark is going to
score them so we could have had the game won before the sending-off - so
that's left a bitter taste. "In our point of view the major decisions have
gone the wrong way. I don't want the officials taking away what we are
striving for and I thought the officials tried to do that today, which was a
shame."
Red card
Allardyce's side had to play the majority of the game a man light for the
second match running after Kevin Nolan saw red nine minutes into last
weekend's win over Millwall. Taylor's red came after 18 minutes and the 10
men stood firm for the rest of the first half with Rob Green producing fine
saves to deny Sharp and Lambert.
But they could not deal with Danny Fox's free-kick 16 minutes from time and
Hooiveld, who scored the winner when the teams met at St Mary's in October,
prodded in the equaliser. Saints manager Nigel Adkins admitted Probert had
an "interesting" evening, and felt he got the one penalty decision he did
give wrong. "No, in my opinion it's wasn't a penalty. He didn't touch him,"
said Adkins.
On Taylor's red card, he added: "The referee has been put in a position
where he has had to make a decision, there was a coming-together. "The
referee has made a call, I also thought he didn't see a handball for us. I
didn't see the ones Sam was appealing for. "We had opportunities to win it.
They defended resolutely and I'm sure they'll be happy with a point."
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Hooiveld denies Hammers victory
Last updated: 14th February 2012
SSN
Jos Hooiveld netted to earn second-placed Southampton a 1-1 draw against
Championship leaders West Ham United at Upton Park. The Dutch defender
struck late in the second half of this top-of-the-table clash to cancel out
Mark Noble's penalty, with the Hammers playing a man light from the opening
stages for the second successive game. This time it was Matt Taylor who saw
red following a shove on Billy Sharp after 18 minutes. The 10 men battled to
victory against Millwalllast weekend but could not hold out against their
promotion rivals Saints and remain one point clear at the summit. Just like
Kevin Nolan's last week, Taylor's dismissal was utterly needless. His side
were well on top, with Ricardo Vaz Teand Winston Reid going close, and had
just been awarded a penalty at the third time of asking.
Referee Lee Probert had waved away appeals for handball against Rickie
Lambert and Hooiveld, but had no option but to point to the spot after Noble
was blatantly tripped in the area by Morgan Schneiderlin. However, tempers
promptly flared down by the right corner and Taylor, who must have covered
quite some ground from his position at left-back, charged into the melee and
pushed Sharp to the floor. Probert whipped out a straight red card and
Taylor trooped off before stand-in skipper Noble stepped up to coolly send
Kelvin Davis the wrong way for his seventh goal from seven penalties this
season.
West Ham had played for 81 minutes without regular captain Nolan against
Millwall and another resilient display was called for. Goalkeeper Robert
Green certainly stepped up to the plate before the interval with a stunning
double save from point-blank range to deny Sharp and another fine stop from
Lambert. Southampton tried to make their numerical advantage count after the
break but the hosts were holding firm. Reid deflected Jason Puncheon's shot
wide and Joey O'Brien hacked the resulting corner off the line with Sharp
about to strike. However with 15 minutes to go Hooiveld, just as he had done
when Saints beat the Hammers at St Mary's in October, found the net from a
set-piece. The home defence could not clear Danny Fox's free-kick and
Hooiveld stuck out a boot to prod the loose ball past Green.
West Ham still had a chance to win it but Davis saved well from substitute
Nicky Maynardto ensure Saints stay hard on the Hammers' heels.
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West Ham 1-1 Southampton: No love lost between promotion rivals
Published 22:01 14/02/12 By Mike Walters
The Mirror
Romance isn't dead - but there was no love lost in an East end search party
for hearts and flowers. Valentines Day dates with Sam Allardyce are always
liable to be nearer a bunch of fives than a bunch of roses, but instead of a
feast, the Championship's top-of-the-table duel left only a sour taste. On a
night when prospective couples traditionally argue over splitting the bill,
it was about right that West Ham and Southampton shared the spoils. Amid the
red cards, Equity cards and a rash of penalty decisions which upset both
managers, bubble-blowers had more reasons to be cheerful, staying a point
clear after playing 72 minutes with 10 men. But Hammers boss Allardyce
blasted referee Lee Probert for sending off Matt Taylor, missing two blatant
penalty claims for handball in the first 15 minutes and conspiring to slow
West Ham's promotion charge to a crawl. Big Sam growled: "I don't want any
more officials to take away what we are striving for - I felt they tried to
do that today. "It's just beyond me sometimes, but I've gone as far as I can
to press my point and I don't want them taking my money off me for telling
the truth. "It left a bitter taste in my mouth that we didn't get two
penalties before we were down to 10 men, but that doesn't take away from my
admiration for the players, who produced another great display in adversity.
"That's two games in a row we have played with 10 men for most of the match,
and we have still managed to take four points. But from our point of view,
there were major decisions made the wrong way which cost us. "Lee Probert is
an experienced Premier League referee and if he can't see these things, his
assistants should."
Staring dreamily into Big Sam's eyes was never going to be an option when
niggling, controversy and play-acting were on the menu, and the tone for a
fractious evening was set after just 18 minutes. Mark Noble was tripped in
the box by Billy Sharp and picked himself up to score his seventh penalty of
the season - but the goal was almost a cursory footnote to the posturing and
aggro which followed Probert's award of the spot-kick on the advice of
linesman Adam Watts. As Southampton players picketed the officials to
register their disapproval, Taylor rushed to join the debate and landed a
two-handed shove on Sharp. As as act of violence, it was probably up there
with pushing a shopping trolley up the aisle in a supermarket sweep - but
Sharp saw fit to go down with a thespian flourish and Probert bought it,
dismissing Taylor with a straight red card. Eastenders were quick to single
out Sharp as the villain of the piece, and Allardyce observed: "I'm
disappointed in Matt raising his hands, but I'm even more disappointed that
Sharp held his face and rolled on the floor."
The pie and mash society filled Upton Park with estuarine vowels again when
Adam Lallana was booked for a blatant dive in the area. Refreshingly, his
manager Nigel Adkins scolded: "I've had words with him - I won't tolerate
that from any of my players." And Saints would have been level by the
interval if Robert Green had not pulled off a wondrous double save from
Lallana and Sharp. But even the admirable Green was helpless to prevent
Southampton's equaliser 15 minutes from the end, Rickie Lambert rising to
knock down Danny Fox's free-kick for Jos Hooiveld to pounce in the six-yard
box.
WEST HAM: Green 8, O'Brien 6, Reid 6, Faye 6, Taylor 3, Tomkins 7, Faubert
6, Noble 7, Collison 5 (McCartney, 21, 5), Vaz Te 7 (O'Neil, 71), Cole 7
(Maynard, 65).
SOUTHAMPTON: Davis 7, Richardson 7 (Connolly, 80), Fonte 6, Hooiveld 6, Fox
5, Cork 7, Schneiderlin 6, Do Prado 6 (Puncheon, 55, 6), Lallana 7, Lambert
7, Sharp 5 (Hammond, 83).
REFEREE: Lee Probert
ATTENDANCE:
MAN OF THE MATCH: Robert Green - Back in England form
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Officials cost West Ham the chance to beat Southampton, claims Sam Allardyce
15 Feb 2012
Evening Standard
Sam Allardyce felt referee Lee Probert cost West Ham the chance to move four
points clear of Southampton at the top of the npower Championship. Probert
appeared to miss two clear penalty claims for handball against Rickie
Lambert and Jos Hooiveld in the opening 15 minutes. And when the Premier
League official did finally point to the spot, after Mark Noble was tripped
by Morgan Schneiderlin, he promptly sent Matt Taylor off for shoving Billy
Sharp in the resulting melee. Noble picked himself up to score his seventh
goal from seven penalties this season, but Hooiveld equalised for the 11 men
in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw for second-placed Saints. "I'm
disappointed Matt Taylor raised his hands, but it's in his chest, not his
face, and they tell me the rules say that's a booking, not a red," said
Upton Park boss Allardyce. "Sharp held his face and rolled over on the floor
which tells the assistant referee he has hit him in the face. "I'm also
disappointed we should have had two penalties. I've looked at them four
times, and the second one is a sending-off as well as a penalty. "You've got
to guess Mark is going to score them so we could have had the game won
before the sending-off - so that's left a bitter taste. "In our point of
view the major decisions have gone the wrong way. I don't want the officials
taking away what we are striving for and I thought the officials tried to do
that today, which was a shame."
Allardyce's side had to play the majority of the game a man light for the
second match running after Kevin Nolan saw red nine minutes into last
weekend's win over Millwall. Taylor's red came after 18 minutes and the 10
men stood firm for the rest of the first half with Rob Green producing fine
saves to deny Sharp and Lambert.
But they could not deal with Danny Fox's free-kick 16 minutes from time and
Hooiveld, who scored the winner when the teams met at St Mary's in October,
prodded in the equaliser. Saints manager Nigel Adkins admitted Probert had
an "interesting" evening, and felt he got the one penalty decision he did
give wrong. "No, in my opinion it's wasn't a penalty. He didn't touch him,"
said Adkins. On Taylor's red card, he added: "The referee has been put in a
position where he has had to make a decision, there was a coming-together.
"The referee has made a call, I also thought he didn't see a handball for
us. I didn't see the ones Sam was appealing for. "We had opportunities to
win it. They defended resolutely and I'm sure they'll be happy with a
point."
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A llardyce praises the guts of 10-man Hammers
West Ham United 1 Southampton 1
JACK PITT-BROOKE UPTON PARK WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2012
The Independent
West Ham United failed to deliver a decisive victory over promotion rivals
Southampton last night, succumbing to a Jos Hooiveld equaliser with 15
minutes left. What Sam Allardyce's side did produce, though, was another
short-handed performance of nerve and discipline, conceding after holding
out for nearly an hour with 10 men.
The 1-1 draw did not extend West Ham's lead over Southampton beyond the
current one-point gap, but it did show that they have the necessary
qualities to stay there. For the second match in a row, West Ham had to
fight for the vast majority of the game with 10 men: one of the greatest
character tests in football. Ten days ago against Millwall they fought their
way to a stirring 2-1 win. That night they lost Kevin Nolan after eight
minutes, last night they lost Matt Taylor after 18.
"I'm inspired by the players' performance, and by their willingness to not
allow the opposition to beat them, even though the odds are against us,"
Allardyce said afterwards. As with the Millwall victory, the centre-back
pair of Winston Reid and Abdoulaye Faye were impeccable, as were midfielders
James Tomkins and Mark Noble, performing the work of three men. Noble put
West Ham ahead in the first half, at the end of a sequence that also
included the red card. Matt Taylor rolled a free-kick to Noble in the box,
and was tackled by Southampton's Billy Sharp. Noble fell, and Sharp took
exception as Lee Probert whistled for the penalty. Taylor replied in kind,
taking exception to Sharp. Taylor was sent off, Sharp was booked, and Noble
scored his seventh penalty of the season.
While Allardyce said he was "disappointed", given Taylor appeared to push
Lambert in the chest, not the face, he was more aggrieved with earlier
decisions. Allardyce believed West Ham should have already had two
penalties, accusing both Rickie Lambert and Hooiveld of "punch[ing] the
ball" in the box. "I knew they were two penalties at the time because of
everybody in the stadium appealing for it. I've also just looked at it four
times on my laptop. So we could have already won the game if decisions are
made correctly."
Southampton manager Nigel Adkins was not quite as critical, saying merely
the officials "had an interesting evening". In truth, he may have been more
frustrated with his players who failed to exploit their advantage and go
top.
Immediately after the red card, Saints did start to create chances. Rob
Green saved Adam Lallana's shot from distance, before Sharp could only hit
the simple rebound straight at him. Green later had to save down to his left
from Lambert, who also curled a free-kick just wide.
West Ham looked much more secure in the second half, limiting Southampton to
shots from distance and hopeful balls to Lambert. With 15 minutes left,
though, that hope was repaid as a far-post flick found Hooiveld, who
controlled and stabbed past Rob Green.
West Ham United (4-1-4-1): Green; O'Brien, Faye, Reid, Taylor; Tomkins;
Faubert, Noble, Collison (McCartney, 21), Vaz Te (O'Neil, 71 ); Cole
(Maynard, 65 ). Substitutes not used Baldock, Lansbury.
Southampton (4-4-2): Davis; Richardson (Connolly, 80), Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox;
Do Prado (Puncheon, 55), Schneiderlin, Cork, Lallana; Sharp (Hammond, 83),
Lambert. Substitutes not used Martin, Lee.
Referee L Probert (Wiltshire).
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West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce critical of referee after Matt Taylor
sees red in Southampton draw
Mark Isaacs7:26AM GMT 15 Feb 20121 Comment
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is praying that officials will not make any
more decisions that could cost his side their dream of making an instant
return to the Premier League next season. Allardyce was fuming after referee
Lee Probert turned down two penalty appeals early in the game and then made
a controversial call to send off Matt Taylor after just 20 minutes in this
top-of-the-table encounter. Southampton striker Billy Sharp came close to
joining West Ham in January but will probably want to stay well clear of
Upton Park after his altercation with Taylor early in the first half. The
West Ham winger was sent off for raising his hands towards Sharp, but the
reaction from the Southampton forward infuriated the home supporters. For
the second consecutive game, West Ham were forced to play the majority of
the game with just 10 men, but after beating Millwall in their last game,
the east London club failed to hold on to their lead on this occasion.
Allardyce is convinced that West Ham should have been two goals up by that
stage after both Rickie Lambert and Jos Hooiveld appeared to handle the ball
inside the area and he cannot work out why Taylor was not shown just a
yellow card after replays showed he pushed Sharp in the chest. Allardyce
said: "I have a bitter taste in my mouth. I don't want any more officials to
take away from us what we are striving for. I thought they tried to do that
tonight. I'm disappointed with Matt for raising his arms, but it was on the
chest - not the face. "I'm disappointed that Lambert put his hand above his
head and punched the ball away and the second one at least is a sending off
and a penalty. I knew they were two penalties at the time. I've looked at it
four times on the laptop. Before Taylor was sent off we could have won the
game if decisions are made correctly."
Southampton manager Nigel Adkins also felt Probert got some of his
decision-making wrong. Adkins said: "It wasn't a penalty. I've tried to look
at the video [for the sending off] and the two angles we looked at are
inconclusive. I thought the referee was left in a situation where he has to
make a decision in such a big game. The officials have had an interesting
evening. He is a Premier League referee - one of our elite referees - and we
have to abide by the decisions."
Following the decision to send off Taylor, Mark Noble still had the task of
putting West Ham into the lead from the penalty spot after he was brought
down inside the area by Sharp. Noble marked his 200th appearance for the
club in style by scoring his seventh penalty of the season. But despite West
Ham's fight and commitment with just 10 players, Hooiveld came back to haunt
them as he scored a crucial equaliser on 75 minutes when he made no mistake
from close-range, striking the ball under the body of Robert Green. There is
certainly no love lost between these two sides as only one point separates
them and there is still everything to play for in the Championship title
race as both teams look to gain automatic promotion at the end of the
season.
West Ham (4-3-3): Green; O'Brien, Faye, Reid, Taylor; Tomkins, Noble,
Collison (McCartney 21); Faubert, Cole (Maynard 65), Vaz Te (O'Neil 71).
Subs: Baldock, Lansbury. Goal: Noble (pen) 21 Booked: Faye, Cole. Sent off:
Taylor.
Southampton (4-4-2): Davis; Richardson (Connolly 80), Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox;
Cork, Schneiderlin, Do Prado (Puncheon 55), Lallana; Sharp (Hammond 83),
Lambert. Subs: Martin, Lee. Goal: Hooiveld 75 Booked: Sharp, Cork, Lallana,
Fonte.
Att: 32,875
Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire)
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