Daily WHUFC News - 8th April 2013

'It's a great point!'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was proud to see his West Ham United side earn a deserved 0-0
draw at Liverpool on Sunday
07.04.2013

Sam Allardyce said his West Ham United side had been unfortunate not end the
club's 50-year winless run at Liverpool on Sunday. The Hammers produced a
resilient display to earn a deserved goalless draw at Anfield and, having
stifled Brendan Rodgers' team with their organisation, concentration and
tenacity, came within inches of stealing all three points. James Collins and
the returning James Tomkins led the way with outstanding displays in central
defence, but all eleven starters and three substitutes played their part.
Indeed, only a dramatic goal-line clearance from Reds midfielder Lucas
denied one of those Hammers substitutes, Jack Collison, a late headed
winner. "It should have been our first win at Anfield in 50 years ,
shouldn't it?" said manager Sam Allardyce. "As delighted as we are for the
West Ham fans travelling back home thinking 'What a great point that is' -
and it is a great point - the disappointing thing is that we know we should
have won it with the chances we had. "Because the chances were clear-cut
compared to Liverpool's chances, that's why I'm disappointed we didn't win.
That said, I'm delighted with our outstanding performance, particularly the
defenders keeping Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard and all
those people quiet. "We didn't given them opportunities to score and that's
why it was a really good performance."

West Ham's point was built on a game-plan that saw them adopt a compact
formation that afforded Rodgers' pass-first team little space either in
front or behind the Hammers' back four. With Gary O'Neil and Mohamed Diame
providing a shield in front of the defence, wingers Matt Jarvis and Ricardo
Vaz Te providing an outlet and Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole holding the ball
up whenever possible, the visitors frustrated Liverpool and their
supporters.
When the Reds did get in behind, it was largely through fortunate ricochets,
while Jarvis caused Glen Johnson and Jamie Carragher huge problems with his
pace and ability to cross with both feet. In the first half, both Cole and
Nolan headed deliveries from the Barclays Premier League's top crosser
narrowly off-target, while another direct run after the break saw a
goalbound Matt Taylor shot blocked. "I always said Liverpool will throw
players forward - even their full-backs who they almost use as wingers. So,
if you win the ball back and don't waste it and pass it correctly, you can
get from one end of the pitch to the other pretty quickly and be running at
Liverpool's back two defenders Carragher and [Daniel] Agger. "We did that
several times and we had two headers at goal in the first half and Carlton
Cole had the ball passed to him in their box and it ended up being blocked
by a defender. That was a great, great chance for us.
"We had the header at the end from Jack Collison, which was a great header
that was cleared off the line, and just before that James Tomkins was kicked
in the back of the leg by Jose Enrique but the ref didn't give us the
penalty. "Like I said, no matter how much possession Liverpool had, we
created better chances than them and I've got to be satisfied, which I am."

Big Sam was particularly delighted with the way his defenders dealt with the
threat of Uruguay forward Suarez, who has terrorised defenders with his
movement and skill all season long. "It was terrific defending against one
of the trickiest players in the Barclays Premier League and one of the
trickiest players in the world - and he has proven that with his goal record
this season. "They had a couple of shots that flashed wide of the post but I
thought the defending from James Collins and James Tomkins was outstanding
."

While his side are 12th in the table ahead of next Saturday's trip to
eleventh-place Southampton - a side they pulled level with on 37 points
following Sunday's draw - Big Sam says his team need to keep producing the
goods and picking up positive results over the closing six weeks of the
season. A win at St Mary's, of course, would take West Ham to 40 points -
the commonly-considered benchmark for Barclays Premier League safety. "It's
a big point. At the end of the day, the magic 40 points is what we are
looking for because some of the teams below us have put unusual winning runs
together - Wigan have been doing it for the last two or three years and they
have put three wins together in four games. "Southampton have put three wins
together, too, which is unusual this time of year, so this was a big point
for us."

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Resolute Hammers make their point
WHUFC.com
West Ham United secured a fine point at Liverpool in the Barclays Premier
League on Sunday
07.04.2013

West Ham United ground out a goalless draw at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon
to edge ever-closer to the 40 point mark. The Hammers travelled to
Merseyside looking for a first Anfield victory in half-a-century, and
although they were not able to achieve that, they would be satisfied with an
excellent draw.
Sam Allardyce's men defended admirably to frustrate their hosts, and they
may even have claimed maximum points late on when Jack Collison's header was
cleared off the line by Lucas. Whenever the Reds did manage to break through
an outstanding Hammers backline, Jussi Jaaskelainen was there to stand in
their way as the Hammers registered their first goalless draw of 2013.
Liverpool's Phillipe Coutinho made a lively start to the game, going close
with seven minutes on the clock when, fronted up by James Collins, he
shifted the ball onto his right foot and forced a smart low save from
Jaaskelainen with a shot from 25 yards. West Ham's first threat came from
Mohamed Diame, who collected possession in space on halfway with 19 minutes
on the clock, carried the ball forward 20 yards and let fly with a
left-footed drive that was always rising over the top. Diame went closer six
minutes later with an opportunity he created brilliantly by himself. There
did not appear to be much on when Gary O'Neil fed him the ball by the corner
flag, but he tricked his way past two defenders before proving too elusive
for Steven Gearrard and Stewart Downing inside the area, although his
eventual shot whistled inches over the crossbar. The Hammers were doing a
good job of keeping Luis Suarez's involvement to a minimum, although with 27
minutes on the clock he did combine neatly with Coutinho near the by-line to
get a shot away which Jaaskelainen needed to save with his legs. Liverpool
looked comfortable in possession and were seeing more of the ball, but West
Ham still carried a threat and they had a chance handed to them on a plate
five minutes later when Lucas was caught as the hosts tried to play out from
a goal kick. Carlton Cole had the opportunity, but Daniel Agger got across
to block. The hosts looked to up their intensity at the start of the second
period and Steven Gerrard was heavily involved in their attacking play,
bursting down the right flank on 53 minutes to deliver a dangerous low cross
which Diame touched behind with Sturridge lurking, then bringing a goalline
block from James Tomkins two minutes later. Suarez showed a glimpse of his
considerable talents when losing the attentions of Matt Jarvis and James
Tomkins with a deft drop of the shoulder before drilling a low cross-shot
that fizzed across the face of goal and only just missed the far post.
Coutinho was next to go close, with an angled shot which brushed Guy Demel
and flashed across Jaaskelainen's goal on 68 minutes. 12 minutes from time
Sturridge found space to try his luck from the edge of the box, but
Jaaskelainen held on as Gerrard looked to pounce on any scraps At the other
end the Hammers so nearly nicked it when Collison rose to meet Gary O'Neil's
left wing corner. The Welshman's header beat Jose Reina, but not Lucas who
was stationed on the line to block and the visitors had to be content with a
hard-fought point.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas,
Henderson (Assaidi 71); Downing (Sturridge 25), Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Jones (GK), Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Tomkins (Pogatetz 83),
O'Brien; Vaz Te (Collison 63), Diame, O'Neil, Nolan (Taylor 63), Jarvis;
C.Cole
Subs: Henderson (GK), Maiga, Chamakh, Potts
Booked: O'Brien

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 45,007

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Liverpool 0 West Ham 0
7 April 2013
Last updated at 17:16
By Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Anfield

Liverpool and West Ham fought out a largely disappointing goalless draw
which damages the home team's European ambitions but eased relegation
concerns for their opponents. The Hammers were denied their first win at
Anfield for 50 years when Lucas Leiva cleared Jack Collison's late header
off the line.
Luis Suarez was marshalled expertly by West Ham defender James Collins,
although the Uruguay forward did force an injury-time save from Jussi
Jaaskelainen at the goalkeeper's near post with a low shot. The draw leaves
Liverpool in seventh, three points behind local rivals Everton having played
an extra match, while West Ham are now seven points clear of the relegation
zone. It also brings the east London side to within a point of the 38-point
target manager Sam Allardyce has set before he signs a new contract with the
Upton Park club. The central-defensive pairing of Collins and James Tomkins
were crucial to securing their side's clean sheet, as Allardyce earned a
first point in his last nine games against the Reds. The match had been
preceded by a minute's silence in the last game at Anfield before the 24th
anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April. When the action got
under way, Liverpool had the majority of possession and looked the more
threatening going forward, without creating any clear-cut chances.

"West Ham have got a precious point in their bid to secure survival but
Liverpool have dropped points in their challenge for a European place. A
deserved draw for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce's side and a frustrating result
for Reds counterpart Brendan Rodgers." And it was the visitors who went
close to taking the lead when midfielder Mohamed Diame, showing sparks of
his quality, beat four Liverpool defenders inside the box before hammering a
strike over the bar.
Liverpool's frustrations increased when Daniel Sturridge, who replaced
Stewart Downing midway through the first half, saw his shot on the turn
saved at the far post on the stroke of half-time. After the break, the
Merseysiders increased the pressure but the visitors held firm, Tomkins
blocking a goal-bound Steven Gerrard effort just in front of the line. The
home side did have the ball in the net when Sturridge turned in Jordan
Henderson's shot only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. West Ham
thought they should have had a penalty for a Jose Enrique tackle on Tomkins,
who then might have conceded a spot-kick himself for a challenge on Gerrard.
As Liverpool continued to struggle to find a way through the visitors, West
Ham almost stole the three points late on but Lucas cleared Collison's
header off the goal-line.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers: "The effort the players put in was very
good. We just needed a bit of luck to go our way. I'm disappointed Daniel
Sturridge's goal was disallowed for offside as I thought it was onside. "You
have to give West Ham credit as they defended very well. I never for one
moment thought they were going to win it. They got in some great blocks and
are an honest group of players that put their bodies on the line but only
one team tried to win it and that was us, but we couldn't put the ball in
the back of the net."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "I am content, even though we should have
won the game. We nullified Liverpool's strengths and created the better
chances to score. I'm delighted. It's only our finishing that has cost us
the three points. "Jose Enrique kicked James Tomkins when we should have had
a penalty but I am satisfied with the performance and result. We know we've
created better chances than Liverpool, even though they had more possession.
"James Collins and James Tomkins were outstanding. It's a big point. We are
ever closer to the magic 40."

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Liverpool's Rodgers thanks travelling fans
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th April 2013
By: Staff Writer

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed West Ham's supporters for the
manner in which they observed today's minute's silence for the 96 Liverpool
supporters who died at Hillsborough. 24 years ago this week, Liverpool's FA
Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest ended in tragedy after 96 football
fans lost their lives. The travelling Hammers fans were tonight praised by
the Liverpool boss, who admitted that "you could have heard a pin drop"
during the silence. "I'd like to say 'well done' and congratulations to the
West Ham fans because I thought it was a brilliant response, " he said.
"Sometimes in this modern world and society you get a lot of ignorance and
that was a real mark of respect. "You know what you'll get from the
Liverpool supporters, but big applause to West Ham supporters because it was
a great show of respect."

However Rodgers, whose side were held to a 0-0 draw by Sam Allardyce's side
at Anfield this afternoon was far less happy about dropping points in a game
which one suspects he viewed as a home banker. And he insisted that Daniel
Sturridge's second half effort which was ruled out should have stood -
whilst Steven Gerrard was unlucky not to have been given a penalty. "We're
disappointed with the goal that was given offside because it was clearly
onside, " he moaned - whilst on Gerrard's claim for a spot kick, he added:
"It looked it [at the time], but I've looked at it again and it's one of
those where young James is fortunate to get a touch on the ball. "He's got
contact on the ball and brought Steven down at the same time. Sometimes you
get them and sometimes you don't. "But you've got to give credit to West Ham
- they defended very well. Obviously they came here and put numbers behind
the ball and it's up to you to break that down. We just couldn't quite
manage that."

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Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th April 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham came within the width of a goal line from recording their first
victory at Anfield since 1963. Jack Collison's 86th-minute header had beaten
Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina and was about to end one of football's most
unwanted records, until a desperate swing by Liverpool defender Lucas
cleared the ball from underneath the crossbar. With that went United's hopes
of cementing their first win on the red side of Stanley Park in 50 years -
although Sam Allardyce and his team were at least able to enjoy a share of
the spoils at a ground where both points and goals have been hard to come by
over the years.

Allardyce, whose team held a high line defensively for much of the match and
showed a modicum of attacking intent - unlike in some away games this season
- more than matched a Liverpool team who were a mere shadow of some of the
wonderful sides to have graced Anfield over the years.

Only Player of the Year-contender Luis Suarez and recent arrival Coutinho
proved any real threat to West Ham, who have now played 40 times at Anfield
since last tasting success.

But the Liverpool duo were more than matched by United's central defender
James Collins, who was once again imperious in defence and limited the
dangerous Uruguayan to a couple of half chances.

West Ham, playing with a freedom afforded them by last week's win against
West Brom which all but killed off the spectre of relegation - but missing
key players like Winston Reid, Joe Cole and Andy Carroll - started today's
game positively and continued in a similar frame of mind throughout.

It was Allardyce's side who created the best opportunity of the opening half
when Mo Diame - playing with the same verve and tenacity that won him the
Man of the Match award in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season -
weaved his way through four Liverpool players before firing wildly over from
just eight yards, with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Liverpool's response was a well-crafted move on the right between Coutinho
and Suarez which left the latter odds-on to score but Jussi Jaaskelainen,
continuing his recent good form, saved smartly at his near post.

After the break, clear goalscoring opportunities continued to be a rarity
although Liverpool will perhaps feel they had the upper edge. Steven
Gerrard, the bane of West Ham for many a year burst into the box minutes
after the restart but his low cross was thumped clear.

James Tomkins, stationed underneath the crossbar was called into action on
55 minutes when he was on hand to avert Gerrard's goalbound effort. And on
the hour mark, Suarez's low delivery was just asking for the finishing touch
to be applied but agonisingly - for the home fans, anyway - it trickled away
to safety.

West Ham were then denied what appeared to be a fairly obvious penalty on 63
minutes when James Tomkins was kicked in the thigh from behind. Referee
Anthony Taylor - who was responsible for Carlton Cole's ludicrous red card
against Everton in December - was well positioned and waved play on, but it
was one of those that would have almost certainly been given anywhere else
on the pitch.

The home side did eventually find the back of the net on 66 minutes but
substitute Daniel Sturridge - who was otherwise anonymous - saw his effort
(rightly) chalked off, as he was standing in an offside position when
receiving the ball.

Four minutes later Steven Gerrard reverted to type by going down inside the
box following a challenge from Tomkins, but referee Taylor was having none
of it. He may also have noticed that Tomkins touched the ball before
connecting with Gerrard.

That was about it as far as the home side were concerned as an attacking
force, but West Ham were not content to sit back and take a point. Sub Matt
Taylor saw a shot blocked following an excellent move - before being booked
for time-wasting - but the final chance of glory, the opportunity to finally
end 50 years of hurt was left to fellow sub, Jack Collison.

With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Matt Jarvis' corner was
floated towards the far post. Collison emerged from amongst a group of
players to connect firmly with Jarvis' cross and send it goalbound. Reina
was well beaten - but Brazilian defender Lucas wasn't, and he hooked the
ball away from danger.

The Welsh midfielder now joins an exclusive club of Hammers who have spurned
glorious chances to end West Ham's miserable run at Anfield. Gavin Holligan,
Craig Bellamy and Luis Boa Morte have all been there before - but 50 years
since Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst set up a 2-1 win, West Ham still remain
winless at Anfield.

The points keeps West Ham in 12th spot in the Premier League, level on
points with 11th-placed Southampton but with a game in hand.


Liverpool 0-0 West Ham United: match facts

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Tomkins (Pogatetz 83), Collins,
Diame, O'Neil, Nolan (Taylor 62), Jarvis, Vaz Te (Collison 63), C.Cole.
Subs not Used: S Henderson, Potts, Maiga, Chamakh.
Booked: Taylor (85).
Shots On/Off Target: 4/6.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Agger, J Henderson (Assaidi
75), Lucas, Gerrard (c), Coutinho, Downing (Sturridge 25), Suarez.
Subs not Used: Jones, Coates, Shelvey, Skrtel, Suso

Shots On/Off Target: 12/7.
Possession (%): Liverpool 57-43 West Ham Utd
Corners: Liverpool 12-2 West Ham Utd
Fouls: Liverpool 8-4 West Ham Utd

Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Attendance: 45,007.

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Tomkins fears allayed
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th April 2013
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has revealed that James Tomkins is not an injury concern
despite being taken off towards the end of today's goalless draw with
Liverpool.
The centre-half was back in the starting XI as a replacement for the crocked
Winston Reid and had performed ably before pulling up in the 83rd minute.
However any fears over Tomkins' situation were dismissed by Allardyce
tonight. "It was a touch of cramp. He couldn't relieve the tightness in the
calf," he told the BBC. "We felt that if we'd put him back on he might have
damaged the calf muscle which we didn't want, because we've already lost
Winston Reid with a thigh strain. We don't particularly want any more
injuries to our defenders."

Both Tomkins and defensive partner James Collins were Man of the Match
contenders in today's match, as West Ham held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw.
Allardyce was understandably effusive in his praise of both. "[James
Collins] and James Tomkins were outstanding today. If you look at how many
time's Jussi had to save the ball - which was very few today - it measures
what they've done in front of him," he said. "They nullified Liverpool's
front three - and Sturridge who came on - which was a big ask for us today
but everybody - and particularly the defence - defended very well indeed."

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce wants to know budget before signing new deal
Last Updated: April 7, 2013 10:58am
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce wants to know how much he can spend in
the summer before signing a new contract. Allardyce has been in talks over a
new deal at Upton Park and has been happy to wait until the Hammers' Premier
League survival has been confirmed before finalising the deal. He is willing
to commit to the club for the next three years, but also wants to be certain
of his transfer budget before putting pen to paper. "I'm not going to sign a
contract and then find out what my budget is," Allardyce told the Sunday
People. "I'm going to see what my budget looks like first. "To be fair to
co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, they have never let me down yet.
They have always stumped up exactly what they could and I think we have
spent wisely this season."

"To be fair to co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, they have never let
me down yet. They have always stumped up exactly what they could and I think
we have spent wisely this season." He added: "I won't sign until we are
totally safe and we aren't there yet. "There's no point signing now and then
finding you don't get those points you need and the worst comes to the
worst. "So the finer detail is something that still needs to be agreed, but
overall I don't envisage any problems cropping up. I'm happy to commit to
2016 and, who knows, hopefully I'll be around to take the club into the new
Olympic Stadium at Stratford."

Allardyce is keen to conclude a permanent deal for on-loan Liverpool striker
Andy Carroll, but he is not planning a major overhaul of his West Ham squad.
"Hopefully we won't be too busy in the transfer market," he continued . "We
won't be having the kind of player changes that we had in the first year or
so.
"I'm going to do a full inventory of what the ins and outs have been over
the last two years. I think I will be touching about 40 out and about 30 odd
in and you can't keep doing that. "I'm hoping only three or four out and
maybe five in before next season, and that will make it a fantastic summer
for me."

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce delighted by draw at Liverpool
Last Updated: April 7, 2013 8:03pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was "absolutely delighted" with a hard-fought
0-0 draw at Liverpool on Sunday. The Hammers defended resolutely at Anfield
and restricted Liverpool's opportunities, even going close to snatching all
three points late on when Jack Collison saw a header cleared off the line.
Allardyce was pleased with the gutsy performance of his players and even
felt they might have done enough to nick all three points. "It was very,
very good indeed," he told Sky Sports. "I think when you frustrate the
opposition and you keep the Anfield crowd quiet then you know your team is
doing something right.
"And then when you take your possession, which is obviously going to be
limited against Liverpool, and create as much as we did today too. "I am
absolutely delighted with the point but also a little disappointed we didn't
win this game today given the clear-cut chances that fell to us and not to
Liverpool."

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Liverpool 0 West Ham 0
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 08th April 2013

PERHAPS we should have realised from events 24 hours earlier there is no
such thing as a certainty on Merseyside. After a day ripping betting slips
at Aintree on Saturday, another red-hot favourite failed to deliver at
Anfield. West Ham heading home with a point may not rank alongside 66-1 shot
Auroras Encore winning Grand National glory. But given the Hammers' woeful
record here, in footballing terms it was not far short. After all, they had
not won here since 1963, not even scored on their last four visits - and
only six in the previous 27. No team in any of the four divisions had scored
fewer than the Hammers' nine on the road this term while Liverpool had
blasted 20 in their previous six at home. So all in all it should have been
straight forward, surely. Just like it should have been for all those
hotly-fancied nags at Aintree over the past three days. Well we all know
what happened there, don't we? And although both Brendan Rodgers and Sam
Allardyce reckoned their respective sides should have left with all three,
neither did enough to merit it. If it came down to clear-cut chances you
would have to give it to the Hammers. If it went on possession and pressing,
Reds shaded it. But the fact neither keeper had to perform heroics says
everything. Yes, the Reds could have a case for claiming Daniel Sturridge's
point-blank shot should have stood, as the England ace was just onside.

Yet then again, Luis Suarez used a hand in the build-up to that 65th-minute
effort - so ref Anthony Taylor did get it right, albeit unwittingly. On
another day, West Ham could well have been given a spot kick when James
Tomkins went tumbling as he reached a bouncing ball before Jose Enrique
caught him with a lunging leg. Liverpool had a claim of their own when
Steven Gerrard went over Tomkins' raised leg. Yet the West Ham centre-back
had nicked the ball first, so the official got that one correct, too.

In all honesty it would have been harsh on Tomkins, as well, after an
outstanding defensive display from both him and partner James Collins, who
kept Suarez as quiet as anyone has all season. Not that there was a great
deal to get too excited about from the rest of them in Red either.
Admittedly, Jussi Jaaskelainen had to go full stretch a couple of times to
deny the lively Philippe Coutinho and block Sturridge. But they were both
saves the West Ham keeper would have expected to make, while Collins threw
himself in front of everything else to make sure the ball never even reached
the target the rest of the time. And on the one occasion when Liverpool did
find a way past Jaaskelainen - Gerrard's side-footed strike 10 minutes after
the break - Tomkins blocked. That was as close as it got for the Reds.

West Ham could point to more clear-cut chances - even if the finishes were
hardly the best examples of how to keep a cool head in front of goal.
Mohamed Diame had no right to shimmy and steamroller his way from the right
wing to in front of Pepe Reina's goal. But after doing all the hard work,
his thunderbolt strike flew well over. At least Carlton Cole's drive was on
target. Yet his rocket struck Daniel Agger in the midriff and flew past
Kevin Nolan too quickly.
Lucas was the Reds' hero four minutes from time, as Jack Collison's header
beat Reina only for the Brazilian to save the day on the line.

STAR MAN - JAMES COLLINS (West Ham)
LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Johnson 6, Carragher 6, Agger 7, Enrique 6, Henderson 5
(Assaidi 5), Lucas 6, Gerrard 7, Downing 5 (Sturridge 6), Coutinho 6, Suarez
6. Subs not used: Jones, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel.
WEST HAM: Jaaskelainen 7, Demel 7, Tomkins 8 (Pogatez 5), Collins 8, O'Brien
6, O'Neil 6, Vaz Te 5 (Collinson 6), Diame 7, Nolan 6 (Taylor 6), Jarvis 6,
Cole 5. Subs not used: Henderson, Maiga, Chamakh, Potts. Booked: O'Brien.
REF: A Taylor 7

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Big Sam left gutted by draw at Anfield
By STEVE LILLIS
Last Updated: 08th April 2013
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE left Anfield frustrated despite a priceless point that leaves
West Ham on the brink of safety. After the goalless draw West Ham's boss
taunted Liverpool, claiming: "We should've won." Jack Collison's header was
cleared off the line and should have been awarded a penalty after Jose
Enrique kicked him. Allardyce said: "Liverpool had the most possession but
we had better chances and are disappointed not to have won. "When you
frustrate Liverpool like we did and keep Anfield quiet, you know you're
doing your job right. "Most of the fans expected Liverpool to walk away with
it but we made it difficult for them and never succumbed to the pressure."

ALLARDYCE says he is happy with clean sheet and point, but wanted to take
all three after creating chances West Ham's back four were outstanding and
Big Sam said: "James Collins and James Tomkins were good. "That was the best
we have defended all season away.." Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said:
"You have to give credit to West Ham. They defended very well. "It was one
of those games where you need to score early to open it up or need that wee
bit of luck to get the goal."

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