Daily WHUFC News - 6th May 2013

'I know it wasn't in'
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid's miraculous goal-line clearance secured a 0-0 home draw with
Newcastle United on Saturday
05.05.2013

Winston Reid admitted to having mixed feelings about West Ham United's
goalless Barclays Premier League draw with Newcastle United. The No2 ensured
the Hammers' kept their eleventh clean sheet of the campaign by making a
miraculous goal-line clearance to deny Papiss Cisse after 20 minutes. The
defender was adamant the ball did not cross the line, despite some
suggestions otherwise from the visiting fans. At the other end, West Ham's
best chances to break the deadlock came after the break, but they could not
find a way through a determined Newcastle defence led by returning captain
Fabricio Coloccini. "We have been really strong at home this year, but
unfortunately in this game and against Wigan we haven't performed up to our
expectations," said the New Zealand captain. "At least we got a point out of
it because we weren't good in the first half. "In the second half, we were a
little bit better. At the end of the day, I thought we could have done a bit
better, but it was nice to come away with a clean sheet. "I'm not
disappointed with the result because I thought it was a fair result. I was
disappointed with our play, but you have to say Newcastle are a good side
and they came here in the first half and were better than us. The second
half was a lot more even."

When it was suggested Reid had showed a great turn of pace to race back to
hook Cisse's goalbound effort away, the 24-year-old feigned offence at a
perceived lack of speed. His smile soon disappeared, however, when the
serious subject of whether or not the ball had crossed the line was brought
up.
"You make me sound slow! As a defender you are trying to save goals and,
fortunately enough, we came off at the end having not conceded any. "No, it
was not in. I am dead honest and I know it wasn't in. My foot was actually
on the line and I got the ball away in time, which was good."

For the first time since Reid arrived in east London three years ago, West
Ham are finishing a season in a position of relative comfort. While some
footballers may struggle for motivation with their side safely in mid-table,
the Auckland-born star insisted that he and his team-mates were taking every
game 100 per cent seriously in their bid to finish in the top half of the
Barclays Premier League table. "We still want to do well and finish as high
as possible. We want to finish in the top ten - that's been our aim for the
whole season, so we'll be disappointed not to finish there when we've got
ourselves in a really good position."

Next week, Reid will make his second appearance at Everton - a ground where
he suffered last-minute heartache in a 2-2 draw in January 2011, just
seconds after being sent on as a substitute. "Everton is no easy place to go
but we've got to try to go up there and get some points. "These games are
about enjoying it, really. We can go out with no pressure and enjoy it and
try to finish as high as possible. That's why we work so hard each year - to
get out of relegation and look up the table. "Fortunately enough, we have
done that this year and the last couple of games are about enjoying it and
developing our football."

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McDonald on......... Newcastle United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 5th May 2013
By: Staff Writer No.2

Assistant boss Neil McDonald stands in for Sam Allardyce and shares his
views on this weekend' s 0-0 draw with his home town club Newcastle United
exclusively in full here on kumb.com..

Happy with the point Neil?

I thought Newcastle were the better team in the first half but I thought we
limited them throughout the game to a few chances. Slightly disappointed, I
suppose, in the end that we've created a few chances towards the end in the
second half. But All in all a draw was probably a fair result.

A couple of contentious issues Neil. One of them was the Cisse shot. Did you
think that it was over the line?

We've has a look. It's very very close isn't it? He's made some very good
runs in the first half which caused us a few problems. He's got back past
Jussi but our defender's never given in and they didn't stop and he's got
back to clear it off the line. We were pleased with his reaction when it's
gone past Jussi.
.

Did you think that it had gone over or not?

I didn't think that it had gone over the line.

Did you feel you should have had a penalty in the second half?

Yes of course. Yeah. Though we're more disappointed with the chances that
we've missed. More so than the contentious decisions.

From what you've seen today do you think that Newcastle have enough to stay
up?

When I did the press and media before I said that I thought Newcastle have
got enough already. But everyone is still slightly under pressure anyway
with the Wigan result so everybody needs to do their best to put the points
on the board so they can't be caught. Personally I think they'll be ok.

Why is Sam not here?

No reason. Sometimes he lets me do it. I did pre [match] so I'm doing after
as well. Sorry for being so disappointing for you! [laughter]

That accent Neil - where are you from?

I'm from Wallsend yeah so I'm a Geordie through and through.

So though you won't be pleased with them getting a point, deep down, eh?
[laughter]

The North East needs all its teams in the Premier League and West Ham needs
to be up there as well, which we are. It's a fantastic competition all the
way through. They're big clubs and the Premier League needs big clubs.

How do you keep the players motivated for the rest of the season. I know you
talk about 10th but that's not Europe or relegation?

The most pleasing thing is that, personally, I don't think that we've been
involved in the relegation fight at all. We've always been so many points in
front. We've always had the chance to look up and that breeds confidence in
the players. They've acquitted themselves very very well in the Premiership.
It's not easy, coming through the playoffs and getting promoted being a team
that contributes on a regular basis, We've done that fantastically well.

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Mac backs Big Sam
Published: 05th May 2013
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE should be in the running for boss of the year, says his West
Ham No 2. Hammers are looking good for a place in the top 10 after their
draw with Newcastle. And assistant Neil McDonald reckons Big Sam has worked
wonders steering them clear of a relegation scrap in their first season back
in the top flight. He said: "We privately set a target of the top 10 and
broke the season down into small goals. "We have achieved our target so I
don't see why he should not be considered for Manager of the Season. "We
haven't been involved in a relegation fight at all."

McDonald also reckons two Hammers stars, Matt Jarvis and on-loan Andy
Carroll, deserve to be in line for England recalls. He added: "Andy is
enjoying his time in London, playing at West Ham and contributing for the
team. He is scoring goals and making goals for other people. "Matt has been
playing really well, so why shouldn't he get into the England team as well?"

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