Daily WHUFC News - 30th January 2014

Adrian delighted with clean sheet
WHUFC.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian was in unbeatable form at Chelsea on
Wednesday
30.01.2014

West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian provided a solid last line of defence for
Sam Allardyce's men at Chelsea on Wednesday night. The Hammers stood firm in
the face of plenty of Chelsea pressure to frustrate the home side, who would
have gone second in the Barclays Premier League with a victory. The majority
of their shots on the Hammers goal came from range, but when they did break
through Adrian was in the way and the Spaniard was thrilled to play his part
in a morale-boosting performance. "It was really pleasing to keep the clean
sheet and gain an important point at Chelsea," he beamed. "All match we
defended well and restricted their chances to shots from outside the box.
"We were strong in making blocks and cutting out the space and that was a
big part of the clean sheet."

Samuel Eto'o had the ball in the net for Chelsea in stoppage time when, not
realising that referee Neil Swarbrick had awarded the Hammers a free-kick
for a foul on Adrian, he pounced on a loose ball to knock home. Adrian said
there was no doubt the official had given the foul and that Eto'o's strike
was correctly ruled out. He continued: "The referee blew the whistle for a
free-kick, so I don't know what happened [with Eto'o]. "There was a bit of
confusion, but the most important thing is that it wasn't a goal and we've
got another point."

Even later than that, Adrian had to save from Frank Lampard, as the former
Hammer looked to win it with the last action of the game, and the No13 wants
to build on this positive result against Swansea City on Saturday now. He
added: "The save at the end was just me doing my job. "I've worked hard with
Marge [Martyn Margetson, goalkeeping coach] and Jussi on the training ground
for moments like that. "So we've gone through the game without conceding a
goal, which is great, and we'll look to build on that against Swansea now.
"It is an important game, because we are playing at home and we need three
points more to get us away from the bottom of the table."

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Big Sam lauds defensive 'brilliance'
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was proud of West Ham United's resilient performance in
drawing 0-0 at Chelsea
29.01.2014

Sam Allardyce took great pride and pleasure from West Ham United's
hard-fought goalless Barclays Premier League draw at Chelsea. The Hammers
boss told West Ham TV that his players deserved a clean sheet and a vital
point from their resilient performance at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea unleashed
38 shots, nine of which were on target, only for West Ham's players to throw
themselves in the way of everything. When the ball did sneak past the
outfield players, goalkeeper Adrian was there to make a number of important
saves. At the other end, while West Ham mustered just one effort on target,
James Tomkins forced a flying save from Petr Cech in the first half, while
Andy Carroll mis-kicked when well-placed after the interval. All in all,
though, the manager was more than content with a point that clearly
frustrated Jose Mourinho and his players. "I think that our solidarity and
our defensive resilience meant that it wasn't luck, it was sheer brilliance
why we got a point," said the manager. "Our last-ditch defending was
brilliant and you can't tell me Adrian has had to make too many saves apart
from that one he made at the end from Frank Lampard. "Thank goodness Frank
didn't score against us again, and it was a brilliant performance overall
when you consider we had to play the last ten minutes with ten men after
losing Joey O'Brien to a dislocated shoulder. "That's three dislocated
shoulders we've had this season and is an illustration of how injury-prone
we've become as a squad this year and it's cost us. We'd only just got Joey
back and he's injured again, while Mo Diame got injured falling over the
advertising board. "It never rains but it pours from that point of view and,
just as I am getting everybody back and fit and am leaving players out of
the squad and off the bench - which is a nice thing to be able to do - two
players are injured again. "But, that said, what a great performance,
defensively and tactically, but the players in nullifying the world-class
players that Chelsea have. They made sure Chelsea resorted to moaning and
groaning and waving their arms about, trying to intimidate the referee to
get something out of the game that they couldn't get in general play."

Despite ceding possession and territory to their hosts for long periods, the
Hammers retained a defensive shape until the very last of the 97 minutes
played.
A match played in steady rain on a sodden pitch would have seen lesser teams
wilt, but West Ham remained organised to a man for the entirety of a
physically and mentally draining match. "When they threw Demba Ba on, we
went five at the back and made sure we stayed resilient with the four
midfielders in front of them. "After Joey went off, we had three in front of
them and Carlton Cole up front trying to hold the ball up when he could for
us. It ended up with about seven or eight minutes injury time after the
delays! "From our point of view, it was a great performance. From the
referee's point of view, standing up to the intimidation he received and
being strong and not wilting under the pressure he was put under [was also
great]."

When West Ham's massed ranks were breached on a few occasions, Chelsea found
Adrian in unbeatable form. The Spaniard made saves in either half, denying
Oscar, John Terry and Samuel Eto'o before the break and Frank Lampard with a
dramatic last-gasp stop. Big Sam was also pleased to introduce Italy
international midfielder Antonio Nocerino as a late substitute, giving him a
first taste of English football. "He has grown as a goalkeeper as he has
felt his way into the team, has Adrian. "We got Antonio on for a little bit,
just to show him what it's like. He came on at the end, so he can imagine
what it's like at the beginning now! "The only disappointment for me was the
two injuries and the fact Andy Carroll didn't score when he had the chance."

Now, Big Sam wants to see his team build on their hard-earned point when
they host Swansea City at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday lunchtime. "We've
already got a better away record this year than last, so it's at home where
we've let ourselves down. I think we've got to improve the home results,
starting with Swansea on Saturday. "We wasted the chance at home to build on
our win at Cardiff against Newcastle, due in part due to the injury
circumstances that we had. Hopefully, those injuries won't affect the back
four going out there on Saturday. "Winston Reid is nearly back now and we
won't slip up like we did against Newcastle. After a hard-earned point at
Chelsea, it's got to be followed up with a result against Swansea."

Finally, the manager revealed that West Ham will have to sell before they
can add to the squad in the final days of the transfer window. The Hammers
are currently at capacity in their 25-man senior squad and will have to make
space if the manager and Board want to bring in new faces. "We can only name
25, so we're already looking at the fact that we might have to leave one or
two of those out [of the matchday squad] with the players we have available
at the moment. "We'll have to look at it in the case of a top player
becoming available who the Chairmen and myself want to go for. At the
moment, it's about getting the players in this frame of mind for the rest of
the season and keeping them fit."

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Hammers keep it tight at Chelsea
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defended resolutely to pick up a point at Chelsea on
Wednesday
29.01.2014

Chelsea 0-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League

West Ham United stood firm to gain a valuable point at Chelsea on Wednesday
night. Title-chasing Chelsea had a near-monopoly on possession but could not
force a way through as the Hammers defended for their lives. Other than a
James Tomkins header which Petr Cech saved, Chelsea had all the
opportunities, but most of them came from range as they found it difficult
to break West Ham down. Despite their pressure, Chelsea could not manage a
breakthrough as the Hammers rediscovered a solidity at the back in timely
fashion. There were places on the bench for West Ham's new arrivals Antonio
Nocerino and Marco Borriello, while Joey O'Brien and Guy Demel returned from
injury to fill the full-back positions. Andy Carroll was also handed his
first Barclays Premier League start of the season, and he had an early shout
for a penalty when he went down under Cesar Azpilicueta's challenge after he
controlled Stewart Downing's cross at the far post. At the other end,
Chelsea were inches away from taking a ninth minute lead when Oscar arced a
shot towards goal, but Adrian got fingertips to the ball to touch it on to
the crossbar. West Ham responded with a chance of their own three minutes
later when they won a free-kick down the left and Taylor delivered for
Tomkins, who headed back across goal and forced a parry from Petr Cech. The
ball ricocheted off Kevin Nolan, who was in close attendance, but slid wide
of the post. That turned out to be the Hammers' only chance of the opening
period as Chelsea established a stranglehold on possession.

Sam Allardyce's men remained sturdy in defence, though, and restricted their
hosts to shots from range before the half-time whistle. Willian fired over
after working space 25 yards out on 15 minutes, while Samuel Eto'o shot too
high under pressure from James Tomkins. Ramires drilled just over the angle
of post and crossbar and Chelsea's best first half opening fell to John
Terry moments before the break, but Adrian saved with his feet after the
Blues captain got up to meet a Willian corner. The second half started in
much the same vein with Gary Cahill heading too high from another Willian
dead ball delivery. Eden Hazard shot wide from a tight angle after a good
spell of Chelsea ball retention ended with Willian threading a ball through
to the Belgian. The Hammers continued to throw their bodies in the way of
everything, with James Collins in particular making a number of important
blocks. Adrian gathered another Oscar shot from outside the box as the home
side's desperation for a goal grew. But, thanks in large part to an heroic
defensive display, and a last gasp Adrian save from Adrian, it would not
arrive as the Hammers held out to make their point.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta (Matic 63); Ramires,
Mikel (Lampard 63); Willian, Oscar (Ba 79), Hazard; Eto'o
Subs: Schwarzer, A.Cole, Luiz, Schurrle#
Booked: Ramires

West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, O'Brien; Nolan (Nocerino
80), Noble, Taylor' Diame (Jarvis 30), Carroll (C.Cole 64), Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Morrison, Borriello
Booked: O'Brien, Taylor, Nolan

Referee: Neil Sawrbrick
Attendance: 41,376

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Revitalised Reid back in full training
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is happy to be edging closer to a return to first-team action
following injury
29.01.2014

Winston Reid is looking forward to putting a three-month injury lay-off
behind him as he closes in on a first-team return. The No2 returned to full
training this week for the first time since undergoing surgery on a damaged
ankle, giving manager Sam Allardyce a timely boost. Although Wednesday
night's trip to Chelsea looks set to come around too soon for the New
Zealander, he is sure of being back on the pitch before long. He said: "It
is a big relief to be back after three months out. I was a bit rusty as I
have been out for a fair bit, but I will try to work hard and get back in
the team as soon as possible. "It is certainly the injury that has taken the
longest in my career, so I guess it was the worst, but it was pretty basic
really. For instance, when I had the operation it only took ten or 15
minutes. It was just in and out, put a tightrope in there and I was ready to
go. "Luckily enough it wasn't more serious than that, but it just takes time
to heal unfortunately. "If I could, I would want to go out there and play on
Wednesday, but that is probably not realistic. We will just have to marry
what the physios say with what the manager says and see how my ankle feels
day by day."

Reid is one of several injured players edging ever closer to a comeback and
he wants to play as full a part as possible in the Hammers' survival bid.
He added: "I think we have got all our players back, as well as two new boys
in, so I don't think we have got any excuses anymore, it is down to the
players to deliver the goods. "The staff around us can only do so much, but
at the end of the day it is the eleven that go out on the pitch that have to
do the job.
"It is going to be a big 16 games and it is certainly not like it was last
season. At this stage we were pretty much safe, but it is not going to be
like that now.
"We have put ourselves in this situation and we have to get ourselves out of
it, but if we all do our jobs correctly and give it 100 percent then I think
we will be OK."

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Chelsea 0 West Ham 0
29 January 2014
Last updated at 22:44
By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport

Chelsea slipped up in the race for the title as they were held by a dogged
West Ham at Stamford Bridge. The Blues controlled the match but were
frustrated by Sam Allardyce's lowly Hammers, who defended stoutly. Oscar had
a shot touched onto the bar by Adrian, who also kept out efforts from John
Terry and Samuel Eto'o. Eto'o thought he had scored late on after assuming
the West Ham keeper had wrongly placed the ball for a free-kick, but his
effort was disallowed. That was one of several frantic moments in the last
10 minutes for the visitors, with Frank Lampard forcing Adrian to make a
superb save with his feet and another Blues substitute, Demba Ba, hitting
the post with a flicked effort. The result meant the Hammers avoided their
14th defeat in 17 meetings against Chelsea, but they remain in the bottom
three. The hosts, meanwhile, stay two points adrift of Arsenal, who drew
with Southampton on Tuesday, but are three behind Manchester City, who went
top with a 5-1 win at Tottenham.

Blues feel the blues
Chelsea face City at Etihad Stadium on Monday. If they are to have any hope
of winning that game, Jose Mourinho's attackers must rediscover the killer
instinct they were lacking against West Ham, who had conceded 17 goals in
their previous five matches. The visitors showed greater resolve in west
London, although it was striker Andy Carroll who was their best defender.
The 25-year-old, making his first league start of the season, was regularly
well positioned when Chelsea threatened with set-pieces, but spent more time
in his own box than the opposition's. The hosts dominated possession
throughout, but only hit something near top gear towards the end of the
first half, when Adrian made excellent saves to keep out Terry's header and
Eto'o's fierce drive. Prior to that, the Spaniard had tipped Oscar's curling
effort onto the bar. Despite their dominance, Chelsea lacked a striker
hovering around the six-yard area, with Eto'o often dropping deeper in order
to get involved in the build-up. That pattern continued until the final five
minutes, when Ba's close-range flick struck the woodwork. Lampard also went
close to a winner in stoppage time, but his side-footed effort from 10 yards
was blocked by the alert Adrian, soon after the goalkeeper had escaped a
potentially embarrassing incident. Eto'o thought he had made a misjudgement
when placing the ball for a free-kick and tapped into the net, but referee
Neil Swarbrick disallowed the Cameroon striker's effort.

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West Ham hit by Joey O'Brien shoulder injury
BBC.co.uk

West Ham defender Joey O'Brien could be out for almost three months after
dislocating his shoulder against Chelsea. The 27-year-old Republic of
Ireland international suffered the injury late in the game after landing
awkwardly following a challenge with Gary Cahill. The Hammers have had
defensive injuries all season, although most of their sidelined players have
now returned. Sam Allardyce's side remain in the relegation zone. "The only
disappointment for us today was the two injuries," said Allardyce. "Joey,
unfortunately, has dislocated a shoulder, which is bad news for us. "That's
our third dislocated shoulder this season. I don't think I've had three
dislocated shoulders in my entire career, let alone three in one season.
"[He is likely to be out for] 10 to 12 weeks."
The former Bolton player, whose career has been hindered by knee injuries,
has made 19 appearances for the Hammers this season.

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As one door closes...
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 29th January 2014
By: Staff Writer

Joleon Lescott's proposed transfer window move to West Ham could be back on
again. Lescott's current club, Manchester City, are thought to be prepared
to allow the 31-year-old central defender to leave the Etihad Stadium on the
proviso that they are able to acquire one of their winter transfer window
targets prior to the end of the month. And news today suggests that the
Citizens are about to do exactly that, with Porto's French defender Eliaquim
Mangala said to be on the verge of a £38million move to City. 6'2" Lescott,
who was first linked with a move to West Ham more than a decade ago whilst
still with Wolves, is said to earn circa £90,000 per-week at Man City who
are willing to subsidise those wages, in part. In other transfer news,
Modibo Maiga's immediate future remain shrouded in mystery just 48 hours
ahead of Friday's deadline. United have been trying to offload the striker
all month without success, but Italian clubs Chievo and Livorno are now
rumoured to be mulling over a move for the misfiring Malian. Elsewhere
(genuine) transfer news remains thin on the ground, with Sam Allardyce's
concerns having eased somewhat having managed to secure both Antonio
Nocerino and Marco Borriello from Serie A last weekend. However one name
that continues to crop up is that of Stuttgart's 28-year-old midfielder
William Kvist, who is looking to leave the Bundesliga club having been
dropped from the team in recent weeks. The Danish international has been
linked with a move to east London all month and is exactly the sort of
last-minute signing that could materialise on deadline day.

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Injury sidelines West Ham's Joey O'Brien for up to 12 weeks
Last Updated: 29/01/14 11:00pm
SSN

West Ham are likely to be without Joey O'Brien for up to 12 weeks after the
defender picked up a shoulder injury during the 0-0 draw at Chelsea. The
27-year-old suffered his injury late in the game at Stamford Bridge as a
result of a clash with Blues defender Gary Cahill. He was forced to leave
the pitch supporting his arm in a makeshift sling. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce confirmed after the game that O'Brien had suffered a dislocation
and is likely to miss between 10 and 12 weeks. "Joey, unfortunately, has
dislocated a shoulder, which is bad news for us," said Allardyce. "That's
our third dislocated shoulder this season. I don't think I've had three
dislocated shoulders in my entire career, let alone three in one season."
This could see him miss 10 matches as West Ham continue their struggle
against relegation from the Premier League. West Ham's point at Stamford
Bridge will help this cause although it did not prevent them dropping into
the relegation zone as a result of Sunderland's 1-0 win over Stoke. O'Brien,
who has made 19 appearances for West Ham this season, was not the only
injury victim on Tuesday night. Mohamed Diame will be assessed ahead of
Saturday's home match with Newcastle after suffering a bang on the knee when
he fell over the advertising hoardings and had to be replaced in the first
half.

Despite the injuries, Allardyce was in jovial mood afterwards as he hit back
at complaints from opposite number Jose Mourinho about the visitors'
tactics.
Allardyce said: "He can't take it, can he? He can't take it because we've
out witted him. He just can't cope. "I love to see Chelsea players moaning
at the referee, trying to intimidate him, Jose jumping up and down saying we
play crap football. "It's brilliant when you get a result against him. Hard
luck, Jose."

Allardyce lauded his players for implementing his tactics in a result he
believes was on a par with the 3-0 win at Tottenham earlier in the season.
The Hammers boss added: "This one probably equals (Tottenham) because of the
position we're in and the problems we've had recently. "It was all about
frustrating a team that's got world-class players and not to come here and
lie down. "Tactically we got it right in two areas particularly: one was in
stopping (Eden) Hazard, Oscar and Willian and (Samuel) Eto'o scoring goals;
and the other one was stopping them scoring from set plays. We did a
fantastic job."

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Adrian the hero as West Ham hold on to dent Chelsea Premier League title
charge
Last Updated: 29/01/14 10:50pm
SSN

A battling defensive display by West Ham earned a crucial 0-0 draw as
Chelsea's title challenge stalled in a Stamford Bridge stalemate. Sam
Allardyce's side put their bodies on the line throughout the 90 minutes to
deny the Blues a much-needed three points.

MATCH FACTS

Man of the match - Adrian. There were a number of defensive heroes for the
Hammers but the Spanish keeper produced vital saves at the beginning and end
of the contest to deny Chelsea.
Effort of the match. Oscar produced a stunning curling strike after just
nine minutes only to be denied by Adrian's outstretched right hand.
Save of the match. Adrian's hard work could all have been for nothing but he
was alert right at the end to deny substitute Frank Lampard with a wonderful
reflex save.
Talking point. Samuel Eto'o had the ball in the net moments from the end
after Adrian put the ball down to take what he thought was a free-kick.
Eto'o celebrated but referee Neil Swarbrick ruled it out claiming he had
blown for a foul.

Spanish keeper Adrian was unbeatable as he produced a series of fine saves -
while in front of him James Collins, Matt Taylor and James Tomkins produced
some heroic blocks to keep the blue shirts at bay. The Hammers could even
have pinched all three points but the returning Andy Carroll - who had a
good first-half shout for a penalty turned down - squandered a great opening
when he swung and missed Stewart Downing's centre. Jose Mourinho sent on
Frank Lampard, Nemanja Matic and Demba Ba in an attempt to find the crucial
breakthrough but the Hammers stood firm to see Chelsea - who had 39 shots
during the contest - drop behind table-topping Manchester City, who they
face on Monday Night Football. Lampard thought he'd earned the win with the
last kick off the match only for Adrian to deny him with an amazing
goal-line stop just moments after Samuel Eto'o had the ball in the net, with
referee Neil Swarbrick ruling he had blown for an earlier foul on the
keeper. Mourinho on Tuesday played down his side's title chances this term
and the Blues saw a seven-game winning run ended.

City scored nine in the two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final with the
Hammers, but the Blues faced a defensive wall they could not breach while
the visitors also posed an early threat. Carroll slipped at the far post
with Cesar Azpilicueta in close attendance after seven minutes and referee
Swarbrick was unmoved at the Hammers' penalty appeals, much to Allardyce's
frustration. Oscar's curled effort was helped on to the bar by Adrian and
Petr Cech scrambled clear a Tomkins header before the West Ham goalkeeper
saved from John Terry and Eto'o late in the first half. Willian, Eto'o and
Ramires blazed over as Chelsea were limited to shots from range.

Mohamed Diame's fall over the advertising hoardings resulted in a change,
with Matt Jarvis replacing the Senegal midfielder, who limped off pointing
at his right knee. Sam Allardyce praises his West Ham side after they left
Stamford Bridge with a point after drawing 0-0. Adrian twice had to be
alert, saving a Terry header with his feet before turning an Eto'o shot
around the post. West Ham's threat was limited to long balls directed to
Carroll, which Cahill and Terry, who caught the Hammers striker with an
accidental flailing arm on one occasion, dealt with. Chelsea showed more
urgency after the break. Oscar shot straight at Adrian, there was no-one in
the six-yard box to meet a Willian cross and Ramires fired wide from an
Azpilicueta cross. Joey O'Brien's challenge on Willian was an outlet for
Mourinho's frustrations before Chelsea earned a reprieve when Carroll swung
at thin air when Downing crossed towards him. Substitute Lampard had scored
three times in his previous two contests with his former club and had
half-chances to add to the tally. Little was coming off for Chelsea and, in
another attacking substitution, Mourinho threw on another ex-Hammer in Ba
for Oscar, while Antonio Nocerino came on for his West Ham debut. O'Brien
went off as the Hammers faced four minutes of stoppage time a man short and
Adrian saved from Ba before Eden Hazard shot wide and had an effort saved.
Adrian placed the ball on his six-yard box after being awarded a free-kick
in the follow-up to Hazard's shot, but Eto'o put the ball in having not
heard the whistle. Lampard was denied in the 97th minute by a fine Adrian
save as the Hammers earned a valuable point and denied Chelsea an eighth
successive win in all competitions.

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Jose Mourinho: West Ham play football from 19th century
Last Updated: 29/01/14 11:13pm
SSN

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho accused West Ham of playing "football from the
19th century" after being left frustrated by a goalless draw at Stamford
Bridge. The Blues fell three points behind new Barclays Premier League
leaders Manchester City, who beat West Ham 9-0 in the two-legged Capital One
Cup semi-final, after a resolute display from Sam Allardyce's men. Mourinho
outlined his unhappiness with the Hammers' tactics afterwards. The
self-proclaimed 'Special One' said: "It's very difficult to play a football
match where only one team wants to play. It's very difficult. "A football
match is about two teams playing and this match was only one team playing
and another team not playing. "I told Big Sam and I repeat my words: they
need points and, because they need points, to come here and play the way
they did, is it acceptable? Maybe, yes. "I cannot be too critical, because
if I was in his position I don't know if I would do the same. Maybe. "At the
same time I told him also this is not Premier League, this is not the best
league in the world, this is football from the 19th century."

Chelsea tried everything to unlock the Hammers' defence and when they did
they found goalkeeper Adrian in supreme form. Mourinho added: "The only
(other) thing I could bring was a Black and Decker (tool) to destroy the
wall."

The Blues had 39 shots but could still not find a way past a heroic West Ham
who finished the game with 10 men following a shoulder injury to Joey
O'Brien which could see him out of action for up to three months. Mourinho
was also left frustrated by what he viewed as the Hammers' time wasting
tactics and could not understand why only four extra minutes were added on.
"They wasted two minutes every time they kicked off and the referee gives
the wrong message when he gives just four minutes but it is what it is."

Mourinho pointed to aimless long balls to illustrate his point, which he had
made to Hammers boss Allardyce after the game. "He was laughing," Mourinho
added. "His objective was won: come here and take a point. It was not to
come here and play good football or to try to win or to feel part of the
quality of the Premier League. "He takes the point. After that he's a happy
man and I'm a sad guy."

Mourinho refused to criticise his players, who could have done with someone
of the guile of Juan Mata, now at Manchester United. "With my players, I'm
happy," Mourinho said. "My team tried everything. Their goalkeeper saved a
lot, but they also had other players without gloves who saved a lot. "They
played with five defenders; they looked more goalkeepers than defenders."

Mourinho resisted the urge to criticise the officials, who ruled out a
stoppage-time Samuel Eto'o strike, having already blown for a foul amid a
confusing conclusion which also saw Adrian save from Frank Lampard. Chelsea
next play a City side who beat Tottenham to go top of the Premier League.
"For me it's not a surprise," Mourinho added. "We go there next Monday and
the result at this moment is 0-0. Are they favourites? Yes. Are they even
favourites to score again four, five, six goals? Yes. "But the result is 0-0
and we go there to compete and to play."

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Sam Allardyce: I don't give a s***e about Mourinho, we 'out-tacticed'
Chelsea
Jan 29, 2014 22:48 By John Cross 4 Comments
The Mirror

Jose Mourinho launched a savage attack on West Ham after accusing them of
cheating by playing football from the dark ages. Furious Mourinho blew his
top after accusing West Ham of time wasting, fouls, feigning injuries and
showing no intention to try and win. Mourinho was also furious at referee
Neil Swarbrick and his officials after watching Chelsea lose two points in
the title race because of West Ham's heroic defensive performance. Chelsea
boss Mourinho said: "This is not the best league in the world. This is
football from the nineteenth century. Too bad. With my players, I'm happy.
The second half was phenomenal.
"Their goalkeeper saved a lot, but they had other players without gloves who
saved a lot. They played with five defenders: they had more goalkeepers than
defenders. They gave everything. "So my respect to their spirit and to their
effort, but my team tried everything. We tried, we created, we missed goals,
the goalkeeper saved, the defenders saved two... I cannot complain with my
people, and I am nobody to criticise what they did. "(They were) pretending
injuries. Cheating... I don't know if that's the right word. The goalkeeper
taking time not after minute 70, but in the first minute. "Ten defenders in
the box, defenders not putting a foot outside the box. Very basic. But I'm
nobody to criticise. They are happy. "It's very difficult to play a football
match where only one team wants to play. Very difficult. A match is about
two teams playing. This match was only one team playing, and another team
not. "I told Big Sam, and I repeat my words, that they need points. I cannot
be too critical because if I was in this position, I don't know if I would
do the same. Maybe (I would). So I don't want to criticise that. But at the
same time, this is not Premier League."

But West Ham boss Sam Allardyce laughed off Mourinho's attack and said: "I
don't give a s***e, to be honest. I love to see Chelsea players moaning at
the referee, trying to intimidate him, Jose jumping up and down in his
technical area. It's great to see. "He can't take it can he. He can't take
it because we've out-tacticed him, out-witted him. He just can't cope. He
can tell me all he wants."

Chelsea had an incredible 39 shots with eight on target but could not find a
way past West Ham keeper Adrian and their heroic back four as Allardyce's
men put their bodies on the line to stop the onslaught. It was one-sided and
frustrating but Joey O'Brien's savage tackle from behind on Willian also
enraged Mourinho as he even stormed onto the pitch to remonstrate with
Swarbrick. Chelsea's best efforts came in the dying minutes when West Ham
keeper Adrian defied substitute Frank Lampard, Demba Ba hit the post and
Oscar hit the bar in the first half. West Ham's heroics were made all the
better by the fact that they finished the game with ten men as O'Brien was
taken off with dislocated shoulder after Allardyce had used all three
substitutes.

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West Ham plot Fernando Alexandre transfer from Portuguese side Academica
Coimbra
Jan 29, 2014 22:29 By John Cross 0 Comments
SSN

West Ham are trying to do a cut-price £500,000 deal for Academica Coimbra
midfielder Fernando Alexandre. However, former Benfica midfielder Alexandre,
28, is valued at twice that figure by his Portuguese club. The Hammers have
already signed AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino and Roma striker Marco
Borriello on loan this month as they fight to avoid relegation from the
Premier League.

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