Daily WHUFC News - 21st December 2015

FT - Swansea City 0-0 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Swansea City 0-0 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League, Liberty Stadium, Sunday 20 December 2015

West Ham United were held to a record third consecutive goalless Barclays Premier League draw in a keenly fought contest at Swansea City on Sunday.

There were chances to win the game with the goalkeepers at either end being kept busy, but with Slaven Bilic's new look back four once again in imperious mood, the Swans could find no way through.

Both teams went into the game looking for their first win in seven, although the Hammers were confident defensively following consecutive shutouts against Manchester United and Stoke City in their previous two games.

The hosts also had reason to be optimistic after a much-improved performance in losing 2-1 at Manchester City last time out and they started the game brightly with Andre Ayew heading the game's first chance over Adrian's crossbar in the ninth minute.

Ki Sung-Yueng then went even closer, drilling a low shot goalwards from the angle that Adrian was forced to turn behind with his legs.

The Hammers were threatening sporadically, too, with Mauro Zarate and Mark Noble both trying their luck from distance without success. The former did better just after the half-hour mark, with a vicious, swerving effort requiring Lukasz Fabianski's to tip it round the post.

A lively first half concluded with Ayew going close five minutes before the break. He was denied as lunging tackles from a combination of Aaron Cresswell and James Collins, playing in his homeland, did enough to divert his effort into the side netting.

The second half began in more cagey fashion and the first effort on goal was not until 12 minutes after the re-start, when the lively Michail Antonio's powerful shot was deflected wide. Slaven Bilic, who had handed Nikica Jelavic his first start in place of the injured Andy Carroll in his only change, sought to liven things up by bringing on Enner Valencia for Zarate on the hour mark.

Seconds later, the game did spring to life, but at the wrong end, as Jack Cork sent a screaming volley towards Adrian's top corner from the edge of the area. Thankfully, the Spaniard was equal to it and palmed the ball round the post.

The Swans then had a good shout for a penalty after Ki's shot appeared to catch Collins' hand, but referee Lee Mason only awarded the hosts a corner.

The Hammers started to turn up the heat in the pouring rain up the other end, as Valencia announced his return from a high ankle injury with a rasping effort that Fabianski did well to tip over.

Both sides pushed for the winner but failed to create any real efforts of note. The Hammers will continue their hunt for goals with a Boxing Day trip to Aston Villa up next.

Swansea City: Fabianski, Rangel (Naughton 68), Williams, Fernandez, Taylor, Britton, Cork (Shelvey 73), Ki, Sigurdsson, Gomis, Ayew (Barrow 83)
Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Amat, Emnes, Montero

West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song (Obiang 72), Noble, Zarate (Valencia 60), Kouyate, Antonio (Jenkinson 85), Jelavic
Subs not used: Randolph, Hendrie, Oxford, Cullen

Booked: Jenkinson (87)

Referee: Lee Mason

Attendance: 20,661 (1,025 from West Ham United)

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Loan round up
WHUFC.com

Reece Burke played the full game as Bradford City secured a 1-0 win away at Chesterfield. Tony McMahon's second-half strike secured the three points which takes the Bantams to eighth in League One.

Development Squad teammates Elliot Lee and Martin Samuelsen turned opponents for the afternoon as Blackpool beat Peterborough United 2-0.

Lee's Tangerines got off to a brilliant start as Mark Cullen and Brad Potts netted inside the opening 31 minutes, the win lifts Blackpool to 17th in League One.

Clarke Bogard's Tilbury FC maintained their terrific run of form with a 4-0 win over Witham Town in The Ryman Football League Division North.

Diego Poyet was an unused substitute in MK Dons' 2-1 defeat away at Nottingham Forest.

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Ladies secure festive victory
WHUFC.com

West Ham Ladies secured a festive treat as Romina Pinna's hat-trick helped the Hammers to a 4-2 win over Plymouth Argyle Ladies on Sunday.

Having not won a FA Women's Premier League South fixture since the end of October, Marc Nurse's side were on their way towards an early Christmas present when Italian winder Pinna fired the Hammers into a two-goal lead, before captain Katie Middleton pulled one back for the visitors.

In the second half, Pinna secured her hat-trick and former Millwall Lionesses midfielder Shirvae Edwards added a fourth either side of a second consolation goal for Argyle.

After last weekend's disappointing 3-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers Ladies, Nurse made five changes to the starting eleven. Indian international Aditi Chauhan returned between the sticks, whilst Chelsea Hinz and Olivia Sammons lined up in the home defence.

Further forward, Development Squad midfielder Gemma Abela came into the midfield and lightning quick Whitney Locke replaced Erika Campesi on the wing.

In the early stages of the game, the hosts looked confident of ending 2015 on a high as Pinna, Edwards and Locke began causing the visiting defence all sorts of problems.

It took West Ham just 12 minutes to push themselves ahead. After captain Katie Bottom was tripped inside the penalty box, Pinna stepped up and confidently dispatched her second goal is as many games.

Then, just before the half an hour mark, a threaded ball through from Edwards found Pinna in behind and she extended the hosts' lead.

It wasn't all plain sailing in the first half for Nurse's team though as Middleton found enough space inside the Hammers penalty box to smash home a goal through Chauhan.

After the break, both sides battled it out for the next and probably most important goal of the game, which came with just nine minutes left as Pinna broke through the Argyle defence and rounded the keeper before slotting into an empty net for her hat-trick.

Just a minute later though, Plymouth pulled a goal back and installed a small amount of worry to the home side, before Edwards tapped home from close range to rubber-stamp the result for West Ham.

The Ladies will now rest and relax over the Christmas period, before returning to training to prepare for the visit of Cardiff City LFC to AFC Hornchurch on Sunday 3 January at 2pm.

Ladies: Chauhan, Bottom (c), Wheeler, Hinz (Missen), Sammons, Ray, Abela (Ritson), Miller (Campesi), Locke, Edwards, Pinna. Subs not used: Anderson-James.

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Adrian – We need three points at Villa
WHUFC.com

Goalkeeper Adrian is already targeting three Barclays Premier League points at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, after keeping a third successive clean sheet in Sunday's goalless draw at Swansea City. In torrential rain at the Liberty Stadium, the Spaniard was only called upon intermittently, but, just as he did against Stoke City a week earlier, made vital saves at pivotal moments. The Hammers' custodian saved with his feet from Ki Sung-Yueng in the first half, before clawing away Jack Cork's rasping drive in the second. Though he is rightly content with another shutout, the No13 called upon his colleagues to end their winless streak at Villa Park next time out. He told whufc.com: "We need to be happy, because a point away from home is good. But we really need to win already! "We're missing so many offensive players at the moment, like Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho, so we are not so fresh in attack. So the most important thing is that we're defending very well, not just me, all the team. "The next game, at Villa, they are in a tough position now, so we need to go there and win the three points. "The Premier League is so difficult. You see the results each weekend and you're surprised with some results. At the end of the day, it's one more clean sheet, one more point for us and we need to prepare to win at Villa."

Unsurprisingly, Adrian reserved special mention for James Collins, who put his body on the line on umpteen occasions to preserve the visitors' clean sheet. And, as he tends to do, the Spaniard played down his own contribution, significant though it obviously was.
He continued: "Ginge played very well on Sunday, he made some very good blocks and helped us a lot in defence, together with Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and James Tomkins. "I am the goalkeeper and I always try to help my teammates. I always need to do my best and to keep a clean sheet is really important for me. "This time I was lucky enough to save some Swansea chances. I thought both goalkeepers did well, Lukasz Fabianski made a couple of good saves too, particularly the one from Enner Valencia. "We need to keep this same mentality, stay positive, because we're defending well and to improve that little bit in attack next time."

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Cresswell hails 'warrior' Collins
WHUFC.com

Aaron Cresswell hailed 'warrior' James Collins after the Wales defender put in a typically selfless performance at Swansea City.

Collins ended the afternoon with a large bump on his head and most likely a few bruises after blocking a succession of Swansea shots to help earn his side a goalless Barclays Premier League draw.

Cresswell had a grandstand view of the No19's all-action display and could not hide his respect for his teammate's resilient display.

"You know what you're getting with Ginge – he'll give you 110 per cent week-in, week-out," said the left-back. "He has been fantastic for us when he has stepped in and I thought he was fantastic and arguably our best player. He's a warrior at the back."

West Ham were held to a record third straight goalless Premier League draw at the Liberty Stadium, where injuries to key attackers left Slaven Bilic without Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Andy Carroll, Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho and also centre-half Winston Reid.

While there was some frustration that the Hammers were unable to overcome a Swansea team which started the day in the relegation zone, Cresswell was keen to point out that there are no easy games in the top flight this season.

"It was obviously a tough game. Most teams will take a point coming away from home in the Premier League and if you'd said to us at the start of the season that we'd draw at Manchester United and Swansea, I think we'd have taken it.

"In a way, we're disappointed as well. Don't get me wrong, they've had chances as well, but we've kept three clean sheets in the last three games, which is a positive, so we'll take the positives and we'll move on to the next one.

"We've had a few chances in the last few games and we just need to take a few of them. We'll just get ourselves together again and prepared for Aston Villa next week.

"It just shows you the squad we have got this season has real depth. Dimi and Manu have arguably been our two main players this season, so we're looking forward to them coming back, but we've got a good squad here and got a good point in the end."

Next up for Cresswell and company is a Boxing Day trip to bottom side Aston Villa on Boxing Day, when the Hammers will be confident of ending their seven-match winless run.

The No3 revealed the squad will be training on Christmas Day before travelling to Birmingham, ensuring no stone is left unturned in their preparations.

"We are going to prepare ourselves the best we can for the fixtures we've got coming up over the next ten days or so. It's hard when you've got to play three games in seven days, but we won't use that as an excuse.

"We're going to be prepared and ready for those three games. We've got to be professional and it's part and parcel of the job and we've just got to get on with it.

"To be fair, I've always trained on Christmas Day every year apart from last year, and we'll get on with it and prepare as best we can.

"You can't go into any game thinking it's going to be an easy three points, even if you're one of the top teams. The league has been crazy this year and you can see anyone can beat anyone.

"We're fully aware that it's not going to be an easy ride so we're going to prepare for Villa and do the best we can."

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Bilic - We defended really good
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic hailed the 'team effort' which earned West Ham United a hard-fought Barclays Premier League point at Swansea City.

The Hammers defended superbly at the Liberty Stadium, where they secured a record-setting third straight goalless draw.

With six senior players, including five attackers, absent, West Ham could even have won the game in South Wales, but manager Bilic was content with a point from a competitive clash with the Swans.

"I want to praise the team and I want to praise the players, especially as it was a team effort," he told West Ham TV. "If you remember what I said three or four weeks ago when the injuries hit us, I said the only way we could compensate was by producing a team performance and that is exactly what we have done in the last three games.

"We defended really good as a team, apart from in the first 20 minutes when we were a little bit sloppy. After that, we were really good and I'm proud of the team.

"To be fair, with no disrespect to any player it is all about the squad and that's why we got a point, but the question is can we play much better with Carroll, without Payet, without Lanzini, without Sakho and without Moses? It's too much.

"The guys played really well and put in great effort to gain a point and that's why I am really pleased with the performance from the team."

While it was the defensive effort that caught the eye, West Ham could well have won the game with the chances they did create.

Mauro Zarate twice tested Lukasz Fabianski before half-time, before substitute Enner Valencia fired in a rasping, rising shot that the Poland goalkeeper tipped over acrobatically late on.

"OK, we played without these players and we did so against Man United and against Stoke and in every one of those games we should have scored goals," Bilic continued. "With two or three of those players back, not even all of them, I have a feeling that we would have definitely scored one or two goals per game.

"It's great for us to continue our unbeaten run. Second, it's our third straight clean sheet and third, we are expecting some of those players to come back very, very soon."

With this arguably being the most unpredictable season in Barclays Premier League history, there appear to be no 'gimmes' anywhere.

While Swansea went into Sunday's clash in the relegation zone, they also went into it with a fully-fit squad bar winger Wayne Routledge, and on the back of a fantastic performance at Manchester City last time out.

"Swansea are a good team and that's how I presented them to the guys on Saturday night. We spoke about them and they are a good side who have not been lucky enough to score goals.

"They have their qualities and they did not forget to play football. If you see them attack, of course they have a lot of quality. We defended with the whole team and, as I said, they deserve praise and this is a really good point.

"It's a great platform for when the injured players start to come back."

West Ham will now prepare for the Boxing Day trip to bottom club Aston Villa, with Bilic and his players scheduled to train on Christmas Day.

The manager had a festive message for the Claret and Blue Army ahead of the visit to Villa Park and home fixtures with Southampton and Liverpool either side of the New Year.

"Merry Christmas to all the Hammers! We are going to try to do everything to make you even happier and proud of us than you are," he smiled.

"We need you all, especially when we are short of options. We feel you all behind us, as you always are and we're going to do our best to make this Christmas period a happy on for you!"

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Swansea v West Ham
20 December 2015
Last updated at 18:40
By Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales Sport at the Liberty Stadium

Swansea City remain in the Premier League relegation zone after they were held by a West Ham side who recorded a third straight goalless draw. The managerless Swans dominated the first half as Ki Sung-yueng and Andre Ayew missed good chances. Jack Cork had a spectacular volley saved by Adrian after the break, while Swansea appealed in vain for a penalty for a James Collins handball. Swansea stay 18th, two points from safety, while West Ham remain eighth. The Hammers had to settle for a fifth draw from six Premier League games, but the result will have been frustrating for the Swans, who have now won only one of their last 13 league matches.

Jelavic touches
Nikica Jelavic's first start for West Ham was a frustrating one, as he was limited to three touches in the opposition penalty area
With Swansea still searching for a successor to sacked manager Garry Monk, caretaker boss Alan Curtis was in charge for a second time.
Despite losing five of their previous six games, his side started with a pace and purpose belying their lowly league standing. Swansea seemed to have recaptured their passing mastery of old but, with Ki's low drive blocked by Adrian and Ayew firing wide, they were guilty of a familiar failure to make their dominance count.

Goal-shy Hammers

While Swansea's recent poor form had led to Monk's dismissal, West Ham were enduring a wobble of their own, having failed to win their last six league games. Both their previous outings had ended 0-0, and Slaven Bilic's side lacked an attacking threat as they spent the majority of the match in their own half. The Hammers were limited to two long-range attempts at goal from Mauro Zarate, both saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Bodies on the line

Although West Ham lacked inspiration in attack, they defended stoutly. Adrian made a fine save to push away Cork's whistling 20-yard volley, while centre-back Collins made a brave block to deny Ki. Swansea's players thought the Wales defender had handled the ball, but referee Lee Mason dismissed their protests.

Man of the match - James Collins

James Collins
The former Cardiff centre-back was kept busy by a dominant Swansea display, making numerous timely clearances and a handful of bloody-minded blocks.

What they said

Swansea City caretaker-manager Alan Curtis: "I thought we played well. In terms of the possession we looked like the kind of Swansea team we've seen over the last couple of seasons, but we possibly lacked a cutting edge up front. "We said the season started last week for us. At Manchester City we were a lot better, and that today was certainly better than the last few home games. "I don't think we are a bottom three side. We are there, but in the quality of the last two performances, whoever does come in will be confident they can lift us up the table. "For now, we have to prepare as normal. We will carry on until the chairman and the board tell us otherwise."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic:"It's a good point for us. I want to praise my team because they showed great spirit. "It was a good collective performance. Exactly what I said when those injuries hit us big time a few weeks ago, the only way we can compensate is with teamwork."That is exactly what we've done in the last three games. Three clean sheets and three points. I really want to praise the guys."
The stats you need to know

Swansea kept a clean sheet for the first time since September in the Premier League, ending a run of 10 games without one.
West Ham have drawn three successive league games 0-0 for the first time in their history.
The last Premier League team to do that were Burnley in September 2014 (also three games).
The Swans have won none of their last seven Premier League home games at Liberty Stadium (D4 L3), failing to score in five of those matches.
West Ham have won three and lost none of their last six Premier League games against Swansea.
West Ham managed just 239 passes in total in this match, the lowest total they've mustered this campaign.
What next?

Swansea host West Brom on 26 December, with Albion just five points above the Swans, while West Ham are at bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa.

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Duo set to return for Boxing Day clash
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic is poised to welcome back two key figures to his team for the trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Andy Carroll - who missed the goalless draw at Swansea on Sunday with a minor groin strain - and Manuel Lanzini, who has been out of action for a fortnight with a thigh injury are both expected to return to the first team squad in time for this weekend's Premier League clash.

That's according to co-owner David Gold, who tweeted in the early hours of this morning (Monday) to clarify the situation regarding a number of first team players currently on the injury list.

David Gold ✔ @davidgold
If all goes well Carroll, Valencia and Lanzini will all be available for Villa. Sakho, Reid
Moses and Payet are all progressing well. dg

In addition to the aforementioned duo, Gold also revealed that Diafra Sakho, Winston Reid, Victor Moses and Dimitri Payet are all continuing their rehabilitation as planned - with the latter expected back during mid-January, a fortnight or so ahead of schedule.

And Enner Valencia, who wasn't considered fit enough to start against Swansea but featured instead as a second half substitute for Mauro Zarate should be fit enough to play a full 90 minutes, added Gold.

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