04.11.2009
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United v Aston Villa
Boleyn Ground
Wednesday 4 November 2009
7.45pm
Referee: Steve Bennett
Full-time - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
94 mins - Get in there! The crowd are whistling as Villa launch the ball into the home penalty area. It hits a couple of bodies and bounces into Green's hands. He clears and Bennett blows his whistle. The crowd erupt! West Ham have a first home win of the season and are out of the bottom-three. Let's hope for a similar result on Sunday when Everton come to visit.
93 mins - GOAL! And they've got one! Hines shows persistence to latch on to Parker's low cross and stab the ball beyond Friedel's grasp.
93 mins - Not long to go now. Villa have gone one up-top, with Agbonlahor ploughing a lone furrow. It is West Ham who have the ball, though, and they are piling forward in search of a winner.
92 mins - Oooh! Green does well there. Young had picked up Da Costa's clearing header, skipped on to his right foot and fired in a low shot that the goalkeeper did well to push out for a corner. Young crosses and Da Costa, again, heads the ball out of danger.
91 mins - We're into the first of four added minutes and Young wins a corner off Spector. Villa will be in no rush to take this.
90 mins - He might, you know. The new arrival combines well with Hines who wins a corner. The Chilean then ruins all the good work by taking the corner short and gifting Villa possession.
89 mins - Zola makes his final change, replacing Franco with Luis Jimenez for the final few moments. Can the South American conjure up a winner for the hosts?
88 mins - Good save from Friedel there to deny Noble. The midfielder had cut inside from the left and let fly from around 25 yards, forcing the American into a plunging stop.
87 mins - Martin O'Neill makes a defensive tactical change, replacing Carew with right-back Luke Young.
86 mins - Noble curls the ball in and Villa clear. Parker picks it up, but his lunging shot flies well wide.
85 mins - Villa are down to ten men after Beye sees a second yellow for bringing down Spector. Unfortunately for West Ham, they had a four-on-four break inside the Villa penalty area when Bennett stopped play. Instead of playing an advantage, the referee chose to bring play back with the Hammers in a very threatening position. Instead they have a free-kick eight yards outside the box.
85 mins - Young's free-kick drops into the penalty area but Agbonlahor can only divert his half-volley well over the top.
84 mins - Franco is the next man to be booked. He gives the ball away and sees yellow after bringing down Warnock as he tries to win it back
80 mins - Hines again! This time forcing Friedel to save at his near post after picking up a pass from Parker. The Hammers are really pushing for a winner, but the resulting Noble corner is headed clear.
78 mins - Hines comes agonisingly close to his first league goal again, latching on to Collison's through ball, but dragging his left-foot shot just past the far post. West Ham have been the better side this half. Can they turn their possession into a winning goal?
76 mins - Junior Stanislas has replaced Tomkins on the touchline. He has already netted one late goal this season. Can he be the hero again, should he be given the chance?
74 mins - More strong running from Hines wins a corner off Dunne that Friedel cannot prevent. Noble crosses and the ball hits Sidwell and bounces out for another corner.
73 mins - Great harrying from Hines, Franco and Behrami sees the England U21 man win the ball back for the Hammers. He shoots but the ball flies wide.
72 mins - Zola is perched high on his seat in the dugout chatting to first-team coach Steve Clarke. Is he considering a third change?
70 mins - A shooting chance for Franco from 18 yards, but the Mexican fires too high following good work from Spector and Collison down the left-hand side.
68 mins - Another yellow card, this time for Petrov for a lunge on Parker.
67 mins - West Ham are definitely on top now. Hines runs at the Villa defence and wins a corner. Noble crosses and Collins outjumps Upson. The ball falls to Collison, who takes a touch and drills a low shot straight at Friedel.
66 mins - The Hammers win a chance wide on the right when Warnock fouls Behrami. Noble crosses and Beye clears. Collison retreives the ball on the left but his cross is too long.
64 mins - Faubert again, this time cutting inside Warnock and dinking the ball in low. It hits Sidwell and Dunne before eluding Parker's out-stretched boot. From the resulting corner, Da Costa makes a nuisance of himself before stabbing the ball wide of the target from 12 yards.
63 mins - The home side are getting up a bit of a head of steam here. Faubert twice breaks down the right, the second time firing in a low cross that Collins can only belt into the stands.
59 mins - Da Costa slices an Agbonlahor cross behind for another Villa corner. The Birmingham-born forward takes himself and Da Costa heads half-clear. The ball falls to Petrov, whose drive is deflected behind for another corner. Agbonlahor crosses again and Green wins a free-kick.
58 mins - Gianfranco Zola only has one substitution left to make, but he has three potential replacements warming up on the touchline in Alessandro Diamanti, Luis Jimenez and James Tomkins.
56 mins - Reo-Coker forces Spector into conceding a corner. The goalscorer Young takes wide on the Villa right and Da Costa powers his header clear.
54 mins - Warnock is going to need some treatment after a challenge from Behrami. It appears to be his left shoulder. After a few moments, though, the Liverpool-born defender is able to carry on without the need for any medical assistance.
52 mins - GOAL! That was some strike from Young, who picked the ball up wide on the left and cut inside Behrami before curling an amazing shot into the far, top corner. Green got a touch, but that was nigh-on unstoppable.
51 mins - Parker is booked for a foul. Young takes the free-kick and Green holds the ball in front of his face. The penalty save has really brought the crowd to life.
50 mins - Green saves! The England goalkeeper guesses right and plunges to his left, if that makes sense, pushing Young's shot around the post for a corner. Young crosses and, after a spot of pinball, Green falls on the loose ball. Cheers all round for England's No1.
49 mins - Villa have started quite well here, and Agbonlahor forces a corner. The ball comes over and is headed clear. Villa get the ball back into the area where Da Costa leaps high in the air and heads clear. After a pause, it emerges that Bennett has awarded another penalty for Da Costa's challenge, which was innocuous but did see him catch Collins with a stray boot.
47 mins - Da Costa gets back to clear a long ball forward and punts the ball over the East Stand and into Trinity Road, earning a loud cheer.
46 mins - Villa get us back underway.
A half-time change from Villa, who apparently also had Young booked in the melee following the penalty decision. Nigel Reo-Coker is on for Heskey.
Half-time - West Ham United 1-0 Aston Villa
48 mins - Referee Bennett blows for half-time and the home side leave the field to a loud cheer. Collins is booked before making his way down the tunnel, presumably for dissent.
47 mins - GOAL! Noble belts the penalty into the roof of the net and West Ham lead!
46 mins - We're into the first of two minutes of added-time and West Ham have a penalty! Franco lays in Hines and he is bundled over by Habib Beye no more than six yards from goal. Beye is booked and Noble is lining up the penalty.
45 mins - Hines injects a bit of urgency into proceedings as he runs at Collins and gets into the penalty area, but his cross is cleared. The Hammers continue to press, but Hines' follow-up shot is blocked.
42 mins - Young cuts inside Spector and runs along the edge of the area, where he is felled by Parker. Again, this free-kick is in a very threatening area. Warnock's effort is a bit wayward and flies into the Bobby Moore Stand.
39 mins - The big Norwegian threatens again. Turning Da Costa and shooting low, and Green dives on the ball at the second attempt.
37 mins - Carew appears to have got the better of Da Costa, only for the Portuguese to get back in and tackle him. Upson completes the clearance.
35 mins - Another corner for Villa, this time when the ball flicks off the head of Parker. Warnock again takes wide on the Villa right with his left foot, but referee Bennett sees and infringement and blows play dead. He has a quick word with Behrami and Carew before Warnock re-takes the flag-kick.
34 mins - Another corner for the visitors as Agbonlahor smacks the ball against Upson. Warnock curls a decent ball in and Franco clears at the near post.
32 mins - Hines is on. Cole goes straight down the tunnel for further treatment.
31 mins - Hines is going to be Cole's replacement. I am not going to speculate over the nature of Cole's injury, but we will try and get word from the club's backroom staff as soon as possible.
30 mins - Cole is going to have to go off here. He was chasing a deep cross from Faubert when he pulled up and immediately signalled to the bench.
27 mins - Superb play from Villa. Warnock breaks down the left before the ball is worked all the way across to Young on the right flank. He curls in a delicious cross but Carew can only glance his header over the bar. West Ham need to keep possession for a period of time here. They do just that and Noble is unlucky to be thwarted by good defensive play from Agbonlahor.
24 mins - Scott Parker puts his body on the line to block Young's free-kick. The ball flies out for a throw-in, while Parker takes a moment to recover! From the throw-in, Behrami attempts to clear and Villa make a tentative penalty claim for handball, but referee Bennett gives nothing. Not too many complaints from the away team, anyway.
23 mins - Da Costa heads Young's corner clear, but the ball is worked back out to the winger, who is fouled by Behrami. This is a dangerous position.
22 mins - Another minute, another chance... Agbonlahor breaks into the box and shoots left-footed, forcing Green to help the ball over the top.
21 mins - Cole breaks an holds off Sidwell before crossing right-footed, but the ball is inches too high for the leaping Franco. It has been a lively start here, to say the least.
20 mins - Carew gets at Faubert and the Frenchman accidentally puts the ball behind for a corner. Again, Young takes, Da Costa hacks clear and Stiliyan Petrov lashes a fierce volley towards goal that is deflected towards the top corner before Green instinctively sticks his hand out to divert the ball over the crossbar. That was a world-class save that Capello is sure to have enjoyed. The resulting corner is overhit and West Ham clear.
19 mins - Spector wins a free-kick in a threatening position wide on the left. Noble takes the free-kick but it does not clear the first defender.
17 mins - A little warning for the Hammers, there. Sidwell lofts a hopeful ball into the penalty area, where John Carew outjumps Matthew Upson, but cannot get sufficient power on his downward header.
16 mins - Behrami stabs the corner clear and Franco does superbly to hold the ball up, earning a decent round of applause for his efforts. West Ham nearly benefit, pinning Villa deep inside their own half before winning possession back through Collison. He finds Noble, who jinks inside before forcing Friedel into a decent save low to his right.
15 mins - Agbonlahor forces Faubert into conceding a second corner to the Villans. Young wanders across to take.
13 mins - Valon Behrami's control lets him down in midfield, but he snaps straight back in and wins the ball back. That sort of play will rouse the home supporters.
12 mins - Cole does superbly down the right to control a long punt from Manuel Da Costa, holding off two challenges to prompt an attack that ends with Scott Parker driving a low shot straight at Brad Friedel from 25 yards.
10 mins - Ilunga's injury appears to have taken the wind out of West Ham's sails a bit here. Villa are on the offensive inside the hosts' half and have been for the past couple of minutes. A foul by Sidwell releases the pressure.
8 mins - Villa try and take advantage while West Ham are down to ten men, forcing Scott Parker to concede a corner. Before it can be taken, Jonathan Spector comes on for the injured Ilunga. Young curls in a vicious corner that somehow evades everybody and bounces out for a goal kick. That was a let-off.
7 mins - Herita Ilunga looks in trouble here. He attempts to latch on to Guille Franco's pass and appears to tweak his hamstring. He is led off for treatment on the touchline.
6 mins - Finally a bit of a lull in the action. To let you all know how the teams are lining up, Villa have Emile Heskey wide on the left. West Ham have the same diamond formation as they used at Sunderland, with Noble at the point.
4 mins - It's a chance a minute here as Gabriel Agbonlahor lets fly from 25 yards, but his shot is weak and is easily gathered by Green.
3 mins - Fine defending from Richard Dunne to thwart Cole after the England man had turned him on the right and threatened to break clear into the penalty area.
2 mins - Another shooting chance for the Hammers. Robert Green's long clearance is headed straight up in the air by Stephen Warnock and Carlton Cole elects to volley the ball first-time from 30 yards and it flies wide.
1 min - West Ham start strongly, but neither Jack Collison nor Mark Noble can get their shot away inside the Villa penalty area. Noble turned on to his right foot rather then swinging his left and his effort was blocked.
7.45pm - We're underway and West Ham are pressing from the off.
7.44pm - England manager Fabio Capello and his assistant Franco Baldini are among the spectators here tonight. They will watch West Ham kick-off attacking the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand end of the ground.
7.43pm - Both sides are out on the pitch and going through their final pre-match warm-ups. The two teams are read out, with the home team receiving a loud welcome. The returning James Collins also receives a good reception on his return to the east end.
Good evening from the Boleyn Ground.
Gianfranco Zola makes three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Sunderland. Julien Faubert replaces Jonathan Spector at right-back, Manuel Da Costa is in for James Tomkins, while Scott Parker returns in place of the suspended Radoslav Kovac.
Aston Villa show two changes to their starting XI with Habib Beye in for the suspended Carlos Cuellar in defence and John Carew taking the place of the injured James Milner up front. Former Hammer James Collins starts, with ex-West Ham United captain Nigel Reo Coker on the bench.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga (Spector 8), Behrami, Parker, Noble, Collison, Franco, Cole (Hines 32)
Subs: Kurucz, Tomkins, Jimenez, Stanislas, Diamanti
Aston Villa: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Petrov, Heskey (Reo-Coker 46), Agbonlahor, Carew
Subs: Guzan, Luke Young, Shorey, Albrighton, Delph, Delfouneso
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Hines the hero
WHUFC.com
Zavon Hines' last-minute goal gave West Ham United their first home win of the season
04.11.2009
A last-minute goal from Zavon Hines helped a resurgent West Ham Untied to their first home win of the Barclays Premier League season. Mark Noble gave the Hammers the lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time - a kick won by the eververscent Hines - and when Robert Green kept out Ashley Young's 50th-minute spot-kick, the home side looked in good shape. However, the winger got his own back two minutes later, though, as he beat his fellow England international with a stunning strike from 25 yards.
West Ham refused to be bowed by the equaliser, nor by first half injuries to Herita Ilunga and Carlton Cole, launching an assault on Brad Friedel's goal that ended with Hines' instinctive 94th-minute strike. It was the England Under-21 man's first Barclays Premier League goal for the club he has been with since he was a boy. West Ham United's starting XI showed three changes from the team that shared four goals with Sunderland on Sunday. Julien Faubert and Manuel Da Costa came into the defence, with Scott Parker replacing Radoslav Kovac. James Tomkins and Jonathan Spector dropped to the bench. The hosts started brightly but were forced into an eighth-minute change when Ilunga left the field with what looked like a hamstring injury. Spector was his replacement. The first half then became something of a battle between the two goalkeepers, with West Ham's No1 coming out on top. After Noble had forced Brad Freidel into diving save to beat away his effort, Green took centre stage. His first was a truly world class stop as he showed astonishing reflexes to tip a deflected Stiliyan Petrov volley over the bar. A more routine save followed minutes later to thwart Gabriel Agbonlahor before John Carew's near-post effort was pushed to safety.
However, there was to be a second enforced change just after the half-hour mark as Cole, who had looked his usually boisterous self up front, hobbled off. Hines, who would make a dramatic late statement, came on to replace the England man. Just as it appeared that the two goalkeepers would steal the first-half show, a West Ham United penalty altered the script. Franco's clever pass put Hines in and, just as he was poised to shoot, Habib Beye appeared to bring him down. The Villa defender somehow escaped with just a caution when he could have easily seen red, but it was merely a stay of execution for the Senegal defender. Noble stepped and confidently dispatched the kick high past Friedel. Just to compound the visitors' misery, Young and James Collins, on his return to the Boleyn Ground, were booked as they left the field for continuing to protest to referee Steve Bennett.
Martin O'Neill sought to get straight back into the game with a half-time change, taking off Emile Heskey for former Hammer Nigel Reo Coker. And they had a fantastic chance to do just that as Da Costa was harshly adjudged to have jumped on the back of Collins in the penalty area as he headed clear. Young stepped up but, unlike Noble in the first half, he went low and Green was able to pull off an outstanding save low to his left. Sadly, the delight for the majority of 30,024 inside the Boleyn Ground was to be short-lived as the winger was to make amends minutes later by beating Green with a brilliant curling effort from 25 yards after cutting in from the left touchline. Cautions followed for Petrov and Parker as both midfields battled for superiority, but it was substitute Hines who was making the biggest inroads into the Villa back line. His constant willingness and speed was bothering Collins and his defensive partner Richard Dunne. The England U21 man had three shots in as many minutes as the game entered its latter stages - the last of which forced Friedel into a sprawling save.
Franco picked up a late caution for a lunge on Warnock before Beye was sent from the field for his second booking - the third time in 11 matches that West Ham's opponents were to finish a man short. O'Neill plugged the gap left at right-back by bringing on Luke Young for Carew. Luis Jimenez was sent on with two minutes to go as the Hammers tried everything to make their extra man count. Noble came close when he stung the hands of Friedel with a drive from distance. It was to be Green who had the final say in the battle of the 'keepers as he produced another brilliant save to keep out Ashley Young's low effort. Hines then ensured that West Ham's persistence and willing was rewarded when he collected Parker's centre and flicked the ball past Friedel from just outside the six-yard box. It was a dramatic finish and the impact of the result, which moves the Hammers out of the bottom three, was not lost on the home support, who celebrated wildly at the final whistle. They will be hoping to do the same when Everton visit the Boleyn Ground in four days' time.
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Zola hails Zavon
WHUFc.com
Gianfranco Zola was full of praise for his players following Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa
04.11.2009
Gianfranco Zola hailed match-winner Zavon Hines after the England Under-21 striker fired West Ham United to a 2-1 Barclays Premier League victory over Aston Villa. Hines, who turns 21 in December, showed all the composure of a veteran to steer a 94th-minute winner past 38-year-old goalkeeper Brad Friedel, securing the hosts' first home league win of 2009/10. Earlier, Mark Noble had put the Hammers ahead with a penalty in first-half added time before Robert Green kept out Ashley Young's spot-kick five minutes after the break. The England winger got his own back two minutes later, curling in an unstoppable long-range effort, only for Hines to steal the show with his dramatic late winner.
Manager Zola heaped praise on his young charge, saying: "Zavon was good, but the boy, every time he plays, has been very, very good. My congratulations go to him. He is on the right way. He just needs to keep working. "He gave us a fantastic victory and we are all very, very pleased for him and for us. "I would have been very delighted [with his goal]. I think it was a very good goal. He kept his composure in the middle of three defenders and he finished brilliantly, which is very good. The boy deserves the spotlight."
When asked if he feared Hines would struggle to cope with the pressure after replacing the injured Carlton Cole, Zola said he was always confident the Jamaica-born player would rise to the occasion. "I think maybe before it would have been the case but Zavon Hines has been coming on and playing regularly. He played against Liverpool, which was a big game, and he's done brilliantly. "He's played other games and he's done very well, so it's not a surprise any more. He's shown a lot of character and personality. Sometimes it can be the other way, but I don't think it's the case with Zavon Hines."
Another player who rose to the occasion was goalkeeper Green, who showed his pedigree to watching England manager Fabio Capello with a superb display highlighted by world-class saves from Young and Stiliyan Petrov. "It was a brilliant save [from the penalty]. He has made a couple of saves that were saves from the No1 national-team player. I was delighted for him. He deserved a day like that."
Zola, who confirmed first-half hamstring injuries suffered by Cole and Herita Ilunga "don't look very serious", said he hoped the win would help to kick-start the Hammers' campaign. Victory over Everton at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday could see West Ham move into mid-table, and the manager insisted his players would be going all out to earn another three points against the Toffees. "We said that the team is playing better and we said that a few games ago. It could well be. We gave a demonstration of desire and belief and that is really what we want. Everything else is there. It was a fantastic game to win and could well be a turning point."
"There's a long way to go this season, but the team is alive and wants to react to the situation. "We're ready to react and we will do that. This was a good display of that. We have to keep working because this is one step. Sunday we have another great game to play and we need another big performance to win the game."
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Trio retain England places
WHUFC.com
Fresh from his two-goal show last time, Zavon Hines is one of three players looking to feature at Wembley
04.11.2009
James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines are all in line to appear at Wembley after being named in the England squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Portugal. The match on Friday week will be the fourth match in qualification for the 2011 finals. The Three Lions are second in their section after a 6-3 win against FYR Macedonia last month, when Hines scored twice on his debut. In all, coach Stuart Pearce has named a 22-man squad for the match which will be played in front of a fixed-capacity 30,000-crowd. The Hammers trio will then fly with England to Vilnius over the weekend ahead of the meeting with Lithuania on Tuesday 17 November. Understandably, though, it is the Wembley date that is most occupying England thoughts. Speaking to the FA.com, Pearce said: "The important thing is to give these players the experience of Wembley. We're doing it, so these young players get a feel for the national stadium and what it's like, so hopefully sometime in the future a few of these will be stepping out for the seniors. "Whilst most of them won't know yet what it's like to play a senior international match, at least they can get a feel of the stadium, the crowd, and the importance of needing to win the match."
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Dixon on WHUTV
WHUFC.com
WHUTV caught up with Terry Dixon after the 1-1 draw with Fulham on Tuesday
04.11.2009
Terry Dixon was a happy man after his first competitive start for the reserves in their 1-1 draw with Fulham on Tuesday evening. After registering his first goal for the club in a friendly against Arka Gdynia in Poland last week, Dixon followed up with an encouraging 84-minute run-out at Motspur Park. "In the first half against Fulham I felt that it was my best game since I'm back," Dixon told WHUTV. "We've got another game against Arsenal next week so we'll see how that goes. "I'm playing more and more minutes. I played 60 minutes last week in Poland and I played a bit more against Fulham. I've just to keep playing, keep plugging away in training and I should see the results."
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West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa
BBC.co.uk
By Les Roopanarine
A thrilling last-gasp victory over 10-man Aston Villa hauled West Ham out of the Premier League drop zone for the first time since late September. Mark Noble converted a West Ham penalty on the stroke of half-time. Ashley Young had a spot kick saved by Robert Green just after the break, but levelled soon afterwards with a curling effort that was more cross than shot. Habib Beye saw red late in the game before substitute Zavon Hines prodded home from close range at the death. After a torrid start to the campaign, West Ham's first home victory in the Premier League this season - and first league win anywhere since the opening day - should do much to lighten the mood in E13. But Villa manager Martin O'Neill will be desperately disappointed by his side's failure to reap greater benefit from a first-half spell in which West Ham were twice forced to regroup in the wake of injuries at both ends of the pitch.
Defensive lapses have repeatedly proved costly for West Ham since James Collins' defection to Villa two months ago, a situation which manager Gianfranco Zola sought to address by drafting in Julien Faubert and Manuel Da Costa, for Jonathan Spector and James Tomkins respectively. But the Hammers were thrown into early disarray when left-back Herita Ilunga pulled up with a hamstring problem, ending Spector's demotion to the bench after just eight minutes. The resulting reshuffle seemed to unsettle West Ham and encourage Villa in roughly equal measure. Zola's side had started in auspicious fashion, creating an early shooting opportunity for Noble before Jack Collison's weaving run allowed Noble to test Brad Friedel with a meaty low drive. But Villa regained the initiative with a succession of corners, and gained further momentum when Carlton Cole - like Ilunga before him - pulled up clutching his hamstring, paving the way for the introduction of Hines.
Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor both forced Green to palm over, but Villa's dominance proved fruitless - and with the interval approaching they were made to pay for their profligacy. Scott Parker, who delivered an authoritative performance in midfield on his return from suspension, found Guillermo Franco just inside the final third, and the quick-thinking Mexico international released Hines. As Hines sprinted goal-wards with Beye in hot pursuit, the Villa defender thrust an arm into the youngster's back, upending Hines and prompting referee Steve Bennett to award a penalty. Noble made no mistake, smashing the ball high to Friedel's right, but Villa were unhappy with Bennett's decision and there were heated exchanges as the players headed for the tunnel, resulting in yellow cards for both Young and Collins. The drama continued after the break as Villa rapidly won a spot kick of their own.
Contesting a high ball with Collins on the edge of the area, Da Costa's heels clipped the back of his former team-mate's head, prompting Bennett to award what looked a harsh penalty. West Ham's protests had scarcely subsided when Young stepped up, firing low to Green's left only to watch in dismay as the England keeper extended a firm hand to claw the ball away. With England manager Fabio Capello watching from the stands, it was a moment to send Green's international stock rising and Young's hopes of a World Cup place plummeting. But football offers infinite chances for redemption, and three minutes later Young atoned for his error in spectacularly unpredictable fashion. The winger posed no obvious threat when he rounded Valon Behrami from a position deep on the left wing, but his curling cross swept unerringly into Green's top left-hand corner. West Ham responded vigorously, setting up a frantic finale which saw Beye dismissed for a second bookable offence after upending Collison. Beye was the second Villa right-back to see red in successive games following Carlos Cuellar's weekend dismissal at Everton, but there was worse to come for O'Neill's side.
With seconds of stoppage time remaining, West Ham mounted another desperate attack, Parker leading the charge into the Villa area. On an evening that will have given Capello plenty of food for thought, the England man wriggled through the Villa defence to find Hines, whose flicked shot eluded a cluster of static defenders before nestling in the back of Friedel's net. As the delirium of an unlikely victory gripped Upton Park, West Ham's financial woes and the recent news of Alan Curbishley's victory in his case against the club for constructive dismissal briefly seemed unimportant. For Villa, failure to win a game that might have lifted them into fourth place will have seemed anything but.
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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: I'm delighted with the win, but I expect to get three points more regularly. "It was a massive win, because the confidence it will give to the players will be big. "I looked at the video of the penalty, and it said it was a definite penalty."
Villa boss Martin O'Neill:I was disappointed by the result, but nothing surprises me in football. "We should have got something from the game, but we didn't. "I thought when we equalised we might take the game, so I'm particularly disappointed to lose all three points in the fashion that we did."
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Zola 'delighted' with three points
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
Gianfranco Zola has expressed his delight at West Ham's 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa. The Hammers boss, talking to the BBC was also effusive in his praise of his team following the early loss of both Herita Ilunga and Carlton Cole. "I know how much these players want to keep going, no matter what," he said. "Last year there was a point at a very important part of the season when we lost Scott Parker, Carlton Cole, Behrami and Jack Collison - but we kept getting points, and today was the same. "After losing those two players [Herita Ilunga and Carlton Cole], the players that were on the pitch doubled their effort and made it happen. "I'm delighted but I'm expecting to get three points more regularly. It was massive today because the confidence that these three points will give to the players will be big."
Zola also revealed that he felt the penalty given against Manuel Da Costa was harsh - although felt that the penalty awarded to his side was the correct decision. "I went to see the video and that says it was a penalty; I have no doubts," he confirmed. "I wanted to ask the referee why he didn't give a red card [to Habib Beye]; the only interpretation I can have is that the defender didn't want to concede a penalty there. But it was definitely a penalty. "I think it [Aston Villa's penalty] came out of the blue, I don't think anyone was expecting that. Again, I saw it on the video and it was unbelievable because Da Costa just went for the ball and he clearly won the ball - and on the run hit James Collins. He went for the ball so I think everybody was surprised - including their players."
Meanwhile Villa boss Martin ONeill refused to be drawn on the decision to award West Ham a penalty in first half injury time, stating only "I'm not going to get into that - I think it's there for all to see so I'm going to leave it."
However he did admit to being disappointed at losing a game which he felt was there for the taking. "I thought we were in the ascendancy in the first half and I thought the goal they scored just before half time disrupted us," he said. "We came fighting back in the second half, missed a penalty of our own, went on to equalise and I felt we might just take the game. "So naturally I'm very disappointed to drop all three points in the third minute of extra time. Nothing surprises me in football. We should have got something from the game - but we didn't."
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Cole out
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's worst fears were realised tonight when Carlton Cole limped out of tonight's Premier League clash with Aston Villa. The England striker, who has been in potent form this season pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain whilst chasing a ball into the far corner on the half-hour mark. He immediately called to the bench for assistance and was instantly replaced by Zavon Hines. Although it is too early to know the extent of the injury a hamstring strain could rule Cole out for up to six weeks - a potential disaster for the Hammers, for whom Cole has been the one shining light thus far this season. Cole's injury followed a similar strain sustained by Herita Ilunga in the opening minutes of tonight's game. We'll hopefully have more news on both players later tonight.
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Bruce, shut your mouth
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
Steve Clarke has slammed Sunderland boss Steve Bruce for his comments regarding Herita Ilunga. Bruce accused Ilunga of play-acting after being shoved to the ground by Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones during Saturday's 2-2 draw - an offence that saw Jones instantly dismissed by referee Andre Marriner. However Clarke hit back at Bruce, accusing him of hypocrisy and speaking out of turn. Talking to SkySports, Gianfranco Zola's right-hand man said: "I think it was wrong of Steve Bruce to comment on our players. We have a manager who doesn't speak about any other team's players so I think that was wrong. He said what he said; I find it incredible that the player who was the victim is the person everybody's talking about. "You'll have to tell me what Ilunga did wrong? Someone pushed him to the face, he's just recovered from a triple-fracture to the jaw, maybe thought there was a punch coming... I find it incredible that we're sitting here talking about our player who was the victim. This is completely wrong. "There was no overreaction. He was pushed. He's a big boy, Kenwyne Jones and Ilunga has to look after himself. I find it incredible that's it's got so much air time."
Clarke also hit out at Sunderland captain Lorik Cana who could have been sent off on at least two occasions during the game. "If you want to speak about pople from the opposition I also find it incredible that the Sunderland captain wasn't sent off," he said. ""He was booked for a terrible tackle on Mark Noble, then kicked him in the back. He was warned [again] for a ridiculous lunge into Noble three or four minutes later. "He then committed a two-footed tacle on Guillermo Franco in the centre circle which the referee knew he couldn't give as a free kick because he would have had to send him off. Then after that he persitently fouled - another two-footed lunge in the second half. "It's easy to talk about other team and other team's players. I don't agree with it but if people are going to have a go at our players then I'm going to have a go back."
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Hines the hero for Hammers
Hammers move out of bottom three with win
By James Riach Last updated: 4th November 2009
SSN
Man of the match: Zavon Hines. Coming on for Carlton Cole was always going to be difficult but he was a menace throughout and fully deserved his goal.
Goal of the match: Ashley Young's strike was probably a cross from the left, but it was spectacular nonetheless and Green was left floundering.
Save of the match: Robert Green made a superb stop in the first half after Stilyan Petrov rifled in the volley. With Fabio Capello in the stands, that will have surely done him some good.
Moment of the match: The penalty on the stroke of half time was a huge turning point. With the Hammers on the ropes, it sent them into the dressing room full of confidence.
Talking point: Bennett's penalty decisions. The first one was dubious with Beye getting a touch on the ball, but the second was even stranger - Da Costa clearly winning the ball.
Substitute Zavon Hines secured a dramatic 2-1 win for West Ham over 10-man Aston Villa at Upton Park. The young forward wriggled free in the penalty area in injury time after good work from Scott Parker and he lifted the ball past Brad Friedel to send Hammers fans into raptures. Villa finished the game with 10 men after Habib Beye saw red for two bookable offences - the second for a challenge on Jonathan Spector with his first yellow coming on the stroke of half time when he brought down Hines to concede a penalty.
Beye looked to have got a touch on the ball but referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot and Mark Noble finished emphatically into the top corner. Bennett awarded a second spot-kick in the second half, this time to Villa, but Ashley Young's effort was saved brilliantly by Robert Green. However, the winger equalised shortly afterwards after his cross looped all the way over Green and into the net. West Ham suffered an early injury blow when Herita Ilunga was forced out of the action in the sixth minute. He was replaced by Jonathan Spector. West Ham started brighter than their visitors but despite their early possession, failed to take advantage. Scott Parker tested Brad Friedel in the 11th minute with a 25-yard drive but the American goalkeeper was equal to the task and gathered safely. Green was alert enough to deal with a header from John Carew in the 17th minute but Villa were now beginning to exert some real pressure on the home defence. Green pulled off a magnificent save seconds later when West Ham half cleared a corner and Stiliyan Petrov volleyed the ball towards goal from fully 30 yards. The ball took a deflection on its way towards the top corner but somehow Green managed to get his fingertips in the way.
In the 22nd minute Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor brought another fine save from Green when he let fly with an angled drive from the left side of the penalty area. It got worse for the Hammers in the 31st minute when England international Carlton Cole collected an injury and had to be replaced by Zavon Hines. In the 38th minute Green had to be at his best again to keep out Carew. Villa's build-up was incisive as Emile Heskey dropped the ball on to Carew's feet on the edge of the six-yard box. The Villa striker turned to get his shot away but found Green alert to the danger at the near post. But West Ham were given a penalty in first-half injury time when Beye brought down Hines.Beye was booked and Noble sent his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give the home side the lead against the run of play. Villa replaced Emile Heskey with former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker at half-time.Reo-Coker's appearance was met with the expected derision from the Upton Park faithful. In the 49th minute referee Steve Bennett was at the centre of controversy when he awarded Villa penalty. Manuel Da Costa appeared to have headed the ball clear but Bennett clearly thought his feet had come into contact with James Collins.
None of the other Villa players appealed for the spot-kick but Bennett waved away West Ham's furious appeals. But justice was seen to be done for the home side when Young's penalty was superbly kept out by Green. The England goalkeeper dived low to his left to parry it to safety to the delight of home fans. But their euphoria was short-lived when Young atoned for his penalty miss with a superb equaliser in the 51st minute. There seemed little danger to the home defence when Young collected the ball on the left flank midway in the West Ham half. But the Villa winger sent a curling shot over the head of Green and into the top corner to put the visitors on level terms. Hines was the most impressive striker in the West Ham ranks and he went close in the 72nd minute with an angled drive that flew just over the bar. An angled drive from Hines brought a fine save from Friedel in the 80th minute as the home side pressed for a winner. Beye was then sent off in the 84th minute for a second bookable offence, a foul on Spector, to leave Villa down to 10 men for the remainder of the game. Green made a superb save to deny Villa a winner in injury time when he turned a 20-yard drive from Young around the post. But it was West Ham who grabbed the decider when Hines fired Parker's pass into the roof of the net.
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West Ham v Villa: Match Report
West Ham Till I Die
Well that will teach me to leave a minute early, won't it?
We must take a lot of positives out of this game, but must also bear in mind the negatives. It was devastating to lose Ilunga and Cole so early and we did well to regroup and recover, especially as we seemed to be playing the referee too.
We hit the ground running and played some sublime one touch quick passing football in the first five minutes. The rest of the first half was fairly even but we always looked dangerous going forward. Cole was having a stormer before he had to go off with a strain. The watching Fabio Capello must have been far more impressed than he would have been by the lump that calls itself Emile Heskey.
We should admit we were lucky with the penalty. I thought Hines was offside when he got the ball. But we'll take any bit of luck that comes our way. I didn't fancy Noble to do the business, even though he was having a good game. But do the business he most certainly did! A brilliant penalty, high into the roof of the net. Villa were unlucky not to equalise with a storming hald volley which Green saw very late but somehow managed to deflect over the crossbar. A storming save.
I thought we went in at half time a little lucky to be one up, but playing relatively well. Five minutes into the second half Villa were awarded a penalty for, well, I haven't got a clue. Was it because Da Costa climbed onto one of their player's backs? Buggered if I knew, and no one around me did either. But Green saved yet another penalty and we lived to survive a little longer. But only a few minutes later Ashley Young (by far their best player) hit what I assume was a Konchesky like hopeful cross, and it sailed in over Green's head. There was nothing he could do about it.
At that stage I thought we were done for, but not a bit of it. We raised our game and battled hard. Everyone contributed, and even those players who were having an average game lifted themselves. Villa never really got into it. I couldn't understand why Diamanti wasn't brought on later in the game, but a few minutes before the end Jimenez replaced the increasingly impressive Franco. I can't tell you anything about the Hines goal because I didn't see it! But he played very well, causing constant problems. He won the penalty and had three shots which went close.
The central defenders put in a strong performance. Upson and Da Costa looked good together. Indeed, I thought Da Costa had an absolutely superb game. His tackling and heading were excellent, and hsi distribution wasn't bad, either. On this form he will give James Tomkins a run for his money. I thought it was odd that Tomkins had been dropped, but on this form I can see why Da Costa was given a chance. Faubert was a but like the curate's egg. Good in parts. His crossing in the first half was woeful, but much better in the second half. He coped as well as anyone could with Ashley Young. There was one brilliant tackle right on the edge of the area. Jonathan Spector replaced Herita Ilunga and did OK, but always looks out of his depth going forward.
In midfield, Scott Parker took control of the game midway through the second half. He had a couple of hopeful long range shots, but also picked up yet another unnecessary booking. Mark Noble had his best game for some time, but his corners were still lacking any pace and any danger. But he ran his socks off and played some great balls through midfield. Behrami was perhaps a bit quieter than usual, but still put in a battling performance. I thought Jack Collison was also slightly off his game, even though he did some great things from time to time.
Up front Carlton Cole was brilliant until he had to go off after about 20 minutes. Guillermo Franco had his best game so far and is fantastic at holding the ball up and playing some very dangerous through balls. He combines well with Cole and I thought he played excellently. Zavon Hines is an excellent prospect. He's quick, dangerous and a constant threat. Defenders don't know what to do with him.
All in all, a brilliant night and hopefully the start of our season proper. This victory shoots us up to 16th and we are now unbeaten in three! If we win on Sunday we could go 12th. Heady heights indeed. So, my scores…
Green 7
Faubert 6
Spector 6
Da Costa 8
Upson 7
Noble 7
Parker 7
Collison 6
Behrami 6
Franco 7
Cole 8
Hines 9
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Why West Ham fans should blame their owners and not former boss Alan Curbishley for latest payout
By John Cross
The Mirror
Published 06:00 05/11/09
Alan Curbishley walked away from his legal battle with West Ham with a cool £2.2m. Some West Ham fans may argue, with the club in dire financial straits, that the last thing the Hammers needed was for one of their own to take some much needed dosh out of Upton Park. I have nothing but respect for Curbishley, which is why I understand the motives behind his action - even if it does mean West Ham might have to sell another player in January. In any walk of life, be it as a builder or milkman, you would stand up for your rights if you were wronged by your boss and forced out of your job by what you saw as unreasonable conditions. Curbishley has struck a blow for managers and their right to manage as they do best - and that, in turn, is good news for the fans. And seriously bad news for owners who fall on hard times. Don't be surprised if Curbs turns up in top flight football again very soon as his qualities and reputation have only been strengthened by this. West Ham fans shouldn't blame Curbs in any way - but the owners and club officials are the real villains on this one.
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Wonderkid Hines' last-gasp winner makes Aston Villa pay for Beye dismissal
Nov 5 2009 by Lisa Smith,
Birmingham Post
WEST HAM UNITED...2 ASTON VILLA...1
Aston Villa's march on the coveted fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League was halted in its tracks at West Ham United – Martin O'Neill's side hitting the buffers thanks to a disciplinary nightmare and the performance of Hammers' substitute and Academy wonderkid Zavon Hines.
The relative unknown Hines came on for former Villa loan star Carlton Cole just half an hour into this end-to-end clash at Upton Park and broke Villa's hearts with his late, late show.
His goal in the final minute of added time came seconds after Villa right-back Habib Beye's sending-off – for a second bookable offence and a foul on Mark Noble – in a game which had been looking a deadlock following a goal apiece in each half. And it was, in the end, a deserved winner for Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola after a nightmare season during which his side has propped up the Barclays Premier League table thanks to an enforced firesale in the summer.
Villa had been slow out of the traps in this their fourth consecutive away match of the month and were punished just before half-time when stand-in right back Habib Beye, in for the suspended Carlos Cuellar, was harshly judged to have fouled Hines who had come on on the half-hour for the injured Cole.
The Villa players protested furiously as referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot and for the second time in as many games Villa were a goal down right on the stroke of half time, again due to a dubious decision just like the goal they conceded at Everton. Noble, who missed the most important penalty of his life for England Under 21s in the European Championships in Malmo, Sweden, in the summer, made no mistake this time, sending Brad Friedel the wrong way to put the hosts 1-0 up.
Now Villa had to do as they did at Merseyside at the weekend and stage a fightback and they had their chance immediately after the break with defender Manuel Da Costa judged to have climbed on James Collins.
Ashley Young stepped up to the spot confidently enough but was thwarted by England number two Robert Green – the Villa player's right-footed strike easily being blocked by the body of the Hammers' keeper.
Villa boss O'Neill has recently been forced to defend his claims of last season that Young was up there with Lionel Messi as one of the world's best with fans questioning the former Watford midfielder's performances this campaign.
But the displaced England star is never better than when under pressure and he answered his critics with the sweetest of goals just minutes later, curling the ball from some 25 yards out – surely it will be a goal of the season contender.
His 52nd-minute equaliser looked to have thrown Villa a lifeline but again the home side sprang back into action and even the arrival of Nigel Reo-Coker to a cacophony of boos by the home fans could not inspire Villa further.
Reo-Coker, judged by West Ham fans to be the master of their decline three seasons ago, came on for Emile Heskey but was unable to get a foot in the game.
Instead it was West Ham's unknown entity Hines who went on to grab the headlines.
With four minutes of additional time, Zola's brave charges threw everything including caution to the wind.
And it paid off when the youngster found the back of the net with an excellent strike.
The result is a major stumbling block for O'Neill but worse still is the loss of influential players through suspension.
The hapless Beye was given his marching orders five minutes from time while skipper Stiliyan Petrov will also now miss Saturday's visit by Bolton Wanderers.
The player picked up a booking for a foul on Scott Parker. Having been handed the yellow card mistakenly shown to Stephen Warnock at Everton, he is now on five cards and faces a one-match suspension.
Scorers: Noble (pen, 45) 1-0, A Young (52) 1-1, Hines (90) 2-1.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga (Spector, 8), Behrami, Noble, Collison, Parker, Cole (Hines, 31), Franco (Jiminez, 87). Substitutes: Kurucz, Tomkins, Diamanti, Stanislas,
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, A Young, Petrov, Sidwell, Heskey (Reo-Coker, h/t) Agbonlahor, Carew. Substitutes: Guzan, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph, Shorey.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Bookings: Villa – Young (dissent) Petrov, (foul).
Sending-off: Villa – Beye (second bookable offence).
Attendance: 30,024
Villa man of the match: Ashley Young – defied the critics to strike the goal of the season.
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West Ham 2 Aston Villa 1 (Home)
Posted by Billy Blagg
ESPN
There were three minutes of a four minute period of stoppage time on the clock when young Zavon Hines swivelled and hit home a precious goal to give West Ham a 2-1 win against Aston Villa. The crowd erupted and I, for one, can't remember the last time I've been hugged by so many fat, bald blokes (?). It was late - very late - but I didn't think it was anything less than West Ham deserved for a battling display that was full of conviction, tenacity and good football. In fact, this was a cracking match with both sides showing good form.
It was Villa who made the early running though, after the Hammers injury jinx had seen Ilunga limp off after six minutes, to be replaced by Jonathan Spector. West Ham had forced Villa back in the opening minutes and Parker has tested Friedel with a 25 yard shot, but Villa mounted a succession of corners that Young found he could test the Hammers defence with and the crowd were getting quiet. However, that all changed when Robert Green made a superb fingertip save from Petrov in the 20th minute and another impressive stop from Agbonlahor just after, the crowd rising to applaud the England stopper.
Then the Hammers cruel luck seemed to strike again when Cole limped off after half an hour and, though Zavon Hines came on to loud cheers, there was a feeling that it left the Hammers forward line a little lightweight. However, the young player's mazy runs started to cause Villa's big centre-back pairing problems and former Hammer James Collins, who was given a loud cheer before the game, had to be at his best to control the dimunitive Hammer.
Green again saved well from Carew after good work by Heskey and the announcement of three minutes of injury time seemed to do little to dispel the feeling that the half would remain goalless. Nobody told Hines this though and the forward burst into the area and was judged to have been brought down by Beye. Villa protested and I was told later the decision was poor, but I genuinely couldn't see from the other end of the pitch - just call me Arsene! - but the ref was adamant, booking Beye and recording Noble's name in the book when the Hammers midfielder dispatched the penalty into the roof of the net.
The second half started as the first ended with controversy as referee Steve Bennett awarded Villa a penalty for ...well, frankly i'm not sure. I can't help but wonder if my theory - see Saturday's match review - doesn't hold to penalty's too. Whatever; justice was done when Rob Green threw himself to his left to parry Young's penalty and keep his side's lead intact. Unfortunately, the back slapping ended too soon after though, when Young made amends by hitting a powerful shot from the left-wing that flew over Green's head into the net. Young celebrated what looked a superb goal but, though it may have been the angle I was at, it did seem as if Green judged it to be a cross that swerved in the air.
It was now though that West Ham were at their most impressive. Beset by negative thoughts of relegation struggle and bad luck, they could have let their heads drop but they came back strongly with Hines causing all sorts of problems chasing and harrying the Villa defence. Villa's threat seemed to fade and the Hammers, spurred on by the crowd, looked for the winner.When Beye was red-carded for a second bookable offence for a foul on Spector, some fans might be forgiven for wondering if this was a benefit or not in view of Saturday's result.
Even so, it seemed the game would end in a draw until the start of four minutes of injury time when, first, Green again saved well from Young turning a shot round the post and then, in ninety third minute when Hines netted with a pass from the excellent Scott Parker to send Upton Park wild. There was barely time to restart and the Hammers had their first home win of the season, three points from the game-in-hand and a position outside the bottom three.
Don't say I didn't tell you!
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Joy for Gianfranco Zola as West Ham climb out of relegation zone
West Ham United 2 Aston Villa 1
The Times
Tom Dart
Three points, two injuries, one hero: this was a mixed night for West Ham United that ended in pure joy. When injuries to Carlton Cole and Hérita Ilunga were followed by a freakish equaliser for Aston Villa, the scene seemed set for yet another promising performance to end in another disappointing result.
Instead, Gianfranco Zola's side dug in when they could have caved in and unearthed a new match-winner in Zavon Hines, the 20-year-old who had gone on for Cole in the first half. He clinched the points in stoppage time. The victory was West Ham's first in the Premier League since the season's opening day and lifted them out of the relegation zone, while the leg muscle injuries suffered by Cole and Ilunga are not thought to be serious.
"The team is playing better and it could well be the turning point. We gave a demonstration of our desire, our belief, and that's what we wanted," Zola, the West Ham manager, said. "There's a long way to go and the team is alive and ready to fight."
This was Hines's eleventh game of the campaign. The quick forward scored twice on his debut for England Under-21 last month and took his first league goal for West Ham last night with a veteran's composure, evading the attentions of three defenders and coolly prodding the ball past Brad Friedel from inside the six-yard box.
It was a special moment for the player and for a club still digesting Alan Curbishley's successful claim for constructive dismissal; a club fretting that the closer they get to January, the more likely it is that players will be sold to lessen the financial pressure. Being compelled to hand more prominent roles to promising youngsters such as Hines may not be so bad.
"He's already been playing and coming on, he's played against Liverpool and done brilliantly, he's played in other games and done very well, so I think he's not a surprise any more," Zola said. "He has shown a lot of character, a lot of personality. I would have been very delighted with a finish like that. The boy deserves the spotlight."
Hines was also involved in the first goal. Looking borderline offside, he ran on to Scott Parker's through ball and fell under Habib Beye's challenge. The defender seemed to get the ball, but his tackle from behind was risky. Steve Bennett, the referee, booked Beye and gave a penalty that was thumped high into the net by Mark Noble in first-half stoppage time.
James Collins, who was sold to Villa on transfer deadline day — West Ham have not kept a clean sheet since — was booked for arguing with Bennett at half-time. The official managed to even matters on the dubious penalty front early in the second half by deciding that Manuel da Costa had clambered too forcefully over Collins as the West Ham defender headed the ball clear.
Ashley Young took it and missed, his tame effort saved by the outstanding Green low to his left. But West Ham's relief was short-lived: their luck was to turn again in the 52nd minute.
Cutting in from the left touchline near the corner of the area, Young curled the ball over Green's head into the far top corner. Either it was a mis-hit cross or the former Watford winger is the new Zinedine Zidane. "If he did mean that, I'm going to shake his hand because it was a great goal," Zola said.
After that, West Ham were admirably spirited. Beye was sent off with five minutes left, earning his second yellow card for pulling back Jonathan Spector, a substitute. It was the second soft dismissal for a Villa defender in successive games after Carlos Cuéllar saw red against Everton last Saturday.
Pre-match, Martin O'Neill lamented the decision and called for the ability to appeal yellow cards. Afterwards, he was subdued. "I'm not going to talk about it – pointless exercise. I'm disappointed obviously to lose players in that fashion," the Villa manager said.
You could understand O'Neill's gloom. Stiliyan Petrov will be suspended for the game at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday after picking up his fifth booking of the season, and Emile Heskey was withdrawn at half-time with a back injury.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green — J Faubert, M da Costa, M Upson, H Ilunga (sub: J Spector, 8min) — V Behrami, S Parker, M Noble, J Collison — C Cole (sub: Z Hines, 31), G Franco (sub: L Jiménez, 88). Substitutes not used: P Kurucz, J Tomkins, A Diamanti, J Stanislas. Booked: Parker, Franco.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): B Friedel — H Beye, J Collins, R Dunne, S Warnock — A Young, S Sidwell, S Petrov, E Heskey (sub: N Reo-Coker, 46) — G Agbonlahor, J Carew (sub: L Young, 86). Substitutes not used: B Guzan, M Albrighton, N Delfouneso, F Delph, N Shorey. Booked: Young, Collins, Beye, Petrov. Sent off: Beye.
Referee: S Bennett.
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HINES WINS IT AT THE DEATH FOR HAMMERS
WEST HAM v ASTON VILLA
News Of The World
04/11/2009
ZAVON HINES was West Ham's hero with an injury-time winner that exposed Aston Villa's top-four pretensions in a frenetic game at Upton Park. A breathless encounter was settled by the impressive young striker after Ashley Young, atoning for a penalty miss, cancelled out Mark Noble's first-half opener from the spot. Habib Beye was sent off with six minutes to go and the 10 men were undone when Hines struck to lift Gianfranco Zola's side out of the bottom three. Herita Ilunga and Carlton Cole were both forced off injured but the Hammers started well enough with Brad Friedel kept on his toes by a Mark Noble effort before Rob Green had to show his England class at the other end to touch away a deflected Stiliyan Petrov 30-yarder. Green also saved superbly from Gabriel Agbonlahor and the striker flashed a header over from a Young cross before former Norwich keeper Green snuffed out a John Carew attempt at his near post. In first-half injury time, the shot-stopper's hard work was repaid when Beye brought down Hines inside the box and Noble found the roof of the net to open the scoring against the run of play. Villa got a penalty of their own four minutes into the second half when Steve Bennett controversially felt Manuel Da Costa fouled ex-Hammer James Collins. Young's spot-kick was superbly saved by the outstanding Green to ensure justice was done. Young showed what he is made of by soon making amends, curling a great shot past Green from the left flank to level the scores soon afterwards. The drama increased as the final whistle approached with Hines going close twice as the home side searched for a morale-boosting winner. When Beye was sent off for a foul on Jonathan Spector, his second bookable offence, it did not stop Young firing in a goalbound shot that Green again did superbly to palm away. And, with time almost up, Hines collected a Scott Parker pass to lash in the winner and spark jubilant scenes amongst the home fans.
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West Ham United 2 Aston Villa 1: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between West Ham United and Aston Villa at Upton Park on Wednesday Nov 4 2009.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt at Upton Park
Published: 11:58PM GMT 04 Nov 2009
A roller-coaster game. A roller-coaster season. And utter pandemonium at the end. If West Ham carry on like this, nerves will be shredded by Christmas. A claret and blue derby, a host of storylines and a gripping climax with a 93rd-minute winning goal – a cool dink by Zanon Hines – pulling West Ham United out of the drink and up to 16th place in the Premier League. Sport on television It secured their first win since the opening day of the season and it came from a fearless 19-year-old Hines, who ignored the attentions of three Aston Villa defenders to thread his shot beyond Brad Friedel. It left Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, slumped over on the touchline, holding his knees in disbelief. By then his team had, for the second successive match, been reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of right-back Habib Beye. The decision to send Beye off for a second booking brought referee Steve Bennett into focus. The official had an evening to forget. He was, at best, quixotic and there was a suspicion that he wrongly awarded one penalty to Villa to even out a questionable penalty call that went West Ham's way in the first-half. Afterwards O'Neill said: "I'm not going to talk about it. There's no point. It's pointless." And so, by the end, were Villa, partly because of that penalty award – given when Hines, running on to Guillermo Franco's astute pass, was challenged by Beye.Beye was booked and Mark Noble calmly swept the penalty high into the net. Two Villa players were cautioned for protesting but West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola saw it differently and also had a different view of a spot-kick that was awarded to the visitors soon after the interval.Manuel Da Costa, jumping unfeasibly high to head a corner clear, landed on James Collins and Bennett again pointed to the spot. Was he evening matters up? Maybe. "I saw one penalty," Zola said. "The second one I can understand. I don't think anyone could believe their eyes."
Irrespective of whether it was a penalty or not, Robert Green dived low to his right to prevent Ashley Young's spot-kick creeping in – a save almost as good as his first-half tip over from Stiliyan Petrov's deflected half-volley. "He made a couple of saves that were saves from the No 1 goalkeeper for his national team," Zola stated. But there will be questions about Green's positioning when he was later caught out by Young's curling right-foot shot that arced around him. That made the score 1-1. By then West Ham had also suffered the loss of two players to hamstring injuries. Herita Ilunga was the first to limp off followed by Carlton Cole, with the latter's departure having possible implications for England with Fabio Capello yet to name his squad for the Brazil friendly on Sunday. Villa also lost Emile Heskey at half-time after he complained about a back spasm. O'Neill seemed to believe that it was not a significant problem. "Unbelievable," was Zola's verdict on the injuries and, for a while, they certainly stalled his team's momentum with Villa creating opportunities for Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew. Yet West Ham rallied and Hines had no fewer than four pots at Friedel's goal. But with seconds remaining he collected Scott Parker's pass and scored his first Premier League goal.
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West Ham boss Zola: Green is England's No1!
05.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola hailed Robert Green after last night's 2-1 win over Aston Villa. Green showed his pedigree to watching England manager Fabio Capello with a superb display highlighted by world-class saves from Ashley Young and Stiliyan Petrov. "It was a brilliant save [from the penalty]. He has made a couple of saves that were saves from the No1 national-team player. I was delighted for him. He deserved a day like that," said Zola.
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Dixon delighted with playing return at West Ham
05.11.09 | tribalfootball.com
Former Tottenham trainee Terry Dixon is delighted with his playing return at West Ham United. After registering his first goal for the club in a friendly against Arka Gdynia in Poland last week, Dixon followed up with an encouraging 84-minute run-out at Motspur Park. "In the first half against Fulham I felt that it was my best game since I'm back," Dixon told WHUTV. "We've got another game against Arsenal next week so we'll see how that goes. "I'm playing more and more minutes. I played 60 minutes last week in Poland and I played a bit more against Fulham. I've just to keep playing, keep plugging away in training and I should see the results."
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