WHUFC.com
The manager was understandably pleased with the rearguard resilience away to
Brighton on Monday
24.10.2011
Sam Allardyce paid tribute to the defensive resilience of his West Ham
United after a dogged display was enough to earn a 1-0 win at Brighton &
Hove Albion. Monday night's hosts have been imperious at their brand new
Amex Stadium and the manager knew the team would have to cope with a
confident side roared on by a crowd still riding the crest of a promotion
wave, similar to the scenario in the disappointing 1-0 reverse at
Southampton the previous week. As it was Kevin Nolan's solitary strike on 17
minutes settled the contest, even if the injury-hit Hammers missing the
creativity of David Bentley, Matt Taylor and Henri Lansbury had to give away
much in terms of possession. They certainly needed the likes of the recalled
Mark Noble and Jack Collison to work overtime in midfield. The hard-fought
three points move the Hammers back to second in the standings, with back to
back home matches against Leicester City and Bristol City to come on
Saturday and Tuesday where they can hopefully turn on the style as on many
previous occasions this campaign.
"It was an outstanding victory for us at a very difficult place to play,"
Big Sam said. "They have a great crowd and atmosphere, so it is a great
three points from us. Automatic promotion is generally determined on how
many one-nil wins you can get and it is the same when you are trying to get
in the higher end of the Premier League. "You want to be fluent, score and
be open like we have been in the previous games of course - we have scored
four goals in four different games remember - but today we were a solid,
hard-working unit of lads determined to try and bounce back from the
disappointment at Southampton."
Bounce back they did to make it four wins and two draws in seven on the
road, promotion form that has helped propel the team back to the promotion
positions. The manager was just as satisfied as he had been with the
free-flowing football that saw his team cruise past Blackpool in their last
home outing. "Our task today was to capitalise on the opposition and how
they play, first and foremost. If we could get the first goal, which we did,
it was about defending properly. From that point of view, we have done it.
"I would have to say it was very difficult throughout the game particularly
the second half as Brighton were pushing us so hard but our defensive unity
became so good that in the end what chances did they have? "They didn't have
the chances that went with their possession and territorial advantage today.
In the end, our breakout play wasn't good enough but Julien Faubert probably
had the best chance of the second half and Freddie Sears had a couple of
half-chances and didn't capitalise."
As well as his inspirational skipper Nolan, the manager paid tribute to
Manuel Almunia, whose initial loan from Arsenal could be up after Saturday's
home game with Leicester. He suggested that Robert Green was making good
progress from his knee surgery on 30 September but, regardless, Almunia had
impressed to date.
"Manny has done a fantastic job for us. He is a nice lad and he has been
pleased to play first-team football. We are very grateful he has joined us."
The visit of the Foxes will have further spice with the news they parted
company with Sven-Goran Eriksson earlier on Monday. Big Sam is well aware of
the fact a change in manager can often lead to an immediate reaction from
the players left behind, but is hopeful his team can once again meet the
challenge head on.
"I hope it doesn't affect them in a good way. I hope it affects them in a
negative way of course. It could go either way for us on Saturday. They are
a good group of players that have been brought to the club. They will be
difficult to play against. "[Eriksson's departure] shows the desperation to
get the Holy Grail. The Championship is full of teams that have played in
the Premier League and want to get back to it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brighton 0 - 1 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Kevin Nolan scored the only goal to move West Ham up to second in the
Championship table and extend Brighton's winless run to seven games. Gus
Poyet's Brighton controlled the match at the Amex Stadium. But Nolan took
advantage of Liam Bridcutt's error to score from distance to put the
visitors ahead. The Seagulls, who saw Gary Dicker leave the pitch with a
serious ankle injury in the second half, pushed for a winner but could not
find a way through. Sam Allardyce's team are now three points adrift of
leaders Southampton, leaving Brighton with three points from a possible 21.
Nolan took only 16 minutes to deprive former Newcastle team-mate Steve
Harper, who joined Brighton on a one-month loan deal on Monday, of a clean
sheet. The West Ham captain robbed Bridcutt in midfield and beat Harper with
a curling effort from 25 yards to give the visitors the lead with his fourth
goal of the season. But other than a Nolan header that flew over the bar,
Brighton were dominant for the rest of the opening period, with Craig Noone
going close from distance and Craig Mackail-Smith forcing a smart save from
Manuel Almunia. The pressure continued after half-time without Almunia being
tested, while John Carew's powerful shot on the turn was denied by Harper at
the other end. Almunia also had to be alert and brave to beat Mackail-Smith
to Dicker's throughball. Dicker left the field on a stretcher in the closing
stages after receiving treatment for about five minutes for his injury. Will
Hoskins lifted a shot over the bar from just outside the area as Brighton
desperately chased an equaliser. But the Hammers came through eight minutes
of injury time to hold on for a fourth away win, and fourth clean sheet, in
seven away matches this season.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet: "It was one mistake. We played the kind of
football that if you make a mistake it will be expensive. "But I'm proud and
Brighton is back to its best, playing against a Premiership team and not
letting them touch the ball for I don't know how long. "It was one-way
traffic. The whole game was the same, someone wants to play and go forward
and someone wants to defend but unfortunately it didn't work with the
result. Gary Dicker has an ankle problem but we will know more tomorrow."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was a disappointment to lose at
Southampton, with them moving five points clear, but now we're back into
second spot.
"Brighton made it hugely difficult but our defensive resilience, not just
from the back four, was outstanding and it's a fantastic three points. "Our
defensive play was so good that it's hard to think of what chances Brighton
had. They didn't have the chances to go with their possession."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Kevin Nolan's first half strike was enough to earn West Ham all three points
at the AmEx Community Stadium tonight. The West Ham captain took advantage
of an error by Brighton defender Lewis Dunk to score the game's only goal
after 17 minutes - a win that sends the Hammers back into the automatic
promotion slots.
However there was little else for the vocal travelling support to cheer on a
night when the Hammers provided an efficient performance, yet one devoid of
anything more than fleeting moments of either creativity or flair. If
anything, West Ham's overall performance only served to reinforce lingering
doubts regarding Sam Allaryce's tactical stance which once again saw United
reverting to a succession of long, hopeful balls from the back as the game
wore on.
That, however, was in stark contrast to a bright opening half-hour in which
the Hammers were the better side, with Nolan's 17th-minute goal manifesting
itself as the fruit of their labour. Having stolen the ball from centre-half
Dunk - who lost his footing in a critical position 30 yards from goal - West
Ham's captain took aim and fired an opportunistic effort beyond former
Newcastle team mate Harper. Initial impressions suggested the on-loan
debutant could perhaps have done better with Nolan's swerving drive.
The home side, who despite a bright start to the season went into tonight's
fixture with the second worst recent form of the entire Championship, barely
had a sniff of Manuel Almunia's goal until the final few minutes of the
first half during which Bridcott, Noone and former Hammers target Craig
Mickail-Smith all fashioned efforts on goal.
It was from the latter that Rob Green's temporary replacement produced his
most notable contribution of the match, using his fingertips to divert the
former Peterborough striker's goal-bound volley wide of his left-hand post
in added-on time at the end of the first half.
At that stage, despite Albion's spirited end to the half, West Ham looked
well in control of their destiny. But that was all to change after the break
as the home side slowly but surely began to take a stranglehold on the game.
With the Hammers retreating further and further as the half wore on - and
the passing game that so pleased in the opening 15-20 minutes replaced by
route one football, the kind so loathed by Allardyce's detractors - the
Seagulls began to fashion chance after chance, without really threatening
Almunia's goal.
A series of long range efforts and strikes from the perimeter of the penalty
box caused the 34-year-old Spaniard to react but never with any great
concern, thanks mainly to the West Ham back four's persistance and dogged
determination. At one stage during the second half it was quite possibly
the case that there were more penalty appeals than efforts on goal for a
while as the home side were denied a series of claims - none of which were
anything more than frivolous. Indeed, the game's clearest penalty shout
occured at the opposite end of the pitch when substitute Freddie Sears was
shoved over in the box moments after Julian Faubert's half-hearted appeal
for a spot kick was ignored by referee Kevin Friend. Had the Frenchman not
appealed, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Friend would have
taken more notice of the subsequent incident involving Sears, who was a
positive influence during his forty minutes or so on the field.
A serious injury to Brighton's Gary Dicker, who fell awkwardly with 78
minutes on the clock, saw fourth official Gavin Ward announce eight minutes
added-on time as the match drew to the end of normal time. No less laboured
that the preceding 90 minutes, Hammers fans were treated to the sight of
their team playing keep-ball in order to preserve their one-goal cushion for
the final ten minutes. When Mark Noble was ruled offside from his own
corner, it really did take the biscuit.
Despite the anti-football exhibited in those final minutes - anathema to
those old-school Hammers fans weaned on a diet of more enterprising fodder -
it was effective enough to secure a vital win and one that takes Sam
Allardyce's side back into second place in the Championship. Whilst it may
not be pretty at times, Allardyce's football is clearly proving to be
effective - and come next May if West Ham are to be promoted, nights like
tonight will soon be forgotten. It's West Ham - but not as we know it.
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 West Ham Utd 1: match facts
West Ham Utd: Almunia, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye, Reid, Diop (Sears 54),
Noble, Nolan, Faubert (Baldock 90), Collison, Carew (Piquionne 65).
Subs not used: Boffin, Moncur.
Booked: Faubert (20).
Goals: Nolan (17).
Brighton & Hove Albion: Harper, Jara, Greer, Dunk, Painter, Bridcutt, Dicker
(Harley 82), Sparrow (Buckley 71), Noone, Barnes (Hoskins 59),
Mackail-Smith.
Subs not used: Ankergren, Calderon.
Booked: Jara (13), Greer (36), Dunk (56), Bridcutt (77).
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Assistants: Simon Barrow and Nick Hobbis.
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward.
Attendance: 20,686.
KUMB.com Man of the Match: Mark Noble.
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Nine out of ten fans say 'no' to Diouf
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham supporters have voted overwhelmingly against signing serial spitter
El Hadji Diouf. The Senegalese striker could still end up a West Ham player
if new Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has his way - although that will be
against the wishes of the vast majority of supporters voting in a KUMB.com
poll. At the time of writing, just 11 per cent of readers to cast their vote
have backed Allardyce's moves to sign the former Bolton, Blackburn and
Rangers forward, who almost sparked off a riot when spitting at West Ham
fans during a Premiership match with Liverpool in 2002. More than four in
five polled voted against signing Diouf, whilst currently six per cent of
voters remain undecided. To have your say, visit the poll thread on the KUMB
forum.
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Big Sam to decide on Almunia
Hammers to assess Green's recovery from knee injury
Last Updated: October 24, 2011 11:46am
SSN
Sam Allardyce will assess the progress of Robert Green's recovery from
injury before deciding whether to extend Manuel Almunia's loan at West Ham
United. Green recently underwent knee surgery and was ruled out for six
weeks, prompting Allardyce to bring in Almunia on loan from Arsenal. Almunia
has started three Championship games for the Hammers and is again expected
to start in Monday night's game at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Spaniard's
loan spell at Upton Park expires at the end of the month and Allardyce is
unsure about retaining the 34-year-old. Allardyce confirmed Green is
progressing well from his operation and the Hammers boss will not rush into
a decision regarding Almunia. "Rob is recovering well," said Allardyce. "We
will see how he is doing before we decide on whether to extend Manuel's stay
from Arsenal."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce lauds tactics
West Ham boss frustrated by side's poor passing against Brighton
By Soriebah Kajue. Last Updated: October 24, 2011 10:49pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce praised the tactical acumen of his West Ham side as they
managed to nullify the Brighton threat and claim a 1-0 win. Skipper Kevin
Nolan seized onto a loose pass before thumping a scorching shot past on-loan
goalkeeper Steve Harper after 16 minutes to move his side up to second.
Brighton had a lot of possession but never really managed to find a way past
the wall of claret and blue. But, for Hammers chief Allardyce, his side
carried out their game plan to perfection. He told Sky Sports HD1: "It's a
difficult place to play, [they have a] fantastic crowd, enjoying the
promotion and the stadium and make life very difficult for teams.
Tactics
"So if you don't get your tactics right, you will end up falling foul to
their play at home, so tactically we were excellent tonight. "I wouldn't say
that we were the best on the ball, particularly in the second half. "But
tactically we sussed that out in the early stages. We would press them from
the front and hopefully we would press them into an error. "Jack Collison
got the first ball in the first minute of the game but didn't do anything
with it and Nolan got the second one." Having got their noses in front, the
Hammers were starved of the ball as Gus Poyet's slick passing side dominated
possession.
Sussed
At Championship level, it is rare to see a side with such clearly defined
footballing principles. However, Brighton were unable to breach West Ham,
who defended solidly to claim a valuable away win. "We sussed them out
tactically and we capitalised on that by getting the goal, and the first
half was much of a muchness from there on," Allardyce added. "In the second
half, we knew they would be throwing more men forward and we knew it was
about defending correctly. And then trying to use the ball a lot better than
we did. "But I have to say having just watched the game back with my lads,
there isn't a clear-cut chance apart from Manny's (Manuel Almunia) save in
the first half that Brighton have created. "So tactically very, very sound;
very, very solid. But in possession, I wish we would have been a lot
better."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nolan nets as Hammers go second
Last updated: 24th October 2011
SSN
Kevin Nolan fired a first-half winner for West Ham as the Hammers climbed up
to second in the Championship with a 1-0 victory at Brighton. The Irons'
skipper crashed in his fourth goal of the season to lift his side to within
three points of leaders Southampton. Brighton's early-season pace-setters
have, by contrast, tumbled down the table after their winless run was
extended to seven games. The Seagulls could count themselves unfortunate,
though, having created a host of chances to cancel out Nolan's 17th-minute
strike. And they were architects of their own downfall after a bad mistake
from Liam Bridcutt gifted West Ham what proved to be the winner.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet likes his team to play the ball out from the
back, but not when they end up handing it on a plate to a player of Nolan's
ability on the edge of the area. Bridcutt's heavy touch allowed the
midfielder to nick the ball off him, stride forward and lash his shot past
his old Newcastle team-mate Steve Harper.
Veteran keeper Harper had only joined Brighton on loan a few hours earlier
and obviously did not have time to get his bearings, standing far too close
to his near post and offering Nolan the rest of the goal to aim at.
Yet in a game littered with errors on a slippery pitch, Brighton had already
squandered a chance to go ahead when Winston Reid's slip allowed Craig
Mackail-Smith a run at goal, but the Scotland striker's angled shot flew
wide.
As the first half wore on Brighton grew in confidence, and West Ham were
just about clinging on to their lead by the time the half-time whistle blew.
Ashley Barnes headed Matt Sparrow's cross wide, John Carew blocked a
goalbound shot from Bridcutt and Craig Noone's drive hit the side-netting.
And in stoppage time West Ham's on-loan Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia had to
pull off a superb diving save to keep out Mackail-Smith's stinging volley.
After the interval Harper did well to deny Carew after a smart turn and
shot, and substitute Freddie Sears fired wide. At the other end Bridcutt's
long-range effort did not trouble Almunia, although Mackail-Smith did when
he slid into the Spaniard feet first trying to chase a long ball. Almunia
was able to continue and Sam Allardyce's side had to see out eight minutes
of stoppage time, following a nasty injury to Brighton's Gary Dicker.
Allardyce's direct style of play may not have endeared him to some of the
West Ham faithful, but a quick glance at the league table surely will.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brighton 0 West Ham 1
By MIKE DONOVAN
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM moved into second spot in the Championship thanks to their Captain
Fantastic. Kevin Nolan's 17th-minute strike was enough to sink Gus Poyet's
side.
And to make matters worse for Brighton, they lost midfielder Gary Dicker to
suspected knee ligament damage. The winner was a gift for the Hammers. Liam
Bridcutt dithered in possession deep inside his own half and Nolan did not
waste the chance to pounce. With new loan keeper Steve Harper caught out of
position, the midfielder beat his former Newcastle team-mate with a
right-foot shot. All four of Nolan's goals this season have come away from
Upton Park. The method of the victory may not have been the Academy way —
but it was certainly effective. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said: "From a
defensive point of view, it showed how far we've come. "There's always the
need to cope against the opposition when you're out of possession.
"Tactically, we sussed out at an early stage that if we put pressure on them
from the front we could force them into an error. We capitalised on that by
getting the goal. "It was very difficult throughout the game, particularly
the second half, because Brighton were pushing us so hard. "But,
realistically, what chances did they have? "Automatic promotion normally
depends on how many 1-0 wins you can get. "That's what takes you where you
want to be. "Tonight was a hard-working unit of lads, determined to bounce
back from the defeat at Southampton last week."
Brighton have taken just three points from a possible 21 — after starting
the season with 16 out of 18. But Poyet insisted his side had turned a
corner following this performance. And he had no plans to stop playing from
the back despite Bridcutt's costly error. Poyet said: "I will not change my
philosophy. "We made a mistake because of me. Maybe the fans want us to kick
it long and win 1-0. "I've got no problem with that, I'll go home. "Don't
blame the players. I decide to play the way that we play and to pass the
ball in the areas that we pass it. "Of course I don't tell them to lose it
or to give it to them. But when you play from the back you've got risk.
"If you kick it long and you put it in the other half, there's no risk.
"And, for me, winning without risk... there's no glory. And I go for the
glory. Simple. "It's the first time I have lost a game and I'm happy because
West Ham came to Brighton to stop Brighton. How nice is that? "It was
one-way traffic. Brighton are back. "We're brave. Braver than anyone in this
division. The problem is we're not winning!" Poyet's men certainly gave the
visitors a run for their money — Craig Mackail-Smith forced Manuel Almunia
to claw one first-half volley away. The Spanish keeper's loan spell from
Arsenal finishes at the end of the month. Big Sam may extend that if Robert
Green continues to struggle with a knee injury. But, for all their
possession, Brighton may regret not testing Almunia more.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brighton 0-1 West Ham: Hammers go second
Published 21:48 24/10/11 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Kevin Nolan's fourth goal of the season shot West Ham into second as
Brighton's tumble down the table continued. Nolan took advantage of some
dithering by former Chelsea midfielder Liam Bridcutt, stole the ball off him
and to race clear and shoot smartly past Steve Harper, making his first
start of an emergency loan spell at the Amex Arena. It was easy to see why
Brighton boss Gus Poyet was up and down like a man possessed from the start
of this fiercely-contested encounter. His 12th-placed side went into the
game without a win in six Championship fixtures stretching back to September
10. A far cry from the start of the campaign when they went six games
without defeat. Poyet was clearly determined to get back to those days by
making the Amex as intimidating as possible for the Hammers who were
targeting second place. The home fans played their part, lashing referee
Kevin Friend at every turn in a bid to bully him into giving every decision
their way. It failed.
Friend kept control of this contest impressively and Hammers held their
nerve to withstand a succession of Brighton forays – including a shot
narrowly past the post from Craig Mackail-Smith – to launch a decisive
strike of their own. The Seagulls kept going, with Craig Noone ghosting past
three players to spear a shot just wide three minutes before the break.
Mackail-Smith had a fine volley saved superbly by Manuel Almunia – on loan
from Arsenal – to maintain the Hammers' advantage.
The Spaniard threw himself magnificently to his left to get just enough
one-handed power on the ball to ensure Ashley Barnes, closing in for the
rebound, was unable to get it under control.
West Ham were holding firm – but Brighton were refusing to give up. Poyet's
men returned from the break to attack the Hammers goal with nenewed vigour,
but Hammers continued to stand their ground. A frustrating night for the
home side was compounded late on when midfielder Gary Dicker was stretchered
off after landing horribly on his knee. For Brighton, there would be no
consolation as West Ham displayed a steel that will serve them well in their
promotion battle.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kevin Nolan preys on Brighton nerves to drive West Ham to second place
Guardian report
guardian.co.uk, Monday 24 October 2011 21.51 BST
West Ham United have reasserted their credentials on the south coast. A
little under a week since they surrendered an unbeaten away record at the
Championship leaders, Southampton, Sam Allardyce's team heaved themselves
back into the automatic promotion places with a narrow victory at Brighton's
expense. Defeat at St Mary's now feels like little more than a blip.
This was an ugly if efficient victory played out to a record crowd in this
sparkling new arena. The visitors pilfered their lead early on and then
stifled Albion's threat for long periods while rarely threatening to add to
their own plunder.
There is a strength to the Londoners that will serve them well in this
division, the spine of their team a range of man-mountains. Allardyce
thrilled at the sight of the league table. "Our defensive unity was so good,
what real chances did Brighton have?" he asked.
In truth there were few but while those in the away end celebrated a timely
victory, there was admiration too at the manner in which Brighton stuck to
slick footballing principles. Any glimpse of West Ham's own refined style
may have to wait until they have ascended back into the top flight.
Kevin Nolan's winning goal here was smartly taken. Liam Bridcutt was robbed
of possession as Brighton sought to work angles at the back and the
visitors' captain converted from 20 yards; but the rest of this was
workmanlike. Albion's football dazzled in the drizzle, even if they were
blunt when it mattered.
At some stage, they will ally zest with a victory again. This has been the
most prolonged dry spell of Gus Poyet's tenure, their winless streak now
extended to eight matches and the extent of Gary Dicker's worrying ankle
injury to be assessed on Tuesday. But the Uruguayan is not for changing.
"It's the first time I've lost and been happy," he declared. "West Ham came
here to stop Brighton play. If you'd told me that in November 2009 [when he
was appointed], I wouldn't have thought it possible.
"Slowly we will get better, if it's in six months or two years. If not, we
will get better players in. But we will keep playing like that. If you
change and start kicking it long, you are wrong. You keep playing.
"If a team sits back against us, we'll attack them. If they give us respect,
we are happy. We are braver than other teams in this division, but we are
not winning. We would like to win some football matches along the way, too,"
Poyet said.
That process of improvement has already been ushered in by recent results,
with Gonzalo Jara drafted in until January from West Bromwich Albion - "a
player who's on a different level," said Poyet – and Steve Harper, loaned
from Newcastle for a month, starting here.
They will need time to adjust, but both Brighton and they will benefit.
Craig Mackail-Smith, such a busy presence, and Craig Noone caused West Ham
consternation, the former forcing Manuel Almunia to make a smart save from a
volley, but the clear-cut chances would not come. That luck will surely
turn.
The Londoners, in contrast, seem content to grind. This was an impressive
result chiselled from the home side's monopoly of possession, and the
energetic Mark Noble and Freddie Sears buzzed effectively on the break. For
now, pragmatism is offering some sense of satisfaction. "Automatic promotion
is generally determined by how many 1-0 wins you can achieve," said
Allardyce.
Their solidity should keep them near the summit and they have injured
players of pedigree to return to the ranks. Yet the sense of satisfaction
that prevailed at the final whistle here was not all emanating from the
visitors. Poyet, too, could claim his team remain on track.
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Brighton and Hove Albion 0 West Ham 1: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Brighton and Hove
Albion and West Ham United on Monday 24th October 2011.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jonathan Liew11:23PM BST 24 Oct 2011 3
The art of league success is in winning ugly, so the maxim goes; and it is
difficult to imagine a more hideous triumph than West Ham's last night. But
it is they who left with the points, and it is they who sit second in the
Championship after this textbook smash-and-grab. Brighton certainly felt
grabbed and smashed by the end. Despite a record crowd at their
still-sparkling stadium and the pre-match appearance of Fatboy Slim, they
remain firmly stuck in mid-table. Again, they showed flashes of promise;
again, they failed to convert them into clear chances. Manager Gus Poyet is
still learning the trick of adding substance to what is unquestionably a
very stylish team. If Sam Allardyce's West Ham have shown at times this
season that they are capable of getting the ball down and passing it, then
here was a demonstration that the tactic of bombardment is still very much
in the Big Sam manual. The game was a scrap, a brawl, from start to finish.
Playing just one striker in John Carew, and two bruising enforcers in Mark
Noble and Papa Bouba Diop in front of the defence, West Ham set out, as many
teams have done in recent weeks, to throw Brighton off their pretty passing
game. That meant beefy shoulder barges, and spicy sliding tackles that
gathered momentum on the greasy surface.
This was football with a snarl. Allardyce wore a permanent grimace on the
touchline, launching verbal missiles at the heroically uncomplaining fourth
official Gavin Ward. When Kevin Nolan scored, he ran straight into one of
the home corners of the ground and haughtily gestured at them. Guileless it
may have been, but against a Brighton side already in a tentative mood after
seven winless games, it proved a highly effective tactic. Brighton cleaved
defiantly to their style, even though it has seen them drop from the top of
the table to the middle. But their instinct for passing their way out of
trouble took just 17 minutes to lead them up the wrong path.
Collecting Lewis Dunk's pass in defence, Liam Bridcutt's touch was just a
little heavy. In a flash, Nolan was rifling through Bridcutt's pockets,
gathering the ball and spotting that goalkeeper Steve Harper — signed on
loan from Newcastle only yesterday morning — was slightly out of position.
Nolan's shot was hard, well-placed and unstoppable. It took Brighton quite a
while to find their feet after that. But they strengthened as the half went
on, Craig Mackail-Smith enjoying their best opportunity just before the
break. Gonzalo Jara — the other loan signing making his Brighton debut —
clipped a diagonal ball that was teed up by Ashley Barnes, and
Mackail-Smith's fierce volley was well beaten away by Manuel Almunia.
Brighton emerged for the second half with a far greater sense of purpose,
far more inclined to jostle for the ball. The noise swelled as Brighton had
at least two handball claims turned down. Sensing the change in the weather,
Allardyce adjusted, bringing on the roving Freddie Sears for the resolute
Bouba Diop. The change almost paid immediate dividends, Sears making a
thrilling dart deep into Brighton territory and drawing the foul from Dunk.
But just as both sides were steeling themselves for a grandstand finish, a
suspected broken leg to Brighton's Gary Dicker stopped the game in its
tracks. Dicker landed awkwardly on his right knee, and after a full five
minutes of treatment on the pitch, was carried off. Neither side could carve
out any meaningful opportunities in the eight minutes added on at the end of
the match, and West Ham's south-coast raid ultimately proved successful. For
Brighton, yet another lesson that this division is not as easy as it looks.
Brighton (4-1-2-3): Harper; Jara, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt; Dicker
(Harley 83), Sparrow (Buckley 71); Barnes (Hoskins 59), Mackail-Smith,
Noone.
Subs Ankergren (g), Calderón.
Booked: Jara, Greer, Dunk, Bridcutt.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Almunia; O'Brien, Faye, Reid, McCartney; Bouba Diop
(Sears 54), Noble; Faubert (Baldock 90), Nolan, Collison; Carew (Piquionne
65).
Subs Boffin (g), Moncur.
Booked: Faubert.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).
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Nolan pounces on defence error to put Hammers second
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 West Ham United 1
The Independent
By Andy Sims
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Sam Allardyce felt West Ham put a marker down for their automatic promotion
bid last night with a 1-0 win at Brighton. The Hammers moved up to second in
the Championship after they held on to the lead given to them by Kevin
Nolan's 17th-minute goal.
It was by no means a classic in front of the television cameras as
Allardyce's side served up a masterclass in winning ugly. But the Upton Park
manager is making no apologies for putting substance before style as he
attempts to guide West Ham back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
"Our task was to capitalise on the opposition and the way they play, and if
we got the first goal to defend it properly," he said. "It was very
difficult towards the end as Brighton pushed us hard but our defensive unity
was so good, in the end what chances did they have? It's an outstanding
victory for us at a very difficult place to come and play.
"It's a great three points and it determines automatic promotion, generally,
how many 1-0 wins you can get. That's what takes you where you want to go."
Brighton, by contrast, are intent on playing the sort of beautiful game West
Ham were once renowned for. But, ironically, it was Gus Poyet's insistence
on sticking to their patient passing, even on the edge of their own penalty
area, that ultimately proved their downfall. Liam Bridcutt's touch was too
heavy, allowing Nolan to nick the ball and lash his fourth goal of the
season past his old Newcastle team-mate Steve Harper, making his Albion
debut. But manager Poyet took responsibility for imposing his style on his
players, and vowed never to resort to the long-ball game.
"Don't blame the players," he said. "I set them up to play that way. Of
course I don't tell them to lose it or to give it to them. But when you play
from the back you've got risk. If you kick it long, there's no risk."
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-4-2): Harper; Greer, Dunk, Painter, Jara Reyes;
Sparrow (Buckley, 71), Dicker (Harley, 82), Bridcutt, Noone; Mackail-Smith,
Barnes (Hoskins, 59). Substitutes not used: Ankergren (gk), Calderon.
West Ham United (4-4-2): Almunia; O'Brien, Reid, Faye, McCartney; Faubert
(Baldock, 90), Diop (Sears, 54), Noble, Collison; Nolan, Carew (Piquionne,
65). Substitutes not used: Boffin (gk), Moncur.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).
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Poyet: Blame me for defeat
11:30pm Monday 24th October 2011
By Brian Owen »
The Argus
Gus Poyet insisted he was to blame for Albion's 1-0 home defeat to West Ham.
Kevin Nolan fired home to secure a smash-and-grab win for the well-organised
Hammers, who gave keeper Manuel Almunia great protection as Albion enjoyed
copious amounts of possession and territory in the second period. Nolan
robbed Liam Bridcutt before hitting the winner but boss Poyet said: "We lost
because of me. "Don't blame any player. Blame me because I set up the way we
play and I tell them to do what they do. "One day it could be a defender,
one day it could be the goalkeeper, one day it could be a midfielder. but it
is my decision, not theirs. "Slowly we are going to get better. If not, we
are going to get better players." Albion lost Gary Dicker with an ankle
injury in the second half and expect a clearer indication tomorrow as to how
badly the midfielder is hurt. Poyet said: "We don't know yet. It was that
kind of bad twist that we need to wait and check and get X-rays."
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