A Freddie Sears goal five minutes after coming on as a second-half
substitute won it for West Ham United
15.03.2008
West Ham United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
It was a dream come true for debutant Freddie Sears as he stepped from the
bench to give West Ham United a dramatic late victory that moved them to
within three points of Blackburn Rovers.
Echoing former claret and blue scoring legend Tony Cottee, who also marked
his Boleyn Ground bow with a goal 25 years ago, the 18-year-old striker
headed in within five minutes of his arrival to etch his name in East End
folklore. Although Roque Santa Cruz had given Rovers an early lead, Dean
Ashton's 39th-minute equaliser laid the foundations for Sears to strike and
land the win that ended an unwelcome run of three straight defeats.
Alan Curbishley made just one enforced switch following Sunday's reverse at
White Hart Lane as Nolberto Solano came in for the suspended Luis Boa Morte,
while the on-fire Sears and fellow youngster James Tomkins joined Mark
Noble, John Pantsil and Richard Wright on the bench. Without a win at the
Boleyn Ground on their previous dozen league and cup visits, Mark Hughes'
side were looking for their first victory on East End soil since April 1994,
when they finished as Premiership runners-up.
The Welshman responded to his team's disappointing 1-1 draw against Fulham
last weekend by making a trio of changes as Brett Emerton, David Dunn and
Jason Roberts each returned in place of Tugay and substitutes Benni McCarthy
and Zurab Khizanishvilli. Following an unwelcome run of three successive
defeats, tenth-placed West Ham United desperately needed to get back on
track against a Rovers' side, two rungs and six points above them in the
Premier League table.
But it was Blackburn who started like an express train as Morten Gamst
Pedersen's early, near post corner whipped across goal, before Santa Cruz
nodded Brett Emerton's deep cross wide and Christopher Samba deposited a
close-range header on to the roof of the net. In reply, Solano had curled a
fourth-minute free-kick into the danger-zone that only needed a touch from
the stretching, unmarked Ashton, while Freddie Ljungberg's awkward low cross
was smothered by the relieved Brad Friedel.
With David Bentley orchestrating the Rovers midfield, though, it was the
visitors, who looked most likely to take the lead. Sure enough, when Scott
Parker's 19th-minute pass was intercepted by Bentley, the England
midfielder's inch-perfect cross-field pass landed at the feet of the
breaking Pedersen. The Norwegian's left-wing cross to the edge of the
six-yard box was met by the unmarked Santa Cruz, who sent a diving header
beyond the helplessly exposed Robert Green.
The Paraguay striker's 16th goal of the season galvanised Curbishley's men
into action as Parker, looking to atone, sent a 20-yarder sailing wide,
before Ashton met Bobby Zamora's cross with a jack-knife header that the
flying Friedel tipped aside. The busy Bentley was booked by referee Martin
Atkinson for a foul on Parker and after the hard-working Solano saw his
25-yard free-kick steered over by the Rovers' 'keeper, Dunn received a
yellow card for a challenge on the Peruvian playmaker.
By now, Blackburn were not having it all their own way against a West Ham
United side visibly finding some belief and, when Green launched the
consequent 39th-minute free-kick upfield, Zamora's nod-on into the Rovers'
penalty area was met by Ashton, who spun Samba before lifting an angled
12-yarder over the advancing Friedel, to claim his seventh goal of the
campaign.
Emerton was replaced by Khizanishvilli for the start of the second half that
saw the flustered Friedel defy the laws of science to slice an attempted
clearance behind him for a corner before Zamora drilled a low, angled
15-yarder across the face of goal and beyond the far post. The pace and
power of Bentley and Pedersen down the flanks still remained a threat,
though, and on the hour-mark the Norwegian skied high over from 12 yards to
the relief of the claret and blue fans amongst the near sell-out crowd of
34,006, who then saw Ashton's intelligent, intuitive, low curler claimed at
full-stretch by Friedel.
With 20 minutes remaining, Matt Derbyshire replaced Dunn and shortly
afterwards Curbishley respnded by introducing Noble and debutant Sears as
the tiring Parker and Solano departed to a rapturous East End entrance. The
teenager quickly marked his arrival with an energetic charge into Steven
Reid, who had earlier been cautioned for a foul on Ljungberg and then Sears
turned up the volume yet further by forcing a corner.
Then with just ten minutes left, the supporting Sears lifted the roof off
the Boleyn Ground when he raced on to Ashton's brilliant backpass and,
although, Friedel parried his first shot the grounded 'keeper could only
look on in horror as the rookie West Ham United striker sent the loose ball
into the net with a diving header that gave his side a welcome win.
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney, Solano (Sears
75), Mullins, Parker (Noble 75), Ljungberg (Pantsil 87), Ashton, Zamora
Subs: Wright, Tomkins
Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, Emerton (Khizanishvili 46), Ooijer,
Samba,Warnock, Pedersen, Reid, Dunn (Derbyshire 70), Bentley, Roberts, Santa
Cruz
Subs: Brown, Mokoena, McCarthy
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Freddie on Freddie - WHUFC
Freddie Ljungberg had plenty of praise for the way Freddie Sears rose to the
occasion against Blackburn
16.03.2008
Freddie Ljungberg has paid tribute to Freddie Sears after his show-stopping
goalscoring debut at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
"He is a West Ham boy and to score on his debut is great," the Sweden
midfielder said. "I am really, really pleased for him. Everybody is, to be
honest. If he had missed that first chance, it may have got to him and his
confidence may have gone down but he kept going and got the rebound, which
was great. Hopefully his confidence will be really high. It is a dream come
true."
When asked about the youngster's ability and the extra dimension he looks
set to bring to the West Ham United attack, Ljungberg answered with a
knowing smile. "He is a small player - he has to be able to play with his
feet!" On Saturday, as demonstrated by the all-important winner five minutes
from time, the 18-year-old was fearless in linking up with his more
illustrious team-mates in front of an expectant full house that was craving
an instant impact.
For Ljungberg, it is all about convincing young players to believe in
themselves and he accepts the responsibility as one of the club's senior
professionals of passing on his experience. "Of course I talk to the young
players, that is what has to be done. If you want to be in the team, you
have to deserve to be in the team and if you do play, you should know that
you are good enough. You should have no fear, otherwise there is no point. I
think he showed that!"
After three successive defeats, Ljungberg paid tribute to the character
shown by the whole side - not just in bouncing back from that run but also
from coping with adversity within the game itself. "It was nice to win after
what happened in the last couple of weeks," he said. "We were one-nil down
as well and still showed some character. We scored some goals. Blackburn are
a big physical team and that makes it hard sometimes but we got the ball
down and we could play some football."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'A debut to dream about' - WHUFC
The manager could not hide his happiness for young Freddie Sears after his
day to remember
15.03.2008
Alan Curbishley was thrilled for Freddie Sears after the 18-year-old's day
to remember with the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
The youngster has been in prolific form with 25 goals in 24 games at youth
and reserve-team level this season and made an instant impact upon stepping
up to the first team. After arriving as a substitute in the 74th minute, he
grabbed the winner just over five minutes later - following up with a neat
header after Brad Friedel had saved his shot from Dean Ashton's assist. "I
am delighted with young Freddie Sears," said the manager." He has got a
debut to dream about."
While the rest of his team-mates were congratulating the 18-year-old and
signing a shirt and a ball as a memento, Curbishley said smiling Sears was
"walking around the dressing room just beaming", adding "he ain't said
anything". He continued: "We are delighted. It gives everybody a lift. I
think it gave the crowd a lift when they saw a homegrown player come on."
Curbishley has a talented crop of youngsters at his disposal, having already
given opportunities to Kyel Reid and Jack Collison this season, while James
Tomkins was also on the bench against Blackburn. The day was all about
Sears, though. "He has been here for forever apparently," said Curbishley
when asked about his young charge. "Obviously I have seen a bit of him last
year. He has come on a bundle since the pre-season and has been training
with the first team on a regular basis.
"About three weeks ago we did one on ones and two against twos [in training]
and Matty Upson and people like that said he did ever so well. He tormented
them a little bit. As I said in the last week, he has been around us for two
months - the same as Tomkins, the same as Collison." The manager added that
he was always determined to give youngsters a run, saying "everyone has to
be given a chance and he has come in and done great".
With Bobby Zamora struggling before kick-off with blisters suffered in last
week's game at Tottenham Hotspur, Curbishley revealed there was a chance
Sears could have started. As it was Zamora, who had painkilling injections
before the match and at half-time, came through to play after passing a
test, while Carlton Cole failed one having picked up a dead leg in training.
Ashton, Zamora and Sears were all on the pitch for the thrilling finale with
the manager "wanting to shake it up a bit" but also keep Zamora on for his
energy and height against such an imposing side.
Curbishley said there was little reaction when he told the talented but
modest teenager that he was on the bench. "I pulled him in and said to him
you are going to be sub. I didn't get much of a response! I said who have
you got here? He said his mum and dad. I said 'they will probably be singing
for you after five minutes if it ain't going great!' The boys have just
signed a shirt for him and a ball for him and someone said the drinks are on
him but we are not too sure if he can get in a pub yet!"
Regarding the winner that threatened to raise the roof off the Boleyn Ground
when it went into the net, the manager added: "What pleased me about the
goal was that he has been played in and the keeper saved it and he didn't
stop. He carried on for that split-second. If you stop, then it is lost. But
he has hit the shot and Brad Friedel has saved it but he has popped up and
carried on ... I was always thinking about getting him on. I wanted to get
something a little bit different."
The manager was also asked about his own experience of scoring for the first
time as a young West Ham United player. His tongue in cheek answer reflected
the high spirits of all, after a day that could be the first of many good
days for Sears. "I was 17, it was my second game and it was great. I just
remember that day vividly because John Lyall asked Frank Lampard to take me
home because he didn't want me going back on the bus. That's how I got here.
It has all changed now. Freddie will probably jump in a Hummer or something
?."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Team spirit to the fore - WHUFC
While a certain No40 will get plenty of attention, the manager was happy
with the collective display
15.03.2008
Alan Curbishley paid tribute to his whole squad including young central
defenders Jonathan Spector and Anton Ferdinand for helping achieve "a big
result for us" on Saturday.
West Ham United had to come back from Roque Santa Cruz's goal to win it,
thanks to Ashton's deft equaliser and a memorable late header from Freddie
Sears. While the youngster is rightly getting the plaudits - click here for
more - the whole team showed determination to bounce back from a difficult
fortnight. "It is a big result for us ... we have all had our say on it but
you have got to go out and perform ... I had players out there today -
Spector playing at the back - who have all had to dig in again."
While Sears is only 18, Curbishley had 22-year-old Spector and 23-year-old
Ferdinand at the heart of his defence. Both impressed and there was little
either could do about Blackburn's effort. The manager said: "The first goal
that we conceded probably summed us up a little bit. Scotty Parker is
running with it, trying too hard and Lucas Neill has run up there to join
him. Suddenly we lose it and we are hit on the break. It was a great
response from them." Ferdinand had been a doubt for the game with a groin
problem but, with Matthew Upson "never going to come through" to play, the
young defender was determined to figure.
Curbishley said: "I said to the players before the game, you have got to
take criticism. There is only one way to take it and sometimes you are not
going to agree with it. Some of what we have been getting is right and there
are no complaints about that. But I did call for people to perhaps see the
bigger picture that in the summer we brought players in and players left.
[Some of the new signings] have hardly played a game. It has been difficult
in terms of that but it has made the squad that much stronger."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 2-1 Blackburn - BBC
By Saj Chowdhury
Substitute Freddie Sears' late goal on his first-team debut handed West Ham
their first win in three games at the expense of Blackburn at Upton Park.
Rovers took the lead when Roque Santa Cruz converted Morten Gamst Pedersen's
cross with a diving header. England striker Dean Ashton equalised just
before half-time when he slotted in from 12 yards out. And with just 10
minutes remaining, 18-year-old Sears nodded in after Brad Friedel parried
his initial shot. It was a dream start to his career for Sears, but it was
far from a dream start for the Hammers who had gone into their home match
having lost the previous three by a 4-0 scoreline. Their fortunes took
another turn for the worse early in the match when Santa Cruz added a lovely
finish to Pedersen's ball following a lightning counterattack. Prior to the
goal, the Hammers looked the more likely to score with Ashton guilty of
fluffing up his lines on a couple of occasions. His first chance came from a
wicked Nolberto Solano free-kick that he failed to connect with inside the
six-yard area and the second from Bobby Zamora's right-wing delivery that
was headed wide from close range. However five minutes before half-time
Ashton cannily flicked the ball round a static Christopher Samba, before
sidefooting his shot past the American Friedel from 10 yards. Upton Park has
not been a happy hunting ground for Blackburn this century - they have lost
their last seven matches at the Boleyn Ground. The visitors had a great
chance to end their hoodoo but Pedersen fired wildly over after finding
himself free, eight yards out. He and his team were left to rue the miss
when club-prodigy Sears, who had been on for about five minutes, met
Ashton's square ball and fired in a shot that Friedel could only push back
into the path of the grateful striker. His celebration was almost as good as
the youngster crossed his arms to symbolise the Hammers' badge.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Freddie Sears: "He's got a debut to
dream about. Someone said the drinks are on him, but I'm not sure if he can
get in the pub. "He's been here forever. I saw a bit of him last year, and
he's come on a bundle since pre-season and has been training with the first
team. Everyone has to be given a chance. "With the three 4-0s we needed to
get a result. I wasn't oblivious to that."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes: "We allowed West Ham back into a game we felt
quite comfortable in. "We didn't seem in danger, without reaching a decent
level ourselves. Maybe there wasn't enough drive in our game to see it out
and win it. "We seem to be the right team at the right time for West Ham -
we've done it again for them."
West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney, Solano (Sears 75),
Parker (Noble 75), Mullins, Ljungberg (Pantsil 88), Ashton, Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Tomkins.
Booked: Ferdinand.
Goals: Ashton 39, Sears 81.
Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton (Khizanishvili 46), Samba, Ooijer, Warnock,
Bentley, Reid, Dunn (Derbyshire 71), Pedersen (McCarthy 90), Roberts, Santa
Cruz.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena.
Booked: Bentley, Dunn, Reid.
Goals: Santa Cruz 19.
Att: 34,006
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 2-1 Blackburn: Sears is debut hero - Soccernet
Dean Ashton (39) Roque Santa Cruz (19)
Fred Sears (81)
Match Information
Stadium: Upton Park, England
Attendance: 34,006
Match Time: 15:00 UK
Freddie Sears was the hero on his debut as West Ham ended their run of three
successive 4-0 defeats with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Upton Park.
The teenager came off the bench with a quarter of an hour left and made his
mark six minutes later, finishing with a diving header after Brad Friedel
had saved his first shot. Roque Santa Cruz had given Rovers the lead in the
20th minute, but Dean Ashton levelled before the break. With both sides
looking for European qualification, the game opened up a little in the
second half, but the lack of goalmouth action explained why finishing in
mid-table looks likely.
It took the introduction of a fearless youngster to change the game, with
the Romford lad immediately sparking excitement from home fans every time he
received the ball. Avoiding defeat also lifts some of the pressure on Alan
Curbishley. Two years ago he was an England candidate, a year ago he
masterminded West Ham's amazing escape from relegation, but this week the
speculation about his position led to a vote of confidence from the board.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham had all scored four against Curbishley's
men in their previous three games and the early signs against Rovers were
not good. Morten Gamst Pedersen drove in a dangerous early corner that
fizzed across Robert Green's goal, and the winger also headed wide after a
sweeping move down the right when David Bentley and Brett Emerton combined.
Christopher Samba should have given Mark Hughes' men the lead in the 18th
minute when Bentley's corner found him in the six-yard area and the defender
put his header over the crossbar. But they were not to be denied with their
next attack. Bentley spread the ball wide to Pedersen, who had plenty of
room down the left flank. Santa Cruz was unmarked in the penalty area and
headed past Green when Pedersen found him for his 16th of the season. The
goal woke West Ham up and they tried for an immediate reply, with Friedel
needed to tip an Ashton header around the post when Bobby Zamora found his
strike partner with a cross from the left. Friedel also tipped over the
crossbar from Nolberto Solano's 30-yard free-kick before the break. Although
Bentley, who was booked for a trip on Scott Parker, threatened with a
dipping cross and a speculative shot, the hosts were rewarded for their
efforts six minute before the interval. Green helped set up the equaliser
with a long free-kick. Zamora flicked on with his head, Ashton spun around
Samba before lofting his finish over Friedel and in. In desperate need of a
goal to kick-start his season, Ashton had scored the winner against
Blackburn before Christmas but only netted twice before beating Friedel
again. It gave him the lift he needed and before the break he was flicking
on headers and causing Rovers problems with his mobility. Hughes took off
Emerton at the break for Zurab Khizanishvili, with the second half starting
like the first - Pedersen driving over a dangerous free-kick. Friedel was
almost embarrassed at the other end when he sliced a backpass, but he had
less trouble with a shot from Zamora that drifted wide. Green was not tested
either when Pedersen fired wildly over from close range when Jason Roberts'
low cross found its way to him just before the hour mark. Friedel was forced
into action when Ashton tried his luck from long range and the American was
down well to stop the striker's effort. David Dunn, who had been booked
earlier, was taken off for Matt Derbyshire as Blackburn changed shape.
Curbishley then brought on Sears for his debut, with the home fans giving
the exciting youngster a huge welcome. His goal came nine minutes from the
end after Ashton had backheeled. Friedel saved Sears' first shot, but he
slid in to head home the rebound.
Alan Curbishley saluted Freddie Sears' dream debut as the teenager ended
West Ham's miserable run of results by scoring the winner against Blackburn
at Upton Park. Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham won 4-0 in the Hammers'
previous three games - but a repeat was ruled out when Dean Ashton cancelled
out Roque Santa Cruz's opener. With a point each looking likely, West Ham
boss Curbishley threw on Sears with a quarter-of-an hour left - and his goal
came six minutes later. Ashton back-heeled in his direction; Brad Friedel
parried - but Sears followed in with his head to slide in the winner. 'The
goalkeeper saved it, but Freddie didn't stop - he carried on,' said
Curbishley. 'If you stop then it's lost.' Curbishley tried a formation in
training for the Rovers game, with Sears starting in attack after the
teenager had impressed against first-team defenders. 'He tormented them in
training,' Curbishley admitted. Sears thought he was going to start and
invited his mother and father to watch the Barclays Premier League clash -
but Bobby Zamora took a pain-killing injection for his blisters and was
given the nod instead. But the teenager's goal moved West Ham closer to the
pack chasing European qualification, and also reminded Curbishley of a goal
early in his career. 'I scored in my second game and was taken home because
John Lyall didn't want me going back on the bus,' he remembered. 'It's all
change now, and Freddie will probably jump in a 'Hummer'. 'He's got a debut
to dream about. Someone said the drinks are on him, but I'm not sure if he
can get in the pub. 'He's been here forever. I saw a bit of him last year,
and he's come on a bundle since pre-season and has been training with the
first team. Everyone has to be given a chance.' The win also relieved some
of the pressure on Curbishley, after the trio of heavy defeats led to the
West Ham board giving him a public vote of confidence. 'It's a big result
for us, with everything in the last week,' said Curbishley, who had Anton
Ferdinand playing despite a groin problem. 'Now we are not far behind
Manchester City. 'With the three 4-0s, the pressure and the speculation, we
needed to get a result. I wasn't oblivious to that. 'But there is a bigger
picture in terms of where the team was a year ago. I said to the players
that you have to take criticism, whether it's right or wrong. 'Some of it is
right - but I called for the bigger picture.'
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes felt his side were disappointing in the second
half. 'We allowed West Ham back into a game we felt quite comfortable in,'
he said. 'We didn't seem in danger, without reaching a decent level
ourselves. 'Maybe there wasn't enough drive in our game to see it out and
win it. As the away side, you know the home team will put you under pressure
- and they capitalised on poor play from us. 'We seem to be the right team
at the right time for West Ham - we've done it again for them.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbishley: delighted for Freddie - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 15th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley shares his thoughts in a post-match interview* that was
understandably dominated by a certain 18-year-old striker ..
It's been a tough week. Three 4-0 defeats is unprecedented really; what
could go wrong was going wrong and we needed to get a result just to bounce
back. We've got that but we've also got the added bonus of a couple of young
boys getting their first taste around the first team - on the bench and with
Freddie Sears coming on and scoring. So we can all go home a little bit
happier than we did last week.
Freddie's a young boy who's been at the club a long while. We didn't see too
much of him last year but Kevin Keen, who's worked with him said to me
pre-season that he should perhaps be training with us.
With the injuries, we've brought quite a few of the young boys with us to
first team matches over the last couple of months and he's been one of them.
He's been showing in training that he's worth his chance; we trained a
couple of weeks ago where he did really well and a couple of the senior
players were commenting afterwards how well he'd done. I just felt it would
be nice to have him around us, and it's opened up for him.
He's scored his goal and the great thing about it was that Brad Friedel's
made the save but he's carried on and finished it. I think the adrenelin
took over there and I think his legs got shorter and shorter as the game
went on! I think perhaps he was a little overwhelmed, because that can
happen.
But we're delighted for him and for some of the other young boys that have
been with us. Jack Collison got on at Arsenal over Christmas and James
Tomkins who's played for the first team before was on the bench - then
there's Mark Noble and Anton Ferdinand, so it's nice to have home-grown
talent around you.
I think the fans were all desperate for him to get on. He was actually in
the starting line-up yesterday; Bobby Zamora has been suffering with
blisters, as strange as it may seem, and he didn't train yesterday. So
Freddie trained, he was playing up front with Dean. Bobby came in today, he
had a pain-killing injection and said he could play so that put Freddie back
on the bench. He was a bit disappointed I think but grabbed his chance.
There's big games, vital games throughout the season and with the week we've
had, for everybody, myself, we've all taken a bit of stick and a lot of
criticism - and that isn't going to go away unless you're winning games.
We've now got to go off to Everton next week and try and win there because
if we don't I suppose it will all come back again.
I'm realistic enough, and I asked the club to be realistic this week in
terms of what we've done this season with all the problems we've had. If
anyone cares to look at the back of the programme just to see how many
players we've got missing week in, week out, we've done great.
I did say that some of these young boys will get a chance in the coming
weeks - and we'll see how it goes.
* Interview courtesy of the BBC's Match of the Day. KUMB.com is still banned
from attending post-match press conferences at the Boleyn Ground - see here
for more info.
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Title hopes dashed - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 15th March 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's under-18s' title hopes suffered a major blow yesterday
afternoon after Tony Carr's side went down 2-0 to Bristol Rovers. The
Hammers, playing one of their eight inter-group fixtures suffered their
first defeat of 2008 against a side who are sitting comfortably mid-table in
the Premier Academy League Group B. Already hampered by the loss of main
striker Freddie Sears who is on first team duty this weekend, Carr's side
were forced to play the entire second half with only ten men after Josh
Payne was sent off for serious foul play. By that time they were already a
goal behind after City had taken the lead shortly before Payne's dismissal.
The second arrived in the second half as the Hammers were hit on the counter
attack chasing the equaliser.
Tony Carr, talking to whufc.com said: "It was a bad day all round. It was
the first defeat for a long time but inevitably good runs come to an end.
"We had to play the game without a recognised striker - we had other players
unavailable and Freddie Sears is with the first-team squad, although that is
fantastic for the Academy."
West Ham remain top of the Group A table despite the defeat, although Fulham
- who now have two games in hand - can go level on points with Carr's side
should they beat Group B leaders Aston Villa this morning. League favourites
Arsenal - currently five points behind the Hammers but with four games in
hand - face a trip to Reading, currently fourth in Group B. West Ham United:
Street, O'Neill (Okus 60), Brookes, N'Gala, Miller, Harvey (Montano 75),
Kearns (Fry 46), Payne, Spence, Stanislas, Edgar
Premier Academy Group A - top
1. West Ham Utd P25 Pts45 GD+18
2. Fulham P23 Pts42 GD+10
3. Arsenal P21 Pts40 GD+30
4. Southampton P24 Pts40 GD-6
5. Portsmouth P22 Pts37 GD-1
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West Ham United 2 Blackburn Rovers 1: Sears follows in Cottee's footsteps to
boost Hammers - The Independent
By Paul Newman at Upton Park
Sunday, 16 March 2008
They love a home-grown hero down in the East End. Freddie Sears is the
latest product of one of English football's most celebrated academies and
the 18-year-old striker from Romford in Essex yesterday emulated a feat
performed 25 years ago by Tony Cottee, with whom he has already been
compared, by scoring on his Upton Park debut.
Sears, an England Under-19 international who has been scoring freely for
West Ham's youth and reserve teams, came off the bench after 75 minutes and
immediately injected life into a match that had been dying on its feet after
a promising first half.
Within five minutes he had the home crowd in raptures when he raced on to
Dean Ashton's clever back-heel to beat Brad Friedel at the second attempt
with a diving header. After three successive 4-0 defeats, it was just the
tonic that Alan Curbishley needed. "It's a big result for us," West Ham's
manager admitted.
"I'm delighted for young Freddie, who had a dream debut. He's come on a
bundle since pre-season. Somebody said the drinks will be on him tonight,
but I'm not so sure he can get in the pub yet." Recalling the day when he
scored his own first West Ham goal at Upton Park as a 17-year-old,
Curbishley added: "John Lyall, our manager, made Frank Lampard Snr drive me
home because he didn't want me to go on the bus, which was how I'd come to
the game. Times have changed. Freddie will probably jump into a Hummer."
Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, was unhappy with the way his side let
West Ham back into a game which his team badly needed to win to keep alive
their Uefa Cup ambitions. David Bentley, who was a constant threat down West
Ham's left flank, had instigated Blackburn's opening goal after 19 minutes
with a glorious crossfield pass to Morten Gamst Pedersen, whose cross gave
Roque Santa Cruz the chance to turn the ball past Robert Green and score his
16th goal of the season.
The home crowd quickly started to vent their frustration, but West Ham, to
their credit, kept faith with their passing game. Friedel pushed an Ashton
header round a post after a well-flighted cross from Nolberto Solano, who
then tested the keeper with a dipping free-kick from 30 yards.
The equaliser, which came after 39 minutes, was no more than West Ham
deserved. Ashton, whose close control regularly troubled Christopher Samba,
twisted past the defender on the edge of the penalty area and cleverly shot
past the advancing Friedel to end a run of eight matches without a goal.
West Ham, nevertheless, failed to build on their advantage and until Sears'
arrival the better chances in the second half fell to Blackburn. Pedersen
missed the target from 10 yards, while Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts failed
to make the most of the openings created by Bentley. All that was to change,
however, with the arrival of a teenager who appears to have the makings of a
true Hammers hero.
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Debutant Freddie Sears adds romantic touch - Telegraph
By Patrick Barclay at Upton Park
Last Updated: 8:45pm GMT 15/03/2008
West Ham United (1) 2 Blackburn Rovers (1) 1
West Ham fans gave credit where it was due, roaring out the name of Dean
Ashton shortly after the 18-year-old debutant Freddie Sears had made himself
a near-instant hero by scoring the late goal that condemned those bold
travellers Blackburn to only their fourth away defeat of the Premier League
season.
Sears, an England Under-19 striker from Hornchurch, had been on the field
five minutes when, wonderfully served by Ashton's back-heel, he drove
against the arms of Brad Friedel and then dived headlong to nod the rebound
into the net. With a crossed-irons gesture he proclaimed his support for the
east London club. The cockles of every home or neutral heart were warmed.
Sears was the boy of the moment. But Ashton was the man of the match.
West Ham, beaten 4-0 in each of their previous three matches, had been a
goal down when Ashton first intervened, ending a barren spell of his own -
eight matches - with an artful nudge past Friedel. And from then it was a
deadlock waiting to be broken, a far from unattractive contest that was
ultimately lent romance by the advent of the Essex boy.
"Everybody's delighted for him," said West Ham manager Alan Curbishley
afterwards. "Freddie's not said a thing - he's just been walking around the
dressing-room smiling. But he's given us all a lift. Obviously it's a big
result for us."
After relegation was averted only by Carlos Tevez's goal at Manchester
United last May, a total of 43 points have earned the players and supporters
a relatively stress-free spring this time, though Curbishley will no doubt
continue to be asked why the European ambitions trumpeted by new owners from
Iceland some 18 months ago look as vain as ever. He is entitled to indicate
the "bigger picture": not so much the improvement on last season but
injuries to potentially influential signings such as Matthew Upson, Craig
Bellamy and Kieron Dyer.
Blackburn's Mark Hughes, meanwhile, was gloomy about "allowing West Ham into
a game we were more than comfortable in". His team had been short of drive
and, as for Europe, he conceded that this was becoming a forlorn hope:
"We're running out of games." Given the background, this one had certainly
been there for them to win and Hughes brought a side built for adventure.
Initially the speed and quality with which Blackburn broke were impressive.
They moved in front when Scott Parker, with an example of West Ham's more
pedestrian efforts at that stage, misplaced a pass under no pressure and
David Bentley's long ball found Morten Gamst Pedersen, whose brisk and
perfectly placed short cross Roque Santa Cruz stooped to head beyond Robert
Green.
West Ham worked hard to improve their fortunes and twice demanded sharp
saves of Friedel - from Ashton's header and Nobby Solano's dipping free-kick
- before the equaliser arrived. From Green's clearance, Bobby Zamora headed
on and Ashton, chasing the ball into the penalty area, cleverly turned
Christopher Samba before resisting the giant defender's muscular attempts to
prevent him from glancing past Friedel.
Pedersen whacked an opportunity too high at the start of the second half
and, for all the exchanges that held our interest, there was no hint of
either side taking command until Curbishley beckoned Sears off the bench.
The crowd offered a rousing welcome and the effect was perceptible. Even
then West Ham required Green's excellence to deny Jason Roberts. But the
fairytale survived and later Curbishley was reminded that, as a West Ham
youngster himself, he had scored a comparable goal against Newcastle.
He savoured the memory. "Yes, and John Lyall made Frank Lampard drive me
home because he didn't want me to go by bus, which was how I'd got to the
ground. Times have changed - Freddie'll probably go home tonight in a
Hummer!"
Who is Freddie Sears?
Born: Nov 27, 1989
Nickname: Searsy
All-time favourite player: Paolo di Canio
Goals: Has scored 25 goals in 24 games for West Ham's U-18s this season
Caps: Twice by England U-19s
Curbishley on Sears:"He is Craig Bellamy-like."
Academy director Tony Carr on Sears:"It is a real endorsement of the academy
system here - another local boy nurtured from a a very young age"
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Freddie Sears nods West Ham winner - The Times
West Ham 2 Blackburn 1
Brian Doogan at Upton Park
FREDDIE SEARS, an 18-year-old home-grown striker, came off the bench to
record the most glorious debut for West Ham, scoring the winning goal to
bring to an end a sorry sequence of heavy defeats. The England Under-19
international was cheered to the rafters at the end of a week in which he
signed a new deal, but his storybook contribution might not have mattered
had Dean Ashton not performed such a pivotal role.
With his team reacting nervously to going behind to a Roque Santa Cruz
header, his 16th goal of the season, the 24-year-old West Ham striker became
the focal point of their gritty come-back. His work ethic, physical presence
and well-honed technique proved inspirational as he scored an impressive
equalising goal six minutes before the interval, before setting up Sears
with nine minutes remaining.
Ashton held off Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili and played a clever
backheeled pass into the path of Sears whose youthful sense of destiny
accounted for the rest. Brad Friedel, the Blackburn goalkeeper, dived to his
right to save the teenager's first-time shot but Sears followed in and
headed home the rebound. The relief made for an intoxicating cocktail and
the tedium which characterised much of the game was instantly forgotten.
"Freddie's just walking around the dressing room with a great big smile on
his face, saying nothing, but he's given everybody a lift," said Alan
Curbishley, the West Ham manager, who was under pressure after three
consecutive 4-0 defeats.
"He was in the side until yesterday because Bobby Zamora had bad blisters
on his feet but he had an injection before the game and again at half-time,
so Freddie was made to wait. I'd have preferred if he'd knocked it in
first-time but he showed a finisher's instinct and it's a big result for
us."
West Ham were 12-0 down on aggregate over their previous 270 minutes and the
board had been persuaded to issue an ominously-worded statement: "There is
no question of Alan Curbishley's future as manager being called into doubt."
Curbishley referred to "a [media] agenda out there, and it's directed not
just at the team but me personally". His team responded with an early show
of defiance. Nolberto Solano and Freddie Ljungberg attacked along the flanks
and the Hammers made an assertive start.
Ashton might have fired them ahead but he just failed to connect with a
Solano free kick at the back post. West Ham continued to play with purpose
and Ljungberg accelerated across to the right to deliver a low cross, which
Friedel managed to intercept after Scott Parker missed a diving header.
West Ham's confidence did not last. Blackburn winger David Bentley became
the dominant influence on the game, producing a succession of quality
deliveries from the right to expose the Hammers' underlying fragility.
Bentley played a one-two along the right with David Dunn before whipping in
a deep cross to Morten Gamst Pedersen, who headed wide. Blackburn came close
again when a Bentley corner was headed over by Christopher Samba, but the
pressure told eventually. Bentley supplied another exquisite, long diagonal
ball from the right. Pedersen controlled the ball and then measured his pass
to Santa Cruz in the centre, the striker's header beating keeper Robert
Green.
For the next 10 minutes the Hammers endured a rocky spell before they
managed to play their way back in. A header by Ashton from Zamora's cross
was palmed away by Friedel before the striker shot over from distance. Then
Bentley attempted to curl a 25-yard effort into the top left corner but
Green read his intentions.
Ashton took it upon himself to be West Ham's saviour by taking hold of
Zamora's downward header at the edge of the Blackburn penalty area. Turning
quickly, he flicked the ball around Samba and finished superbly with a
left-footed half-volley past Friedel and inside the far post. "We allowed
West Ham back into a game in which we were quite comfortable without hitting
any level ourselves, and that's the disappointment," reflected Mark Hughes,
the Blackburn manager.
The game descended rapidly into an unedifying spectacle in the second half.
Zamora tried a speculative 25-yard shot which he dragged wide before Jason
Roberts pulled the ball back from the byline for Pedersen, who blasted over.
West Ham's Hayden Mullins tried hard to impose some method and he set up
Ashton for a long-range shot which brought a smart save from Friedel. Then
Curbishley made a double substitution, bringing on Mark Noble along with
Sears, and the stage was set.
"I was 17 when I scored in my second game for West Ham, here against
Newcastle," Curbishley reminisced. "John Lyall, the manager, asked Frank
Lampard Sr to drive me home because he didn't want me to go home on the bus,
which was how I came. Times have changed. No doubt Freddie will be going
home in a Hummer."
Star man: Dean Ashton (West Ham)
Player ratings: West Ham: Green 6, Neill 6, Spector 6, Ferdinand 7,
McCartney 6, Solano 6 (Sears 75min), Parker 7 (Noble 75min), Mullins 7,
Ljungberg 7 (Pantsil 88min), Zamora 6, Ashton 8
Blackburn: Friedel 6, Emerton 6 (Khizanishvili ht, 5), Ooijer 6, Samba 5,
Warnock 6, Bentley 8, Reid 7, Dunn 7 (Derbyshire 71min), Pedersen 7
(McCarthy 90min), Santa Cruz 7, Roberts 6
Scorers: West Ham: Ashton 39, Sears 81 Blackburn: Santa Cruz 19
Yellow cards: West Ham: Ferdinand. Blackburn: Bentley, Dunn, Reid
Referee: M Atkinson
Attendance: 34,006
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sears takes honours for Hammers' academy
Will Buckley at Upton Park
Sunday March 16, 2008
The Observer
This was a game that might have meant more to Blackburn, who still had a few
lingering hopes of securing a European place. But for West Ham, whose season
has run aground with a flurry of big defeats, it was of fundamental
significance. Had they contrived to lose 4-0 for a fourth consecutive time,
they could have started to believe they were fated to do so every time they
played. 'West Ham 04' they would have come to be called.
For a while in the first half, this seemed possible as Blackburn scored and
the home side looked fragile. But greatly to the Londoners' credit, they
fought their way back into the game and just about deserved to win it
through a late strike from local boy making good very quickly Freddie Sears.
'With the three 4-0s and the pressure that was building up during the week,
it was a big result for us,' Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said. 'I
was 17 when I scored in my second game against Newcastle. John Lyall made
Frank Lampard [senior] take me home because he didn't want me going on the
bus, which is how I came. Freddie will probably jump in a Hummer.'
'We allowed West Ham back into a game which we were quite comfortable with,'
his Blackburn counterpart, Mark Hughes, said. 'We are running out of games.'
Both sides made a lively start as the game settled into a satisfyingly open
contest. The first good chance came to Blackburn from a David Bentley corner
when an unmarked Christopher Samba sent a header skimming over the bar.
Then a consummate pass from Bentley was controlled beautifully by Morten
Gamst Pedersen and crossed with pinpoint accuracy to Roque Santa Cruz, who
headed home.
West Ham responded through Dean Ashton, whose crafty header was palmed
around a post by an alert Brad Friedel in the Rovers goal. However, for a
while, the Hammers wobbled. They were porous at the back and playing like a
team who had not scored for getting on for five hours.
The pattern of the game seemed set, only for it to be immediately upset by
Ashton cleverly taking the ball around Samba before delicately placing it
past Friedel.
The second half was frantic, but there were few genuine chances. Blackburn
were finding promising positions, but tended to cross too deep. West Ham
were playing with increased vigour and skill. The game was up for grabs.
It was grasped by Sears, an 18-year-old local boy, within six minutes of his
coming on for his debut. His goal was created by Ashton's muscular run and
strong drive, which Friedel could only parry into Sears's path. The young
striker's first shot was saved, but he headed the rebound home with some
aplomb.
'Everyone has to be given a chance,' said Curbishley. 'I pulled him in and
said, "You're going to be sub" and didn't get much of a response. He said,
"Oh, thanks." Someone said the drinks are on him, but we're not too sure he
can get served in the pub yet.'
Man of the match: Dean Ashton
Few English strikers possess Ashton's combination of power and finesse. The
striker, who has struggled recently after his long injury lay-off last
season, used the latter to score the first and the former to set up the
second. A fine performance.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hughes baffled by bogey ground - SSN
Blackburn boss frustrated by 14-year winless run
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 15th March 2008
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes admits he cannot understand his side's
inability to record an away win against West Ham. Rovers suffered a 2-1
defeat to the Hammers at Upton Park on Saturday as Dean Ashton and debutant
Freddie Sears cancelled out Roque Santa Cruz's opener. And the turnaround
ensures Rovers 14-year wait for a win in East London continues, much to the
disappointment of Hughes. "We seem to have a problem, for whatever reason,
whenever we come here," Hughes told Sky Sports News. "West Ham seem to be
our bogey team and it has happened again. We can't quite put our finger on
the reason why that seems to happen. "But probably today it is a situation
that we didn't quite have enough drive in our play when we needed to ask a
lot more questions of West Ham. "In the first half there was a little bit of
apprehension about the place and we should have capitalised on that." Hughes
has admitted in the past that his side may have to settle for a place in the
Intertoto Cup this season, which would require a sixth-placed finish. And
with European rivals Aston Villa surrendering sixth spot to Portsmouth
following their defeat at Fratton Park, Hughes is confident the see-saw
battle will go all the way to the wire. "We have still got games to play and
games that we feel we can win," added Hughes. "Maybe the damage hasn't been
as key as possibly it could have been, but we will have to wait and see. "It
is only at the end of the season when we will see if this defeat has a real
impact on us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sears secures sweet dreams - SSN
Hammers boss set for sound night's sleep after debutant's winner
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 15th March 2008
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is ready for his full allocation of forty
winks on Saturday night after debutant Freddie Sears fired his side to a 2-1
win over Blackburn at Upton Park. Hammers boss Curbishley has admitted he
has been struggling to nod off following a hat-tick of 4-0 thrashings at the
hands of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham over recent weeks. However, goals
from Dean Ashton and youngster Sears cancelled out Roque Santa Cruz's opener
to ensure Curbishley will be looking forward to his bedtime this weekend.
Blackburn had taken the lead in the 19th minute as a swift counter-attack
allowed Morten Gamst Pedersen to break down the right before crossing to
Santa Cruz and the Paraguayan forward made no mistake as he headed in from
close range. West Ham, though, hit back on 39 minutes as Bobby Zamora
flicked on allowing Ashton to take advantage of some poor defending from
Blackburn centre-back Christopher Samba to dink past goalkeeper Brad
Friedel.
And with nine minutes of the match remaining Sears, who had come off the
bench just five minutes earlier, was in the right place to finish at the
second time of asking after Friedel could only palm his initial shot to
secure a fairytale finish. With both sides looking for European
qualification, the game opened up a little in the second half but the lack
of goalmouth action explained why finishing in mid-table looks likely. It
took the introduction of a fearless youngster to change the game, with
Romford lad Sears immediately sparking excitement from home fans every time
he received the ball, while the defeat also lifts some of the pressure on
Curbishley. Blackburn started the stronger and Pedersen drove in a dangerous
early corner that fizzed across Green's goal, and the winger also headed
wide after a sweeping move down the right when David Bentley and Brett
Emerton combined. Samba should have given Mark Hughes' men the lead in the
18th minute when Bentley's corner found him in the six-yard area and the
defender put his header over the crossbar.
But they were not to be denied with their next attack. Bentley spread the
ball wide to Pedersen, who had plenty of room down the left flank. Santa
Cruz was unmarked in the penalty area and headed past Green when Pedersen
found him for his 16th of the season. The goal woke West Ham up and they
tried for an immediate reply, with Friedel needed to tip an Ashton header
around the post when Zamora found his strike partner with a cross from the
left. Friedel also tipped over the crossbar from Nolberto Solano's 30-yard
free-kick before the break. The hosts were then rewarded for their efforts
six minute before the interval as Green helped set up the equaliser with a
long free-kick. Zamora flicked on with his head, Ashton spun around Samba
before lofting his finish over Friedel and in.
Hughes took off Emerton at the break for Zurab Khizanishvili, with the
second half starting like the first - Pedersen driving over a dangerous
free-kick. Friedel was almost embarrassed at the other end when he sliced a
back-pass, but he had less trouble with a shot from Zamora that drifted
wide. Green was not tested either when Pedersen fired wildly over from close
range when Jason Roberts' low cross found its way to him just before the
hour mark. Friedel was forced into action when Ashton tried his luck from
long range and the American was down well to stop the striker's effort.
David Dunn, who had been booked earlier, was taken off for Matt Derbyshire
as Blackburn changed shape. Curbishley then brought on Sears for his debut,
with the home fans giving the exciting youngster a huge welcome. His goal
came nine minutes from the end after Ashton had back-heeled. Friedel saved
Sears' first shot but he slid in to head home the rebound.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Curbs hails starlet Sears - SSN
West Ham boss delighted with debutant's winner
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 15th March 2008
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley praised the impact of debutant Freddie
Sears in the 2-1 win over Blackburn at Upton Park in the Premier League on
Saturday. Roque Santa Cruz had given Rovers the lead in the 19th minute, but
West Ham striker Dean Ashton levelled things shortly before the break. Then
nine minutes before the final whistle, Sears struck - shortly after coming
off the bench - to secure the three points. And Curbishley admits he has
high hopes for Sears and has revealed the England Under 19 international was
due to start against Rovers before Bobby Zamora made a late recovery form
injury.
"He (Sears) has burst on the scene in the last three months," Curbishley
told Sky Sports News. "He has been playing in the reserves regularly and
scoring and training with the first-team and doing well. "In all fairness he
was actually in the first-team yesterday when we trained. He was playing
with Dean Ashton because Bobby Zamora has been suffering. "I called him in
just before we had a team meeting to tell him he wasn't and I didn't really
get any response. "Perhaps he might have been disappointed he wasn't
starting but he didn't show too much. "But I had no hesitation in putting
him on and once the game opened up it suited him."
The victory against Rovers also brings to an end West Ham's run of three
consecutive 4-0 thrashings following recent defeats to Chelsea, Liverpool
and Tottenham and Curbishley confesses his side's spirits had been flagging.
"We all needed a lift," added Curbishley. "It is not nice what has happened
to us. We have taken a lot of criticism. "I listen to the criticism and I
take it all on the chin. I'm not one of those people who just bats it off. I
accepted what was going on and that is the only way I will deal with
things."
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Blackburn's Bentley: Ashton can make England return
tribalfootball.com - March 16, 2008
Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Bentley is backing West Ham striker Dean
Ashton to return to the England squad.
Bentley said: "I'm sure he's got the ability to play at England level, but
he's got to do it week in, week out at Premiership level before he can knock
players out of the team."
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