Hammers on national service
WHUFC.com
Four West Ham United players were in action for their countries on Wednesday
night
29.02.2012
West Ham United had four players in action on a busy evening of
internationals on Wednesday. Henri Lansbury enjoyed the best night with a
brace of goals for England Under-21s as they took a big step towards
qualification for Euro 2013 Championships with a 4-0 win against Belgium.
The Hammers midfielder opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range
drive before Steven Caulker added a second. Lansbury then made the game safe
after slotting home a Wilfred Zaha pass before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added
a late penalty. The win leaves the Young Lions seven points clear at the top
of their qualification group with only games with Azerbaijan and Norway to
go.
Marek Stech also had a good night as he kept a clean sheet in the opening 45
minutes of the Czech Republic Under-21's 3-0 friendly win against Romania in
Bucharest. Stech will hope to carry that form on when he returns to his loan
club Leyton Orient for their weekend game with Walsall.
Jack Collison came on as a 64th minute substitute as Wales lost 1-0 at home
to Costa Rica on an emotional night in Cardiff. The game was set as a
tribute night to the late Gary Speed but it was the visitors who emerged
victorious following Joel Campbell's seventh-minute strike.
Further afield Wiston Reid was substituted just before half-time as New
Zealand lost 3-2 at home to Jamaica in Auckland. Reid left the field with
score at 1-0 to the visitors.
Back on home soil, Robert Green was an unused substitute as England lost 3-2
to the Netherlands at Wembley.
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Moose on the Loose - Dean Ashton
WHUFC.com
Ian 'Moose' Abrahams catches up with former West Ham United striker Dean
Ashton
29.02.2012
Dean Ashton became a hero for West Ham United during his four years at the
Boleyn Ground. The striker helped the Hammers to reach the 2006 FA Cup final
before being capped by England. However, a serious ankle injury suffered in
training after his first senior call-up in August 2006 put paid to his
career. In December 2009, Ashton was forced to retire at the age of 26,
having scored 19 goals in 56 appearances for the club. Now 28, Ashton is
pursuing career in the media. He recently dropped in to be interviewed on
radio staion talkSPORT, where he found time to speak to presenter, West Ham
fan and matchday programme columnist Ian 'Moose' Abrahams.
Published below is Abrahams' 'Moose on the Loose' column, which originally
appeared in the matchday programme for Saturday's npower Championship visit
of Crystal Palace. To order your copy of the programme, click here.
Moose on the Loose - Dean Ashton
Every now and again you come across players with prodigious talent - someone
who you think could be the answer for club and country, someone who has that
certain something to get you on your feet. Dean Ashton was such a player.
Dean came through that amazing production line of talent at Crewe Alexandra,
had a stop off at Norwich and then rocked up at Upton Park, scoring plenty
of important goals along the way. The sad thing is that none of us, not even
Dean, will know how good he could've been. On 11 December 2009, West Ham
announced that he had retired, aged 26, after failing to recover from a
long-term ankle injury originally sustained during an international training
session in August 2006. Last week Dean came into talkSPORT Towers to appear
on the Keys and Gray Show, and I grabbed him afterwards and began by asking
about his premature retirement. "It was very, very difficult," Dean told me.
"All I grew up wanting to do was to play football, and then when I became a
professional, all I wanted to do was become the best I could."
It was hard to believe that if things had been different Dean could still be
spearheading our attack.
"At the time I felt I was progressing well and had just got my first England
call. I mean, the timing was awful, the initial injury happened the day
before I was due to make my England debut. You couldn't write that kind of
stuff and how unlucky it was for me but other players have suffered the same
fate and I was very lucky to have the time I did have in the game."
That time included the 2006 FA Cup final against Liverpool in Cardiff, when
Dean scored just before the half-hour mark that put us 2-1 up.
"Yes, no-one can take scoring in that final away from me, of course."
As a fan I went to Cardiff not expecting to win against a very strong
Liverpool side, but with only a minute to go did Dean, who'd been replaced
by Teddy Sheringham at the time, think he was going to be lifting the Cup?
"Obviously towards the end I thought we were going to win, as it wasn't like
Liverpool were bombarding us with loads of pressure, so yes I thought we
were going to win and it was going to be my first taste of ever winning
anything. But you can't take anything away from Steven Gerrard and what he
did, and I suppose that's football, it's never over until the final whistle
blows."
Every player I have ever spoken to tells me that Cup final day goes by too
quickly, so I asked Dean about that and about whether he had any regrets
about the final being in Cardiff and not at Wembley.
"Not at all, because Cardiff was a fantastic stadium and it was jam-packed
for the final. People tell you the day flies by and it does go by too
quickly because you spend so long looking forward to it. "The thing was Alan
Pardew had picked the the whole team bar me and Bobby Zamora, because I had
been injured, so everyone knew they were playing except for me and Bobby
Zamora. So I didn't find out until an hour before kick-off that I was
playing, so going out onto the pitch before the game I found it hard to take
in and enjoy the occasion because I didn't know if I was playing."
I wondered what the mood was like on the morning of the game with Dean and
Bobby not knowing who would start.
"I felt it was a little bit awkward for both me and Bobby to both wonder
whether we were going to start the biggest game of our careers. It was down
to the manager, he decides who plays and I was lucky enough to start but
obviously for him, he would've been gutted but again I'm glad he got on in
the end and played quite a lot of the game."
What about the end of the final? Having been taken off Dean couldn't take a
penalty but he would he have taken one in the shootout? Dean's response was
immediate. "Definitely, definitely yes."
Would he have scored? "Probably. I have always loved taking penalties and
would've been confident to score."
I ended my chat by firstly asking who was Dean's favorite striker partner at
Upton Park? "Marlon Harewood, definitely. I think we just matched up well.
He was big, strong, quick and liked to run in behind while I preferred to
play slightly deeper and join in the play and that seemed to work really
well."
Dean's favorite game was the FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City and his
favorite goal came in Manchester too. "It has to be the overhead kick at Old
Trafford against Manchester United. It was special to score that goal there.
I always felt I could do things like that although the fans might remember I
had to go off after that because I tweaked my groin."
Talking to Dean, it's a shame he hasn't been back to Upton Park since his
retirement, something I know he is keen to put right in the near future, and
I ended by asking why that was the case?
"To start with, it was a conscious thing. I wanted to give myself plenty of
time to get over what had happened. Coming back to West Ham would have
brought back too many memories. Recently I have definitely thought about
coming back but not really had the chance, but I would like to come back now
and watch a game soon."
Dean Ashton is proof that players' careers can be short and they should make
the most of it. I happen to think if he'd stayed clear of injury, Dean
could've been a massive hero down here at Upton Park and I know I speak for
everyone when I say it'll be great to have him back down here sooner rather
than later.
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The Big Interview - George McCartney
WHUFC.com
The ever-reliable left-back discusses reaching 100 appearances for West Ham
United
28.02.2012
West Ham United defender George McCartney has spoken about chalking up a
century of appearances in claret and blue in this week's Big Interview.
McCartney has been in typically consistent form all season long, having
rejoined the club he served between 2006 and 2008 on loan from Sunderland
last summer. The former Northern Ireland defender's latest strong display
helped his side earn another welcome clean sheet as he celebrated 100 games
as a Hammer. This week, he spoke to whufc.com about his pride at reaching
such a milestone.
First of all George, congratulations in reaching 100 matches for West Ham -
does it feel a bit strange that it has happened over two different spells?
"It is a little bit strange I suppose, but in a good way! Obviously as
everyone knows, I left the club four years ago having played around 70 or 80
games for the club then and I must admit, I didn't think I would be back
here again and playing my 100th match as a West Ham player. I am delighted
to reach this milestone - it was great going into the game knowing it was my
100th and although it was a shame we didn't win, it was a point and another
clean sheet for us. "It is definitely a nice milestone. If you ask them, I
think any footballer will tell you that it is the aim to play as many games
as you can throughout your career. I am lucky enough to have played around
350-400 games in my career so far but I know also, to be at a club like West
Ham, the size of the club and the fan base we have, it is massive for me to
be making my 100th appearance here, I am chuffed to bits."
If you could pick any particular games or moments out from your first 100
appearances, what would they be?
"I think I would pick my first season in the Premier League under Alan
Curbishley, when we escaped relegation. I still don't think the manager or
the team have got the credit for what we did or how we did it, it was a
tremendous effort from everyone. It is great for me now to be back here and
playing in what is another exciting season which will hopefully end in
promotion for us."
It can take a while to make your mark at a new club, but you seem to have
settled back in?
"I do feel very much part of it here. I think anyone moving to a new club
for the first time doesn't really feel completely part of it until later in
the season or the next season on, but because I have been here before, it is
a case for me of feeling like I haven't been away. "It has been great for me
to come back here. The manager and the Chairmen gave me the opportunity to
do this - to come back to a club where I thoroughly enjoyed it the first
time. I am just thankful it is going well for me personally and for us as a
team. I have only missed a couple of games and so hopefully I can keep
playing as much as I can."
Confidence must be high in the squad after the last few games?
"Things are going well and we must keep going now, there are 14 matches left
until the end of the season and we want to try and win every one. "The
manager has got a great squad together here and confidence is high. You
never try to look beyond the next game coming up, but confidence comes from
winning matches. In the last six games, apart from the defeat at Ipswich, we
have won three and drawn two and so confidence in what we can do and team
spirit comes from these results."
Talking about Saturday's match against Crystal Palace, the team collected a
point and another clean sheet, but did playing the previous three matches
with just ten men take its toll a bit?
"Maybe it did catch up on us, it certainly wasn't because we have played
Saturday and Tuesday, we have pretty much done that all season as this is
what the Championship is all about. We knew it would be a tough game. We had
a 2-2 draw back at Selhurst Park earlier in the season, although I thought
we should have won that day. It was also a derby match and sometimes,
wherever you are in the league table, form goes out of the window. We did
finish with eleven men this time!
With the point and another clean sheet, it will all add up at the end of the
season.
"We were frustrated that we couldn't follow up the great win we had away at
Blackpool with another win at home. But it is a long season of 46 games and
if we can keep going, our fans will be more than happy come the end of the
season if we can get promoted."
What did you make of the crazy victory at Blackpool last week?
"I think as it had happened in the previous two games against Millwall and
Southampton, we kind of knew what to expect and played well again with ten
men! When Greeny went off and it was 2-1 to us, I think everyone was
thinking we would take that. We knew we had to keep it tight, but it seemed
we were able to go up again 20 or 30 per cent in our game and produced two
more goals, which was brilliant.
Team-mate Henri Lansbury went in goal for that match Were you surprised how
confident he was?
"We knew H [Henri] had played in goal for England Under-21s and he has gone
in goal during training sometimes, but I must admit he looked like a natural
when he went between the sticks! He did great.
If asked, would you go in goal if needed?
I would if asked. I was actually a goalkeeper back in my school days for a
bit, so if I had to, I would give it a go!
We have Cardiff City this weekend and you start your second century of
matches for West Ham United. Presumably, it is all about getting points on
the board from now until the end of the season?
As long as we can keep grinding out the results and then finish the season
having got the club back up to the Premier League, only then will we know we
have all done our jobs.
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Allardyce in... Dubai
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 29th February 2012
By: Lee Kelly
Sam Allardyce is currently in Dubai along with his first team squad for a
few days' warm-weather training ahead of a busy March schedule.
Last night he was the subject of a Q&A session, hosted by former Sky Sports
presenter Rob McCaffrey, during which the current Hammers boss answered a
number of questions relating to both his playing and management career.
A summary of the main points discussed follow; our thanks to Lee Kelly for
providing the details...
The Current Squad
Jack Collison, James Tomkins and Mark Noble, in particular, have huge
affection for West Ham. When Allardyce joined he spoke to them all and
stated: "You love this club, you need to get it back into the Premier
League".
Kevin Nolan is a great captain. He's not the same player as Scott Parker,
which some West Ham fans are critical of - his words - but he does bring you
goals unlike Parker who is perhaps better on the ball. Nolan is also the
first contact for any dressing room unrest; if it gets as far as Sam, he
knows that something is wrong.
Julien Faubert was desperate to leave West Ham last summer but no club came
in for him. Allardyce put his arm around his shoulder and said: "If you play
well I'll put you back in the team - if you keep playing well, you can stay
there." Sam said the Frenchman has had a good season, so much so that he now
wants a new contract.
Ravel Morrison is a star in the making, but has been practically dragged up
in Manchester. They club can't change his background but are happy to let
him mature a bit, whereas Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson wasn't
standing for it.
Robert Green is a big believer in his own ability and Allardyce insisted
that the goalkeeper should never have been dropped from the England squad
and has rightly been recalled. He maintained that selection for the squad
shouldn't depend on playing in the Premier League, as long as the player is
in good form.
The general feeling about players wanting to leave is that if they want to
go, they can leave - adding that there's no point having them sulking about
the place, or not wanting to play for the team.
The Board and the Media
Allardyce said that when he joined West Ham, one of his first requests was
to be the main media representative as the Board got some things wrong in
the press last season. He suggested they have a tendency to bite when a
journalist tries to wind them up, or asks the wrong questions, adding that
there were some disasters in the press last year. Sometimes they still talk
to the press, but that's just the way they are.
Sam seemed to be quite happy that Karren Brady deals only with corporate
issues instead of the football; my impression was that he isn't her biggest
fan.
Last Season
When Allardyce joined West Ham last summer, morale was really low. He firmly
believes had he got the job in January 2011, he would have kept the club in
the Premier League. He mentioned that Demba Ba's goals alone should have
been enough, but the defence was terrible.
Robert Green keeps his own statistics and the first thing he mentioned to
Allardyce when he arrived was that he had to face between 15 and 20 shots
every game.
My impression was that he was unhappy at being overlooked for the position
in January 2011 (when Martin O'Neill was the Board's number one choice), but
is currently happy with life in London.
The Olympic Stadium
Sam didn't sound too keen on the Olympic Stadium whilst the running track
remains in place. He referred to Manchester City, stating that they had a
stadium that was easily transferable to football when the Commonwealth Games
were over - although it's not as easy as that with the OS as it also needs
to host athletic events.
Sports Science
He learnt all about the scientific side of football when he played in the
USA in the latter stages of his playing career. Allardyce's team shared a
training ground with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they had several physios,
coaches, sports scientists, masseurs and sports therapists. He took some of
that on board when he started managing.
Team England
When he was last interviewed for the England job, Allardyce met David
Beckham and had a conversation regarding what needed to be done to improve
England. Beckham said that the players needed more protection from the press
- which I thought was quite ironic given how certain players love nothing
more than having the press follow them around!
Sam spoke to Brian Barwick from the FA after his interview and they told him
they would get back to him by the following Thursday. Bolton were playing
Middlesbrough, managed by Steve McClaren - the only other candidate at the
time - on the Wednesday and when he didn't hear from Barwick that night, he
put a bet on McClaren to get the job - which he did.
He believes Harry Redknapp is a shoo-in for the current vacancy.
Scott Parker
He claimed that Daniel Levy didn't want Tottenham to sign Scott Parker as he
felt he was too old, but Harry Redknapp wanted him desperately and Levy
acquiesced. The feeling at West Ham was that Parker had been told by other
people that he wouldn't get in the England squad whilst he played in the
Championship.
Newcastle United
Allardyce disclosed that he wasn't very fond of Newcastle, adding that the
club were living in the shadow of Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer during his
time there. Every time he failed to get a result the fans were calling for
Keegan or Shearer and they ended up taking them down. Now that the Toon Army
would never take them back, he feels that the shadow has been lifted.
Without that pressure, Alan Pardew has got them playing well and got some
good results. He added that it was a big surprise Pardew got the job and
laughed when someone mentioned Pards' five-year contract - given that he had
just been sacked by a League One club. "He obviously has good contacts in
London", commented Allardyce.
Fellow Managers
Sam has little time for Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez as they were always
happy to shake his hand when they beat his teams but always less than
forthcoming when he beat them. "They don't like it up 'em!" he quipped. He
is good friends with a number of managers who were playing around the same
time as he did, but only mentioned Wenger and Benitez as those he didn't get
on with.
Promotion
Should West Ham achieve promotion this season, Allardyce believes that the
first season back in the Premier League will be one of consolidation, not of
struggle. Although he has spent circa £10million on players this year he
also recouped a similar figure, so would hope to have money for players to
improve the squad as a whole rather than just big money players for the sake
of it.
Although there are no guarantees, he is confident that this can be achieved
at the first time of asking.
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Awful but effective?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 29th February 2012
By: Haim Baram
I feel a bit ashamed to grumble about Big Sam and his truly ugly football.
After all, he seems to be taking us to the Promised Land (odd to describe
the Premier League in this manner in an article written in Jerusalem) and we
don't like to argue against success - nor do we wish to evoke a malicious
jinx from the days of yore.
So, we put up with it.
We are not ideologues, God forbid, but honest to goodness West-Ham
supporters for decades, and don't tend to demand too much from our players
anymore.
Personally, I dream at times about Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Johnny
Byrne and even Pop Robson; but these are mere fleeting moments, just like my
yearning for British black and white films from the 1960s.
The realities of 2012 dictate more pragmatism, entailing grim battles for
economic survival in a chaotic world and striving to achieve our immediate
goal: a promotion for a hopefully long stretch of success in the Premier
League.
Has the game against Crystal Palace clouded my judgment? Possibly, it has.
It was transmitted live here, and I watched it with growing anxiety and
dismay. We played badly, especially in the first half against a very
mediocre side and there was no creativity or imagination in our approach to
the game.
We have witnessed similar phenomena throughout the season, even when we won
famous victories.
On the other hand, the team fights gallantly in the Allardyce era and the
away victory over Blackpool caught the imagination of our supporters. This
was a great achievement, and therefore the manager deserves respect and even
certain affection from us.
We play a bit like a Second Division team from the 1950s and even more like
Bolton under Big Sam. Some elements of this style are quite endearing,
especially when we win; but when we lose, or experience a dismal draw at
Upton Park, the deep frustration and disappointment are overwhelming.
Fanzines, forums and conversations with supporters reflect the nagging
ambivalence: not only the bleeding-hearts but also hardened fans feel a bit
alienated - and the team is not really what West-Ham United are all about.
The more practical question is whether this style actually works. For now it
does, but it will become increasingly difficult to obtain three points even
from home games by these aerial tactics.
Mark Noble needs some support in the middle of the park, and the lack of
skill in this department takes its toll.
I hope there will be some improvements, in order to realise the great
potential of the team – for anything less than automatic promotion will be
regarded as a gigantic failure.
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Reid in injury scare
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 29th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Winston Reid could be a doubt for this weekend's trip to Cardiff after being
substituted during New Zealand's 3-2 defeat by Jamaica last night. The West
Ham United central defender, who has started every game for Sam Allardyce's
side since New Year's Eve was withdrawn two minutes ahead of the half time
break following a clumsy tackle. Although initial reports suggested that,
like James Tomkins aginst Crystal Palace last weekend, he had suffered minor
concussion, the severity of Reid's injury will only be fully confirmed upon
his return to England. The visitors - ranked 50th in the World - took a
two-goal lead at the Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, after Xavian Virgo
scored against the run of play seven minutes before the break and Tramaine
Stewart added another on 53 minutes. However Bristol City's Chris Wood
brought the All Whites - currently ranked 120th - back into the game when he
grabbed a goal less than a minute after Stewart had made it 2-0, following a
neat interchange with Marco Rojas. Navian Boyd secured victory for the
Reggaeboyz when he made it 3-1 to Jamaica on 77 minutes before Chris Killen
of China League Two outfit Chongqing FC converted a Leo Bertos corner, to
restore some respectability to the scoreline.
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Loan watch
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 29th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Olly Lee was part of an amazing turnaround as his Gillingham side scored
three times in the final nine minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of
defeat. The Academy graduate and son of former Hammer Rob Lee, currently on
loan with the League Two outfit came on as a 77th-minute substitute against
Hereford at Priestfield last night with the Gills 3-2 behind. When Will
Evans added a fourth for the Bulls three minutes later, the game looked like
ending in a certain defeat for the home side. However Gillingham had other
ideas, and a brace from Charlie Lee (81, 88 minutes - no relation) levelled
the scored before Gavin Tomlin grabbed an unlikely winner in the 90th minute
to delight the vast majority of the 3,784 crowd - not to mention Gills boss
Andy Hessenthaler who subsequently declared himself 'speechless'.
Elsewhere Freddie Sears failed to break his duck for Colchester, with whom
the 22-year-old striker is on loan for the next month. Sears made a third
successive start for the Us but failed to get on the score sheet once again
as Colchester secured a point at Oldham with a 1-1 draw. The young Hammer
had a disappointing night and was replaced just 12 minutes into the second
half by fellow forward Kayode Odejayi, who joined the Essex club on a free
transfer last month.
Of the other young Hammers on loan, Callum Driver's Burton were beaten 2-0
by League Two title-chasers Swindon Town - managed by Paolo Di Canio - at
the County Ground. The former Dulwich Hamlet defender played a full 90
minutes for Albion, who were beaten by two goals within five second-half
minutes.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Peter Kurucz - one of two young Hammers currently on
loan at Rochdale - failed to prevent his side slipping to defeat at home to
League One play-off contenders Notts County.
County - for whom another Hammer, Cristian Montano was an unused substitute
- won 1-0 at Spotland despite ending the game with only ten men following
the 89th-minute dismissal of Lee Hughes.
Dale are now just one place off the bottom of the division, three points
from safety.
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England strikes for West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur pair
9:03pm Wednesday 29th February 2012 in News
Guardian Series
West Ham's Henri Lansbury struck twice for England Under-21s in a 4-0
victory over Belgium. The Arsenal loanee was joined on the scoreboard by
Spurs' youngster Steven Caulker and Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the
Three Lions extended their lead at the top of Group Eight of the Euro 2013
qualifiers. The hosts made the perfect start at Middlesbrough's Riverside
Stadium, as Lansbury swung in a cross-shot from the left flank which dipped
neatly under the bar to put England in front. He almost bagged a similarly
spectacular effort shortly after when he let fly from 25 yards but Koen
Casteels forced a corner. The home side took a two-goal lead at the break
though as Caulker netted his first goal for the Under-21s, converting from
Craig Dawson's header. Early in the second half, Lansbury completed a brace
after Wilfried Zaha had pulled back for him, before Chamberlain converted
from 12 yards, meaning only Norway can now catch England in their group.
Also in action among the Spurs ranks were Danny Rose, who completed 90
minutes, while Adam Smith was an unused substitute.
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WEST HAM'S WINSTON REID SUFFERS HEAD INJURY
Daily Star
1st March 2012 By Daily Star Reporter
WEST HAM defender Winston Reid could miss the Cardiff clash after suffering
a head injury in New Zealand's 3-2 defeat by Jamaica.
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ENGLAND U21S 4 BELGIUM U21S 0: ALL-ROUNDER HENRI LANSBURY BOWLS OVER
BELGIANS
Express.co.uk
Thursday March 1,2012
By Niall Hickman
HENRI LANSBURY is England and West Ham's new 'Man for all Seasons' having
enjoyed a stunning last eight days in which he has saved, scored and set up
goals.
On-loan Hammers midfielder Lansbury netted two of the four goals last night
against Belgium in the Under-21 European Championship qualifier and set up a
third. Only last week Lansbury donned the keeper's gloves in the 4-1 win
over Blackpool following Robert Green's dismissal. Arsenal boss Arsene
Wenger believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make a late push for a place in
England's senior squad for this summer's European Championships. But at this
rate he might not be the only Gunner to stake a claim, as Lansbury outplayed
his team-mate. Lansbury's opener was an outrageous 40-yard shot, which he
claimed was intentional. "I meant to do it," he said. "It was a
cross-cum-shot, but I will take it."
But manager Brian Eastick said: "Henri said he meant it but I am not so
sure. He had a smile on his face when he told me, but he did well. Henri
played behind the lone striker and did a very good job. "This was a very
important result. Stuart Pearce rang me at 1pm, wished me good luck and said
I had better get on and win the game. "We played well but there are still
things we can improve on and we need to be more tactically astute. The game
was far too open and I am sure that when Stuart looks at the video he will
say the same thing."
Eastick handed a first U21s cap to Ivory Coast-born winger Wilfried Zaha and
within nine minutes they were ahead, as Lansbury netted an astonishing goal.
He picked up Danny Rose's pass on the left touchline and, although there
appeared to be no danger to the visitors' goal, he planted a right-foot shot
into the top corner.
Lansbury then had a hand in their second as Craig Dawson headed his corner
into Steven Caulker's path and he nodded home from close range. Eight
minutes after the break the game was over, as Lansbury made it 3-0 before,
deep into injury-time, Oxlade-Chamberlain scored from the penalty spot after
he had been up-ended in the box.
The win leaves England seven points clear at the top of their group.
ENGLAND U21 (4-5-1): Butland; Kelly, Rose, Caulker, Dawson; McEachran,
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lansbury (Gardner 73), Henderson, Zaha (Shelvey 68);
Sordell (Keane 82). Booked: Dawson. Goals: Lansbury 9, 53. Caulker 36,
Oxlade-Chamberlain 90.
BELGIUM U21 (4-4-2): Casteels; Ngawa, Boyata, Wuytens, Acker; De Bock,
Meunier (Naessens 60), De Pauw, Bruno (Musonda 62); Badibanga (Guillaume
83), Benteke.
Referee: L Liany (Israel).
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