Irons Sail On At Cardiff

The Irons sailed on to a nice win on Sunday against Cardiff City and boost their chances of returning to top flight football in the process.

The Hammers closed the gap to just one point on Sunday after coasting to a win over Cardiff City. The hammers won a convincing 2-0 and now sit just one point behind leaders Southampton.

The irons started out four points behind Southampton and just a point in front of Reading, who are third in the table, in the race for promotion to the Prem.

The Hammers left Cardiff with their heads held high with a comfortable win over a team that put the willies up Liverpool in the League Cup final last week.

Kevin Nolan, who has just come back from a three match ban slipped the ball coolly past Cardiff keeper David Marshall to give the visitors the lead just two minutes before the break.

The Boyos had problems in producing the gutsy display that gave them a draw against Liverpool, only to be defeated on penalties. Marshall also had to save from Nicky Maynard to keep the sore from soaring, too.

Peter Whittingham managed to hit the inside of a post from a free kick and that effort gave the Bluebirds some hope but in the end it never came.

In the end it was Allardyce’s team, who still have a game in hand over The Saints who took the 3 points in the 77th minute when irons defender George McCartney beat David Marshall from a tight angle to seal the deal.

Palace Frustrates The Irons

Crystal Palace not only frustrated promotion prospects West Ham with a goalless draw but the Upton Park crowd also voiced their opinions at each half of the game after a mediocre performance from their side.

According to West Ham’s manager, Sam Allardyce, his stars were upset about being booed off the field after their poor display against Crystal Palace which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Although the Hammers managed to keep all 11 players on the pitch against Palace 馃檪 , they just could not find a way past their guard as Palace were so resolute. Keeper, Green kept the hammers in the game and then some poor finishing after the break put the tin lid on a rather poor afternoon for the home side.

Allardyce said:

“As a manager you have to take it but one or two of the players in the dressing room were a little disappointed to get booed because we are at the top of the league”. “You build up the expectation as we have done recently having done so well, and we didn’t deliver today. But the fans have to stay with us and have to be patient, and then we’ll all benefit in the end.”

The only person who felt like he’d won something was Palace manager Dougie Freedman, who said:

“I’m pleased we could come to a big club like West Ham and force them to change shape and personnel,” he said. “West Ham will always cause you problems but we stuck to our game plan and I felt a draw was pretty much a fair result.”

The hammers next match is on 4th March against Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium and kick-off is at 12:45. Cardiff will be smarting from their loss against Liverpool in the Carling Cup on penalties and will be “up for it”, make no mistake lads!