Millwall Sick As Parrots

Millwall are sick as parrots after being defeated by the Hammers on Saturday. And after the hammer’s captain Kevin Nolan being sent off after just nine minutes after a rather crude tackle on Jack Smith, Millwall must be even sicker.

They basically had the hammers at their mercy with West Ham down to ten men. But it wasn’t to be, was it? Millwall desperately needed the points and West Ham needed them too for an extra cushion at the top of the table.

People thought that Millwall would have stepped up to the plate and brought the game to the irons but West Ham managed to stretch the dockers wide and bring the game to them via the flanks.

It may be true that the winning goal that sealed the deal for the irons should have been disallowed for a foul on Millwall’s keeper Forde, but hey, i’m not complaining and that’s football, isn’t it? You win some and you lose some!

Sam Allardyce, who claimed Nolan’s dismissal was harsh, said: “I think this may be a defining moment. It was a result we deserved and we managed the disappointment of Kevin going off the field. “I am upset because it could have spoiled the game. It’s not the worst tackle in the game and if they are going to keep doing that, we will see 10 versus 11 and nobody wants that.

 

All we can say is that a great game was had by all and there was no bloodshed either, not even off the pitch.

Check out the video below showing the Hammer’s reaction to the second goal.

West Ham 3 Derby County 1

Today West Ham won again, but it was another game where a strong second-half showing was needed, as the Hammers made it five wins from six to cut the gap on leaders Southampton to just two points.

Carlton Cole, one of two changes in the starting eleven, headed in superbly after a right-wing cross from Joey O’Brien, the other alteration from the week before.

Kevin Nolan then lashed in a stunning volley for his first goal in the claret and blue at Upton Park. Mark Noble’s penalty made the game safe, meaning the only low note was a hamstring injury for Sam Baldock. On the plus side, Matt Taylor returned off the bench for a late cameo after his calf injury.

Match Report from WHUFC.com:

For Big Sam, there was much to savour about his team’s 3-1 success which made it 16 points out of a possible 18. “We have become the second-half team,” he said. “At the start of the season we were the first-half team, scoring within 15 minutes of nearly every game.

“I have to say it was tough going today in the first half. It was probably down to the system we played, the 4-4-2. We weren’t controlling midfield enough and we weren’t really at the races compared to our normal form.

“The second half performance was more like we know we can be. We saw the best of our players, better movement, better options and more fluent football.

“It is always difficult to recover when you go down one nil. We have done that twice on the trot now, not that I want to carry on like that mind. It was a great win in the end, a great second-half performance and off we go to Middlesbrough on Tuesday.”

Baldock’s loss was also keenly felt, with the striker having been the most potent threat in the opening stages. “Sam got in a couple of times,” said the manager. “His injury was another reason for our first-half performance.

“One we weren’t playing very well and two, Sam had been our strongest player for sneaking behind their back four. We had him in a couple of times in the first 15 minutes but Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan couldn’t get a grip of the game.

“So we put Jack Collison into midfield, changed to a 4-3-3 and those three talented players got us control of the match. It worked an absolute treat and they never got out of their half in the second half.”

With Julien Faubert turning in a man of the match display., the manager was asked to describe the transformation in the Frenchman’s form. “It is about the atmosphere we have, and the culture we are building at the training ground. It is about being comfortable with each other and looking forward to training. Working hard and enjoying all the benefits together by producing results.

“Julien has felt comfortable in the environment for the first time. I appreciate his ability and of course someone like Julien, we had to get the best out of if we could because it was big money when he came here. Now we are seeing the benefit of him playing consistently and consistently well.

“He was well deserving of the man of the match award and long may it continue. The bottom line is he is working hard. He is creating so many opportunities to receive the ball and hurt the opposition, that is the real benefit for Julien.”

The manager also reserved special praise for Freddie Piquionne, with another star turn off the bench after his goal at the Ricoh Arena last week. He was fouled in the area for the penalty, after tremendous build-up play by Faubert and then Collison to set him free

“For the second time, Freddie Piquionne has come on and done a really good job. The only disappointing thing is he should have scored again. He needs to crown a good performance off with a goal.

“He had two headers and one he ran into with his touch. We know he is getting the chances which is the pleasing thing.”

The manager was delighted with Nolan’s “absolutely brilliant” goal, and he was keen to remind that the skipper was not signed for his creative play, good as it can be, but as a match-winner and goalscorer from midfield who operates in the final third and in and around the penalty area.

“It was the goal of the game, and his first one here which is really pleasing. The fans saw his outstanding quality. To get one at home, I hope he can kick on from there.”

It remains to be seen what changes the manager may make at the Riverside on Tuesday, with Carlton Cole suffering from cramp in the closing stages and as Baldock is set to be out for a period of time. The likes of Papa Bouba Diop and Freddie Sears will be desperate to make the 16 as will Guy Demel, who was an unused substitute.

“It is just a disappointing loss with Sam. That is why you have to go with four strikers. At least we have Freddie, John Carew and Carlton Cole still to choose from. Bearing in mind where we came from today, I thought it was an outstanding recovery and an outstanding performance in the second half.”

So good news with The Hammers maintaining their fine form, Southampton we’re coming to get you!

Allardyce: No Long Ball Game

West Ham United were back in training this Tuesday fresh from a spirited display at Crystal Palace when their poised passing performance should have earned more than the single point.

Speaking after the match, the Palace manager had said: “Two teams, playing two different ways; very much a physical powerful team in West Ham, knocking a lot of balls into your box, against the team that we had with the guile, the sharpness and the interchange to play and try to create chances.”

However, the Hammers had 366 passes in play compared to the home side’s 224. They completed nearly 80 per cent of these while Palace’s success rate was just 72 per cent. The visitors also carried the ball into the final third of the pitch on 93 occasions as opposed to the Eagles’ 68 times.

Speaking to whufc.com, Big Sam said: “We had more than 4,000 travelling fans at Selhurst Park. That is fantastic support again and they all saw another exciting team performance to go with the big wins we had at Watford and Nottingham Forest.

“We dominated the Palace game and outplayed the home side so it disappoints me to hear a young manager talking in the way that he did about my team. Just to get the facts straight, we were on top in terms of passing and possession and should have won the game with the chances we created.”

I am liking the statistics we are getting from WHUFC now! Shows the depth Sam Allardyce and his team go into to make sure they are fully prepared for every game, and of course analyse every performance. Feels a much more professional outfit than in the past.

Hammers Draw With Millwall

Sam Allardyce settled for a point from a competitive London derby at Millwall today but knew his team had made enough chances to have taken all three.

The Hammers headed to The Den in great away form and could have had a tremendous start inside the first minute when Henri Lansbury caught home keeper David Forde napping. Lansbury shot towards an empty net from fully 40 yards only to see it just flash wide.

He also hit the bar and Julien Faubert went close in the first half before Kevin Nolan and David Bentley spurned golden opportunities in the second 45. Although it is six games unbeaten, a first win at Millwall since 1991 still eludes the Hammers.

“We are disappointed we didn’t win it but we respect the point we have got and a clean sheet based on the pressure Millwall put us under in the first half,” said Allardyce.

“I thought it was a fantastic piece of vision from Henri [in the first minute]. I was thinking ‘why the hell are you shooting from there?’He must have seen the keeper in the position he was and had the ball been on target it would have gone in the back of the net.

“It would have been nice to been talking about that goal but unfortunately it didn’t go in.”

Millwall recovered well from that early scare and gave as good as they got before half-time. Robert Green had to be alert for occasional forays forward but the Hammers looked more dangerous, even if they did have less of the ball than their hosts.

Even though we didn’t win we didn’t lose and against Millwall away I am happy with that! Can’t allow them any bragging rights now can we!

Sam Baldock Signs

West Ham United have confirmed the signing of striker Sam Baldock from MK Dons.

The 22-year-old striker put pen to paper on a four-year deal, with an option for a fifth year following a successful medical that took place earlier in the day.

Baldock, who has been in fine goal scoring form for The Dons could just be our new Tony Cottee. When I have seen him play he looks lively and sharp and always sniffing out a chance, he could be the perfect foil for Carlton Cole. I have always been a fan of little man big man strike partnerships.

“I am pleased to be here,” he told whufc.com. “I am just excited to be coming to such a great club, caked in so much history. I just want to hit the ground running.

“I want to show [the fans] what I can do and hopefully everyone will be proud of me.”

Southampton came in at the death with a bid apparently to land Baldock, but West Ham won the race and are thought to have paid around £2million to secure his services, although the exact figure remains undisclosed.