WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
2010-11 Barclays Premier League
Manager: Avram Grant
New manager Avram Grant raided the transfer market and made five acquisitions. German international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger arrived from Lazio, and exciting Mexican winger Pablo Barrera came from Puma FC. Avram then went back to his former club Portsmouth and bought forward Frederic Piquionne together with full-back Tal Ben Haim. Lastly, after good displays in the World Cup the New Zealand defender Winston Reid was purchased.
A bad start with four successive defeats sent the Hammers to the bottom of the table. There was relief in the League Cup with a narrow 1–0 home win over Oxford United followed by a 2–1 victory at Sunderland. A further two new players arrived when Nigerian forward Victor Obinna was joined by Danish full-back Lars Jacobsen. The first league victory came in September with a 1–0 home win against rivals Tottenham Hotspur courtesy of a headed goal from Piquionne.
There were away draws at Wolves and Birmingham but the team were still struggling at the bottom. Progress was made in the League Cup as Stoke City were beaten 3–1 at the Boleyn Ground to set up a quarter-final home tie with Manchester United. It was a night to remember and was midfielder Jonathan Spector’s finest hour. Spector scored twice and two more from Carlton Cole gave West Ham a stunning 4–0 victory. The fans were puzzled as to why the team could not play like that in the league.
Going into the New Year the team were still in bottom place but managed to beat Barnsley 3–0 at home in the FA Cup. A 5–0 defeat at Newcastle was not good preparation for the next round of the FA Cup but the team responded and Nottingham Forest were beaten 3–2, with Victor Obinna scoring a hat-trick. The League Cup semi-final paired the Hammers with Birmingham City and West Ham won the home leg 2–1. New recruits in the transfer window were forwards Demba Ba and Robbie Keane, midfielder Gary O’Neil and full back Wayne Bridge. The second leg of the League Cup semi-final was a huge disappointment, as after leading 1–0 at half-time the side conceded three second-half goals and lost the tie 4–3 on aggregate.
Away to West Bromwich Albion the Hammers were losing 3–0 at half-time but in a spirited fightback two goals from Demba Ba and one from Carlton Cole earned them a 3–3 draw. The new-found confidence was in evidence as Burnley were beaten 5–1 at home in the FA Cup, and this was followed by league victories against Liverpool and Stoke City. The FA Cup trail ended with a 2–1 defeat at Stoke in the quarter-final.
Five successive defeats followed and relegation seemed inevitable. A trip to Wigan saw West Ham race into a 2–0 lead only to collapse to a 3–2 defeat, and this led to the immediate sacking of manager Avram Grant. Relegation was confirmed in a poor campaign that only yielded seven league victories.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
ASTON VILLA
Villa Park
0 - 3
14 August 2010
Ref: Mike dean
Att: 36,604
Green
WINSTON REID
Tomkins (Diamanti)
Upson
Ilunga
Faubert
Parker
Kovac (FREDRIC PIQUIONNE)
Noble
Boa Morte (PABLO BARRERA)
Cole
West Ham United's 2010/11 Barclays Premier League challenge got off to a stuttering start in the shape of a comprehensive defeat at Aston Villa. Despite the departure of manager Martin O'Neill just five days previously, the home side were deserved victors at Villa Park. England winger Stewart Downing opening the scoring - albeit from a clearly offside position - on 15 minutes after youngster Marc Albrighton volleyed Robert Green's punch back across the goalmouth.
The lead was doubled five minutes before half-time when another England wideman, Ashley Young, crossed from the right for Bulgarian Stiliyan Petrov to run on and head powerfully past Green from eight yards. The rout was complete when Albrighton cut inside James Tomkins before laying the ball to the edge of the penalty area, where James Milner was on hand to sweep a low shot past Green with his left foot.
BOLTON WANDERERS
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Noble [pen]
21 August 2010
Ref: A. Marriner
Att: 32,533
Green
Faubert
Gabbidon
Upson (Reid)
Ilunga
Dyer (McCarthy)
Parker
Noble
Barrera
Piquionne
Cole (Sears)
Johan Elmander scored twice at Upton Park as Bolton extended their winning run against West Ham to seven matches. Bolton weathered a first-half hammering - including a missed penalty from Carlton Cole - before snatching the lead with a Matthew Upson own goal four minutes after the restart. Elmander planted a near-post header past Robert Green before West Ham secured a lifeline, when Scott Parker won a second penalty and Mark Noble converted. But Elmander, who last scored twice in a match in November 2008, wrapped up the points with a low shot past Green after some more slack defending.
OXFORD UNITED : FL Cup (Second Round)
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Parker)
24 August 2010
Ref: J. Linington
Att: 20,902
MAREK STECH
Faubert
Tomkins
Spector
TAL BEN-HAIM
Barrera
Parker
Noble
Stanislas (Cole)
Sears (McCarthy)
Piquionne
Scott Parker came up with a winner deep into stoppage time to spare West Ham Carling Cup humiliation. Parker smashed home Frederic Piquionne's cross but the timing was harsh on the visitors who had been stubborn and organised throughout and at least deserved a crack at the Hammers in extra time. But while West ham manager Avram Grant will be thankful to have avoided a cup giant-killing this performance only laid bare the size of his task at Upton Park. The truth is the result was harsh on Oxford who for long periods of this match matched their top-flight opponents, so much so that it was difficult to determine who were the big-time team. It was the same old story from West Ham. Lots of neat passing and fluid movement but no real penetration.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Old Trafford
0 - 3
28 August 2010
Ref: M. Cattenburg
Att: 75,061
Green
Spector
Gabbidon
Upson
Ilunga
Faubert (Barrera)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte (Stanislas)
Dyer (Piquionne)
Cole
A contentious first-half penalty ruined West Ham United's hopes of earning a hard-fought point at Manchester United. The Hammers had more than held their own for the opening half-hour at Old Trafford, with both Kieron Dyer and Carlton Cole looking dangerous on the counter-attack. However, just when it appeared that Avram Grant's men had weathered the early storm, referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a spot-kick for Jonathan Spector's innocuous-looking challenge on former Red Devils team-mate Ryan Giggs.
Wayne Rooney jinked up to the ball before sending Green the wrong way from 12 yards. Having gone ahead, Sir Alex Ferguson's team took control of affairs. Nani added a second, five minutes after half-time and then lifted an inch-perfect cross to the far post, where Dimitar Berbatov connected with an unstoppable scissor-kick that flew past Green to wrap up a 3-0 scoreline.
CHELSEA
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Parker)
11 September 2010
Ref: C. Foy
Att: 33,014
Green
LARS JACOBSEN
Ben-Haim
Upson
Ilunga
Parker
Behrami (Piquionne)
Noble
Boa Morte (Dyer)
Cole
VICTOR OBINNA
Chelsea's 100% start to the new season continued against rock-bottom West Ham at Upton Park as a brace from Michael Essien and another from Salomon Kalou kept them top of the Barclays Premier League. West Ham midfielder Scott Parker became the first player to score against the Blues this season but his late effort was scant consolation for the home side. Chelsea's victory over their London rivals piled more pressure on under-fire manager Avram Grant, whose side remained rooted to the foot of the table without a single point from their opening four games and having conceded 12 goals.
STOKE CITY
Britannia Stadium
1 - 1 (Parker)
18 September 2010
Ref: L. Mason
Att: 27,028
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson
Gabbidon
Behrami (Kovac)
Parker
Noble
Piquionne
Obinna (Boa Morte)
Cole
Scott Parker's third goal in four matches helped West Ham United pick up their first point of the Barclays Premier League season courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Stoke City. The in-form Hammer of the Year prodded home from close-range after Carlton Cole and Matthew Upson had worked hard to keep the ball alive from Victor Obinna's right-wing free-kick on 32 minutes. Frederic Piquionne came within inches of doubling the visitors' advantage at the Britannia Stadium two minutes later, only for his wicked 25-yard effort to cannon to safety off Thomas Sorensen's crossbar.
The Dane was also called into action twice in quick succession midway through the second half, turning aside a shot from Obinna before clawing Manuel da Costa's downward header out as it flew towards his bottom left-hand corner. Sorensen's good work was rewarded by Kenwyne Jones three minutes after half-time. The Trinidad and Tobago striker, whose height and aerial ability caused problems for the West Ham rearguard all afternoon, out-jumped Da Costa to power Jermaine Pennant's inch-perfect cross into the net from no more than two yards.
SUNDERLAND : FL Cup (Third Round)
Stadium of Light
2 - 1 (Obinna, Piquionne)
21 September 2010
Ref: H. Webb
Att: 21,907
Stech
Faubert
Ben-Haim
Tomkins
Da Costa
Obinna (Dyer)
Parker
Boa Morte
Barrera (Noble)
Kovac
Piquionne (Cole)
Nigeria international Victor Obinna dashed Sunderland's Carling Cup dreams as West Ham tasted victory against Barclays Premier League opposition for the first time this season. The 23-year-old struck 14 minutes after the break to send the Hammers into the fourth round courtesy of a deserved win at the Stadium of Light. They took the lead with 35 minutes gone when Frederic Piquionne rounded Simon Mignolet to fire home. The Black Cats were indebted to their Belgian goalkeeper when, having already denied both Obinna and Piquionne in quick succession, he kept out Scott Parker's effort from point-blank range.
The Wearsiders were a shadow of the outfit which took a point from Arsenal at the weekend and they surrendered tamely in front of a disgruntled crowd of 21,907. The Hammers, for whom skipper Parker was outstanding, will hope to repeat the feat at home to Tottenham on Saturday as they attempt to claim their first three-point haul of the campaign.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Piquionne)
25 September 2010
Ref: M. Atkinson
Att: 34,190
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson
Gabbidon
Dyer (Barrera)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte
Obinna (Kovac)
Piquionne
The Hammers picked up their first win of the season thanks to Frederic Piquionne's headed goal against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The goal saw Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp suffer his first defeat against former club West Ham as a manager. Piquionne's first-half header also gave West Ham their first league win of the season in a thrilling London derby at Upton Park. It was no more than West Ham deserved as they showed the grit and determination which manager Avram Grant will need to see more of if they are to avoid relegation this season.
Goalkeeper Robert Green also made a string of athletic saves as he continued his rehabilitation following his World Cup howler for England, including one from Luka Modric in the first half which was a candidate for save of the season. West Ham were hoping to build on their midweek Carling Cup victory against Sunderland and the confidence oozed from them, especially in the first half.
FULHAM
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Piquionne)
2 October 2010
Ref: A. Marriner
Att: 34,589
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson
Gabbidon
Barrera (Cole)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte
Obinna
Piquionne
West Ham sank to the foot of the Premier League table despite battling back from Clint Dempsey's goal to salvage a point in the London derby against Fulham. Dempsey, who humiliated Green 112 days ago at the World Cup, beat the England stopper from 12 yards with a volley after 32 minutes as Fulham ended a bruising first-half 1-0 up. Any hopes of a first league away win in 13 months were dashed by Frederic Piquionne, who leapt unmarked in the box to nod past Mark Schwarzer.
Wigan's win over Wolves, and Everton's first win of the season at Birmingham mean the Hammers dropped back to the bottom of the pile despite extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Molineux
1 - 1 (Noble [pen])
16 October 2010
Ref: M. Clattenburg
Att: 28,582
Green
Jacobsen
Ben-Haim
Da Costa
Gabbidon
Dyer (Cole)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte
Obinna
Piquionne
The Barclays Premier League basement battle between Wolves and West Ham ended all square at Molineux after Mark Noble's penalty salvaged a point for the visitors. Wanderers took the lead in the 10th minute thanks to Matt Jarvis, who volleyed home after Robert Green had failed to clear a cross. But Noble made no mistake from the spot in the 53rd minute, lashing the ball past Marcus Hahnemann.
A point each means Wolves remain in 19th place in the table with West Ham below them at the bottom of the pile. Both sides went into the match knowing a win would lift them out of the relegation zone and it was the hosts, without a win in six league fixtures, who made the more positive start.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Cole)
23 October 2010
Ref: C. Foy
Att: 34,486
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson (Ilunga)
Gabbidon
Behrami (Barrera)
Parker
Noble
Obinna
Cole
Piquionne (McCarthy)
Avram Grant's side started the match with all the confidence you would expect from a team that was unbeaten in its previous four outings. The Hammers took the lead against the Magpies through Carlton Cole before slumping to a 2-1 loss. In the 12th minute Frederic Piquionne springs the offside trap to race on to Mark Noble's fine pass. The Frenchman scuffs his left-footed shot across the face of goal and England forward Carlton Cole is there to apply the finishing touch from close-range. However that was to be West Ham's only shot on target during the entire game as Grant's team simply collapsed against a team who were
playing second division football less than six months earlier. Magpies Kevin Nolan netted the equaliser on 23 minutes after good work from Andy Carroll, who headed home the winner in the second half. The result leaves West Ham rotted to the bottom of the Premier League table
STOKE CITY : FL Cup (Fourth Round)
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Da Costa, Obinna, Parker)
27 October 2010
Ref: H. Webb
Att: 25,304
Stech
Faubert
Tomkins
Da Costa
Ben-Haim
Barrera
Parker
Kovac (Obinna)
Boa Morte (Behrami)
McCarthy (Noble)
Cole
West Ham's substitutes came to Avram Grant's rescue as they helped seal a place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time victory over Stoke. The Potters looked set to pile the pressure on Hammers boss Grant after the home side missed several chances to cancel out Kenwyne Jones' early opener at Upton Park. But captain Scott Parker finally equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining before Manuel Da Costa and substitute Victor Obinna completed the turnaround.
Bottom of the Barclays Premier League, the Hammers looked set to crash out of the League Cup until the second-half introduction of Obinna, Mark Noble and Valon Behrami. Grant was once again looking to use the competition to kick-start his side's season, while the visitors were keen to bounce back from two straight defeats
ARSENAL
Emirates Stadium
0 - 1
30 October 2010
Ref: M. Jones
Att: 60,086
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Gabbidon
Ilunga
Parker
Behrami (Barrera)
Noble
Boa Morte
Obinna (Faubert)
Piquionne (Cole)
Alex Song's late header gave Barclays Premier League title chasers Arsenal a narrow victory over West Ham to deny the bottom club a deserved point at Emirates Stadium. Robert Green, in front of watching England boss Fabio Capello's assistant Franco Baldini, had pulled off a string of fine saves to keep the Gunners at bay. However, with just two minutes left, Song dived to head home Gael Clichy's cross as Arsene Wenger's improving side kept up the pressure on leaders Chelsea.
Arsenal had plenty of momentum going into this afternoon's game after following up impressive Champions League performances with victory at Manchester City and marching into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. However, Wenger had warned against complacency, with the Irons looking to battle their way clear of the relegation zone.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
St Andrew's
2 - 2 (Behrami, Piquionne)
6 November 2010
Ref: M. Oliver
Att: 26,474
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon
Upson
Ilunga
Behrami
Parker
Boa Morte (Dyer)
Obinna (Kovac)
Cole
Piquionne
Rock-bottom West Ham were denied all three points as Birmingham City scored twice in nine second-half minutes to rescue a point at St Andrew's. Blues keeper Ben Foster brilliantly denied Carlton Cole but low finishes by Frederic Piquionne and Valon Behrami gave the visitors the upper hand. The home side rallied and Cameron Jerome struck after a knockdown from Nikola Zigic before Liam Ridgewell pounced on a rebound to equalise.
Jerome then saw a shot deflected against the woodwork by Danny Gabbidon. It was a result that scarcely seemed possible when the Hammers scored twice after the break to put themselves on course for a first away success in the Premier League since the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Parker, Piquionne [pen])
10 November 2010
Ref: M. Dean
Att: 33,023
Green
Ilunga
Gabbidon
Upson
Jacobsen
Boa Morte (Kovac)
Parker
Dyer
Barrera (McCarthy)
Cole (Obinna)
Piquionne
West Ham were once again left frustrated and remain bottom of the Barclays Premier League as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Brom at Upton Park. Peter Odemwingie had put the Baggies in front from the penalty spot in the 38th minute.
However, Scott Parker smashed in a 25-yard effort to level before the break and Frederic Piquionne put the Hammers ahead from the spot at the start of the second half - only for Pablo Ibanez to deny Avram Grant's men a much-needed first league win since September 25.
BLACKPOOL
Upton Park
0 - 0
13 November 2010
Ref: K. Friend
Att: 31,194
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon
Upson
Ilunga
Boa Morte (Cole)
Parker
Noble
Dyer (Barrera)
Obinna
Piquionne (McCarthy)
Bottom club West Ham were again frustrated as Blackpool's all-changed XI held them to a goalless draw at Upton Park. Ian Holloway had threatened to quit if fined for making 10 alterations for the midweek defeat at Aston Villa, and had recalled his main men for this encounter. However, it was referee Kevin Friend who took centre stage when he denied the home side what looked two clear first-half penalties, with Avram Grant's men then unable to make the most of their opportunities as the Israeli again faced calls for his resignation at the final whistle.
West Ham had not won in the league since the end of September. However, it was a positive start by the Irons, as fit-again Mark Noble stabbed a 20-yard effort wide. Frederic Piquionne, who scored a penalty in the 2-2 draw against West Brom here on Wednesday night, broke down the left and cut inside the box, but his shot was charged down before Daniel Gabbidon headed a corner over.
LIVERPOOL
Anfield
0 - 3
20 November 2010
Ref: L. Probert
Att: 43,024
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon
Upson
Ilunga (Tomkins)
Noble
Kovac
Boa Morte
Obinna (Barrera)
Cole (McCarthy)
Piquionne
Liverpool's first-half barrage secured an easy win over a West Ham side that looked worryingly weak at Anfield. Former Hammer Glen Johnson cracked a low shot past over-worked Robert Green to give the hosts an 18th-minute lead. Dirk Kuyt then coolly slotted home a penalty after lively Fernando Torres had caused Danny Gabbidon to handle.
Maxi Rodriquez nodded in a simple third before half time, while bottom-of-the-table West Ham created nothing in a largely stale second period. Now with just one win in 14 Premier League matches this season, Avram Grant's Hammers were desperate for something positive from their trip to the north-west - a performance if not a tangible result - to convince supporters that their team is not destined for relegation.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Behrami, Obinna, Parker)
27 November 2010
Ref: M. Halsey
Att: 34,178
Green
Jacobsen (Reid)
Tomkins
Upson
Gabbidon
Behrami
Barrera
Parker (Kovac)
Stanislas
Piquionne (Cole)
Obinna
West Ham United eased the pressure on manager Avram Grant with victory over Wigan in what had been labelled the "Save Our Season" game. There was a mixture of relief and elation around Upton Park as the Hammers secured only their second Premier League win of the season. West Ham remain rooted to the foot of the table, but Grant and his players can at least take comfort from an improved performance, and more importantly all the three points. After a nervous opening, Valon Behrami released the growing tension 11 minutes before the interval by bundling home Frederic Piquionne's header inside the area.
Victor Obinna's first league goal of the season doubled the lead early in the second half, although they still had to survive a scare before sealing what was ultimately a comfortable win. Wigan were awarded a penalty after Danny Gabbidon fouled Tom Cleverley, but substitute Mauro Boselli was inexplicably allowed to take responsibility only moments after coming on, with West Ham keeper Robert Green almost inevitably saving. West Ham grabbed gratefully at the let-off and the outstanding Scott Parker swept home a third from Obinna's cross after 75 minutes
MANCHESTER UNITED : FL Cup (Quarter-Final)
Upton Park
4 - 0 (Cole 2, Spector 2)
30 November 2010
Ref: M. Clattenburg
Att: 33,551
Green
Faubert
Tomkins (Reid)
Upson
Ben-Haim
Barrera (Hines)
Kovac
Spector
Boa Morte
Cole (Stanislas)
Obinna
From a season of few highlights for the Hammers, this thumping victory over a Manchester United side including the likes of Jonny Evans, Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez was certainly one of them. Holders Manchester United were sent crashing out of the Carling Cup as West Ham unleashed a shock 4-0 victory at Upton Park. Avram Grant's side put their Premier League woes aside for the evening as their commanding triumph booked them a spot in the semi-finals and condemned league leaders United to their first defeat in all competitions since April.
A snowy night in East London saw some remarkable individual displays from the Hammers, with Jonathan Spector and Carlton Cole doing the damage for the hosts with two goals apiece. Former United man Spector, stepping in for benched captain Scott Parker in midfield, got the hosts' assault going as he notched a first-half brace to put the home side 2-0 up at the break. And it fell to striker Cole to pick up where the American left off in the second half as he netted a double of his own, capitalising on some superb work from Victor Obinna to seal the decisive triumph.
SUNDERLAND
Stadium of Light
0 - 1
5 December 2010
Ref: M. Atkinson
Att: 36,940
Green
Gabbidon
Tomkins
Upson
Ben-Haim (Faubert)
Dyer (Hines)
Parker
Spector
Boa Morte (Piquionne)
Cole
Obinna
Jordan Henderson's first goal of the season sent West Ham back to the foot of the Barclays Premier League table as Sunderland ended their recent revival with a 1-0 win. The 20-year-old England international struck 11 minutes before the break to give his side an advantage they refused to surrender despite second half pressure from the visitors. Victor Obinna came closest to snatching a point with a 79th-minute effort which hit the outside of the post, but the Black Cats were good value for a victory which left them in seventh place.
Manager Steve Bruce has spent much of the season to date pleading with his midfielders to help out strikers Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan on the goals front, and Henderson's contribution will have been as welcome to him as it was to the bulk of a crowd of 36,940 on a bitterly cold Wearside afternoon. The Hammers arrived on Wearside still basking in the glory of their midweek Carling Cup demolition of Manchester United, but knowing the revival they launched in the league with last weekend's 3-1 win over Wigan was the overwhelming priority. Avram Grant's men had climbed from the foot of the table without kicking a ball as a result of Wolves' defeat at Blackburn 24 hours earlier, and as the only side to have won at the Stadium of Light this season - a 2-1 Carling Cup success in September - they had high hopes of extending a run of six games which had brought just one defeat.
MANCHESTER CITY
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Tomkins)
11 December 2010
Ref: P. Dowd
Att: 32,813
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
Ben-Haim
Barrera (Cole)
Spector
Parker
Stanislas (Dyer)
Piquionne (Hines)
Obinna
Manchester City served notice of their title ambitions by outclassing West Ham to move level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. City took a deserved lead when the superb Yaya Toure fired past Robert Green from Gareth Barry's cut-back. And they made it two at a subdued Upton Park as Yaya Toure's shot hit a post and went in off Green's back.
Adam Johnson rounded Green to seal the points before James Tomkins headed a consolation for rock-bottom West Ham. The result sees big-spending City leapfrog Chelsea and Manchester United to join Arsenal on 32 points. West Ham, by contrast, stay bottom of the league on 12 points with only two wins all season.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Ewood Park
1 - 1 (Stanislas)
18 December 2010
Ref: M. Dean
Att: 21,934
RUUD BOFFIN
Ben-Haim
Tomkins
Upson
Gabbidon
Barrera (Stanislas)
Parker
Dyer (McCarthy)
Spector (Cole)
Piquionne
Boa Morte
Substitute Junior Stanislas earned West Ham a priceless point with a 78th-minute equaliser at Ewood Park to deny Blackburn caretaker manager Steve Kean a win in his first game in charge. With West Ham boss Avram Grant enduring another week of speculation about his future, it was an important match for both managers, and, after a woeful first half, it was Blackburn who made the breakthrough in the 51st minute thanks to the scrappiest of goals from Ryan Nelsen. Defeat would certainly have been harsh on the visitors, who were easily the more creative side, and they got their reward when Stanislas fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
The point was not enough to lift West Ham off the bottom of the table but they did close to within two points of Wolves. Staff at Ewood Park had spent all morning clearing the pitch, stands and surrounding areas of snow and their efforts were rewarded as the match was the only one of the scheduled 3pm kick-offs in the Barclays Premier League to go ahead. Grant was forced into a change in goal after Robert Green underwent a minor operation to remove a cyst earlier this week, meaning a West Ham debut for 23-year-old Belgian Ruud Boffin. It was the first time Green had failed to start a league game for the Hammers for almost four years, and Grant's problems continued to mount before kick-off as Valon Behrami, who had been a doubt, was replaced by Jonathan Spector at the 11th hour.
FULHAM
Craven Cottage
3 - 1 (Cole 2, Piquionne)
26 December 2010
Ref: M. Halsey
Att: 25,332
Green
Ben-Haim
Tomkins
Upson
Gabbidon
Sears
Parker
Kovac
Stanislas
Cole
Piquionne (Nouble)
West Ham signalled their intent to become only the second club to stay up after being bottom of the Barclays Premier League on Christmas Day by ending their 27-game wait for an away win this afternoon. Carlton Cole was gifted a Boxing Day double as the Hammers came from behind to stun Fulham at Craven Cottage and temporarily haul themselves off the foot of the table. Cole netted twice after being inadvertently played in by Dickson Etuhu and Aaron Hughes at a chilly Craven Cottage, easing the pressure on manager Avram Grant.
The heat is now well and truly on opposite number Mark Hughes, whose side threw away namesake Aaron's first goal for more than six years, with Frederic Piquionne also on the scoresheet for the Hammers. The Cottagers boss left the field to chants of "Hughes out!" after earlier enduring taunts of "You don't know what you're doing!" Grant's own pre-match desperation was summed up by Freddie Sears being handed his first Barclays Premier League start since March 2009 in one of five changes for the visitors. The 21-year-old striker, recalled early from a loan spell at Scunthorpe, had scored just one goal in his entire 71-match professional career.
EVERTON
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Hibbert [og])
28 December 2010
Ref: H. Webb
Att: 33,422
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga (Spector)
Sears
Parker
Kovac
Boa Morte
Obinna (Hines)
Piquionne (Cole)
West Ham blew the chance to haul themselves out of the Barclays Premier League drop zone as Everton claimed a deserved 1-1 draw at Upton Park. The Hammers, who had climbed off the foot of the table thanks to Sunday's victory at Fulham, took the lead when Tony Hibbert diverted Radoslav Kovac's tame overhead kick into his own net. The visitors hit back three minutes before half-time through Seamus Coleman before Carlton Cole wasted a glorious opportunity to win it for the home side. After ending their 27-game wait for an away win in the league two days earlier, the Hammers were looking for back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time this season.
But they were up against an Everton side who had won on their last four visits to Upton Park and had come away with a victory at table-topping Manchester City last time out. Curiously opting to play Tim Cahill as a lone frontman and leave three strikers on the bench, the visitors nevertheless went close to an early opener when Sylvain Distin ghosted in behind the Hammers defence but his touch took him too wide to shoot on target. West Ham, who rested Craven Cottage hero Cole, had enjoyed more than one slice of luck in that 3-1 win at Fulham and they got another to take a 16th-minute lead. Tim Howard parried a James Tomkins header from a corner to Kovac, whose overhead kick looked harmless but took a huge deflection off Hibbert and into the net, instantly cranking up the noise levels at Upton Park.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Sears, Zubar [og])
1 January 2011
Ref: L. Probert
Att: 33,500
Green
Ben-Haim
Tomkins
Upson
Gabbidon
Sears
Parker
Kovac
Stanislas (Noble)
Cole
Piquionne
Freddie Sears put the seal on a sweet victory for West Ham as they climbed out of the relegation zone and sent Wolves crashing to the foot of the Barclays Premier League. Winger Sears, a product of the club's academy and lifelong Hammers fan, struck from 15 yards in the 79th minute for his first goal since scoring on his debut in March 2008.
West Ham were already ahead by that stage, but they owed a debt of gratitude to Wolves' Ronald Zubar for their 51st-minute opener, the right-back letting the ball trickle in off his knee after Carlton Cole had taken an air shot. Wolves had plenty of chances but Mick McCarthy's side, who won at Liverpool in midweek, could not find a way past Robert Green. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake did beat the England goalkeeper but headed against the crossbar shortly before Sears scored the second goal.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
St James' Park
0 - 5
5 January 2011
Ref: M. Dean
Att: 42,387
Green
Ben-Haim
Tomkins
Upson
Gabbidon
Sears
Parker
Kovac (Behrami)
Noble (Hines)
Piquionne (Obinna)
Cole
Leon Best reminded Andy Carroll that there is more than one striker on Tyneside as Newcastle dumped woeful West Ham deep into relegation trouble. Best, making his first Barclays Premier League start for the club in the absence of the injured Carroll and Shola Ameobi, finally opened his account on his 15th appearance with a fine hat-trick to repay a large slice of his £1.2million transfer fee. They were the 24-year-old's first goals in a week short of a year and came on the day it was revealed Newcastle had rejected an approach from Tottenham for Carroll. Best's first-half brace and skipper Kevin Nolan's 45th-minute strike put the Magpies in the driving seat, and his third on the hour completed a first double of the campaign and ended the Hammers' recent revival before Peter Lovenkrands helped himself to a fifth. It was the third time this season Newcastle had scored five or more at St James' Park, and substitute Nile Ranger passed up a glorious opportunity to match the six they managed against Aston Villa back in August.
BARNSLEY : FA Cup (Third Round)
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Piquionne, Spector)
8 January 2011
Ref: N. Swarbrick
Att: 24,881
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Spector
Reid
Hines (Edgar)
Noble
Barrera
Boa Morte
Nouble (Piquionne)
Obinna (Parker)
West Ham's cup king Jonathan Spector was on target again but Avram Grant's struggling side made hard work of beating Barnsley at Upton Park. Spector's first goals in three years had sent West Ham storming into the Carling Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 victory over Manchester United. The American, playing in the same central midfield role, put the Hammers ahead again today before substitute Frederic Piquionne rifled home a late second.
West Ham's FA Cup fourth round place would have been sealed by half-time had Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele not produced four vital saves, three of them from Zavon Hines. Inexplicably, Grant's men then stopped playing after the interval and the second half was far more nervy for the Upton Park crowd than it should have been. Piquionne's injury-time strike came moments after Barnsley's Adam Hammill saw his deflected shot loop onto the bar and bounce away.
BIRMINGHAM CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final 1st leg)
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Cole, Noble)
11 January 2011
Ref: P. Dowd
Att: 34,753
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Reid
Upson
Spector
Sears (Hines)
Noble (Kovac)
Parker
Obinna
Piquionne (Cole)
Blundering Ben Foster may have saved Avram Grant's job as 10-man West Ham survived a moment of madness from Victor Obinna to beat Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. England goalkeeper Foster allowed a powder-puff shot from substitute Carlton Cole to squirm through his legs after Obinna looked to have cost the Hammers dear by crazily kicking Sebastian Larsson in the groin. Rightly sent off, Obinna had been central to a sterling first half from the home side, which saw Mark Noble deservedly put them ahead, arguably with the help of another Foster error. Former West Ham trainee Liam Ridgewell levelled after the break and the visitors looked set to go on and win before Foster's howler. The prospect of West Ham's first League Cup final for 30 years had failed to quell the speculation over Grant's future, with some reports suggesting even a win tonight would not be enough to spare him the axe. Despite Birmingham being only two points clear of the Hammers, manager Alex McLeish was under no such pressure as he looked to lead them to their first final since 2001.
ARSENAL
Upton Park
0 - 3
15 January 2011
Ref: A. Marriner
Att: 32,682
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
WAYNE BRIDGE (Nouble)
Spector
Kovac
Noble (Boa Morte)
Sears (Barrera)
Cole
Hines
Avram Grant's reign as West Ham manager looked set to have ended in defeat as Arsenal romped to a 3-0 win at Upton Park. The Irons boss was widely expected to lose his job regardless of the result, with Martin O'Neill ready to step in to try to retain their Barclays Premier League status. Arsenal, who moved to within two points of top spot, showed the Israeli's team no mercy as goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott put them in command at half-time, before the Dutchman wrapped things up with a penalty on 77 minutes.
Despite guiding the east London club into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, where they beat Birmingham here in midweek to move within 90 minutes of Wembley, the patience of owners David Gold and David Sullivan - who only appointed Grant during the summer - appears to have run out. While the club were officially making no comment, Grant's public spat with vice-chairman Karren Brady over the collapse of Steve Sidwell's proposed transfer appeared to have brought matters to a head.
EVERTON
Goodison Park
2 - 2 (Piquionne, Spector)
22 January 2011
Ref: P. Walton
Att: 34,179
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
Bridge
Hines (Sears), (Reid)
Spector
Noble
Parker
Boa Morte
Piquionne
Marouane Fellaini hit an injury-time equaliser as Everton twice came from behind to deny struggling West Ham a much-needed win. The Hammers and their beleaguered manager Avram Grant seemed on course for victory at Goodison Park as Frederic Piquionne headed them in front for the second time six minutes from time. But Piquionne was sent off for celebrating with fans and the Hammers, who remain bottom of the Barclays Premier League, were denied as Fellaini struck.
The visitors had taken the lead after 27 minutes as the once goal-shy Jonathan Spector found the net for the fourth time in two months but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov came off the Everton bench to level. The result was yet another blow for Grant, whose position has again been the subject of heavy speculation over the past week. Yet for most of the game his team, with the returning Scott Parker driving them forward, the visitors acquitted themselves superbly.
BIRMINGHAM CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final 2nd leg)
St Andrew's
1 - 3 (Cole)
26 January 2011
Ref: H. Webb
Att: 27,519
Green
Faubert
Tomkins
Upson
Bridge
Noble
Parker
Spector (McCarthy)
Hines (Dyer)
Cole
Boa Morte (GARY O'NEIL)
Lifelong Birmingham fan Craig Gardner sent City through to their first major Wembley final for 55 years with an extra-time winner in the Carling Cup semi-final clash with West Ham at St Andrew's. Gardner's goal - via Robert Green's blunder - capped a dramatic comeback by Alex McLeish's side who had fallen 3-1 behind on aggregate after Carlton Cole's superb first-half strike.
Lee Bowyer and Roger Johnson forced the game into extra-time before Gardner's moment of glory. West Ham were the better side in the opening 45 minutes with Cole causing them plenty of problems. But City were transformed after the interval with substitute Nikola Zigic causing plenty of problems after his half-time introduction and with Barry Ferguson pulling the strings in midfield. The Hammers were forced to defend desperately for long spells but eventually cracked under the pressure.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
Upton Park
3 - 2 (Obinna 3 [1 pen])
30 January 2011
Ref: M. Oliver
Att: 29,287
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon
Reid
Ilunga
Barrera (Hines)
Kovac
Noble (Boa Morte)
Obinna
Sears
Piquionne (Nouble)
Victor Obinna kept West Ham's FA Cup dreams alive with a superb hat-trick in a thrilling encounter at Upton Park. The striker scored twice in the first half and then slotted home a penalty in the second as the hosts put their Carling Cup semi-final misery behind them and set their sights on another potential route to Wembley, with Burnley next for them in the fifth round. They had to rely on a healthy slice of fortune against a Nottingham Forest side who demonstrated just why they are pushing for a Premier League place next season.
But while the much-changed Hammers struggled at times in defence, they showed enough penetration up front to give manager Avram Grant hope that they can turn around their desperate first half of the season. With Grant having strengthened his squad with the signings of Gary O'Neil and Demba Ba, plus Wayne Bridge on loan and possibly more to follow before the transfer window closes, the manager was hoping for a much-needed cup boost.
BLACKPOOL
Bloomfield Road
3 - 1 (Obinna 2, Keane)
1 February 2011
Ref: S. Attwell
Att: 15,095
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon (Reid)
Tomkins
Bridge
O'Neil
Noble
Parker
Obinna (Boa Morte)
Picquionne
ROBBIE KEANE (Kovac)
Robbie Keane and Gary O'Neil made their league debuts at Bloomfield Road as the Hammers faced Blackpool in the Premier League. On a cold and blustery night, Victor Obinna opened the scoring with a weak shot that Kingson should have saved. West Ham continued to hold the upper hand and doubled their lead on 37 minutes when debutant Keane steered a pass from Obinna into the corner.
Just before the interval Charlie Adam hit a low shot which eluded Robert Green and nestled in the net. The Tangerines were back in the game but 90 seconds later Obinna scored again with a 30-yard drive to make it 3-1 and move off the foot of the table.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Upton Park
0 - 1
6 February 2011
Ref: C. Foy
Att: 32,927
Green
Jacobsen
Reid
Upson (Da Costa)
Bridge
O'Neil
Parker
Noble
Obinna
Picquionne (Cole)
Keane (DEMBA BA)
Avram Grant endured a nightmare 56th birthday at Upton Park as his side sunk to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table after losing to fellow strugglers Birmingham. Nikola Zigic dealt the fatal blow midway through the second half when he nodded home from a Sebastian Larsson free-kick to seal the win and move Blues up to 16th. Substitute Demba Ba rattled the woodwork on his debut but, otherwise, the Hammers rarely threatened the visitors' goal and looked poor throughout.
Grant's position will now undoubtedly come under scrutiny once more as a result. The Israeli went into the match knowing a victory would see West Ham record their first back-to-back league wins in what has been a troubled season so far.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The Hawthorns
3 - 3 (Ba 2, Cole)
12 February 2011
Ref: L. Mason
Att: 23,916
Green
Jacobsen
Reid
Da Costa
Bridge
O'Neil (Spector)
Parker
Noble
Boa Morte (Piquionne)
Cole
Ba
Demba Ba scored twice as West Ham's second-half comeback secured them a point from a thrilling encounter with fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers West Brom at The Hawthorns. Albion produced a stunning first-half performance in front of their new head coach Roy Hodgson, who was watching from the stands, scoring twice in the opening eight minutes through Graham Dorrans and Jerome Thomas before Winston Reid's own goal put them 3-0 ahead just after the half-hour mark. But things could not have been more different after the break as a Ba double - on his first start for the Hammers - and a header from Carlton Cole in between ensured the match finished all-square.
The Baggies, overseen by caretaker boss Michael Appleton, served up a treat for Hodgson in the first half but the former Liverpool manager, who was announced as Roberto Di Matteo's successor on Friday and takes up the reins on Monday, will be deeply concerned by the capitulation which followed. West Brom remain above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, while West Ham are two points below them, having moved off the bottom up to 19th.
BURNLEY
Upton Park
5 - 1 (Cole 2, Hitzlsperger, Reid, Sears)
21 February 2011
Ref: M. Atkinson
Att: 24,448
Green
Jacobsen
Reid
Tomkins
Bridge
Sears
Parker
Noble
THOMAS HITZLSPERGER (Barrera)
Cole (Spector)
Ba (Piquionne)
Thomas Hitzlsperger was on target on his West Ham debut as Avram Grant's side shrugged off their relegation worries to book a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a clinical hammering of Burnley. The German, who had been out for six months with a thigh injury, opened the scoring with a 25-yard thunderbolt before Carlton Cole scored twice in three second-half minutes to put the Hammers in the driving seat.
The second of the England forward's strikes - a beautifully-taken half volley - was followed by Winston Reid's powerful header on the hour to make it 4-0. An error by Robert Green gave Jay Rodriguez a consolation for the Clarets, but Grant's team scored again through Freddie Sears in injury time to seal the emphatic win and set up a quarter-final clash with Stoke.
LIVERPOOL
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Ba, Cole, Parker)
27 February 2011
Ref: M. Halsey
Att: 34,941
Green
Jacobsen
Tomkins
Upson
Bridge
O'Neil
Parker
Noble
Hitzlsperger
Ba (Cole)
Piquionne (Spector)
West Ham produced arguably their best display of the season to haul themselves back off the bottom of the Premier League and all but end Liverpool's faint Champions League hopes. Goals from Scott Parker, Demba Ba - rapidly developing into one of the signings of the January transfer window - and Carlton Cole secured a 3-1 win at Upton Park and kept the pressure on the Hammers' relegation rivals. Glen Johnson pulled one back for Liverpool but their late rally was in vain as their revival under Kenny Dalglish suffered its first major setback.
The defeat left the Reds eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played a game more, while Avram Grant was able to celebrate a result that moved the Hammers level on points with fourth-bottom Wolves.
STOKE CITY
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Ba, Da Costa, Hitzlsperger)
5 March 2011
Ref: A. Marriner
Att: 33,066
Green
Tomkins
Upson
Da Costa
Bridge
Noble
Parker (Gabiddon)
Hitzlspeger
Piquionne
Cole (Obinna)
Ba (O'Neil)
West Ham hauled themselves out of the Barclays Premier League drop zone today as Stoke pressed the self-destruct button at Upton Park. The Hammers made it back-to-back league wins for the first time in more than a year to stay on course to complete a great escape from relegation.
Demba Ba was gifted his fourth goal in just five appearances after a calamitous Stoke mix-up, the recalled Manuel da Costa made it 2-0 and Thomas Hitzlsperger smashed in a late third to inflict a club record sixth straight away league defeat on the visitors.
STOKE CITY : FA Cup (Sixth Round)
Britannia Stadium
1 - 2 (Piquionne)
13 March 2011
Ref: M. Jones
Att: 24,550
Green
Da Costa
Tomkins
Upson
Bridge
Noble (Hines)
Parker
Hitzlspeger
Piquionne (Spector)
Cole
Obinna (Keane)
The Hammers' FA Cup dreams are over for another year after Stoke City squeezed through to the semi-finals with victory in a combative contest at the Britannia Stadium. Avram Grant's men arrived on the back of three successive home wins but could not keep that run going on a scrappy Sunday afternoon. The fourth meeting this season was the most dramatic with all three goals sparking debate. Only the woodwork denied the Hammers a replay, though, with Matthew Upson crashing a header against the bar on 86 minutes.
Robert Huth had opened the scoring for the home side with a free header on 12 minutes although the Hammers claimed Upson was blocked in the build-up. The equaliser came on the half-hour mark with Frederic Piquionne bundling in from close range as Stoke appealed for handball. The second half was as uncompromising as the first and it was settled by an unlikely winner from Danny Higginbotham. It came from a 20-yard free-kick which the impressive Robert Green - who had saved a Matthew Etherington penalty a minute after the restart - was just unable to keep out.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
0 - 0
19 March 2011
Ref: M. Dean
Att: 36,010
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson
Bridge
O'Neil
Parker
Hitzlspeger
Noble
Cole (Obinna)
Ba
West Ham United secured a valuable point in their battle for Barclays Premier League survival courtesy of a resilient goal-less draw at Tottenham Hotspur. The UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists threw everything at the Hammers on a bright and sunny afternoon at White Hart Lane, only to find goalkeeper Robert Green and his team-mates in defiant form. Indeed, had Carlton Cole converted two first-half chances or Spurs stopper Gomes not made a fine second-half stop to deny Demba Ba, Avram Grant's side could even have pulled of a shock victory in north London.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Upton Park
2 - 4 (Noble 2 [2 pens]
2 April 2011
Ref: L. Mason
Att: 34,546
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa
Upson
Bridge
O'Neil (Keane)
Parker
Noble (Obinna)
Hitzlsperger
Cole (Piquionne)
Ba
Wayne Rooney's hat-trick inspired Premier League leaders Manchester United to fight back from two goals down to beat West Ham. A Patrice Evra handball and Nemanja Vidic foul on Carlton Cole allowed Mark Noble to twice score from the spot for the relegation-battling Hammers. Vidic escaped a red card for a foul on Demba Ba before Rooney curled in a free-kick and powered in a shot. A Rooney penalty put the visitors ahead and Javier Hernandez poked in a fourth.
BOLTON WANDERERS
Reebok Stadium
0 - 3
9 April 2011
Ref: L. Probert
Att: 25,857
Green
Tomkins
Da Costa
Upson (Jacobsen)
Bridge
Noble
Parker (Spector)
Hitzlspeger
Piquionne (Cole)
Keane
Ba
Bolton Wanderers had the ideal warm-up for their FA Cup semi-final with Stoke as two goals from Daniel Sturridge helped them to an easy win over West Ham. Sturridge's fine curling shot and a Lee Chung-yong header gave Bolton a 2-0 lead at the end of an embarrassingly one-sided first half. Any second-half revival for the visitors was halted as Sturridge's second goal tightened Bolton's grip. Demba Ba's shot against the post was the closest West Ham came to scoring. West Ham came into the game burdened by the knowledge that they had never won at the Reebok Stadium and, from the outset, they never looked like breaking their duck.
ASTON VILLA
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Keane)
16 April 2011
Ref: M. Halsey
Att: 34,672
Green
Jacobsen
Da Costa (Gabiddon)
Upson
Bridge
O'Neil (Ba)
Noble
Hitzlspeger
Keane
Cole
Obinna (Hines)
West Ham's chances of avoiding the drop look bleak after they were beaten 2-1 at home by fellow strugglers Aston Villa. With just five games of the season left to play - and with trips to Chelsea and Manchester City next up - Avram Grant's side find themselves second from bottom of the table after a late winner from substitute Gabby Agbonlahor secured all three points for the visitors. For the second successive home game, the Hammers threw away an early lead to end up with nothing.
CHELSEA
Stamford Bridge
0 - 3
23 April 2011
Ref: P. Dowd
Att: 41,656
Green
Jacobsen
Gabbidon
Da Costa
Bridge
Spector
Noble (Keane)
Hitzlspeger
Sears (Obinna)
Cole (Piquionne)
Ba
Fernando Torres ended his goal drought to keep Chelsea in touch with Manchester United. The Spaniard had suffered for 13 games and nearly three months following his £50million move from Liverpool in January. But his late finish after coming on as a sub ended 732 minutes of misery at Stamford Bridge and helped to kill off a spirited West Ham in a thrilling London derby. Frank Lampard opened the scoring against his old side and Florent Malouda finished it in style with a thumping effort. But it might have ended 5-5 as a soaked pitch made for an entertaining game.
MANCHESTER CITY
Eastlands
1 - 2 (Ba)
1 May 2011
Ref: H. Webb
Att: 44,511
Green
Jacobsen
Tomkins
Upson (Da Costa)
Gabbidon
Sears
Spector
Hitzlspeger
Boa Morte (Obinna)
Ba
Keane (Cole)
Manchester City boosted their Champions League hopes by beating bottom of the table West Ham in a fluctuating match. The hosts were rampant early on and scored through an unlikely source when Nigel De Jong got his first City goal. Pablo Zabaleta compounded West Ham's misery with a second on 15 minutes after a fine exchange with David Silva. But Demba Ba fired in after the half hour to change the mood of the match and although Mario Balotelli hit the bar in the second half, City held on.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Hitzlsperger)
7 May 2011
Ref: P. Walton
Att: 33,789
Green
Jacobsen (Piquionne)
Da Costa
Gabbidon
Bridge
Spector
Hitzlsperger
Boa Morte (Keane)
Sears (Collison)
Cole
Ba
Der Hammer gave the Hammers the most slender of lifelines in their struggle to avoid relegation yesterday. Thomas Hitzlsperger's power-packed left foot rescued a point for West Ham and almost inspired a late surge to victory, but Robbie Keane missed a glorious chance to hit the winner and the odds remain stacked against the Londoners. Avram Grant's side arrested a run of five successive defeats, but another must-win game was not won. They remain bottom of the Premier League, with virtually no margin for error in their two remaining games, away to Wigan Athletic and at home to Sunderland.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
DW Stadium
2 - 3 (Ba 2)
15 May 2011
Ref: M. Dean
Att: 22,043
Green
Spence
Gabbidon
Tomkins
Bridge
Spector (Parker)
Hitzlsperger
Collison (Keane)
Piquionne (Cole)
Ba
Hines
The pilot of the light aircraft towing a banner with the words 'Avram Grant – Millwall legend' picked the perfect moment to begin his flypast. A minute earlier Conor Sammon had equalised for Wigan to send West Ham down and end Grant's flight of fancy. The pilot was on his way back to base, mission accomplished, when Charles N'Zogbia scored a dramatic winner in the final 10 seconds of this pulsating clash to set the seal on his miserable West Ham reign. Victory was essential at the DW Stadium for West Ham to stay alive, and even then they needed Fulham to win at Birmingham City. The match started well enough, as West Ham went 2-0 up in the first half. Demba Ba scored after 12 and 26 minutes, a lead that lasted to half-time. After the break, though, West Ham surrendered their lead, as they have done so many times this season. Charles N'Zogbia scored Wigan's first, before Conor Sammon equalised. West Ham wereset to be relegated at 2-2, but N'Zogbia won Wigan another crucial two points with a stoppage time winner. And miserable it truly has been as Grant has managed to do what many people thought impossible and take down a side packed full of big-name internationals.
SUNDERLAND
Upton Park
0 - 3
22 May 2011
Ref: A. Taylor
Att: 32,792
Green
Spence
Gabbidon
Tomkins (Jacobsen)
Bridge
Boa Morte (Parker)
Hitzlsperger
Collison
Sears
Hines (Obinna)
Piquionne
West Ham left the Premier League with a whimper as Sunderland eased to victory and sealed a top-10 finish. Bolo Zenden headed home Ahmed Elmohamady's cross to give the visitors an early advantage. Zavon Hines almost levelled from close range before Stephane Sessegnon doubled the lead when he lashed home from 25 yards after a solo run. The Hammers struggled to muster a response and Cristian Riveros converted Jordan Henderson's cross late on. Hammers fans hoping to see some pride restored after a dismal season against an out-of-form Sunderland side were instead subjected to a performance as abject as anything served up under Avram Grant, who was sacked as manager after the club's relegation last weekend. Caretaker boss Kevin Keen has declared his wish to replace Grant full-time but this audition inspired no confidence - his youthful side's display highlighting the desperate need for a strong figure to revive and inspire the club in the Championship next season.
