Post Match Comments
Audio Match ReportSaturday 28th October 2000FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Upton Park
Attendance:26,044
Referee: Mike Riley WEST HAM1Kanoute 73 NEWCASTLE0HISLOP S PEARCE SINCLAIR FERDINAND WINTERBURN I PEARCE LAMPARD CARRICK COLE DI CANIO KANOUTE Subs: BYWATER POTTS (64) MONCUR (88) DIAWARA SUKER (68) GIVEN GOMA ACUNA LEE DYER SHEARER SPEED GRIFFEN SOLANO HUGHES LUA LUA Subs: GLASS CORDONE (82) BASSEDAS HARPER CALDWELL
Frederic Kanoute put a smile back on Harry Redknapp's face after he scored a 73rd minute cracker to give West Ham their first home win of the season.
Kanoute latched on to an intelligent through ball from substitute Davor Suker and instinctively thrashed the ball past Shay Given in the Newcastle goal to the thunderous acclaim of a relieved Upton Park.
Harry was delighted for Kanoute, saying:
"Freddie needed a goal. He has been playing well this season without scoring."
Of the win, he said:
"It'll do us good. It's like anything in life, it's all about confidence. Although we started edgy today, the win will give everyone a big boost. When the results are not going well, it's difficult to go home and not think about it, especially when you're playing well."
And Harry welcomed Ian Pearce back to first team football saying:
"He's back after almost 2 years of being out of the game after a broken leg and then knee ligament damage against Spurs. I was delighted to see him back when you consider what he's been through."
But he confirmed that it was the older players who stole the show, saying:
"Stuart Pearce's performance was absolutely brilliant. He's nearly 39 years old but where do you see someone with that level of enthusiasm? Who needs a coach when you have someone like him around the Club?"
He also praised Winterburn, saying:
"Winterburn has the same enthusiasm - he was constantly chasing players today making it very difficult for them to play."
Of Joe Cole's injury he confirmed:
"Joe was just starting to influence the game before the tackle. He has a badly swollen ankle but he's a young lad and should recover quickly, possibly in two or three days."
Frederic Kanoute put a smile back on Harry Redknapp's face after he scored a 73rd minute cracker to give West Ham their first home win of the season.
Kanoute latched on to an intelligent through ball from substitute Davor Suker and instinctively thrashed the ball past Shay Given in the Newcastle goal to the thunderous acclaim of a relieved Upton Park.
Harry was delighted for Kanoute, saying:
"Freddie needed a goal. He has been playing well this season without scoring."
Of the win, he said:
"It'll do us good. It's like anything in life, it's all about confidence. Although we started edgy today, the win will give everyone a big boost. When the results are not going well, it's difficult to go home and not think about it, especially when you're playing well."
Prior to the strike, The Hammers had looked willing but far from able as they attempted to reverse a run of five home games without a win and remove the anxiety from their suffering manager.
And the relief with which Redknapp greeted the final whistle demonstrated the importance of the victory and the irrelevance of the performance as West Ham now climb to the giddy heights of 15th in the Premiership.
Newcastle arrived at Upton Park looking for their first win in 19 visits to London and knew they would never have a better opportunity as West Ham had watched their bubbles burst on home soil all season.
But for all their prompting and mobility in midfield, the Magpies spurned their best chances and had only themselves to blame for slumping to their seventh defeat in 11 games on their travels.
However, Newcastle almost obtained the best possible start when Nolberto Solano crossed to Alan Shearer at the near post in the early stages. And only a sensational reaction stop from former Newcastle keeper Shaka Hislop denied the visitors the lead.
Frank Lampard struck for the Hammers moments later when he latched onto a Kanoute's cross but unlike the Premiership's record-goalscorer, he failed to work the keeper from eight yards out.
Lampard nearly made amends for his earlier profligacy when he spectacularly volleyed Joe Cole's cross from the edge of the box. Shay Given, however, matched the young midfielder's skill and somehow tipped the ball over the bar.
Rio Ferdinand, who scored an own goal against Arsenal seven days earlier, nearly matched his effort against the Gunners when he stretched to clear a Gary Speed free-kick, but Hislop saved his blushes and the game remained level.
Kanoute, who before his goal was testing the home fans' patience with some unconvincing forward play, blazed over the bar five minutes before the break, a feat matched by Shearer seconds into the second half.
Cole, who continued to look the main source of hope for Hammers fans as Paulo di Canio continues to suffer from his inhibitive moodswings, went close twice in a minute as Redknapp's men took the initiative in the latter stages.
Winterburn departed after 65 minutes with a hamstring strain and was replaced by the long-serving Steve Potts and it was down the vacant right flank that Shearer attacked, fizzing just wide of Hislop's far post moments later.
However it was Redknapp's next switch that brought him the sweet satisfaction of a victory on home soil when he threw Suker into the fray and was instantly rewarded as the Croatian slipped in Kanoute to fire home.