Kitson Grabs Two

Paul Kitson was on the score sheet for the reserves yet again on Tuesday night in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

It keeps up an impressive record for Paul in the second string as he seeks to force his way into first team reckoning.

And, to add to the positive evening, Steve Lomas came through his come back with an encouraging  75 minute performance.

Coach Roger Cross was pleased with the overall performance and says: "We could have won the game; we opened the scoring with Paul Kitson going through one on one with Kasey Keller but two minutes later Tim Sherwood equalised.

"Then he scored again from a corner and we had some great scoring chances; Adam Newton put one wide, Leon Britton had one saved at point blank range, while Todorov and Paul Kitson also had one on ones saved.

"It looked as if we would never equalise but three minutes from the end Paul got it after he followed up on a Johnson header from a corner.

"He showed a lot of enthusiasm and determination, and I was very pleased with him."

Talking of Steve Lomas, he says: "It was his first proper game since January and he would have played the full 90 minutes, but we had to be sensible.

"He would have been liable to have been injured if he had played on."

Roger didn't pick out individuals about the performance against a Tottenham side including Rebrov but he adds: "It was a good all round performance, an excellent game - as good as you can get."

The only down side was the non-appearance of Joe Cole, who was having a scan on his foot on Tuesday evening.

"He would have played tonight and it looks as if he will be out on Saturday."

Absentees included Richard Garcia, who may be involved in the first team squad on Saturday. Tottenham's side included Sergei Rebrov.

West Ham: Bywater, Johnson, Minto, Lomas (Britton 75), Potts, Foxe, Newton, McCann, Kitson, Todorov (Riza), Courtois. Subs unused: McMahon B, Uddin, Ferrante.

*Click on the Audio/Video Logo to see the goals from the game and post-match interviews with Glenn Roeder and Steve Lomas.*