Luke's Free

Luke Chadwick is enjoying his right to roam at Upton Park - and has a smile on his face in training as well.

Although seen as a right winger, his cross for Malky Mackay to score against Ipswich on Saturday came from the left, and he says:

"It came in from the corner and Chris Powell has played a lovely ball to me - I just dropped it in and Malky got a great header in only his second game for the club.

"I have got a bit freedom to try and get on the ball and play and fortunately that came off with the goal.

"If the cross hadn't come off, though, I would have had to have got back into position quickly and that point has been emphasised to me.

"I have to do my defensive work as well so if I do wander around I have to get back in my right-sided position to defend.

"I am doing a lot of running and really enjoying playing at the moment."

Luke is enjoying his daily work as well as playing and adds:

"Training is great as well, very entertaining with a lot of games.

"It is good fun and I think the lads are becoming a tight-knit bunch now.

"The new defenders have done great for us and did very well against a good passing side in Ipswich on Saturday."

Luke reckons Wigan are the team to keep pace with at the moment and adds:

"I think they have started like a house on fire and you could see when they came to our place how strong they were although we weren't at our best.

"We will be up there with them soon, hopefully."

Luke commiserates with Teddy Sheringham for missing a penalty on Saturday and says:

"He was unlucky with the spot kick; he has taken plenty in his career and put them away.

"He was unlucky a few minutes before, as well, with the keeper making an incredible save when Teddy hit one with his left foot.

"But Teddy is a great professional and apologised at half time for missing the penalty."

But that was not the sole reason for dropping two points, he insists:

"We could have gone in at half time more than one up and could then have gone on to win the game.

"I think we did enough to get three points but Ipswich played really well in the second half so I think a draw was a fair result.

"We want to win our home games but it was still a point gained."

As for Ipswich's goal, Luke warns:

"Counago finished it off well but he was inside the box and I think we will have to work on those set pieces - because we have conceded a few of those this season."

Amidst the frustration of the final minutes on Saturday there was a light-hearted moment when a ball boy, using great initiative, ran on to the pitch to retrieve a second ball - while play went on around him.

Unorthodox though it was, it kept the game flowing as West Ham were looking for the winner - and certainly raised a cheer.

So step forward, Lanre Oyebanjo, about whom Youth Academy Assistant Manager Paul Heffer jokes:

"At least he played a part in the game!"