HAMMERS and Millwall have drawn 1-1 at Upton Park, Marlon
Harewood's 35th minute goal earning a share of the points after
Barry Hayles had given the Lions an early lead.
Passion and commitment were etched into the West Ham performance,
but a stubborn rearguard action by Millwall in the second-half
denied Alan Pardew's men all three points.
Pards made his first change to the Hammers line-up in four games,
Matty Etherington earning a place on the left of midfield after his
scintillating second-half display against Coventry, Hayden Mullins
making way.
That change aside, Pards went with the same 16 players that won 3-0
against the Sky Blues last weekend. Elliott Ward lined-up against
brother Darren in just his seventh West Ham appearance, while Mark
Noble moved into central-midfield to partner Nigel Reo-Coker.
Millwall player-manager Dennis Wise named himself amongst the
substitutes, preferring Marvin Elliott in midfield.
The players were greeted by one of the best atmospheres of the
season at Upton Park, and responded by breaking out of the blocks
at a blistering pace.
It took all of 36 seconds for Nigel Reo-Coker to burst through the
Millwall defence, his powerful run eventually smothered by Lions
goalkeeper Andy Marshall.
Two minutes later Barry Hayles had Millwall's first chance.
Allowed to turn by Anton Ferdinand the striker curled in a shot
from the edge of the area that skipped narrowly wide of Jimmy
Walker's post.
But, backed by a seemingly endless rendition of Bubbles, it was
Hammers on the attack. On four minutes Etherington got away from
Mark Phillips for the first time and delivered a cross to the near
post that was met by Teddy Sheringham, but his glancing header
crept just over the bar.
Yet on 12 minutes, a Millwall surprise attack caught the Hammers
napping, and from nowhere Alan Pardew's men were 1-0 down.
Muscat cut-out Reo-Coker's free-kick and Danny Dichio released
Hayles, who rounded Walker and tucked the ball away from a tight
angle.
Hammers looked to hit straight back, Ward heading over the bar from
a corner routine as Alan Pardew's men rose to the challenge.
Marlon Harewood's powerful run took him around a Millwall
defender, but his cross into the heart of the Millwall box was well
cleared by Darren Ward.
There was nothing the Millwall defence could do to foil the big
striker on 35 minutes though, as Harewood's strike brought West
Ham level.
Teddy Sheringham's neat chest down into the path of Etherington
was the catalyst of a flowing Hammers move. The cross was
inch-perfect, leaving Harewood to sweep the ball past Marshall from
close range and make it 1-1.
Upton Park responded with a crescendo of noise. But it was Jimmy
Walker who had to be alert with the half drawing to close. It was
Hayles bearing down on goal again, this time the Hammers goalkeeper
winning the battle, racing from his line to pluck the ball off the
striker's head.
An all-action 45 minutes ended with both teams still very much in
this contest, the scores locked at 1-1.
HT: 1-1
Hammers began the second-half with the momentum in their favour,
and Nigel Reo-Coker should have done better when attacking Chris
Powell's cross.
On 59 minutes a sublime piece of skill from Harewood almost gave
Hammers the lead. Shaun Newton floated the ball across the Millwall
penalty area and with his back to goal Harewood executed a
fantastic over-head kick that forced Marshall into a fine
one-handed save.
Six minutes later Walker had to be alert, Jody Morris'
deflected shot sending the Hammers goalkeeper scampering across his
goal to palm away the shot.
But it was West Ham who were enjoying much of the attacking
possession, Sheringham and Etherington combining to good affect,
but the all-important second goal was alluding Alan Pardew's
men.
Bobby Zamora was introduced for Shaun Newton with 10 minutes left,
but still the breakthrough refused to come.
With two minutes left the Hammers substitute did carve out a good
chance, taking Sheringham's cross on his chest at the back
post, before drilling a volley that deflected narrowly over
Marshall's goal.
In a game as fiercely competitive as this, it was something of a
surprise that the first yellow card of the afternoon took all of 89
minutes to arrive, Dave Livermore catching the lively Zamora.
In stoppage time, Harewood broke away from the Millwall defence and
crossed into the box, but after Sheringham and Zamora had exchanged
timid passes, the England striker's eventual header looped
safely into the arms of Marshall.
It was West Ham's final chance of the game, Hammers and
Millwall sharing the points with a 1-1 draw, just as they did at
Upton Park in this fixture last season.
This time, though, the result could have a fundamental affect on
Hammers Play-off hopes.