WEST Ham United went down 2-0 against Charlton Athletic in a New
Year's Eve clash at the Valley, Shaun Bartlett and Darren Bent
doing the damage.
Pards made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 against Wigan
Athletic two days ago, bringing in Shaun Newton and Jeremie
Aliadiere in place of Carl Fletcher and David Bellion, who both
dropped to the bench.
Also among the substitutes was Yossi Benayoun, the Israeli
international returning from an ankle injury sustained against
Newcastle.
Hammers started brightly, Marlon Harewood especially, and with
barely a minute gone the powerful forward muscled through the
Charlton defence before his shot was blocked by Jonathan Fortune.
With 10 minutes gone some slack Charlton defending allowed the ball
to roll invitingly across the edge of the penalty area, where Nigel
Reo-Coker missed kicked a shot which broke loose to Matty
Etherington who pulled his left-foot shot across the goal.
Moments later Reo-Coker was in another good shooting position on
the edge of the box and with Addicks goalkeeper Thomas Myhre all at
sea after fumbling a corner the Hammers skipper picked his spot
only for Herman Hreidarsson to use what appeared to be an arm to
block the ball on the line.
On 19 minutes Aliadiere was inches away with connecting with
Harewood's deflected cross, but with Charlton struggling to
hold onto possession it was West Ham United making all the running.
So when the Addicks took the lead on 21 minutes it was totally
against the run of play. Darren Bent took on Matty Etherington and
whipped in a low cross which the Hammers defenders left, allowing
Shaun Bartlett to steal in at the back post and side-foot home off
the crossbar, giving Roy Carroll no chance.
The Hammers goalkeeper did make a fine save low down to his left
from Dennis Rommedahl's skidding shot, only for referee Graham
Poll to deny him credit for the stop by awarding a goal-kick.
On 31 minutes Shaun Newton was denied by a fine block by Myhre.
Etherington slipped the ball through to the midfielder on the angle
and Newton hit a stinging drive that the goalkeeper did well to
beat away.
A fine strike from Harewood from 22 yards whistled just over the
crossbar, just after the striker had inexplicably attempted a
bicycle kick when in acers of space inside the penalty area.
A well-taken volley from Rommedahl produced a smart stop from
Carroll on 37 minutes and then the Hammers goalkeeper did well to
block Bartlett's shot with his leg before a follow-up drive
from former Hammer Matt Holland was kicked away from danger by
Hayden Mullins as Chartlon took a 1-0 lead into half-time.
HT: 0-1
The second-half saw Charlton start brightly Rommedahl inches away
from extending the Addicks' advantage when his low shot came
back off Carroll's right-hand post, before Holland fired wide
with the follow-up effort.
Hammers were having their chances at the other end though, both
Harewood and Anton Ferdinand seeing efforts on goal blocked by a
scrambling Charlton defence, while a dipping drive from Etherington
was comfortably gathered by Myhre.
Just past the hour mark Pards sent on the fit-again Yossi Benayoun
to replace right-back Christian Dailly, with Newton moving to
right-back.
But on 62 minutes Darren Bent gave Hammers an uphill task with a
decisive second goal. Former Hammer Chris Powell supplyed the cross
from the Charlton left and Bent rose above Addicks old-boy Paul
Konchesky to head down past Carroll and make it 2-0 to the home
side.
On 73 minutes Carroll made a good reaction save from
Hreidarsson's point-blank header, just before Aliadiere made
way for David Bellion.
Still Hammers could not find a way through the well-organised
Charlton rearguard, their best attempt coming from a Ferdinand
header that skipped just over the bar.
It was Charlton going closest though, substitute Kevin Lisbie
turning Collins inside the box and firing inches wide of the far
post.
With four minutes left Benayoun should have scored when he broke
away, but under pressure from a Charlton defender he pulled his
shot well wide.
Hammers rallied late on, but there was no way back for West
Ham, Charlton playing out a comfortable 2-0 win at the Valley.
For West Ham the first time they have lost twice in a row this
season will be an unwelcome statistic for Alan Pardew and one his
team will attempt to stem against reigning Premiership Champions
Chelsea in two days' time.
Today is this reporters last match covering West Ham United. Best
of luck for the rest of the season and beyond to everyone at the
Club.
No New Year Cheer At The Valley
31st December 2005