WEST Ham United have gone down 2-1 to Derby County in this early
kick-off at Upton Park, Carl Fletcher's goal overshadowed by a
brace from Grzegorz Rasiak.
Alan Pardew made three changes from the team that lost at Wolves.
Fit again Nigel Reo-Coker and Carl Fletcher returned in place of
Mark Noble and Anton Ferdinand while Gavin Williams was recalled
for the injured Bobby Zamora.
The game was slow to warm up on a chilly afternoon in East London,
and West Ham's rhythm was disrupted after just seven minutes
when Williams limped off to be replaced by Noble.
Three minutes later the Hammers fell behind. Rams full-back Richard
Jackson broke away down the left and crossed for Grzegorz Rasiak to
head home.
From the restart Alan Pardew's team fought to get back into the
game. Noble's swirling effort dropped just the wrong side of
the bar, only for the play to be pulled back for a foul during the
build up, before another dipping drive from Noble flew narrowly
wide of Lee Camp's post.
With 23 minutes gone Sergei Rebrov came within inches of restoring
parity for the Hammers. Harewood's back heel released Chris
Powell down the left and the full-back's pinpoint cross found
Rebrov, whose header scrapped the bar on its way over.
With the Hammers pressing relentlessly it seemed only a matter of
time before they equalised. In fact, it took the home side just a
minute longer to level the scores.
Jeff Kenna headed away Rebrov's cross, but the tenacious Carl
Fletcher wrestled the ball from Inigo Idiakez on the edge of the
area and drilled a left-foot shot low past Camp to celebrate his
first goal for the Club.
Looking sharp and hungry in midfield, Hammers pressed forward. On
41 minutes a sublime through ball from Noble released Harewood, who
was clattered by the onrushing Lee Camp just outside the box.
Despite being the last line of defence, Camp only received a yellow
card for the infringement, a decision that incensed the Upton Park
faithful. Unfortunately, West Ham could not take advantage, as
Rebrov's free-kick plunged straight into the Derby wall.
In the dying seconds of the half Nigel Reo-Coker burst through on
goal only to see his shot saved by the feet of Camp, sending the
teams in all square at the break.
HT: 1-1
Hammers made a storming start to the second-half and almost took
the lead when Carl Fletcher's thunderous header from
Rebrov's corner was cleared off the line with Camp beaten.
Just two minutes later Marlon Harewood squandered a golden
opportunity, jabbing the ball over from five yards out after
pouncing on Hayden Mullins' low cross.
At the other end, Jimmy Walker failed to hold onto a cross under
pressure from goalscorer Rasiak, but did well to gather at the
second time of asking at the feet of Rams skipper Ian Taylor.
But it was West Ham United making most of the running. On 55
minutes, Mark Noble fired off a shot under pressure that had Camp
scrambling across his goal.
The 17-year-old Academy graduate then squandered possession with a
loose pass in midfield, allowing Adam Boulder to storm forward and
unleash a curling drive that whistled just wide of Walker's
left hand post.
Captain Malky Mackay headed just wide for the Hammers on 60
minutes, before the Rams regained the lead through the giant
Rasiak's second of the game.
With 63 minutes elapsed a corner from Idiakez was cleared as far as
Tom Huddlestone, who returned the ball to the back post where
Rasiak was waiting to volley past a helpless Jimmy Walker.
Alan Pardew immediately introduced Teddy Sheringham to rapturous
applause, Sergei Rebrov the player making way.
Harewood was soon causing trouble for the Derby defence, letting
fly with a shot on the turn that crept just wide.
Looking to protect their slender advantage, Derby brought on Marco
Reich and Marcus Tudgay on 73 minutes, with Morten Bisgaard and
Tommy Smith leaving the field.
With the Rams sitting deep, Hammers launched an all out aerial
assault on their defence. One such raid saw the ball drop to
Sheringham and after he was tackled well by Pablo Mills, Noble laid
the ball out to Luke Chadwick whose stinging effort was
athletically tipped away by Camp.
Hammers began to dominate possession, but against a miserly Rams
defence they found it difficult to fashion clear-cut chances.
On the break Reich burst away before shooting tamely at Walker, but
Derby were more concerned about protecting their advantage than
adding to it, a point underlined by the withdrawal of Rasiak three
minutes from time to be replaced by Junior.
West Ham swept forward relentlessly in the closing minutes and only
the outstretched leg of Ian Taylor prevented them from snatching a
point late on. Mullins' 20 yard drive rifled low through a
packed penalty area, evaded the despairing drive of Camp only to be
repelled by the Derby captain's lunge.
The final whistle sounded almost immediately afterwards, leaving
Derby to celebrate their eighth away win of the season and West Ham
their fourth defeat at Upton Park.