West Bromwich Albion (1) v West Ham United (1)

By Stuart Kidson
December 8 2003

'I'M FOREVER SCORING OWN GOALS, OWN GOALS FOR THE OTHER SIDE' Maybe Hammers fans should change the words of their signature tune if the team keep doing this. Apologies again for the late posting. Maybe Santa will leave me a new video card and I will not have to ask friends to use their PC's.

West Bromwich Albion (1) v West Ham United (1)
The Hawthorns, Saturday 6th December 2003

West Ham came to the Hawthorns this weekend looking for revenge for last months collapse at home when they threw away a 3 goal lead to allow the Albion to come away 4 - 3 winners. With confidence boosted following Wednesday nights 2 - 0 win over Manchester United, Baggies fans inside the Hawthorns ground looked to the team to continue the feel good factor.

Albion opened the game brightly and could have taken a very early lead following a Bernt Haas long throw in which Danny Dichio was unable to control at the near post before West Ham defenders could clear the danger. Jason Koumas created himself a second chance for the Baggies inside two minutes when he jinked his way past challenges from Michael Carrick and Robbie Stockdale. The shot, however, was straight at David James and the England keeper got down well to deal with the ball with ease.

Albion were out for the kill and had their first corner within the first four minutes of the game. Koumas found Dichio and the former Sampodoria strikers effort hit the right post before bouncing out. Had the ball crossed the line it would not have counted anyway as referee Mr. M. Clattenburg had already blown up for a free kick to the visitors for an offside infringement.

Robbie Hulse was on form at Upton Park, netting twice in the comeback, and he must have fancied his chances when he turned on 25 yards and hit a first time strike towards the Smethwick End goal. The effort was good but the shot was weak and James comfortably held onto the ball at head height.

West Ham took a while to get into the game and it was almost into the tenth minute before they registered an effort on Russell Hoult's goal. Marlon Harewood raced clear of the Baggies off side trap but could not get past Danish international Thomas Gaardsoe, who made a timely challenge to send the ball out for a West Ham corner. Wayne Quinn crossed from the flag kick but a timely interception by Johnson for the Baggies cleared the danger.

James O'Connor was bought down by Hayden Mullins some 25 yards from goal which is rapidly becoming known as 'Koumas Territory' around the Hawthorns. As expected the Welsh midfielder stepped forward and his effort was heading goal bound but a flick off Brian Deane's head sent the ball high over the goals for a corner.

Considering last months game had produced a 7 goal thriller, this fixture was never going to be as exciting as both teams were trying to hit each other on the break and as a result this meant they kept on cancelling each other out. The game was becoming frustrating for the fans as both sides tried pack the midfield.

Bernt Haas tried to break the deadlock with a long range effort but the ball sailed wide of the mark from 20 yards out. Dichio was next to test the England keeper when his long range effort took a slight deflection off a defender but James was never in danger and held on to the ball with ease. Both sides were limiting each other to long range efforts with only rare forays into each others areas. West Ham's Michael Carrick beat the Baggies offside trap with a wonderfully weighted ball but Hoult was quicker to react than David Connolly, and the east Midlands based shot stopper beat the former Dingle to the ball.

The Albion then pushed forward and O'Connor picked up the ball some 20 yards out before letting fire with a shot which found its way through the massed ranks in front of goal but also into James's stomach and the former Villa keeper held onto the ball. West Ham then attacked and Deane, who had out fought big Sean Gregan, fired into the side netting from a very tight angle following Mullins's chip into the box.

Dichio's contribution to the afternoons game was cut short just before the break when the striker over stretched and hurt his groin. Treatment at pitch side by Physio Nick Worth did nothing to relieve the former Sunderland player of his discomfort and he limped out of the days action on 39 minutes. Scott Dobie, who scored a stunning header with his first touch against Man Utd, replaced Dichio and within a minute of appearing he was soon testing James with a well struck long range effort. Not to be outdone Carrick fired a 25 yard low shot which went just wide of the right hand post in front of the Brummie Road Stand.

The Baggies took the field for the second half with a more determined attitude and Clement almost scored with a 35 yard shot which had the massed ranks of home fans around the ground off their seats as it sailed just inches high over the bar. Koumas then attempted a fancy bicycle kick just inside the area but the ball was straight at the tall Hammers keeper.

West Ham won a succession of corners as the Baggies struggled to clear their lines and the Hammers best chance of the game so far fell to Marlon Harewood. Quinn sent over a wonderful cross from the corner kick which fell just right for the former Nottingham Forest striker. Unfortunately for the Hammers, Harewood miscued himself and the Baggies were thankful to be able to clear the ball from danger.

Thomas Gaardsoe picked up a yellow card for a clumsy and reckless challenge on Harewood on the edge of the Baggies area, but the resultant free kick came to nothing. By this point in the game the Albion were struggling to contain the visitors and former Dingle Connolly could have put the away side ahead following a long throw in by Quinn. Connolly could only blast the ball high over the bar from close range.

West Ham finally got their break when O'Connor lost possession in the middle of the park and Harewood raced clear with the ball. The £500,000 signing was tackled on the edge of the area and the loose ball fell to former Leicester player Deane who curled the ball inside the far post leaving Hoult clutching at air.

Koumas was taken off and replaced by Artim Sakiri, but it was the Hammers who were now looking likely to take all 3 points from the game. Harewood could have doubled the lead minutes later when he was again allowed space to run at the defence but his shot was a fraction of an inch wide of the post.

The goal seemed to stir the Baggies who were by now looking jaded thanks to their exploits just 72 hours earlier against Manchester. Gregan tried to find the net with a shot from 18 yards but the ball was always rising and sailed high over the bar. To the consternation of Alan Pardew the Hammers then gave the Baggies a lifeline when they scored an own goal for the second time in a month. Mullins attempts to head the ball out for a corner beat his own keeper and the home crowd went wild.

The game soon developed into a attritional battle as both sides went looking for the winner, but it was never going to come. Hulse went close a few times in the last minutes but the game had draw written all over it from the start.

Man of the Match for the Baggies was selected by me and I chose Neil Clement.

Teams

BAGGIES

Hoult, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist, Haas, Koumas, O'Connor, Johnson, Clement, Hulse, Dichio

Subs

Murphy, Dobie, Sakiri, Robinson, J. Chambers

HAMMERS

James, Pearce, Dailly, Repka, Stockdale, Carrick, Mullins, Quinn, Connolly, Harewood, Deane

Subs

Hutchinson, Horlock, Bywater, Ferdinand, Garcia