Posted on Wednesday, 22nd February 2012 by David Bowden
Ten man West Ham produced a gutsy display for the 3rd game in a row as they demolished Blackpool 4-1 to remind us all why we love them, and to send us back to the top of the Championship.
Goals from James Tomkins, a debut goal for Nicky Maynard, Gary O’Neil and Ricardo Vaz Te meant the Hammers leapfrogged Southampton to climb to the top of the Championship but that only tells half the story as they were forced to play 30 minutes without Robert Green who saw red for clattering into Roman Bednar.
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The Hammers produced the 3rd successive heroic performance in a row as the ten men of West Ham not only held on but went on to scores 2 more goals much to the delight of the 1,500 plus travelling fans, all this while Henri Lansbury watched on between the sticks.
The Hammers were quick out of the blocks and caught Blackpool unaware and they were visibly shaken as the pressure flooded in from the West Ham attackers. The Hammers almost took the lead as early as the 1st minute; Faubert’s volleyed cross found Vaz Te whose looping header landed on the roof of the net. The Hammers continued to press and were eventually rewarded when a Mark Noble corner was powerfully headed home by James Tomkins after 28 minutes and the dominance finally showed.
Nicky Maynard who worked tirelessly on debut double the away sides lead after he tapped home on his first start after a whipped in cross by Jack Collison who played in his favoured central midfield role. As the Hammers seemingly cruised into the break, completely against the run of play not my words but radio 5 lives, Blackpool struck one back right on half time as Kevin Phillips was left unmarked in the box stooped to head past Robert Green.
Half time Blackpool 1 West Ham United 2
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After listening to Steve Claridges views on the race for promotion the second half began (He said he couldn’t see any teams catching West Ham and Southampton.)
What happened in the second half was something that I don’t think even the magic psychic black 8 ball could predict. Well maybe West Ham would have predicted going down to 10 men, but to lose Green was a kick in the teeth for West Ham. With no goalkeeper on the bench it was Lansbury who stepped off the bench to go between the sticks.
In truth Blackpool rarely forced Lansbury to make a save, as they struggled to break down a gutsy Hammers defence led by Faye and Reid with Tomkins superbly protecting them in the defensive midfield position.
As Blackpool pressed with their man advantage the Irons were force to put more and more men behind the ball and play on the counter. When Faye went down injured the travelling fans must of feared the worse, Big Sam took him off and brought on O’ Neil. With Nicky Maynard working hard upfront West Ham knew they always had an escape route when they won the ball back playing it up to Maynard who held the ball up superbly all game.
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With Blackpool failing to put any meaningful shot on target to test the rookie keeper it was left to Gary O’Neil to show them how it is done. A corner half cleared fell to O’Neil who stroked home to send me dancing around my room and to send the travelling fans who were already loud even louder and to put West Ham into an unlikely 3-1 lead. With the away fans singing “we only need 10 men” Kevin Phillips gave them a hell of a scare as he struck the inside of the woodwork as Lansbury was tested for the first time.
With time running out Blackpool threw everything at West Ham in a desperate attempt to put panic in the mind of the Hammers players. But found a resilient defence almost impossible to break down and they threw their bodies in front of every shot and cross.
As the 3rd official put the allotted added time Vaz Te beat the offside trap on the left and cut inside as he unleashed a shot which deflected off an on rushing defender past Gilks who had had no support from players in front him all night. And I was off dancing around my room again, singing and shouting, sad I know. The brave travelling fans were in dream land as the Hammers soared into a 4-1 winning position and surely an unassailable lead and to the top of the league.
West Hams heroic defensive display and quality attacking endeavour was rewarded as the referee blew his full time whistle as a chorus of “We are top of the league” echoed around Bloomfield road, as the Hammers continued their unbeaten run against Blackpool which stretches back to 1966.
So the Irons climb above Southampton after the 3rd consecutive match where they have failed to have the full team out and they still have a game in hand. But Big Sam may have a selection head ache for Saturday’s home game vs. Crystal Palace as he faces being without Taylor, Nolan and Green.
The radio commentary was made all the better by the travelling claret and blue army who sang their hearts out for 90 minutes, I salute you travelling irons once again.
Man of the Match: Always a tricky one when you’re not actually in attendance but from the radio I’m going to give it too Vaz Te, who ran tirelessly for 90 minutes and was rewarded with his first goal for the club in the dying minutes to put the cherry on the top of the cake for the Hammers.
WEST HAM UNITED WERE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
Come on you Irons!
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Tags: Blackpool
Posted in Blog Topics, Championship, Claret and Blue Latest Match Report, West Ham United | Comments (3)
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February 22nd, 2012 at 4:52 pm
How can you write online articles and not know simple grammar? “WEST HAM UNITED WERE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!” Not were top of the league, we ARE top of the league! And Tomkins’ goal was from a free kick not a corner.
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February 22nd, 2012 at 9:42 pm
How can you write a proper match report while sitting at home?!!
[Reply]
David Bowden Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Just doing what I’ve been told to do bobster.
[Reply]