It was John Carew who said “we are the Manchester United of the Championship” and after returning from Fratton Park following a 1-0 win, I thought to myself on the train winning 1-0 away from home is the sign of champions. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself but could this be the year I see West Ham win something?
It’s been too long since we have won anything of any real significance, only the play offs in 2005. But when was the last time we could chant “we are top of the league say we are top of the league” albeit the chant last about 2 minutes as Southampton scored and moved back above us on goal difference.
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The game itself was a typical Big Sam away day win, not pretty but effective. We lined up in a 4-5-1 or was it 4-3-3 Big Sam? Either way the Hammers football wasn’t the prettiest with Carlton Cole the lone man up top feeding off any scraps of opportunities that came his way. The atmosphere was lively and the away fans were in top form as always.
Oddly Portsmouth changed ends at kick off which I found strange as you would have thought they’d have wanted to kick towards their own fans in the second half. The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot after New Zealand centre half Winston Reid was bundled down in the box. Mark Noble stepped up and there was only one likely outcome. The ever reliable Noble smashed his penalty into the top corner despite Henderson’s fingertips. The away fans were buzzing as we found ourselves top of the league for a split second with Saints not winning yet.
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The rest of the game was a quiet affair, with precious few chances. Pompey had ended the first half strongly with numerous set pieces after one another. But in truth the Hammers never really looked in any real danger after an ill-timed challenge on Reid by David Norris who was sent for an early bath by the unpopular Kevin Friend who was abused throughout the game by the home contingent.
The Hammers fans in the Milton End were praying for a second goal to kill the game off, with many calling for Baldock to come off the bench to bag us the all-important second goal. Instead the Hammers only made one change Lansbury for Faubert who looks increasingly out of his depth at right wing. Lansbury looked busy when he came on making one barnstorming run through the midfield before squaring the ball only for it to be blocked by the hard working Portsmouth defence.
My man of the match was former Blue Papa Bouba Diop who was a man mountain in midfield. He broke the ball up superbly and for a big man has a brilliant first touch which took him past his man with ease. His final ball at times could do with work but today Papa take a bow you were immense in the centre of the park.
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To conclude = a good day out, the was top notch as always and three more points towards the final goal, promotion.
Come on you Irons.
You clearly watched a different game. Diop gave away the ball 9 times out of 10. Faubert has been our best player this season.
Benny, I see Faubert as a right midfielder or right wing back. In my opinion of course Faubert had a poor game yesterday gave the ball away. And missed knock ons.. I said in the article that papa could work on his final ball but the way his breaks up play for me is a big reason why recently we can win 1-0. But everyone’s opinion is different. A good win none the less.