West Ham put their recent disappointing form behind them as they thumped Barnsley 4-0 in clinical style at Oakwell on Good Friday.
Goals from Kevin Nolan, Nicky Maynard, Mark Noble and Ricardo Vaz Te club saw Big Sam’s men silence the critics
in fine style and to send the traveling claret and blue army home with renewed belief.
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On a cold evening in south Yorkshire the Hammers knew only a win would do to keep pace with Southampton and new table toppers Reading. The Hammers looked in control throughout as they brushed aside a poor Barnsely side that never really got going.
Skipper Kevin Nolan began the rout with a close range tap in from a Matthew Taylor corner which via a deflection off a Barnsley defender found Nolan in front of the keeper to prod home to claim his 11th of the season, to send the Hammers on their way to another away day win.
After Nolan’s goal the Hammers settled down and looked assured on the ball, spraying the ball around at will and pressing Barnsely off the ball. West Ham looked to be in the mood for goals as the Tykes struggled to hold onto the ball. The Hammers were duly rewarded for the effort and endeavor when January deadline day signing Nicky Maynard kept up his superb form against Barnsely collecting his 6th goals in 6 games against the Yorkshire
side. Maynard who picked up only his second goal since arriving from Bristol city curled home from outside the box following nice link up play with the impressive Nolan.
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The home fans were beginning to get frustrated as they saw their side struggle to hold onto possession and when the Hammers received they failed to put a foot in and put pressure on the ball which allowed the Hammers to dictate play. The third goal was
always coming and it came in comical style, after Barnsely who dealt with the initial play, proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot after a back pass was poor controlled by keeper David Button meant Mark Noble could collect the ball and delightfully chip over the keeper and into the unguarded net to send the 3,000 plus fans behind the goal in to delirium.
As the half time whistle went the home side trudged off to a chorus of boos from the home fans who were clearly unimpressed with their sides first half capitulation.
The first half dominance continued in the second half despite a spirited display by the Tykes but the returning Ricardo Vaz Te picked up his 4th goal in the claret and blue to rub salt into the wound of his former club as he tapped home following up on a David Button save from George McCartney.
The Hammers fans chanted “We want five” as the Irons continued to look dangerous going forward and they were nearly celebrating again as a powerful drive from Nicky Maynard left the crossbar shaking as the striker edged towards the form which attracted Big Sam to him in January.
The Hammers saw of the rest of the game with relative ease and class as they continued to spray the ball around to claim a record breaking twelve away win and to remind Reading and Southampton that their still in business.
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The Hammers are now praying that Reading or Southampton slip up and allow the Hammers to claim that all important last automatic place.
Man of the Match: A tough one to call after such a dominant display but for me Kevin Nolan just edges it as the skipper controlled the midfield and claimed his 11th goal of the season to set the Hammers on their way.
Come on you Irons! Keep believing!
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