Match report from tonight's home draw in the encounter versus West Bromwich Albion
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West Bromwich Albion left Upton Park still six points adrift of safety, but this was a night when they did everything but score against a West Ham side who have certainly enjoyed better days.
After agreeing to pay out a reported £15million to settle their long-outstanding Carlos Tevez claim with Sheffield United, the Hammers then wasted a glorious opportunity to cement their claims for a UEFA Europa League spot.
Sitting handily in seventh spot, Gianfranco Zola's side had enjoyed back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Wigan Athletic before heading out to Spain for some warm-weather training.
But they returned to Upton Park looking like they still had their minds on that Spanish sun, sea and sangria as Albion, without a win in their last eight matches in all competitions, enjoyed the best of the evening's exchanges.
After winning at the JJB Stadium last time out, Zola had been forced to make two switches as pint-sized teenagers Savio Nsereko and Freddie Sears came in for Jack Collison (knee) and suspended top-scorer Carlton Cole.
And the absence of the Hammers' missing marksman was all too apparent as Sears, David Di Michele and the supporting Savio each found themselves out-muscled and out-witted by a dogged Albion defence.
Following the home defeat to Arsenal 13 days ago, Albion manager Tony Mowbray had made three changes as Graham Dorrans, Shelton Martis and Jonas Olsson came in for Abdoulaye Meite, Ryan Donk and substitute Luke Moore and there was certainly little to suggest that his Albion side were rock bottom of the Premier League.
Indeed, on 18 minutes, Marc-Antoine Fortune sent an angled shot ripping into the side-netting and, midway through the first half, Paul Robinson's vociferous cries for a penalty fell on the deaf ears of referee Mark Halsey.
As the half-hour mark approached, West Ham's stuttering start was compounded by the sight of Matthew Upson being stretchered away with a calf injury.
Although Sears saw a deflected effort loop inches over before Scott Parker shot high and wide from long range, it really was turning into a contest to forget for the 30,842 crowd.
Five minutes after the restart, the marauding Martis charged into the pack to meet Chris Brunt's deep cross with a powerful header that thumped down off the underside of Robert Green's crossbar.
At the other end, West Ham's shooting boots still deserted them as Savio sent a wayward shot towards the Barking Road, before finding himself booked for a rash slide into Morrison and then being replaced by Junior Stanislas.
With 20 minutes remaining, Jonathan Greening ghosted into the area but, with the whites of Green's eyes in his sights, clipped the ball over both the advancing keeper and the target.
In reply, Di Michele sent a downward header inches wide and both sides had be content with a solitary point. |
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