A great result in Wales. Saw the first half with Peter from the Solomon Islands and knew we were leading 1-0 before sitting down to our lunch party and finally watching the second half at 4pm (oh, the trials of being a petit bourgeois fan). Not a great first half with Miller going close for Cardiff and Collison and Vaz Te both volleying wide.
Nolan's excellent finish, after being found by Maynard, earned the Hammers the lead on 43 minutes. Whatever you think of him, Nolan certainly scores goals and at vital times too.
We should have settled it early in the second half with Vaz Te almost rounding the keeper, Maynard blazing wide when he should have scored and then spurning a chance from a terrible back-header from the Cardiff defence. Maynard was promptly replaced by Cole. It looked like Cardiff might be coming back into it when Whittingham hit the post from a free kick, after a foolish push by Nolan.
But our second was the killer. McCartney took a long and winding road from the half way line down the left wing. Defying cries to get back to where he once belonged he crossed and when the ball rebounded off the defender Macca fired home with his right foot. Maybe I'm amazed by his first goal in five years.
Nice to hear the usual chorus of "Is there a fire drill?" from the away fans. Some encouraging signs, despite Cardiff hitting the bar with the last kick. We were profligate up front, but Faye mopped up everything at the back, Noble covered a tremendous amount of ground in midfield and Nolan looks more effective sitting in front of the defence away from home. In the second half Lansbury started to do some some decent runs and passes, before being subbed.
Cardiff looked a little deflated after their Carling Cup defeat last week, but with Reading chasing it's a fantastic three points, moving us one point below Southampton with a game in hand.
2 comments:
Mark Bright called it right during the commentary, when he said there were no passengers in the West Ham team. Very true. You have to hand to Allardyce, everyone gives it their all. Noble was fantastic once again, as was Faye. I think O'Brien has also been an unsung hero all season. We certainly wasted chances again, but I thought Maynard did well. Nolan? Grudgingly yes you cant complain about his goals. I just wished occasionally, he'd shut his big trap & stop moaning to the ref about every decision. Maybe that's why he's there?!
Looking at Allardyce moaning on the sidelines I think he gets Nolan to do his moaning for him on the pitch too! Yes, our defence always looks better with O'Brien rather than Faubert at right back and we are playing as a unit now which is the big difference to last season... football is fairly basic but when were West Ham ever so difficult to beat away from home?
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