THE IRONS GO MARCHING IN
Matt tries to stay positive
and, perhaps delirious after lack of sleep, encourages Matt Taylor when he
gives the ball away. It pays off as a few seconds later Nolan chips the ball
over the top, Shaw doesn’t follow his man and a possibly offside Matt Jarvis
pokes the ball through Boruc’s legs. It gets better. Three minutes later
Downing wins a corner. Carlton Cole hits the post with his header and then
reacts quickest to swivel and half-volley home after Yoshida makes a mess of
trying to clear. That’s six goals for CC since he returned. Before the break Lambert
outjumps Collins to head against the post.
Southampton dominate the first
25 minutes of the second half. Ramirez skins Collins to shoot over the bar and
then Lallana shoots hastily wide. West Ham’s only threat is when Taylor makes a
great run down the left to get a dangerous cross in.
CLUCKING KEVIN NOLAN
The Irons are playing like
the away side, but soon punish the Saints’ wastefulness. Noble makes a great interception
to find Downing on the left. His inviting cross is touched back by Carlton Cole
and Kevin Nolan scores with an acrobatic overhead kick. Another great finish
from the clucking captain.
“The mugging rate in Newham
must have just soared,” muses Michael. After his sinus operation Michael’s nose
has just about stood up to the pressure.
We nearly get a fourth when
sub Diame cuts inside to wallop the bar. Despite Southampton's possession, Noble has had another great game and Nigel's 'Nobes for England' theory is starting to sound possible. Three minutes of added time is seen
out and incredibly it’s four wins out of four. On possession Southampton deserved
at least a point, but Hammers are resilient these days and for once have been
clinical up front.
PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 6, Demel 7, Tomkins 7, Collins 6, McCartney 6: Jarvis 7 (Diame 6), Taylor 6, Noble 8, Nolan 7 (Reid 5), Downing 7; Cole 7.
6 comments:
Just a small point, Diame hit the bar, not Demel. Although Guy does spend a lot if time going forward...MJ.
As Fraser of Dad’s Army fame was wont to say after people he has no faith in he went onto prove him wrong… -“ I never doubted you for a second boys”. Back in January I knew we wouldn’t get relegated and that a winning streak was just around the corner. Apologies if I suggested anything else….
COYI- a top ten finish after all of the ups and downs would be …er, quite remarkable.
More importantly, to paraphrase Nirvana, now it smells like team spirit.
Shame the Hull game has been moved to the 26th, could have done with points on the board. No home game til Man U.
Yes, can't see us getting anything at Everton but at least bottom teams taking points off each other…
Lukaku's back tomorrow....
Ominous… though so too is AC at least on the bench…
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