Drawing drawing West Ham

West Ham 0 Aston Villa 0

In Ken’s Café Michael the Whovian has just returned from a theatre-watching trip in New York. He’s seen Les Miserables and Showboat, musicals possibly based on former West Ham teams, and is now looking forward to the 90^th birthday party of Doctor Who and Coronation Street legend William Russell. We’re joined by Matt and Lisa and CQ and Nigel, who seems quite chipper despite AC/DC’s drummer being nicked for (allegedly) being on the Highway to Hell. Phill and Big Joe make a late appearance. While inside the stadium Fraser is modelling his early Dexys black woollen hat and the fans are thankfully not requested to strip off in aid of Feel ’Em Friday.

We’re playing a team that has lost six in a row with Benteke suspended so what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, we fear, as it’s all going too well at West Ham. Before the match there’s a minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday. Early on Agbonlahor uses his speed to get round Collins and shoots over from a good position. But apart from that it’s West Ham pressure. Collins has a header saved from a corner, Valencia makes a great run down the left and his cross results in Baker blocking Noble’s goalbound effort.

BRAD TIMING

An Adrian punt is missed by Villa’s Cissokho and Sakho races down the right and crosses; the ball rebounds off a defender to Downing who hits a rising shot towards the top corner only to be foiled by a great reflex save from Brad Guzan. Weimann then shoots into the chest of Adrian, but the half ends with a great move between Jenkinson and Song setting free Downing on the left, only for Stewie to blaze over. The curse of the England call-up… There’s still time for a bizarre “we shall not be moved!” chant from the Villa fans, so elated are they to be drawing at a Champions League(ish) club.

At half-time Nigel’s mention of the tree-walk at Kew inspires a discussion of vertigo, something many West Ham fans are suffering from this season. CQ dispenses her lucky aniseed balls for the second half.

Cleverley shoots just over, but that’s the last Villa threat. Nolan replaces Kouyate, who’s had a quiet game, after 66 minutes and Carlton Cole comes on for Valencia after 75 minutes. Cole immediately has an effect swinging in a great cross that Sakho heads over. It’s the sort of chance Diafra’s scored with all season and there goes his chance of a Premier League record of seven goals in seven starts. Sakho then flicks a more difficult headed chance wide. Downing shifts over to the left wing and starts to combine well with Cresswell and gets in a steady stream of crosses. The crowd really get behind the team too in the latter stages, whereas last season they might have started complaining, which is encouraging.

Carlton Cole stays on his feet despite being tripped by Baker in the box, who injures himself in the process. Bizarrely the ref gives a free kick to Villa. Downing gets in a decent cross to the far post and Jenkinson sends a header straight at the keeper.

OH CARROLL!

On 92 minutes we send on Andy Carroll. You could argue that his injury has helped West Ham develop into a better team, with two strikers playing on the ground, but I’m still glad to see him back and he certainly gives another option up front. The Villa defenders certainly appear worried by AC. Downing gets in another fine cross, Carroll rises to head goalwards and Guzan pulls off another great save. That would have been a story. Still we come forward. A West Ham corner causes further panic as Song is blatantly brought down in the area. Michael the Whovian is so incensed he nearly Sonics the ref. The ball breaks to Downing who gets in a cross from the right and Carroll gets in another header that the keeper holds.

Respecting the pint in the Central

The Villa players celebrate at the final whistle and we retreat to the Central where we respect the pint. I’m not too despondent. We go fourth at least for a day. We’d have lost this game last year and the unbeaten run continues. Villa were possibly playing for their manager’s job and at some point their bad run had to end. We’ve created chances today and have been unlucky not to get two penalties.

The Central now stocks IPA (though not from a hand pump) and we amuse ourselves by looking forward to Andy Carroll’s stag party. Matt suggests that Hayden Foxe, Trevor Sinclair and Razor Ruddock will all be invited. It’s a two -week break now and despite the draw we can reflect on West Ham’s best ever start to a Premier League season. And hopefully having Sakho, Valencia, Cole and Carroll challenging for the striking positions will improve us even more.

PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 6; Jenkinson 6, Reid 6, Collins 6, Cresswell 6; Song 6, Noble 6 (Carroll 6), Kouyate 4 (Nolan 5), Downing 7; Sakho 5, Valencia 6 (Cole 6).