West Ham United 1-2 Preston North End

 

Played at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 10^th January 2004

 

Another unacceptable result and the pressure is mounting on the players to start performing to the level that is expected. It is not difficult to point the blame after this, the Hammers’ third home defeat in four games.

 

The first half was full of mistakes and was not one to remember. However, West Ham United got half the job done by going in at the interval with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a second goal in as many games for David Connolly. The move was started by an excellent long throw by David James, excellent control by Matthew Etherington meant that he could run at the defence and whip in a cross for Connolly to flick home.

 

It was always known that one goal would not be enough, there is not enough quality in West Ham’s defence to defend a lead.

 

The home fans’ point was proved correct after 63 minutes when Ricardo Fuller equalized for the visitors, who had lost to the Irons on the opening day of the season in August. Opinions were divided as to who was more at fault for the goal, it was between returning skipper Christian Dailly and David James.

 

Preston North End capitalized on poor defending again just three minutes later when David Healy put North End ahead for the first time in the match. Both Dailly and James might be blamed for this goal as well, both made critical mistakes in the build-up to the ball entering the net.

 

West Ham could not recover, and did not look like they wanted to either. James got the chance to show his attacking prowess in the dying seconds as he went up for a corner – but all he could do was fall over the ball.

 

The many fans that left early instead of cheering on the side do not help the situation we find ourselves in at the moment. However, something has to be done to stop players like James, Robbie Stockdale, Dailly, Wayne Quinn and Marlon Harewood from being guaranteed a place in the starting line-up every week.

 

By Phil Crook (p.crook@lycos.com)