West Ham United 2-2 Burnley 

Played at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 18th October 2003

 

Trevor Brooking’s West Ham United started the game in 4th place and two points off from the automatic promotion places whilst Burnley came to London after a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Ipswich during the week. 

David Connolly and Jermain Defoe returned to the West Ham side in place of Neil Mellor and Richard Garcia, whilst 37-year old Robert Lee came in for the injured and suspended Kevin Horlock. Burnley made two changes from their midweek embarrassment. 

The Irons started the game brightly and were nearly rewarded when Connolly put the ball in Brian Jensen’s net, but the goal was disallowed for offside when television replays clearly showed that he was onside. 

However, twenty minutes into the game Connolly took advantage of Defoe’s poor effort at goal and poked home from six yards to give the Hammers the advantage. West Ham’s habit of throwing away leads continued and Burnley were level before half time. Former Hammer Ian Moore was the main force in an attack that led to Delroy Facey tapping the ball into the net. 

Once again, West Ham came out brightly and just 90 seconds into the second half, Connolly was inches away from scoring but could only watch as the ball struck the crossbar. Both sides then pressed for the victory and it looked like Burnley had achieved it eight minutes from time when Tomas Repka’s valiant effort to keep Moore’s shot out of the net failed and many West Ham fans headed for the exits. 

But four minutes later they were all heading back again as Don Hutchison, on for Nicklas Alexandersson, lashed the ball on the volley into the net for the second time in as many weeks and West Ham were once again level. Defoe, again looking like a man not wanting to be there, nearly won the game in injury time but only hit the post. 

Both sides had missed good chances but the draw was a fair result and West Ham must improve under Alan Pardew if they are to build on the results that Brooking has achieved. 

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