West Ham United 4-0 Wigan Athletic

 

Played at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 29^th November 2003

 

Alan Pardew’s first win as West Ham United manager came in the first league meeting ever between the two sides. Marlon Harewood made his home debut and ex-hammer Jimmy Bullard returned for the first time.

 

West Ham took an early lead as Kevin Horlock converted Brian Deane’s fierce cross for his first goal in a Hammers shirt. West Ham went 2-0 up inside twenty minutes, as Harewood raced down the right wing, put a cross in, and Wigan’s Jason Jarrett bundled the ball into his own net.

 

In-between the goals, as the ball went out of play into the dugouts; Tomas Repka gave a meaningless shove to Latic’s manager Paul Jewell. Wigan’s Lee McCulloch was the only person wanting revenge; when Repka received the ball on the halfway line, McCulloch scythed him to the floor with two feet. McCulloch should have walked, but the card was only yellow.

 

Wigan’s hopes of a comeback were decimated when Matt Jackson lunged with two feet at Hayden Mullins in front of referee Frazer Stretton. He had no hesitation in giving Jackson his marching orders for serious foul play. Although I agree he had to go, I do not see how this was any worse than McCulloch’s tackle on Repka.

 

Don Hutchison came into the game as a replacement for the disappointing Dave Connolly at half time.

 

McCulloch then got a second yellow for a foul on Repka. Wigan manager Jewell was not disgusted with the referee’s decision but with McCulloch, who needlessly committed the foul. Repka soon left the field to a standing ovation.

 

Harewood then notched his first two goals for the club. First was a penalty, struck into John Filan’s bottom left hand corner. His second saw him race onto a through ball from Mullins and lift the ball over Filan, something he should have done earlier when faced with a similar opportunity. Filan showed Wigan’s lack of discipline when he was booked for needless dissent.

 

To the crowd’s disappointment, West Ham gave up trying and settled for 4-0, thus denying Harewood his hat-trick.

 

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

West Ham United 4-0 Wigan Athletic

 

Played at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 29^th November 2003

 

Alan Pardew’s first win as West Ham United manager came in the first league meeting ever between the two sides. Marlon Harewood made his home debut and ex-hammer Jimmy Bullard returned for the first time.

 

West Ham took an early lead as Kevin Horlock converted Brian Deane’s fierce cross for his first goal in a Hammers shirt. West Ham went 2-0 up inside twenty minutes, as Harewood raced down the right wing, put a cross in, and Wigan’s Jason Jarrett bundled the ball into his own net.

 

In-between the goals, as the ball went out of play into the dugouts; Tomas Repka gave a meaningless shove to Latic’s manager Paul Jewell. Wigan’s Lee McCulloch was the only person wanting revenge; when Repka received the ball on the halfway line, McCulloch scythed him to the floor with two feet. McCulloch should have walked, but the card was only yellow.

 

Wigan’s hopes of a comeback were decimated when Matt Jackson lunged with two feet at Hayden Mullins in front of referee Frazer Stretton. He had no hesitation in giving Jackson his marching orders for serious foul play. Although I agree he had to go, I do not see how this was any worse than McCulloch’s tackle on Repka.

 

Don Hutchison came into the game as a replacement for the disappointing Dave Connolly at half time.

 

McCulloch then got a second yellow for a foul on Repka. Wigan manager Jewell was not disgusted with the referee’s decision but with McCulloch, who needlessly committed the foul. Repka soon left the field to a standing ovation.

 

Harewood then notched his first two goals for the club. First was a penalty, struck into John Filan’s bottom left hand corner. His second saw him race onto a through ball from Mullins and lift the ball over Filan, something he should have done earlier when faced with a similar opportunity. Filan showed Wigan’s lack of discipline when he was booked for needless dissent.

 

To the crowd’s disappointment, West Ham gave up trying and settled for 4-0, thus denying Harewood his hat-trick.

 

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