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On this day in 2004 West Ham beat Wolves 1-0 at Upton Park.
As we look at the WHO archives here is my report from that day:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041009224235/http://www.westhamonline.net/feature.php?20421
There’s a couple of ways you can look at today’s encounter with Wolves. You can have the view that we once again battered the opposition but failed to get goals only to be saved by a piece of magic from Teddy Sheringham.
Or you can look a it like I am looking at it – we once again battered the opposition for the third game in a row, and unlike up at Nottingham where I believe we were very unlucky (same goes for Derby) we managed to get a goal which won us the game and maybe just maybe we are now showing signs of becoming a force because if we can dominate teams the way we have done in the last three league matches, then that is going to make us very hard to beat.
Yes, fair enough we still lack that killer instinct in front of goal, and even though we won today it should have been by many more, but I am firmly believe that it will all click together soon.
The team was only slightly changed today, with Bobby Zamora getting his first league start of the season, replacing Teddy Sheringham up front. With no Malkay Mckay, Hayden Mullins continued to play at right back, with Tomas Repka in the centre alongside Callum Davenport.
In the Wolves side, we saw the return of the original and (lets be honest now) the only man who really deserves his name Judas – Mr Paul Ince. In his late thirties this was perhaps the last time we will see Ince at Upton Park. Today we sent the message to Ince that we will never forgive or forget.
Neither team started with much pace. We were looking to use our width with Chadwick seeing a lot of the ball on the right. At about the 20 minute point we started to produce the chances.
There were quite a few, with Davenport forcing a fantastic save from Wolves keep Oakes, as he met a Matty Etherington corner with a powerful header. Not long after the on loan defender got another header in from a corner, which just went slightly over the bar.
Our best moment was when a high and aimless ball was played which looked to be going nowhere. But Harewood pursed the Wolves defender and muscled him off the ball. Marlon was now clean through, but unselfishly he put the ball across to the unmarked Zamora to tap in. The flag went up to the dismay of the cheering West Ham fans. We’d all thought we had broken the deadlock, but the piece of unselfish play from Harewood had in the end cost us as it was disallowed.
Our next clear-cut chance actually resulted from a Wolves corner. It was cleared out only for Etherington to chase after the ball and keep it on. His pass found Zamora and Reo Coker in the clear. Bobby knocked it on to Reo Coker, but the Wolves defenders did well to close him down and his shot went way wide.
Half time was just about on us, and memories of the three matches rolled through my mind. We had been on top for the majority of the half, with Wolves only having one decent chance from the Judas scumbucket, which he hit way over the bar to the delight of the West Ham faithful.
Now Alan Pardew has been criticised a lot about his substitutions for many months and he really set himself up for more as the second half started. He replaced the two wingers – Matthew Etherington and Luke Chadwick (who has been having good games) and brought on Sergie Rebrov & Steve Lomas. He always takes off Chadwick, so that I could understand – but Etherington? Maybe he was injured and I haven’t heard about it yet.
Nevertheless, the team had changed and so had our shape. I couldn’t work out what was going on really. I still don’t really know what sort of formation we were playing!
Pardew had taken a risk, but it was one that paid off. He gets slagged for just about everything but even the most anti Pardew person must acknowledge that his tactical changes worked.
We kept it going in the second half, forcing multiple corners, and having chances, which we really should have finished.
It was frustrating to see Harewood do so well to get crosses in only for they’re to be no one to put the ball in the net. Marlon really came into his own in the second half. He worked his bollocks off, whilst his strike partner Bobby Zamora drifted further and further out of the match until Teddy Sheringham replaced him.
Wolves managed a couple of chances. The best being from a free kick which Bywater had to move across his goal quickly to tip over. But that was it from them. They were a poor team who I rank no better than Burnley and Rotherham on the evidence of that performance.
A goal was still proving to be illusive, until out of nothing sub Teddy Sheringham, dug the ball out of the incoming challenge and finished with the style only Teddy knows how.
He may be ageing and I don’t really care for the man, but there is no denying his fantastic football ability. Only Sheringham could have scored that goal. Outstanding.
Wolves had lots of possession from then on, but unlike at Forest we kept it tight, and defended well. The defence was awesome today. Really really good.
Over 29,000 turned up today which was pleasing – we held onto our one goal advantage to get three vital points. A good performance and a good result.
A good day.
Player Reviews
Stephen Bywater
His kicking is still poor in my opinion. His distribution needs to be worked on as he keeps giving the ball back to the opposition needlessly. But as a shot stopper, you will be hard pressed to find better. 6
Chris Powell
His best performance for us since joining. I was impressed by his calmness at the back when it would have been easy to panic. Got a few crosses in which showed us he can been an asset going forward too. Rufus will have to wait till he’s gone back to Charlton because he is working at the moment. 7
Callum Davenport
Absolutely outstanding. I really mean that. This boy has everything. His ability in the air is second to none, both defending and attacking. His reading of the game is the best I have seen from a defender for a long time. He read the bounce of the ball so well, its like he knows what is going to happen all the time. His distribution from defence to attack needs brushing up a little but if there are any Totts reading this, take it from me – you have one heck of centre half here. MAN OF THE MATCH
9
Tomas Repka
A great performance. Like Davenport he read the game perfectly. Gave a way a few silly free kicks but that’s just Tomas. Looked comfortable at centre half – when he wants to, he can be such a great defender. 8
Hayden Mullins
I don’t like him at right back. If we had a weakness today it was he. I believe he’s a good player and one, which has done well since coming to this club. But he is a centre midfielder and is a liability at right back. 6
Matty Etherington
Always a threat. His pacy direct running always frightens defenders. He was marked tightly and found little space, but did manage to get behind his marker a few times and put in some telling crosses. His corner kicks have also got a lot better. He was playing well but was replaced at half time. 7
Nigel Reo Coker
Probably the most subdued I have seen him play this season. He captained the team today in Dailly and Sheringham’s absence. Had one glorious chance in the first half, but like the last two matches he failed to take them. Still my player of the season at this point. 7
Carl Fletcher
Broke up play very well. Flying in with tackles non stop, lucky not to get booked but he was a menace in our midfield. Has that bit of bite, which we need. 7
Luke Chadwick
Again like Etherington, he had a good first half, in which he saw a lot of the ball and worked hard to make things happen. Still fails to beat a man which I thought he always did. I would think he will be starting on the bench very soon. 6
Marlon Harewood
I don’t care what people say – I thought Harewood was excellent today. Used his strength very well and was a constant pain in the backside for the Wolves defenders. All he needed today was a goal to cap off a hard working performance. Put in many telling crosses, and overall had a very good game. 8
Bobby Zamora
Had a goal disallowed. And that’s about it. Play him instead of Harewood? Do fuck off.
Subs
Steve Lomas (on for Chadwick)
Been poor when he has come on in recent games but played all the second half, and played well. Broke up play along with Fletcher and moved the ball in to space well. 6
Sergie Rebrov (on for Etherington)
Buzzed about well, with lots of skilful touches. Quite impressed with him really. Failed to have a chance but did well. 7
Teddy Sheringham
Scored a fantastic goal which he carved out for himself. May be getting on but that ability to score goals like that is unique. 7
Overall
We needed to bounce back from the last two results which really haven’t been good enough. We want to get automatic promotion, and if we continue to dominate teams like we are doing, and find the solution to our goalscoring problems then we will be rewarded.
An enjoyable day.
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Other games on this day:
2010: West Ham United 1 Fulham 1
1995: Southampton 0 West Ham United 0
1994: Chelsea 1 West Ham United 2
1993: West Ham United 1 Chelsea 0
1982: Arsenal 2 West Ham United 3
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