[Liverweb] West Ham Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

West Ham United 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool : Dudek, Finnan, Carragher(c), Traore, Warnock, Kromkamp,
Sissoko, Hamann, Cisse, Fowler, Morientes

Subs Used : Hyypia for Finnan (63), Garcia for Fowler (80), Riise
for Morientes (84)

Subs Unused : Reina, Alonso

Ref : Howard Webb

Att : 34,852

Red Cards - Garcia and Mullins - violent conduct

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The Reds ran out two one winners at West Ham last night although the
win was marred by the late sendings off of Luis Garcia and Hayden
Mullins. Djibril Cisse struck twice for the Reds to earn maximum
points for the Reds and ensure they completed a league double over
the hammers ahead of the FA Cup final. The late sending off of the
two players was handbags at the very worst and lets hope the FA see
this and reduce any potential ban on the players.

The game was slightly late starting off because the pre-match build
up was handed over in honour of former Hammers boss John Lyall. A
number of former players turned up and the last words from Trevor
Brooking were that the fans should honour Lyall in the way the see
fit. That allowed fans to clap and sing his name which was a fitting
way of paying tribute to one of their true greats. It's a move
hopefully more clubs will follow in the future.

The Reds got the match underway and it was the Reds who were the
team in control of the game first. The side saw eight changes on the
night which saw a start for Djibril Cisse on the left hand side and
for much of the first half in particular he gave Ferdinand the run
around. Cisse had two shots within the first ten minutes of the
game. His first was deflected away for a corner whilst the second
was saved by the keeper. The Reds were the better side though and
Sissoko was being allowed to move forward far more in midfield with
Hamann behind him.

It was like the Cisse show in the early part of the game and on
eighteen minutes he got what he and the Reds deserved. A great shot
from the edge of the area flew past Walker into the bottom corner of
the net and the Reds were ahead. It was a great strike and showed
what Cisse can do when he's in the mood. It was stark contrast to
the weekend where he seemed to run away from the ball.

West Ham nearly struck back straight away but Benayoun forced Dudek
in to a save at his right post. On twenty five minutes the Reds had
a second goal but this one was chalked off. Morientes finished in
style but was adjudged to be offside. It seemed harsh as for me it
looked like it was a West Ham player who actually passed it to him.
The flag went up early though from the linesman. Four minutes later
and Fowler tried to lob Walker in the West Ham goal but his lob went
just over the bar.

West Ham just hadn't got in to the game but slowly settled down a
bit and on the half hour Traore was forced in to a great tackle to
save them breaking clear. The Reds were dominating midfield through
Sissoko mainly. Momo is in great form at the moment and breaking up
so much play it's superb. Just before half time Sissoko broke up the
play and went on a run down the left. He passed Ferdinand and then
crossed it in only to see the strikers sleeping and not thinking the
cross was coming.

West Ham finished the half really well and were starting to get up a
head of steam. Two minutes before the break they should have scored
as well. Ferdinand broke down his right wing and crossed in.
Sheringham met the cross superbly and headed past Dudek but in to
the side netting. It was a huge let off for the Reds and a warning
they should have learnt from. They didn't though and a minute later
Benayoun should have scored with a header. This time the cross came
from the left but Benayoun stooped down to head over the bar.

The Reds came out unchanged for the second half. West Ham brought
Fletcher on for Collins and carried on where they left off in the
first half. A minute in to the half and they were level. Morientes
failed to hold a clearance ball up and West ham countered against
the Reds. Zamora played a neat one two with Sheringham before
squaring to an un-marked Reo Coker who had the simple job of tapping
home.

The Reds hit back straight away and just three minutes in to the
half were so nearly level. Momo Sissoko danced down the left hand
side and flicked the ball inside. Morientes thundered the ball at
the goal only to see it hit the under side of the bar and get
cleared. A wonderful opportunity though. Five minutes later though
and the Reds were ahead again. Robbie Fowler hooked a superb ball
through for Cisse to race on to . He cut across one man before
slotting it home though the keepers legs. Cisse raced off and did a
somersault celebration before dreaming of a hat-trick.

The Reds were now back in control of the match and looking to march
onwards and upwards. Steve Finnan was subbed on sixty three minutes
to give him a rest. Sami Hyypia replaced him for his 250th
appearance for the Reds and he partnered Traore in the centre,
pushing Carragher to right back. Dudek was forced in to a save on
sixty six minutes when Etherington shot and Traore cleared the
danger.

West Ham did have a goal on seventy one minutes but like the Reds in
the first half the flag was up before the ball hit the net. Benayoun
was replaced by Harewood on seventy seven minutes and three minutes
later Garcia came on for Fowler. Garcia would last just over a
minute on the pitch. The game was played in good spirit throughout
and there was no bookings but all blew in to life on eighty minutes.

Garcia lost the ball in midfield and was trying to win it back off
Mullins. The players got tangled up together and as Garcia fought to
get free he threw his arms about. Mullins took exception to this and
pushed Garcia over. After all the players all came around and
jostled with one another Howard Webb called the two players over.
First Mullins went for raising his arms and then Garcia was sent off
for his part in the incident. Having seen this again later the ref
probably had to send them off according to the strict letter of the
law. It was particularly harsh on Garcia for me and if this stands
both players will miss the cup final.

In the final ten minutes the Reds had the chance to wrap the points
up when Cisse went clear. With just the keeper to beat though he hit
the keeper with his shot and then couldn't quite angle his body
properly to head the rebound in to the empty net. It would have sewn
the game up but as it happens West ham still had something to aim
for. Carragher was forced in to drastic defending on eighty four
minutes after Ferdinand had danced his way down the right and
crossed. From the resultant corner Scaloni hit a shot from twenty
yards just over Dudek's goal.

After three added minutes the Ref ended the contest and the Reds
could at last celebrate a win in London. It's been over a year in
coming but this was a deserved win on the night. It keeps up the
pressure on second place at least and more importantly keeps us on a
winning level as the season draws to a close.

MotM : Momo Sissoko - had an awesome game breaking everything up in
the midfield and even making some great forward runs. The scary
thing is that Momo can only get better as well. Cisse also played
well and showed that he can be a player who the opposition fear at
times.

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Match Stats
West Ham Liverpool
54% Possession 46%
5 Shots On Target 6
4 Shots Off Target 5
2 Blocked Shots 1
6 Corners 3
11 Fouls 7
8 Offsides 5
0 Yellow Cards 0
1 Red Cards 1

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