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Audio Match ReportTuesday 26th December 2000
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Upton Park
Attendance:26,046
Referee: SW DunnWEST HAM5Di Canio 12, Kanoute 17,83, Lampard 44, Sinclair 74 CHARLTON0HISLOP S.PEARCE CAMARA WINTERBURN SONG LOMAS CARRICK KANOUTE LAMPARD DI CANIO SINCLAIR Subs: MONCUR(85) FORREST COLE(80) TIHINEN(85) DIAWARA KIELY KISHISHEV POWELL FISH TILER BROWN JENSEN JHANSSON KINSELLA STUART SVENSSON Subs: ROBINSON PRINGLE(25) PARKER(69) KONCHESKY CAIG
On a day when West Ham dominated in the 5-0 win over Charlton, Harry Redknapp confirmed that he is still interested in strengthening his squad, with a move for the Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso possibly in the offing, saying:
"He's a player I'd like to have at the club. He's made a mistake or two but I like to see mistakes as it brings the value down, otherwise he'd be worth £7M. That's the time to get these people in, when they're on the floor, then you can pick them up and turn them around again."
There has even been talk of a swap deal involving Steve Lomas, but the Hammers boss would be reluctant to lose his inspirational skipper - and he certainly doesn't need the money.
But Harry is continuing to make astute moves in the transfer market, and of his most recent acquisition, Titi Camara, Harry said:
"He has got good ability and he'll do well for us."
Indeed, Harry now has a formidable strike force, saying:
"We have 4 attacking players in Camara, Kanoute, Di Canio and Sinclair. They will give anyone problems. If Charlton were to contain these four, then they had to be at their best, particularly with Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick playing just behind them."
But again, he singled out Freddie Kanoute, saying:
"He's a frightening talent and has absolutely everything. He was our record signing at £3.6 million but he's an absolute bargain. We pick up bargains where we can - we only paid £5 million for both Paolo di Canio and Freddie, and today you couldn't even buy one striker for that"
He also had praise for Paolo di Canio, and added:
"He can adjust and play the ball however it comes to him. He's a special talent and has great balance and can flick balls anywhere he wants."
But his main pride was of the team performance and he added:
"It was terrific and there were some great goals, including a contender for goal of the season. We gave 2 sloppy goals away at Leicester and were left smarting after that but in this game we closed them down well.
"I like to see people play, people come to be entertained and even if we don't win the championship at least people will enjoy watching us.
"We played with two wingers in Camara and Sinclair against their four midfielders. We took a chance to do the damage and it worked."
It was West Ham's biggest win so far this campaign with a seasonal stuffing of sorry Charlton.
The width of the Thames may be all that separates these two sides on the map but there was a gaping gulf in class between them as Harry Redknapp's men served up a festive treat.
It was packed with goalmouth action, punctuated by some sweet flicks and, most importantly, resulted in three comfortable points.
Charlton's away form this season - which has now yielded six straight defeats - has been little short of woeful and there was nothing to suggest that by far their shortest trip of the season would provide anything else other than more travel sickness.
That man di Canio was clearly up for the midday start and after several typical moments of magic, he broke the deadlock with another special strike.
A Pearce punt into the box bobbled of Kanoute and Steve Brown and as the loose ball dropped behind him, the Italian looped a cheeky backheel over Dean Kiely which deserved the good fortune of a deflection.
Much like the Hammers Majorettes, whose half-time dancing is a popular feature of a fan's trip to Upton Park, Harry Redknapp's players like to put on a show.
Six minutes after di Canio's goal, he shovelled the ball down the right flank to Sinclair. Kanoute continued his run and after receiving another flick infield and getting a handy deflection off Brown, the leggy Frenchman coolly slotted in his third goal in as many games.
With Matt Svensson limping off, Charlton lacked the physical presence to pose a problem for Pearce and the robust Rigobert Song and as a result, the Hammers held sway for the whole of the half.
More di Canio magic set up a deserved third in stoppage time as the Italian twisted and turned down the left before dropping a delicate centre into the path of Frank Lampard, who could hardly miss from almost under the crossbar.
Kanoute dragged one wide, and Titi Camara making his home debut on the left, was denied by a smart stop from Kiely before the half-time whistle offered Charlton the sanctuary of the dressing room and the crowd a glimpse of more fancy footwork from the dance troupe.
Charlton at least looked more co-ordinated at the resumption and Richard Rufus could have reduced the arrears within two minutes although his header from Claus Jensen's free-kick lacked the power to worry Shaka Hislop.
But it was all brief a flurry from Charlton, who continued to play their football but posed little attacking threat.
West Ham in contrast promised a fourth with di Canio and Camara forcing saves, before Sinclair finally delivered with a searing 30-yard volley into the top right-hand corner after controlling one of many panicked clearances from the visiting box.
Kanoute then wrapped up the rout, latching onto a precise through-ball from Michael Carrick and rounding Kiely, whose own Christmas outing covered as much work as another gentleman sporting red and white.
There used to be a joke about West Ham coming down with the Christmas decorations. Unless they improve on their travels, it will be Charlton doing all the folding come the New Year.