Post Match Comments
Audio Match ReportMonday 6th November 2000
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Pride Park
Attendance:24,621
Referee: Paul Durkin DERBY0 WEST HAM0POOMSCHNOORELLIOTTRIGGOTTBURLEYJOHNSONPOWELLMARTINDELAPCHRISTIEKINKLADZE Subs:BURTON(80)VALAKARI(46)MORRIS(86)HIGGINBOTHAMGRANTHISLOP>S.PEARCEI.PEARCESUKERDI CANIOLOMASKANOUTESINCLAIRLAMPARDCARRICKFERDINANDSubs:BYWATERMONCUR(75)POTTSKELLERDIAWARA(64)
West Ham were denied 3 points by referee Phillip Durkin when a blatant foul by Stefan Schnoor on Paolo di Canio went unpunished late in the game.
Di Canio's penalty appeal was waved away but Harry Redknapp said afterwards:
"He was about to shoot when Schnoor wrapped his leg round and pulled him to the floor. It was a blatant penalty and Paolo was very upset.
"Refs don't like him because he pushed one over once. Or is it because he is a foreigner they think he dives?
"We made a video last season with about 6 of the most obvious penalties you have ever seen, decisions he didn't get. It was unbelievable - and we showed it to the refs."
Redknapp admitted the game was poor, however, and said:
"Both teams gave the ball away and it was scrappy. If we'd upped our game we'd have got 3 points.
"I couldn't enjoy that game - we were giving the ball away for fun and forwards wise we were very disappointing.
"Only Paolo carried a threat. He was the most likely player to do anything, or Kinkladze for them.
"The best players for me were the defenders. Stuart and Ian Pearce were outstanding. I played 4-4-2 with Kanoute out wide but 3 or 4 were off form.
"I expect us to get the ball and pass it But at least it's 3 clean sheets on the spin - and Shaka didn't have much to do."
Derby's run without a win in the FA Carling Premiership this season continued and Rams manager Jim Smith had to watch his side fail to pick up three points for the twelfth straight match Derby never really looked like winning.
The Hammers went into the game on the back of two positive results last week but, aside from a brief frenetic spell at the end of the first half when Frederic Kanoute, Rio Ferdinand, and Michael Carrick tested Mart Poom, the opening 45 minutes were forgettable.
The second half saw a Di Canio volley saved after sinclair's crossfield ball - and then that penalty appeal.
The action was restricted to the middle of the park for the majority of the game, lacking any spark of inspiration which may have opened up the mundane encounter.
Conditions played their part and both sides could at least take heart from solid defensive performances.