Post Match Comments
Audio Match ReportSaturday 7th April 2001
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Villa Park
Attendance:31,432
Referee: Rob Harris ASTON VILLA2Ginola 72, Hendrie 78 WEST HAM2Kanoute 46, Lampard 86 JAMESDELANEYSTAUNTONSOUTHGATEBARRYSTONETAYLORHENDRIEMERSONGINOLAJOACHIM Subs:ENCKELMANWRIGHT 61BOATENGANGELVASSELL 61HISLOPSONGSTIMACS.PEARCEWINTERBURNLAMPARDCARRICKMONCURSCHEMMELDI CANIOKANOUTESubs:BYWATERPOTTSSOMA 90COLE 78TODOROV
A run of four consecutive Premiership defeats came to an end with a 2-2 draw at Villa Park - but it was a match that Hammers should have won.
After Fredi Kanoute scored West Ham's first goal in five games to give the visitors the lead in the first minute of the second half, Paolo Di Canio wasted a golden chance to make it 2-0.
Villa keeper David James could only divert John Moncur's right-wing cross into the path of the Italian, but he somehow scooped his shot over the bar from just 10 yards with the goal gaping.
Manager Harry Redknapp said: "If you wanted anyone in that position, it would be Paolo. He is normally a fantastic finisher but it was an amazingly bad miss, in front of an open goal.
"I asked him to do a different job for me today, playing wide on the left, and he worked very hard for the team. He's done some fantastic things in the last couple of years so I'm not going to have a go at him for that, although I did think it would be a vital miss."
Another costly error was committed by Stuart Pearce on 71 minutes. Julian Joachim was going nowhere, crowded out by defenders in blue shirts on the edge of the area with his back to goal, when the veteran Psycho lived up to his nickname again by needlessly clattering into the Villa striker.
From the resulting free-kick, David Ginola curled a right-footer inside the top corner of Shaka Hislop's left-hand upright to level the scores.
This is the third game in succession that a rash challenge by Pearce has led to a costly goal, following previous mistakes against Everton and Ipswich Town.
Villa, who had looked as lacklustre as West Ham in a first half as damp and dreary as the west midlands weather, looked set to steal a victory they did not deserve when they went 2-1 ahead in the 78th minute.
Ginola's deep cross from the left skidded off the head of Pearce and fell invitingly to the feet of Lee Hendrie, who arrived unmarked at the far post to sidefoot Villa in front.
Vassell then wasted a decent chance to kill the game when he sidefooted wide from Delaney's low cross - and Hammers made him pay.
Joe Cole, the scapegoat for West Ham's failure to score goals and defend well, came off the subs' bench and made a significant impact. His typically weaving run earned the free-kick from which Hammers scored their deserved 86th minute equaliser.
Atoning for his earlier error, Pearce crossed to the far post, where Igor Stimac rose beyond Delaney. His downward header struck the base of the upright but there was Frank Lampard to fire home the rebound in front of England assistant coach Tord Grip.
Redknapp will feel that the ends justified the means after sacrificing Cole's flair for Moncur's experience. In selecting a back four with the left-sided Di Canio completing a five-man midfield, Kanoute was left to fight a lone battle up front. Still, the Frenchman looked livelier than of late, causing Southgate and Barry a few anxious moments, and his goal will have restored some recent lost confidence.
Said H: "Fredi always looked a threat and we created some good positions down the right hand side. With better delivery, it could have produced more goals."
Redknapp went on to justify his decision to leave out England midfielder Cole. "I decided to try a different system which made us more solid and gave better balance. It worked great and we should have gone two up.
"I've got to pick a team to win matches and if I upset one or two, then so be it. But Joe Cole is still a fantastic player and has a great future in the game. I found it difficult playing him and Paolo together in the side and Joe may have to learn to play a certain position. I think his best role could be playing off a front two."
Redknapp remains totally confident that his side will not be sucked into the relegation dogfight. "We've six games left, we'll have no problems picking up enough points."