AN incident packed promotion clash at Upton Park has finished
2-1 to Preston, Bobby Zamora's late goal not enough to save
ten-man Hammers from defeat.
Dave Nugent and Patrick Agyemang scored for the visitors, while
Hammers had Tomas Repka sent off in the first-half of this
ill-tempered clash.
Alan Pardew's one change from the defeat at Leeds was forced on
him by the absence of Anton Ferdinand with a hamstring injury,
Hayden Mullins coming in at right-back and Tomas Repka switching to
the centre of defence.
Youth-team star Hogan Ephraim was named among the substitutes for
the first time and Chris Cohen made up a duo of Hammers Academy
graduates to make the first team bench.
The game started brightly, with both sides showing plenty of
attacking endeavour. Hayden Mullins found space in the box but
should have done better in picking out Teddy Sheringham when his
far post cross floated well-clear of the Hammers striker.
Brian O'Neil had a hopeful drive from all of 30 yards easily
saved by Stephen Bywater, but the Hammers goalkeeper looked
anything but comfortable when he ballooned his clearance from Chris
Powell's back-pass under pressure from Paul McKenna.
Hammers had a great chance with 13 minutes gone, but it was Preston
full-back Graham Alexander that turned Steve Lomas' back post
cross towards goal, the ball trickling just wide of the post.
Then, less than five minutes later, an awful aberration by Bywater
gave Preston the lead. Malky Mackay played the ball back to his
goalkeeper, but Bywater's touch was heavy and it allowed Dave
Nugent to steal in and roll the ball into the unguarded net.
Hammers rallied to try and cancel out the mistake of their
teammate, but it was Bywater himself making amends for the error on
26 minutes. Chris Sedgwick hit a venomous 25 yard drive that the
'keeper did well to parry and regained his balance to make a
superb point-blank block from Nugent, although the goal would have
been ruled out in any case for offside.
West Ham continued to enjoy plenty of the attack, but a succession
of crosses failed to beat the first defender, while
O'Neil's header for Preston drifted well wide.
With 39 minutes gone Marlon Harewood's shot was well-blocked by
Preston captain Chris Lucketti and from the resulting corner Carl
Fletcher hit a shot on the turn that drove through the crowded
penalty box, but was well saved by a sprawling Chris Day in the
visitors' goal.
Two minutes later Day had to be alert again as Harewood chased a
long clearance from Bywater, but couldn't get enough of a touch
to divert it beyond the goalkeeper.
With three minutes to go until half-time Alan Pardew's problems
were compounded when Tomas Repka clashed with Brian O'Neil off
the ball and Repka was shown the fourth red card of his Upton Park
career for lashing out at the Preston midfielder.
Already on a knife-edge, the Upton Park atmosphere exploded as the
players from both sides became embroiled in an ugly melee that saw
Harewood and Chris Sedgwick booked.
The half-time whistle couldn't come soon enough to quell some
heated tempers as the Hammers left the field trailing 1-0.
HT: 0-1
Down to 10 men and a goal behind, Hammers emerged for the
second-half with it all to do. Bobby Zamora replaced Teddy
Sheringham during the break with Carl Fletcher switching to central
defence.
But it was Preston who had the ball in the net barely a minute
after the re-start. It was another nervy moment for Bywater as he
spilled Alexander's drive and Nugent pounced again to turn the
ball home, only for the offside flag to rule out the effort.
With their man advantage Preston were doing all the pressing.
Nugent was denied by Chris Powell's excellent tackle in the
six-yard area, before a miss-kick from Hayden Mullins allowed
Nugent to break through on goal. One on one with Bywater, the
Preston goalscorer tried to round him, but this time the Hammers
goalkeeper came out on top, diving at Nugent's feet to tip the
ball away for a corner.
Alexander and Eddie Lewis were both off target with efforts soon
after, but Hammers were beginning to raise the tempo and their
desire was epitomised by Harewood fighting to win back the ball in
midfield and charging at the Preston defence before his run was
ended by Matt Hill.
Matty Etherington hit a cracking 25 yard volley that Day watched
all the into his arms, and then swung over the corner from the left
that Lomas flew in to meet, but glanced his effort well wide.
Defender Malky Mackay was replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker on 69 minutes
as Hammers desperation for an equaliser increased. On the other
hand, Preston showed their desire to close up the game by bringing
on defender Claude Davis for Eddie Lewis.
But it was the visitors' next substitution that sealed all
three points for Preston. Patrick Agyemang replaced Nugent and
within a minute the gangly forward was twisting past Mullins and
beating Bywater with a cool finish to make it 2-0.
Hammers looked out of it, but that certainly didn't show in
their performance as Alan Pardew's men continued to surge
forward in search of a way back into the game.
With four minutes remaining Hammers scored the goal that their
application deserved. It was some goal, too. Harewood's pace
and strength dealt with Youl Mwaene, giving him time to pick out
Zamora at the far post, and he dispatched a sizzling volley into
the far corner of the net, giving Day no chance.
Upton Park was suddenly alive again with visions of a sterling
comeback. Hammers gave it all they had, but Steve Lomas was off
target with his effort and Zamora had a shot well blocked by the
Preston defence.
Passions were running high in both camps as the final whistle
approached, but it was on the bench where they finally spilled over
as Preston manager Billy Davies was sent from the dug-out.
He missed seeing his side celebrate a 2-1 victory at Upton Park and
what could prove a very important three points.