Summary
City slipped to another defeat through Shaun Newton’s goal after 15 minutes. David James had very little to do but had no chance with the goal.
The Blues did get the ball in before the break, but it was waved offisde with much confusion over whether Sinclair or Richards had been deemed as in front of the defence. Vassell also had the ball in during the second half but was also denied by the linesman.
There were numerous chances after the break for City, with Sinclair’s 50 yard run being the highlight. The sense of relief from an increasingly testy home crowd was palpable at the end.
Claudio Reyna shook off a thigh strain this week and stayed in the line-up after returning at White Hart Lane. Albert Riera was selected on the left of midfield, so with Kiki Musampa moving to the middle, Micah Richards was pushed back to right-back, replacing Danny Mills.
David James & Trevor Sinclair made their return to their old stamping ground here at Upton Park.
For West Ham, Ferdinand was still injured but Reo-Coker, so impressive in last month’s cup-tie, did start. Jimmy Walker replaced Hislop in goal, while Etherington made way for Newton.
The Match
Credit to the home fans, who gave great receptions to old boys James, Sinclair and, in particular, Stuart Pearce.
The hosts went onto the front foot straight away with an early corner, and on seven minutes they had their fans on their feet when Newton broke out of defence. The biggest talking point of the opening period came when Benayoun had to leave the field to change his shorts, with a West Ham coach shielding his modesty. However, referee Bennett would not allow him to return until the ball had gone dead, despite the loud protests of the home support.
However we did not have to wait too long for a goal, and sadly it was for the home team. Zamora turned inside Distin and rifled a low cross to Shaun Newton, who steadied himself before firing the ball to James’ right to put the Hammers into the lead.
Riera floated in a long cross all the way over to Sinclair, but his header back into the area was easily taken by Walker.
Reyna drifted a corner in on 27 minutes that fell to Richards, who’s first time shot was blocked by a Hammers defender. The ball rebounded out to Samaras, who had an attempt, and then to Dunne, but after taking second to settle the Irishman blasted the ball a long way over.
City were establishing a toehold on the game, and on the half-hour Musampa crossed from a long way out, and Samaras’ header was only just wide.
A minute later, Distin’s wayward back header conceded a corner. Reo-Coker sidefooted the ball goalwards, but the deflection from Zamora went straight to James.
City then bundled the ball in on 35 minutes, but to their disbelief it was waved offside. Sinclair’s mis-hit ball looped towards the far corner of the goal, and Richards, who somehow got his right foot up high enough to connect, may have touched it just before it went in, but the linesman had flagged while the ball was in flight. Pearce protested to the linesman, and Reyna went into the book for complaining to Steve Bennett.
The rest of the half was unremarkable and City went into the break a goal down.
Second half
Sommeil replaced Thatcher after the break, but Distin looked to go to left-back with Richards moving into central defence.
And City nearly had the dream start of a goal when Trevor Sinclair waltzed through the middle of the park to go one-on-one with Walker, but his shot was just touched wide by the Hammers goalkeeper.
Great work by Sommeil in the right corner area saw him feed Sinclair, who immediately found Musampa, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked and West Ham cleared their lines.
City were gaining confidence, and on 63 minutes Vassell had a chance after a mix up between Scaloni and Walker, however the striker could not get the ball past Gabbidon to score.
Dean Ashton’s raking cross on 66 minutes was heading towards substitute Harewood in the box, but Richard Dunne’s last-second slide saw him deflect the ball behind for a corner, from which West Ham made nothing.
A great run by Riera, cutting in from the left saw him cross to Vassell, who turned tha ball into the net only to see the linesman with his flag raised for offside again.
City’s hearts were in their mouths when Ashton broke away with 10 minutes left but a great tackle from Richards denied him. Vassell then went in on goal and flicked the ball over Walker only to see a claret shirt hook the ball away.
With five minutes to go, City had another chance when Distin lifted a free kick in from far out. The ball dropped to Richards, who shot first time from close range only to see Walker dive to his left and parry the ball away from goal, a fine save.
With just a minute to go, Musampa put another free kick in over the defence to find Sinclair, who did not seem to realise he was onside, and by the time he did the defence had regrouped and he was prevented from getting a shot into to threaten Walker.
Harewood tumbled in the area under challenge from Richards but referee Bennett waved away the protests for a penalty from the home fans as time began to ebb away.
