the star
WEST HAM 2 MILLWALL 1: REID TEN OUT OF TEN FOR BIG SAM’S HEROES
SAM ALLARDYCE toasted one of the best wins of his career as ten-man West Ham left Millwall red-faced.
Goals from Carlton Cole and Winston Reid sealed a famous win despite Kevin Nolan’s red card for a foul on Jack Smith just nine minutes into a fiery derby.
Nolan became the seventh player sent off in 19 games this season by referee Mike Jones – and Allardyce slammed the official afterwards.
But he also hailed his heroes for delivering West Ham’s first league win over Millwall in 21 years.
Allardyce said: “That is by far one of the best wins I’ve ever had in my managerial career.
“To play in a local derby, go down to ten men in the first nine minutes and go on to give a performance like we did was outstanding.
“Kevin is only going for the ball with one foot, he’s not off the floor and he’s not out of control so it was a poor decision by the referee.
“But there is a lot of character in this team – a lot of belief – and that came through in the end.”
Liam Trotter levelled it up briefly for Millwall after Cole opened the scores, only for Reid to volley the winner after what looked like a foul on Lions keeper David Forde in the build-up. But Millwall did not deserve anything after being outplayed.
Their boss Kenny Jackett said: “I’ve seen the replays of the major incidents.
“The second goal is a definite free-kick – it has to be when you go in as ferociously as that and take the keeper’s legs from under him.
“As for the sending-off, under the current climate if you tackle two-footed it seems to be a red card.”
The last time Millwall came here for an infamous Carling Cup tie in 2009 there was rioting and 50 West Ham fans ended up with lifetime bans.
This time the game passed off without incident although home fans let off a firecracker after the final whistle.
The fireworks on the pitch started early when Nolan got his marching orders for a two-footed lunge at Smith.
But Millwall failed to make the extra man count and went behind in first-half stoppage time.
Reid nodded on a Mark Noble free-kick and Cole out-jumped Darren Ward to head home from eight yards.
Julien Faubert almost made it two after the break when he headed against the crossbar.
So when Millwall equalised with 23 minutes left it was completely against the run of play.
Abdoulaye Faye was caught trying to shepherd a throw-in out of play and Darius Henderson hooked the ball back to the edge of the box where Trotter smashed it into the top corner.
But the Hammers went back in front moments later.
Faubert appeared to foul Forde as he came out to punch clear and the ball fell kindly for Reid to volley back into the open goal.
West Ham: Green 6; O’Brien 7, Reid 8, Faye 6, McCartney 7; Tomkins 6; Faubert 7 (O’Neil 80th), Noble 7, Nolan 4, Collison 5 (Taylor (46th) 6); Cole 6 (Vaz Te 89th)
Millwall: Forde 5; Dunne 7, Lowry 5, Ward 5, Barron 5 (Kane (57th) 6); Abdou 5, Trotter 6, Smith 6, Feeney 6 (Mason 80th); Henderson 6, Keogh 5
STAR MAN: Winston Reid
Ref: M Jones
daily express
West Ham goalscorer Winston Reid
WEST HAM 2 - MILLWALL 1: BIG SAM HAILS CAREER HIGHLIGHT WITH A PERFECT TEN
SAM ALLARDYCE toasted one of the best wins of his career as 10-man West Ham left Millwall red-faced.
Goals from Carlton Cole and Winston Reid sealed a famous win despite Kevin Nolan’s red card for a foul on Jack Smith just nine minutes into this fierce and fiery derby clash.
Nolan became the seventh player sent off in referee Mike Jones’ 19 games this season and Allardyce slammed the official afterwards. But he also hailed his heroes for delivering West Ham’s first league win over Millwall in 21 years.
Allardyce said: “That is by far one of the best wins I’ve ever had in my managerial career.
“To play in a local derby, go down to 10 men in the first nine minutes and go on to give a performance like we did was outstanding.
“Kevin is only going for the ball with one foot. He’s not off the floor and he’s not out of control, so it was a poor decision by the referee.”
Liam Trotter briefly pulled Millwall level after Cole opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time. Reid volleyed the winner on 69 minutes, though Lions keeper David Forde appeared to be fouled in the build-up. But Millwall have never won a league game at Upton Park and deserved nothing.
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That is by far one of the best wins I’ve ever had in my managerial caree
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce
Lions boss Kenny Jackett said of the controversial winner: “It is a definite free-kick when you go in as ferociously as that and take the keeper’s legs from under him.
“As for the sending-off, if you do tackle two-footed it seems to be a red card in the current climate.”
the guardian
Kevin Nolan of West Ham is sent off by referee Mick Jones after a challenge on Millwall's Jack Smith.
Kevin Nolan is sent off but West Ham still manage to beat Millwall
West Ham United 2
Carlton Cole 45+2,
Reid 69
Millwall 1
Trotter 66
Kevin Nolan of West Ham is sent off by referee Mick Jones
Kevin Nolan of West Ham is sent off by referee Mick Jones after a challenge on Millwall's Jack Smith. Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
Sam Allardyce feels 10-man West Ham United's defeat of derby rivals Millwall could prove a "defining moment" in their promotion bid. The Hammers were forced to play for almost the entire match a man down after their captain, Kevin Nolan, was sent off for a two-footed lunge. Millwall looked to have pinched a point when Liam Trotter cancelled out Carlton Cole's first-half header but Winston Reid crashed in a winner in the 69th minute as the West Ham consolidated their place at the top of the Championship.
"It was a result we deserved," Allardyce said. "We managed the disappointment of Kevin going off, we didn't sit back and we got our reward. It could be a defining moment. There's a pressure in this fixture and you have to handle that."
Happily there was no repeat of the crowd trouble that marred the last meeting between these old foes at Upton Park, in the Carling Cup in August 2009. Nevertheless, the derby-day atmosphere clearly got to Nolan as his rush of blood left his team-mates to play more than 80 minutes a man down.
The Hammers shipped five goals in a shock defeat at Ipswich on Tuesday night and were desperate to get back to winning ways to cement their place at the top, but had their captain and most experienced player given his marching orders after only nine minutes.
Nolan may have got some of the ball but he also got a lot of Millwall defender Jack Smith and both his feet were off the ground as he slid in, giving the referee, Mick Jones, no choice but to show the red card.
Yet Allardyce insisted the former Newcastle midfielder should not have been sent off. "He was in control, it wasn't over vigorous. But it looks like the refs are told to red card that now. It's going to spoil the game."
Following a shaky start the Hammers actually improved after Nolan had trudged off and took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Millwall failed to deal with Mark Noble's free-kick and Cole pounced with a header. Julien Faubert then hit the crossbar for the hosts but they were pegged back through Trotter's volley.
However, three minutes later keeper David Forde was clattered by Faubert as he punched the ball, which landed at the feet of Reid who lashed it home first time for the winner.
the mail
Match-winner: Winston Reid wheels away after nodding West Ham to a precious three points
On target: Carlton Cole celebrates his goal on the stroke of half-time
Heavy police presence: West Ham fans are escorted towards Upton Park
West Ham 2 Millwall 1: Sam gives Hammers perfect 10
West Ham are still on course for an immediate return to the top flight after a victory as sweet as any since Sam Allardyce took over as manager.
Humbled 5-1 by Ipswich in midweek and down to 10 men after nine minutes against their fiercest local rivals, it was no surprise that Allardyce punched the air in delight and hugged his staff.
MATCH FACTS
West Ham: Green, Faye, Reid, Tomkins, McCartney, O'Brien, Noble, Collison (Taylor 46), Faubert (O'Neil 80), Cole (Vaz Te 89), Nolan. Subs not used: Baldock, Maynard.
Booked: Faye.
Sent off: Nolan.
Scorers: Cole 45, Reid 69.
Millwall: Forde, Smith, Dunne, Ward, Barron (Kane 56), Feeney (Mason 81), Trotter, Abdou, Lowry, Henderson, Keogh. Subs not used: Allsop, N'Guessan, Wright.
Booked: Henderson, Lowry, Ward, Forde.
Scorer: Trotter 66.
Referee: Mike Jones.
Attendance: 27,774.
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett, not a man with a reputation for complaining, was bitterly disappointed the winning goal was allowed to stand.
Many would agree but the fact remains the struggling Lions deserved little more.
When the teams last met here, in the Carling Cup in 2009, 31 arrests were made after disgraceful crowd scenes.
This time the lower tier of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand was closed in case objects were hurled from above, local pubs stayed shut, alcohol was banned inside the ground and a huge security operation was mounted.
The last thing needed was anything that might inflame the crowd but with nine minutes gone, Kevin Nolan went in with a two-footed tackle on Jack Smith and referee Mick Jones produced a red card for the Hammers' skipper.
West Ham's reaction to the loss of their captain was admirable, closing down the spaces and dominating possession.
A rasping shot from Joey O'Brien fizzed over the bar and Julien Faubert was inches away from getting on the end of a George McCartney cross.
Then, in first-half stoppage time, the 10 men went in front.
Mark Noble's free-kick was headed on by Winston Reid and Carlton Cole beat his marker to head home his ninth goal of the season.
Millwall's back line continued to look susceptible to crosses and Faubert almost doubled the lead but his header thumped against the bar.
West Ham were holding their own relatively comfortably, only to concede an equaliser with their first bad mistake.
Abdoulaye Faye tried to play his way out of defence and, when the ball fell to Liam Trotter, the Millwall skipper lashed it home.
That should have been signal for the visitors at last to press home their numerical advantage.
Instead, James Tomkins had a header cleared off the line and in the very next move West Ham were back in front - albeit controversially.
As David Forde punched out a cross, the Millwall keeper was impeded by the onrushing Faubert and as he lay on the ground, Reid volleyed home.
'This was one of the best wins of my entire managerial career,' said Allardyce.
'To perform the way we did, with such character and belief in a local derby was outstanding. A defining moment? Maybe.
'There is a certain pressure in this fixture. When you go down to 10 men so quickly, you'd have to go back a long way to find a victory like this. I thought it actually unhinged Millwall.'
But he was unhappy about the sending-off.
'I don't think Kevin went through the man with two feet. It was a poor decision. Kevin Nolan tackles don't injure players. In no way was there any intent and that's how it should be judged.'
the telegrraph
Hammer blow for Millwall: Winston Reid celebrates after scoring the second goal for West Ham
West Ham United 2 Millwall 1:
Ravel Morrison was meant to escape those who set a bad example when he sought refuge in east London, away from the trying lights of Manchester.
No luck. He saw new captain Kevin Nolan sent off eight minutes into West Ham’s boisterous win over Millwall for a two-footed lunge on Jack Smith, an indiscretion that was lucky not to cost his side.
Winston Reid’s powerful volley saw to that, after Liam Trotter’s similarly impressive effort cancelled out Carlton Cole’s first half opener.
Sam Allardyce, who claimed Nolan’s dismissal was harsh, said: “I think this may be a defining moment. It was a result we deserved and we managed the disappointment of Kevin going off the field.
"I am upset because it could have spoiled the game. It's not the worst tackle in the game and if they are going to keep doing that, we will see 10 versus 11 and nobody wants that.
"Once we came to terms with that, we created problems.
“There is a pressure on this fixture as it is a local derby - I think we inched it."
Morrison, a precocious talent taken from the fringes of Manchester United’s first team, did not make the squad for this victory that continues his new side’s charge back to where he and they came from; the Premier League. His time will come. Millwall’s time in the Championship is running out.
They just lacked the requisite fight behind enemy lines to make the numerical advantage in their ranks count and thankfully, Green Street and the surrounding battlegrounds also lacked fight before Cole and co. made the difference between these two foes.
‘Welcomed’ is stretching it. The Boleyn Ground opened its doors to Millwall for the first time since that desperate night in August 2009 when events were disfigured by disorder.
But no riots this time. No punctured lungs. No blood or broken bottles. For Kenny Jackett’s Millwall, just broken hearts. Reid’s winner leaves Jackett’s men immediately above the bottom three.
Nolan lunged at Smith and rightly saw red, Jack Collison collided with Andy Keogh and Scott Barron clashed with Joey O’Brien - and that was just the first half. Cole’s neat header from Mark Noble’s free-kick signalled home joy at the end of it.
Darius Henderson received a warning early in the second half, while Shane Lowry thudded into Matt Taylor before Julian Faubert thudded the bar with a header.
Trotter’s wonderful volley on 66 minutes levelled it but just two minutes of parity ensued before Reid thundered home a volley after David Forde could only punch to the edge of the area.
Forde protested that Faubert clattered him and he had a point. Millwall, much to Kenny Jackett’s dismay, did not have theirs.
“I have seen the replay of the major incidents and I thought the second goal was a foul on David Forde,” he said. “He wiped out his legs and that is a foul.
"Having viewed it again, I think it was a mistake.
"It was tight - West Ham are very capable. I am disappointed with the first goal and Cole wanted it more than us.
"We had a lot of the ball but results are the bottom line. We need 21 points from the remaining games to get 50 points and that is our aim."
WEST HAM Green; McCartney, Tomkins, Reid, O'Brien; Noble, Collison (Taylor 46), Faye, Nolan, Faubert (O'Neil 80); Cole (Vaz Te 88) Subs not used: Baldock, Maynard, O'Neil
MILLWALL: Forde; Barron (Kane 57), Lowry, Ward, Dunne; Feeney (Mason 80), Trotter, Smith, Abdou, Keogh; Henderson Subs not used: Allsop, N'Guessan, Mason, Wright
the observer
Kevin Nolan of West Ham is sent off by referee Mick Jones after a challenge on Millwall's Jack Smith.
Kevin Nolan is sent off but West Ham still manage to beat Millwall
Sam Allardyce feels 10-man West Ham United's defeat of derby rivals Millwall could prove a "defining moment" in their promotion bid. The Hammers were forced to play for almost the entire match a man down after their captain, Kevin Nolan, was sent off for a two-footed lunge. Millwall looked to have pinched a point when Liam Trotter cancelled out Carlton Cole's first-half header but Winston Reid crashed in a winner in the 69th minute as the West Ham consolidated their place at the top of the Championship.
"It was a result we deserved," Allardyce said. "We managed the disappointment of Kevin going off, we didn't sit back and we got our reward. It could be a defining moment. There's a pressure in this fixture and you have to handle that."
Happily there was no repeat of the crowd trouble that marred the last meeting between these old foes at Upton Park, in the Carling Cup in August 2009. Nevertheless, the derby-day atmosphere clearly got to Nolan as his rush of blood left his team-mates to play more than 80 minutes a man down.
The Hammers shipped five goals in a shock defeat at Ipswich on Tuesday night and were desperate to get back to winning ways to cement their place at the top, but had their captain and most experienced player given his marching orders after only nine minutes.
Nolan may have got some of the ball but he also got a lot of Millwall defender Jack Smith and both his feet were off the ground as he slid in, giving the referee, Mick Jones, no choice but to show the red card.
Yet Allardyce insisted the former Newcastle midfielder should not have been sent off. "He was in control, it wasn't over vigorous. But it looks like the refs are told to red card that now. It's going to spoil the game."
Following a shaky start the Hammers actually improved after Nolan had trudged off and took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Millwall failed to deal with Mark Noble's free-kick and Cole pounced with a header. Julien Faubert then hit the crossbar for the hosts but they were pegged back through Trotter's volley.
However, three minutes later keeper David Forde was clattered by Faubert as he punched the ball, which landed at the feet of Reid who lashed it home first time for the winner.
the independent
Reid hammers home 'defining' victory
West Ham United 2 Millwall 1
It was a win which Sam Allardyce described as "one of the best" of his career. Despite playing for 82 minutes with 10 men, West Ham outplayed Millwall and while some fans have been underwhelmed with the style of football this season, this was a demonstration of the very best of Allardyce. West Ham played with discipline, nerve, efficiency and unquestionable commitment to overcome the early dismissal of Kevin Nolan.
Carlton Cole, who headed the first goal, and Winston Reid, who volleyed the second, were both very good, but Mark Noble and James Tomkins, outnumbered but never outfought in midfield, were exceptional.
Allardyce agreed it could be a "defining moment" in the push for promotion, coming four days after a 5-1 defeat at Ipswich. "It was a win we thoroughly deserved and a fantastic performance," he said. "After the disappointment on Tuesday it makes it a very, very satisfying performance and result for all the players."
The reason it was so impressive was because only nine minutes in Nolan launched himself like a long-jumper towards Jack Smith's shins. This was a clear example of excessive force and Nolan was rightly dismissed.
Millwall had the extra man, but lacked the skill and ambition to make him count. The longer the first half went on the less disadvantaged West Ham looked. Noble, who took on Nolan's armband, took on his playing duties too, making so many tackles, passes and runs that he made up for his absent captain.
It was Noble who supplied the ball for the opening goal. His long free-kick was headed on by Reid and Cole outmuscled Darren Ward to head the ball past David Forde.
Early in the second half Millwall finally started to stretch West Ham and, thanks to an exceptional piece of skill, equalised. Darius Henderson hooked the ball from the by-line back to the edge of the box, where Liam Trotter adjusted his body to volley into the far top corner. This is a West Ham team of remarkable resilience, though. Avram Grant's relegation side of last year would surely have folded having lost the lead, but Allardyce's did not: within three minutes they were in front.
Forde chose to punch a cross, and Julien Faubert ran into him. The referee, surprisingly, did not whistle and Reid volleyed into the empty net. "You won't see a better volley than that in the game this weekend," Allardyce said. Millwall's manager, Kenny Jackett, thought it was a foul, and probably had a case.
But a team that creates so little in 82 minutes of 11 against 10 football does not warrant too much sympathy. The gleeful celebrations at the final whistle, Cole embracing Allardyce, told of a job exceptionally well done.
West Ham (4-1-4-1): Green; O'Brien, Reid, Faye, McCartney; Tomkins; Faubert (O'Neil, 80), Noble, Nolan, Collison (Taylor, h-t); Cole (Vaz Te, 89).
Millwall (4-1-4-1): Forde; Dunne, Ward, Lowry, Barron (Kane, 56); Smith; Keogh, Trotter, Abdou, Feeney (Mason, 81); Henderson.
Referee: Mike Jones
Man of the match: Noble (West Ham)
Match rating: 8/10
evening standard
Hammers earn derby spoils
Winston Reid was West Ham's unlikely hero as the npower Championship leaders beat derby rivals Millwall 2-1 despite playing almost the entire match with 10 men.
The New Zealand defender hit only his second goal for the Hammers moments after Liam Trotter had cancelled out Carlton Cole's first-half header.
The drama came after Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan was shown a straight red card for a nasty two-footed lunge on Jack Smith with just nine minutes on the clock.
Happily there was no repeat of the crowd trouble which marred the last meeting between these old foes at Upton Park, in the Carling Cup in August 2009.
Nevertheless, the derby-day atmosphere clearly got to Nolan as his rush of blood left his team-mates to play more than 80 minutes a man down.
Nolan may have got some of the ball, but he also got a lot of Smith and both his feet were off the ground as he slid in, giving referee Mick Jones no choice but to brandish the red card.
Rob Green had to save bravely at the feet of Darius Henderson, but the 10 men improved as the first half wore on and took the lead in stoppage time with Cole's ninth goal of the season. Mark Noble floated in a free-kick, Reid's back-header looped high into the air and Cole rose above his marker to nod past David Forde.
They were inches away from going 2-0 up four minutes into the second half when Julien Faubert's header from George McCartney's cross beat Forde but came back off the crossbar.
Instead, they were pegged back in the 65th minute when Abdoulaye Faye tried to let the ball roll out for a goal-kick and was robbed by Henderson, who chipped it back for Trotter to lash home a fine volley from 15 yards.
But Millwall were level for just two minutes before Reid popped up to grab the winner. Forde felt he was fouled by Faubert as he punched Joey O'Brien's up and under, but play continued and when the ball fell to Reid 20 yards out, the centre-half finished like a striker with a superb first-time shot past the floored Lions keeper and into the net.
sky sports
Allardyce hails Hammers
Sam Allardyce said West Ham's 2-1 home win is one of the best of his management career after his ten men beat Millwall to stay top of the Championship.
West Ham went five points ahead of Southampton after the win despite losing captain Kevin Nolan to a straight red after just nine minutes for a two-footed tackle.
"This is by far one of the best wins I've ever had in my entire management career," Allardyce said.
"To play in a local derby and to go down to ten men after nine minutes and then to perform the way we performed was absolutely outstanding.
Fantastic
"The whole group of players did a fantastic job today and it wasn't anything other than they deserved.
"When Millwall got back into it I thought it'd be tough and a draw would be a good result under the circumstances but never say die, there's a lot of character and belief and that came through in the end."
Allardyce defended his captain Nolan's dismissal, saying: "The situation as I have looked at it is Kevin is not going through the man with two feet, he's only going with one foot, he's not off the floor or out of control.
"For me that's a poor decision, I think that's harsh.
Intent
"He's a Premier League referee and he's probably been told to do it but from my point of view there's no way there's any intent by Kevin to injure the opposing player."
Millwall keeper David Forde was booked for arguing with the referee after he appeared to be fouled by Julien Faubert to allow Winston Reid to hit the West Ham winner into an open net.
"I haven't had a look at that," added Allardyce. "Sometimes they're given and sometimes they're not.
"That one was a stroke of fortune but for me the taking of the chance when the foul isn't given is the ultimate quality we've been missing."
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