Premiership
West Ham United 1-1 Birmingham City 

Saturday, 9th February 2008
by Gordon Thrower

It was one of those days that made you feel glad to be alive. Glorious sunshine, a decent breakfast and a pint or two in good company all contributed to a general air of well-being that even Romford’s bright orange shirt and the ridiculous suggestion that matches should be played abroad couldn’t shift. Then we had to go and watch football.



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Nothing to do really. Surprisingly let in a penalty.


Lucas Neill
I would never suggest that a player should avoid playing for his country (well apart from Heskey perhaps) but Curbs will have to look at whether he is really up to playing for us after such a long journey. Conned for the penalty.


George McCartney
Steady enough though not really tested much.


Anton Ferdinand
Another fine match. In front of Capello too.


Matthew Upson
Got caught a bit too tight on Forssell the one time the striker didn?EUR(TM)t dive but otherwise another good run-out.


Hayden Mullins
Did the foot in stuff as usual.


Lee Bowyer
Some good late runs in the first half but faded as an influence in the second half. The sending off was a complete and utter joke.


Freddie Ljungberg
A constant thorn in the side. A proper referee (as opposed to one who appeared to have been recruited from the classified pages of ?EURoeThe Idiot?EUR(TM)s Gazette) might have afforded him some protection. Deserved the goal.


Matthew Etherington
Like Bowyer had a decent first half but seemed to be bypassed in the second as we went route one.


Dean Ashton
Got into some promising positions but failed to capitalise.


Carlton Cole
Ran around a lot to no avail.



Substitutes

Julien Faubert
(replaced Cole, 62) This sort of player thrives on service. He got little.


Henri Camara
(replaced Etherington, 83) Can?EUR(TM)t remembering him touching the ball.


Jonathan Spector
(replaced Ashton, 90) I think he touched the ball


Richard Wright
Did not play.


Jack Collison
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Lucas Neill, George McCartney, Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Hayden Mullins, Lee Bowyer, Freddie Ljungberg, Matthew Etherington, Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Freddie Ljungberg 7                  .

Booked: None.

Sent Off: Lee Bowyer 88    .

Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, McSheffrey, Forssell, McFadden.

Subs not used: Doyle, Nafti, Zarate.

Goals: McFadden (pen 16).

Booked: Johnson (33), McSheffrey (58), Muamba (72), Jerome (90), M.Taylor (90+2).

Sent off: None.

Referee: M.Clattenburg.

Attendance: 34,884.

Man of the Match: Freddie Ljungberg.