Nationwide Division OneCardiff City 0 West Ham United 0
Saturday, 25th October 2003
by Ryan McGill
Delight for the pools panel as West Ham laboured to their fourth draw in a row, with a desperately disappointing performance at a freezing Ninian Park.
Following it?EUR(TM)s failure to sparkle during the Nottingham Forest match, the diamond formation was ditched in favour of a ridged 442 with the accent very much on defence. New arrival Robbie Stockdale debuted at right-back, allowing Haydn Mullins to move forward into the centre of midfield with Don Hutchinson switching to the right. Rob Lee was relegated to the bench.In front of Cardiff?EUR(TM)s first 20,000+ crowd in over 20 years the Hammers picked up the momentum from their early season 3-2 Cup win, with Defoe exchanging passes with Connolly before producing a 4th minute shot that was well held by Cardiff ?EUR~keeper Neil Alexander.
Connolly fired in another shot from the right of the area soon afterwards, that was to ultimately prove his final meaningful contribution to the match. He pulled up with what was later diagnosed as a thigh strain, and was replaced by Neil Mellor in the 13th minute.
This early injury disrupted West Ham?EUR(TM)s gameplan to sit deep and use the pace of Defoe and Connelly on the break. Mellor is not a player who can generate chances for himself, and the lack of service from midfield coupled with Defoe?EUR(TM)s reluctance to join him in the penalty area negated the East London attacking threat.
Perhaps mindful of their earlier Cup defeat, Cardiff seemed intent on mirroring West Ham?EUR(TM)s tactics, with both teams strangling the midfield and denying the strikers access to the ball.
What half-chances were produced fell mainly to the Cardiff midfield with Mark Bonner producing a shot over the bar that would have graced the nearby Millenium Stadium, and David James superbly clearing a deflected John Robinson shot with his legs in the in the 23rd minute.
West Ham replied soon after when Mellor ran onto an perfectly weighted reverse pass from Haydn Mullins, only to pull his shot wide from what looked like a good scoring position. Obviously lacking in confidence Mellor spooned another shot hopelessly wide minutes later.
The chance of the half arrived in the 33rd minute, as for once Cardiff striker Gavin Gordon shook off the close attentions of Tomas Repka and headed a Vidmar cross wide of a gaping goal, much to the relief of the nearby travelling supporters. It was an incredible miss as Gordon was unmarked, with time and space to pick his spot.
Half time saw the depleted Hammers weakened further with the withdrawl of the injured Mullins. Rob Lee joined the war of attrition in the middle of the park, with Hutchinson persevering on the right wing.
Understandably the visitors found themselves under increasing pressure during the second half, and the team deserves credit for restricting Cardiff?EUR(TM)s chances, and in particular for keeping the dangerous Robert Earnshaw silent for the majority of the game.
When Cardiff did find a way through the blanket West Ham defence, David James was once again indebted to the frame of the goal. A shot from former Charlton winger Robinson skidded from the edge of the box along the damp turf, past James, and onto the base of the post before bouncing away to safety. After his heroics throughout the match the England man had earned this stroke of luck.
The close escape roused the Hammers with Lee and Defoe both having attempts blocked by defenders, Carrick striking a right-foot volley just wide of the post, and Lee again frustrated as his left-foot shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by Alexander.
In a bid to kill off a match that had only ever shown fleeting signs of life, Pardew introduced Anton Ferdinand for the ineffective Mellor with around 10 minutes still to play. A change of hairstyle hasn?EUR(TM)t brought a change in luck for the Liverpool man, and the ironic cheers of the away fans at his withdrawl won?EUR(TM)t have done much for his ego either.
Ironically the introduction of the defender Ferdinand looked to have brought about a winner, when in the final moments of the match he blocked a Cardiff clearance which fell into the path of Defoe. The diminutive No.9 produced a neat finish into the far corner of the goal, only to see his celebrations curtailed by a linesman?EUR(TM)s offside flag.
Having survived that scare Cardiff also exchanged a forward for a defender, with both sides seemingly content to play out what remained of a goalless draw.
The on-pitch celebrations of Pardew and his players left you in no doubt that they were pleased with their point, and given the almost total lack of attacking play or goalscoring chances it was hard to argue with them. Pardew has obviously set out to make his team a tough nut to crack, but the almost total lack of creative play and attacking threat made for a horrible spectacle for the football purest.
While David James deserves the plaudits for his masterful goalkeeping display, the real heros of this match (rightly acknowledged by the players at the final whistle) were the 1,500 hardy souls who made their way from East London to watch what was a terrible football match in freezing cold and potentially hostile conditions.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Cardiff City match reports Click to view all match reports by Ryan McGill Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
David JamesOutstanding. The only player to display his true quality and class.
Tomas Repka
Went walkabout for the Gordon header, but generally played well and even produced the odd useful ball out from the back.
Wayne Quinn
Looked to be under instruction to defend first, second and third. Very few crosses into the box as a result, but played his part in a sound defensive performance.
Christian Dailly
Kept a close eye on Gordon and Earnshaw. Questionable decision making at times, choosing to make several headed clearances that never found touch.
Robbie Stockdale
Provided the outlet on the right that has been missed following the departures of Johnson and Schemmel.
Hayden Mullins
Acquired to add muscle and grit to the midfield, and displayed both during his regrettably truncated contribution.
Michael Carrick
Not really Carrick?EUR(TM)s sort of game. Dinky passes and through-balls never found their target, and displayed a reluctance to shot when well placed. Encouraging that his fitness levels are improving though.
Don Hutchison
Wasted out of position on the right of midfield. Spent the entire match chesting or heading down chipped balls from Stockdale and Repka. His arial prowess would have been better used further forward.
Matthew Etherington
Lacked the usual support from Quinn, and was tightly marked by Croft. Produced what there was of the limited attacking play in the second half.
David Connolly
Injured early in the match. At least he managed a shot on target during his time on the pitch, which is more than the majority of players from either side could boast.
Jermain Defoe
Totally isolated by a deep midfield, and tightly marked throughout. Needed to play much closer to Mellor to benefit from his partner?EUR(TM)s play. Put away his one chance of the game, but was denied by an offside flag.
Substitutes
Neil Mellor(Replaced Connolly, 13) Disappointing once again, the substitute was substituted. Did win a couple of balls in the air, but put two half-chances well wide of the target.
Rob Lee
(Replaced Mullins, 45) His introduction raised the tempo in midfield, and he showed his partner Carrick how to play effectively at this level.
Anton Ferdinand
(Replaced Mellor, 82) Ran about a bit as usual, and contributed to the disallowed ?EUR~goal?EUR(TM).
Stephen Bywater
Did not play.
Matthew Kilgallon
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: David James, Tomas Repka, Wayne Quinn, Christian Dailly, Robbie Stockdale, Hayden Mullins, Michael Carrick, Don Hutchison, Matthew Etherington, David Connolly, Jermain Defoe.Goals: None.
Booked: Robbie Stockdale 20 Christian Dailly 39 Jermain Defoe 42 .
Sent off: None.
Cardiff City: Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Bonner, Gabbidon, Barker, Kavanagh, Gordon, Robinson, Langley, Earnshaw.
Subs not used: Whalley, Prior, Gray, Margetson.
Goals: .
Booked: .
Sent off: None.
Referee: tbc.
Attendance: 19,202.
Man of the Match: David James.