Nationwide Division One
Coventry City 1 West Ham United 1

Saturday, 1st November 2003
by Lee Harvey

Another game, another draw.

The news before the match was that Hutchison and Carrick were both missing from the side through injury; a major blow. Pardew lined up with his normal 4-4-2 formation, with Rob Lee starting on the right and Horlock as the holding player in midfield. Hayden Mullins, Ian Pearce and Tomas Repka were welcomed back and new signing Brian had his chance to impress the travelling support, starting up front along side Jermain Defoe in the absence of David Connolly.

Poor is the best way to describe the Hammers' performance; the players showing little to impress the travelling fans.

The game started off brightly with West Ham dominating the midfield and playing some nice football. Defoe looked lively, and Etherington was threatening on the left flank. When we went 1-0 up nobody could really complain it was undeserved. Coventry's veteran player/manager Gary McAllister lost the ball on the edge of the area to the deadly Defoe, who tucked away the chance with a good finish to give us a 15th minute lead - which was no more than we deserved at that point.

Immediately thereafter we played some great football and created several chances (most notably Brian Deane, on his debut, who saw a weak shot saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad from just 6 yards out). But yet again we failed to finish the opposition off despite creating several good chances - and yet again the opposition came back to equalise.

On 38 minutes - and in what must have been Coventry?EUR(TM)s first real attack of the game - former Arsenal player Graham Barrett capitalised on some dreadful defending by the Hammers, sliding in to convert a low cross from Doyle. The home crowd got behind them and the half ended with Coventry tails up.

The second half was, quite frankly, one of our worst performances in a long time. Deane, in as a target man could not get a header of any importance in and despite having a far bit of possession we failed to capitalise on it. Etherington continued to run at the Coventry defence but it always ended around the box. The best chance for us in the second half fell to Defoe, who dribbled past the Coventry defence but failed to find the net when one on one with Arphexad. Immaterial though, as once again the linesman frustrated Defoe by calling him offside - even though he looked several yards onside; his frustration shared by the travelling support.

Arphexad was called into action again to deny a good Dailly header, but we could still not find the winning goal (even though we must have had at least fifteen corners). Coventry nearly stole the points near the end when Suffo wriggled his way through the hammers rearguard only to drag his shot wide.

The introduction of Garcia - who replaced the tired Rob Lee on 58 minutes - did nothing to swing the game in our favour, and it ended as a FIFTH successive draw in the league. Fortunately other teams in the top six also only drew; that top six remains very tight.

Fortunately new boss Alan Pardew now has a full week without a game to work with the players; he'll need all of that to get them up to scratch for the promotion six-pointer against West Brom at the Boleyn next weekend. The return of (second highest goalscorer) David Connolly should also be a big boost to a team that has now managed to score just one goal in their last four games.

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Player Ratings

David James
Had nothing to do all Afternoon except pick the ball out of the net. Did what he had to do well only small thing was that his kicking was a bit iffy at times but other than that solid as always.


Tomas Repka
All right defending most of the time but when he gets past the half way line he does not know what to do. Crosses did not get off the ground most the time and was generally poor when he got forward. A few wrong decisions could have cost us.


Wayne Quinn
Gave the ball away far to many times today and did not defend that well. He is improving but it has to be said that we are missing Brevett on the left-hand side of the defence.


Christian Dailly
Headed the ball brilliantly today. Thought he was one of our best players out there and could not fault the guys effort or determination which is more than can be said about some of the other players today.


Ian Pearce
A decent game for Pearce who made his return to the starting line up today. He also headed the ball brilliantly the same as Dailly and was solid in the center of defence.


Rob Lee
When with ball Lee always looked for Deane and most of the time that cost us possession. His passing was poor and he lost the ball far too many times. Had a spectacular shot that just missed the post, tackled well but looked tired.


Hayden Mullins
On of his worst games for us thus far. Did track back well but he also gave the ball away far to many times and looked off the pace. I have no doubt that he will come good but today was not one of his better days.


Brian Deane
I don?EUR(TM)t want to be too critical of Deano seeing as he has just joined - but for a target man, he failed to get his head on too many balls. He did hold up the ball well and showed some nice touches - but other than that, a poor debut.


Matthew Etherington
Well done - my Man of the Match. Finally showed what he could do and took on players. Ran at the Coventry defence who looked scared. His passing was not always up to scratch but was better than most today.


Kevin Horlock
Passed ok but nothing special. Looks like his played the holding roll in front of the back four. Can?EUR(TM)t say he was to bad but he was nothing special. I don?EUR(TM)t think he would have played if both Carrick and Hutch where fit.


Jermain Defoe
Took his goal well today and was unlucky to add to it. Got very little service today from the midfielder's and was isolated for many parts of the game but when he ran at the Coventry defence they did not know what to do with him.



Substitutes

Richard Garcia
(Replaced Lee, 58) Slotted in as a striker. Did not do nothing of any notice and gave the ball away a few times. Totally fluffed his chance in injury time, a real ?EUR~rabbit in the headlights?EUR(TM) moment.


Stephen Bywater
Did not play


Matthew Kilgallon
Did not play


Anton Ferdinand
Did not play


Neil Mellor
Did not play



Match Facts

West Ham United: David James, Tomas Repka, Wayne Quinn, Christian Dailly, Ian Pearce, Rob Lee, Hayden Mullins, Brian Deane, Matthew Etherington, Kevin Horlock, Jermain Defoe.

Goals: Jermain Defoe 15                  .

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Coventry City: Arphexad, Whing, Konjic, Shaw, Safri, Suffo, McAllister, Barrett, Morrell, Doyle, Warnock.

Subs not used: Shearer; Gordon; Adebola; Davenport.

Goals: Barrett (38).

Booked: .

Sent off: None.

Referee: G.Salisbury.

Attendance: 19,126.

Man of the Match: Matthew Etherington.