Nationwide Division One
Nottingham Forest 0 West Ham United 2

Sunday, 28th December 2003
by Graeme Howlett

Goals from Marlon Harewood and Jermain Defoe brought the curtain down on West Ham United's very own annus horribilis at the City Ground this afternoon - against a team whose own recent misfortunes almost make ours pale into insignificance.

In a year in which West Ham have suffered relegation from the Premiership, the loss of a host of international-quality players, the departure of two managers PLUS near-financial ruin there won't be too many Hammers supporters not glad to see the back of 2003.

But at least those same tortured fans can afford a little smile tonight, after West Ham v.2004 breezed through a game in which they simply had to win order to retain any slim hope of automatic promotion back to the promised land of the Premiership.

It was the Queen who first brought the aforementioned latin phrase to public attention back in 1997 after a series of tragedies and ill-fortune had beset the house of Windsor. And there can be little argument that everything which has happened in and around Green Street, E13 this year has been a right royal balls-up.

Way back in 1536, Anne Boleyn - whose name is now afforded to the pub on the corner of said street - suffered the humiliation of a public beheading. Perhaps if we didn't live in such liberal times the man charged with the murder of West Ham United by many - step forward Chairman Terence Brown - would be suffering the same fate.

But for now, accusations levelled at Brown - who but a matter of weeks ago accused his own crown prince (one Jermain Defoe) of being 'not right in the head' - appear to have taken a back seat, as the supporters once again direct their energies to supporting the team. And so they did in their thousands today, on a bright but freezing December afternoon aside the River Trent.

The game itself was a truly drab affair. Both teams appeared to have suffered from the excess of Xmas; Forest especially, being watched by the man who brought glory to the fair city of Nottingham some 25 years ago - one Brian Clough - looked way out of sorts, and having started the day just three places above the relegation places gave little reason to suggest they they will be doing anything other than struggling against relegation come May.

Fitting perhaps that one of their own - former fans favourite Marlon Harewood - would be the first to score against them today; a wonderful 60-yard-run by Matthew Etherington left the home side retreating desperately. Not soon enough to stop the cross, which was headed on by Jermain Defoe before being stabbed home by Harewood, who greeted the goal without celebration as is often the case for a player returning to his former spiritual home these days.

The only star in the house of Nottingham - young Irishman Andy Reid - shone sporadically to afford some hope to the home supporters - but bar a second-half free-kick which whistled narrowly over the head of David James, enjoying his quietest afternoon of the season there was little to cheer for the Forest contingent.

Only thrice previously this season had the Hammers scored first in a game before going on to win by a greater margin - so it was with some surprise that Jermain Defoe, still subject of much transfer talk popped up just six minutes from the end of time to add a decisive second.

A long clearance from the in-form Tomas Repka found Defoe in space on the left; he tormented the highly-rated Michael Dawson before drilling home a sweet strike from a tight angle into the roof of Forest keeper Darren Ward's net.

That itself was harsh on Ward, who had almost single-handedly kept the Hammers at bay for most of the afternoon; none more so than the effective Hayden Mullins who twice groaned in agony as Ward prevented him from notching his debut Hammers goal. But even the most ardent of Forest fans wouldn't begrudge the Hammers their victory today.

So the Londoner's raid on Nottingham ended happily for all those who faced the return journey back down the A1. It's been a quite awful 12 months at Upton Park, and the crown jewels may be long gone - but, at the very least, 2003 ended on a happy note.

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Player Ratings

David James
One of the quietest afternoon's Jamo will ever have. Bar one effort in the opening minutes he didn't have a save of note to make throughout the entire match. Once again there was the odd hiccup with his kicking, although one or two quickly taken kicks - no doubt following the instructions of Alan Pardew who has been working with the side on counter-attacks - began good forays into the opposition half.


Tomas Repka
Another good game for West Ham's latest cult hero, who made some crucial interceptions and tackles in the danger area today. However he can also be thankful to one of the referee's assistants who, on at least two occasions, gave incorrect offside decisions in our favour where the Czech was at fault when stepping out of defence (as our last line) too late - something which on another occasion could have been fatal. Didn't get booked! A bonus there.


Wayne Quinn
One of his better games since moving down from Newcastle. Defensively Quinn was as assured as he has looked all season, and he also managed to get down the flank and supply one or two good crosses (during the period when Etherington switched to the right-hand side). One or two rickets (notably the clearance which cannoned off a fellow defender and could have gone anywhere) but overall, satisfactory.


Ian Pearce
Once again, unspectacular - but did everything that was asked of a centre-half. Gave no quarter to his rival strikers, and kept everything neat and tidy. Again, hard to assess properly against such a lacklustre opposition.


Hayden Mullins
A terrific effort from the former Palace star. Rightly returned to his proper berth in midfield Mullins was a constant thorn in the side of Forest, be it in defence or at the other end of the field. Almost grabbed his first goal for the club with a beautifully struck effort midway through the first half, but was denied by (the outstanding) Darren Ward in the Forest goal. More of the same please.


Robbie Stockdale
Brought into the starting line-up as replacement for Kevin Horlock, Stockdale was comfortable throughout - although it's hard to give an honest assessment of any of our defenders on a day like today, such was the impotence of the Forest attack. Made some good breaks down the right flank and linked up well with Marlon Harewood. Still yet to convince he's worthy of a loan extension however.


Michael Carrick
Against such mediocre opposition you would have expected the former England international to stand out. Unfortunately, Carrick - once again - looked a way short of his best. Against Ipswich 48 hours earlier it was his passing that most disappointed, and again that was the case today. Although there were perhaps one or two more glorious 40 yard passes - the likes to which we had become accustomed in recent seasons - yet again much of his distribution was simply sloppy, whilst the work-rate (or lack of it) was alarming. Maybe we expect too much; after all young Michael isn't playing alongside the likes of Di Canio, Cole and Sinclair any longer. But surely there's much more in the engine than we're getting right now?


Matthew Etherington
After a disappointing display against Ipswich 48 hours earlier it was good to see Matts hitting top form today. The run which made our first goal started in our own half and culminated to the left of the Forest penalty box; a good cross meant it was easy for Messrs Defoe and Harewood to finish off the move. Had that run been made by a Ryan Giggs, or a Robert Pires those sycophantic Premiership pundits would have been literally oozing over it. Given free reign to attack on both flanks, Etherington was a revelation today. If only he could provide performances like this week in, week out - we'd have a real star on our hands.


Marlon Harewood
The kind of return to the City Ground former Forest star Marlon would have been hoping for before the game. Last time the two club's met, Harewood's name was on the opposition team sheet. He didn't score that day, but it took him just seven minutes to register his name on the scoresheet today; a real poachers goal (which was barely celebrated out of respect for his former employers) from just six yards out. Spent much of the game switching sides with Etherington, and enjoyed real success on both sides despite spending much of the game as a target for retribution from his former team-mates. Seemed far more alert than against Ipswich; more of the same please.


David Connolly
You can't help but feel a little sorry for DC. Feted as something of a modern day saviour after some impressive early performances for the club he has struggled to find the same kind of form in recent games - and the longer he goes without a goal the more you feel it is affecting his confidence. Of course, being dragged off continuously midway through the second half hardly helps - but if he's not doing it where it counts ...


Jermain Defoe
Unjustifiably voted Man of the Match by the watching Sky TV crew bearing in mind the efforts of the likes of Hayden Mullins, Marlon Harewood and Matthew Etherington, Defoe nonetheless gave an excellent performance in what could possibly be his last game for the club. The outcome of the Hammers' appeal over the sending-off against Walsall will be known later this week, but in the unlikely event that the referee's decision will be rescinded another 5-match-ban is set to begin with next weekend's FA Cup trip to Wigan - assuming, that is, that nobody makes an acceptable bid for his services in the meantime. One goal and an assist today will have sent out the nothing but right (or in our case, the wrong) signals to potential suitors.



Substitutes

Kevin Horlock
(Replaced Connolly, 58) Unspectacular as usual but effective in shoring up the midfield in order to defend the slender lead (which was eventually doubled late on by Defoe).


Anton Ferdinand
(Replaced Stockdale, 89) Nice to see one Ferdinand on a pitch - even if only for a few seconds. Kept the home fans entertained by falling over when warming-up.


Stephen Bywater
Did not play.


Don Hutchison
Did not play.


Neil Mellor
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: David James, Tomas Repka, Wayne Quinn, Ian Pearce, Hayden Mullins, Robbie Stockdale, Michael Carrick, Matthew Etherington, Marlon Harewood, David Connolly, Jermain Defoe.

Goals: Marlon Harewood 7 Jermain Defoe 84                .

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Nottingham Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Thompson, Dawson, Doig, Gardner, Stewart, Williams, Reid, King, Taylor.

Subs not used: Roche, Sonner, Gunnarsson, Robertson.

Goals: .

Booked: Taylor (60), Louis-Jean (69).

Sent off: None.

Referee: R.Beeby.

Attendance: 27,491.

Man of the Match: Matthew Etherington.