Latest News

A tactical switch at half time was the catalyst for a match-winning second half performance by West Ham at the Boleyn Ground this evening.

Sam Allardyce's decision to revert to his favoured 433 formation at the break saw United finally overcome a distinctly resilient Derby County side in tonght's Championship clash.

However it wasn't until Mark Noble's penalty 16 minutes from time that the Hammers could consider the three points finally in the bag.

With Southampton having surprisingly lost at lowly Bristol City earlier in the day, West Ham went into the game knowing that a win would leave them tantalisingly close to the current leaders who began the day five points ahead of United.

However Allardyce's team, who began the game in a 442 formation, were to be frustrated initially at the Boleyn by a side content with placing ten men in their own half - before they were stunned by Tamas Priskin's 34th minute opener totally against the run of play.

Having successfully soaked up all of West Ham's early pressure, the Rams took the lead with one of their first forays into West Ham territory. Although in credit to the visitors and manager Nigel Clough, it was a finely worked goal.

Having escaped from a melee on the half way line with the ball, James Bailey sent a pinpoint cross-field pass into the path of the advancing on-loan Priskin, who placed his first-time shot into Rob Green's far corner.

The move - a real sucker punch - had been Derby's first meaningful attack of the game. It was also Priskin's first start for the club having moved from Ipswich ahead of last week's loan transfer deadline.

As the half time break grew closer West Ham, if truth be told, looked more likely to concede again rather than score. However Carlton Cole, making his first start since the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on 1st October, had other ideas.

With mere seconds of normal time remaining Cole popped up inside the six yard box to nod home a deliciously inviting cross from Joey O'Brien and put United back on level terms. Whether they had deserved it or not was neither here nor there, but West Ham were definitely the happier of the two sides at the break.

The confidence gleaned from Cole's equaliser, combined with Allardyce's decision to revert to a 433 formation created a potent concoction that simply overwhelmed the visitors after the break. Indeed, the only surprise was that it took West Ham until the 64th minute to take the lead for the first time.



The goal that put West Ham in front was a thing of beauty - although there was more than a touch of the Keystone Cops at the way it came about.

Carlton Cole resembled Bambi on ice as he stretched to win a ball on the perimeter of the Derby penalty area. Jack Collison, also at full stretch pirouetted before toe-poking the ball toward the edge of the box where Nolan, always the predator, was lurking with intent.

The next scene was textbook stuff from the club captain, who watched the ball drop carefully before unleashing a volley that bounced twice before flashing into the corner of Frankie Fielding's net.

It was a classy goal by the Liverpudlian, a clear contender for goal of the season and one eerily similar to that scored by one of Nolan's Scouse brethren against the Hammers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium some five-and-a-half years ago.

With Derby stretched, West Ham, now in full flow pushed on in search of a third that would effectively end the contest. It came, somewhat controversially, with 74 minutes on the clock.

Freddie Piquionne, a replacement for the injured Sam Baldock was sent through on goal but his run was prematurely halted by the over-enthusiastic attention of Craig Bryson who bundled the Frenchman over.

Initial contact was clearly outside the box but Piquionne's momentum saw him tumble inside the area - and that was enough for referee Webster to point to the spot. Mark Noble's clinical execution left Fielding with no chance and the game was all but won.

So for the second game in succession West Ham's second half performance had won the match - United's fifith win in their last six games. Just two points seperate the Hammers from leaders Southampton now, whilst a sizeable gap is opening beneath.

Fifth-places Leeds are already nine points behind West Ham, whilst Middlesbrough - who host the Hammers this coming Tueasday evening - dropped to fourth after drawing 1-1 at Peterborough earlier in the day.

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.