Championship
West Ham United 4-0 Blackpool 

Saturday, 15th October 2011
by Gordon Thrower

I think we’ll file this one under 'eventful'.



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Player Ratings

Manuel Almunia
Had one proper save to make in the second half. Otherwise spent most of the afternoon clearing the odd back pass and topping up the suntan.


Julien Faubert
Another fine effort. Maybe it?EUR(TM)s having a manager who clearly has faith in his ability, maybe it?EUR(TM)s the step down a level but he is clearly thriving at present. Nice cross for the first goal.


George McCartney
Like Faubert, he profited from the lack of threat from the opposition and was able to push forward on numerous occasions. Played a major part in Collison?EUR(TM)s goal.


Winston Reid
Resumed his partnership with Tomkins and looked composed throughout, albeit under little pressure.


James Tomkins
The fact that the wily and experienced Kevin Phillips was largely anonymous and, eventually, substituted should give you a clue as to how well he played.


Papa Bouba Diop
Simple and effective. Broke up attack after attack, laid the ball off and set us up on our own attacks.


Jack Collison
Continues to improve as he gets more time on the pitch following his injury. If you see his goal again watch out for the clever way he pulls back to the edge of the box, resulting in him being in exactly the right place to score when the ball comes out to him.


Kevin Nolan
Quiet but effective. Constantly looking to spread the play out wide and it was his pass out to Faubert that set up the first.


Matthew Taylor
Like Nolan, he was quietly effective. It was his clever header forward into space that set up Baldock?EUR(TM)s first and his fine through ball to McCartney that led to the fourth. Was hobbling towards the end ?EUR" hopefully it?EUR(TM)s nothing too serious.


Sam Baldock
Man of the match. Not just for his goals, well-taken though they were, but also for his general workrate. Did a lot of off the ball running and we noted him making a couple of good tackles on the edge of our box.


John Carew
Held the ball up superbly and rarely wasted the layoff. If one were to be churlish one might have hoped for more than the one goal he came away with, and he really owes Baldock a pint for not passing when his strike partner was much better placed. A fine performance nevertheless.



Substitutes

John Carew
(Replaced Tomkins, 60) One hairy moment when he lost his bearings and slipped in dangerous territory but he got up to recover well.


Fred Sears
(Replaced Taylor, 62) The game had all but died when he came on in place of Taylor.


Mark Noble
(replaced Carew, 80) A quiet ten plus stoppage.


Ruud Boffin
Did not play.


Frederic Piquionne
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Manuel Almunia, Julien Faubert, George McCartney, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Papa Bouba Diop, Jack Collison, Kevin Nolan, Matthew Taylor, Sam Baldock, John Carew.

Goals: John Carew 12 Sam Baldock 47 Sam Baldock 51 Jack Collison 55            .

Booked: Matthew Taylor 7 Julien Faubert 17        .

Sent off: None.

Blackpool: Matthew Gilks, Alex Baptiste, Ian Evatt, Matthew Hill, Stephen Crainey, Jonjo Shelvey, Keith Southern, Barry Ferguson, Thomas Ince, Kevin Phillips, Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Subs not used: Neal Eardley, Mark Howard.

Goals: None.

Booked: Lomana Tresor LuaLua (90).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Andy D Urso.

Attendance: 31,448.

Man of the Match: Sam Baldock.