Premier League
Fulham 1-2 West Ham United 

Sunday, 28th September 2008
by Gordon Thrower

It’s nice to get back to writing about football rather than hypocrisy. A glorious day started early on the good ship Suerita where a boatload of Hammers set sail for Putney. Not directly of course. A trip downstream from Tower Bridge saw us heading in the general direction of the North Sea. Thankfully our vessel turned around at Greenwich before this turned into a report on Southend v the O’s following a tub of eels on the Golden Mile. Mention of the film The Poseidon Adventure saw Romford in particularly top form: “was that the one with that tower that turned into an inferno? No? What was that one called then?”



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Only one real save to make ?EUR" turned a shot round the post under pressure from Paintsil. Otherwise came and dealt with a few crosses and I suppose we now have to slag him off when he doesn?EUR(TM)t save a spot kick!


Julien Faubert
One of those for whom the change in management has worked wonders. The move back into defence looks to have been a shrewd one, especially as he can also get forward when required.


Herita Ilunga
Has had an impressive start to his career. Stronger tests than Newcastle and Fulham are to come but early signs are that we have a useful player here.


Lucas Neill
Early on needed a bit of sorting out but improved as the game went on. The penalty was instinctive rather than deliberate.


Matthew Upson
Again recovered from early confusion to put in a useful shift.


Scott Parker
A lot of hard work and decent tackles and clearly enjoys the increased responsibility the new system gives him.


Mark Noble
Reduced Bullard to having to seek assists from the ref. Played some superb passes, not least for Etherington?EUR(TM)s goal.


Valon Behrami
With both he and Faubert now seemingly in the right positions he is now beginning to show more influence.


Matthew Etherington
A couple of loose touches early on apart he had a fine game. In the past when he?EUR(TM)s been kicked by the opposition he has disappeared ?EUR" something of which Konchesky seemed well aware judging by his assault. However, Etherington seemed spurred on by the treatment he received in this match and the freedom to roam the new system clearly suits him.


David Di Michele
The one big disappointment of the day, he failed to make much impression before his eventual replacement by Bellamy.


Carlton Cole
Held the ball up well and gave the home defence a hard time.



Substitutes

Craig Bellamy
(replaced Di Michele, 74) Looked a lot livelier than Di Michele had done but his finishing let him down. I look forward to seeing him play 90 minutes in this system.


Hayden Mullins
(replaced Etherington, 80) Came in for the last few minutes to bolster things up in the middle. Did so.


Luis Boa Morte
(replaced Parker, 90) Came on in the dying minutes as an aid to running the clock down. Did so.


Jan Lastuvka
Did not play.


Walter Lopez
Did not play.


Calum Davenport
Did not play.


Fred Sears
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Valon Behrami, Matthew Etherington, David Di Michele, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Carlton Cole 43 Matthew Etherington 45                .

Booked: Scott Parker 68          .

Sent off: None.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy, Bullard, Davies, Johnson, Zamora.

Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.

Goals: Murphy (pen 59).

Booked: Johnson (20), Konchesky (39), Murphy (45+2), Hangeland (88).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Attendance: 23,946.

Man of the Match: Mark Noble.