Coca Cola Championship
Nottingham Forest 2 West Ham United 1

Sunday, 26th September 2004
by Graeme Howlett

West Ham threw away three vital points against a desperately poor Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground this afternoon.

Seemingly crusing to victory at 1-0 thanks to a second-half Marlon Harewood tap-in, Alan Pardew yet again opted for safety first, introducing midfielder Steve Lomas for the tiring Luke Chadwick - to catastrophic effect.

For with just seven minutes to go, substitute Lomas gave away the ball before making a half-hearted attempt to stop Forest's Paul Evans who drove home the equaliser from 20 yards.

And with just seconds of injury time remaining substitute Marlon King curled home another 20-yarder to give Forest the unlikeliest - and most undeserved - of wins.

Criticism will no doubt be heaped upon Alan Pardew for the negativity of his substitution, which saw the Hammers blow a lead for the FIFTH time already this season.

Forest's win - their first of the season - lifts them out of the bottom three, and was greeted with chants of '2-1 to the Brian Clough'.

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Player Ratings

Stephen Bywater
Relatively little do to until forced to pick the ball our of the net - twice.


Tomas Repka
Another reasonable performance from the much improved Czech.


Chris Powell
Still settling in at the club, but already a more viable option that Rufus Brevett who has struggled this term.


Malky Mackay
Again, a quiet game until the final few minutes. Settling in nicely.


Calum Davenport
Calm and assured again. No concerns.


Carl Fletcher
Failed to get into the game as much as he did against Ipswich, but a brave, battling performance nonetheless.


Nigel Reo-Coker
Just about the best player on the park for either side. Not quite as effective as in recent weeks but still a threat.


Luke Chadwick
Fairly anonymous again, really needs to pick up the pace a little if he is to be any kind of success at West Ham.


Matthew Etherington
Better. Put Forest under lots of pressure, and our goal was all down to his persistence.


Teddy Sheringham
Not really at the races. After a decent start Teddy has looked tired in recent games; a spell on the bench my not be a bad idea.


Marlon Harewood
Scored the goal which he duly failed to celebrate; little more to shout about though.



Substitutes

Steve Lomas
(Replaced Chadwick, 76) Blamed by many for losing the ball which led to the equaliser and failing to tackle back. And they'd be right.


Jimmy Walker
Did not play.


Hayden Mullins
Did not play.


Sergei Rebrov
Did not play.


Bobby Zamora
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Stephen Bywater, Tomas Repka, Chris Powell, Malky Mackay, Calum Davenport, Carl Fletcher, Nigel Reo-Coker, Luke Chadwick, Matthew Etherington, Teddy Sheringham, Marlon Harewood.

Goals: Marlon Harewood 58                  .

Booked: Malky Mackay 13 Nigel Reo-Coker 17 Carl Fletcher 47      .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Nottingham Forest: Gerrard, Impey, Hjelde, Rogers, Morgan, Perch, Evans, Reid, Jess, Taylor, Johnson.

Subs not used: Roche, Commons, Robertson.

Goals: Evans (84), King (90).

Booked: Reid (88).

Sent off: None.

Referee: M.Messias.

Attendance: 25,615.

Man of the Match: Nigel Reo-Coker.