West Ham gave the tigers a lesson in football as they outclassed the visitors with David Di Michele giving a world class performance. The defeat was the tigers sixth on the trot, and they’ll be looking to stop the rot. Matt Duke made his Premier League debut in goal in place of Boaz Myhill, who dropped to the bench, with Andy Dawson coming back into the left back spot after injury, Manucho making his full premier league debut, and record signing Jimmy Bullard only on the city bench, as he travelled to his former employees.
City had the first opportunity of the night, but Geovannis low free kick was easily dealt with by Robert Green, as it was one of the Tigers only opportunities of the evening. Matt Duke then made a good save from Jack Collinson, and Di Michele’s came agonisingly close, but his effort came back of the inside of the post, after a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the box. Di Michele was then causing more problems for city, as he weaved his way through the Tigers defense, before being stopped by Dawson.
From the proceeding corner, Carlton Cole went down in the box, as he fell over Sam Ricketts trailing leg, and the penalty was given, although TV replays show he went down very easily. Mark Noble, who spent a few months on loan at the tigers in 2006, was given the responsibility from the spot, but Matt Duke provided a great stop to keep the score level, and send the visitors into raptures behind his goal. Cole and Di Michele then went close again as it was all one-way traffic. he breakthrough finally came moments later, Coles shot was only pushed away by Duke into the path of Di Michele who pounced and put the ball into the net, and a collective sigh of relief could be heard all around Upton Park, as the breakthrough had finally come. City’s response was a Manucho header, but it was easily gathered by Green, and the tigers was then on the backfoot again.
Excellent build up play from the hammers led the Collinson who side footed onto the post from six yards, and then Cole broke away one on one, but his effort was superbly saved by Duke, who then backtracked to push the ball behind as it rolled towards an open net. The half time whistle then blew, much to the delight of Phil Brown. Minutes after the break it was 2-0. Di Micheles shot took a slight nick of Michael Turner, and reflected of the post into the path of Cole, who was left with the simple task of putting the ball into the open net, and he did to double the hammers lead. Manucho’s header could only find the side netting, and it proved to be his last contribution, as he was replaced for Fagan, with Geovanni being replaced by record tigers signing Jimmy Bullard, who recieved a great reception from both sets of supporters.
The game then changed, as city began to take abit more control, and Bullards long range drive forced a great stop from Green. Turner and Duke combined to deny Behrami making it 3-0, after they couldn’t deal with the tigers corner, and then Duke provided two more great stops, one from Noble’s delighful chip, and one from Fauberts close range drive. The defeat left the tigers lumbering in 10th, and looking downwards. Six defeats on the trot is relegation form, and now having not won since Middlesbrough at home in December, next weeks game againgst west brom will prove crucial in the rest of the season. Phil Browns message will surely be ‘ Stop the rot’!
