Crystal Place v West Ham Match report from Matty Hill @MattyHill84 on twitter
After Hearing once again that we were to revert to 4-5-1 after Tuesday's slip up to Ipswich I was quite relieved seeing as our away form so far had been the main source of our current league position.
A starting debut for diop, and loanee almunia there was a fresh outlook but looking at the programme it was clear to see that big fat sams ideal starting eleven would be a team full of John coffees (like the drink only not spelt the same) after a good attacking start from both sides their first goal went in and Faye and Jimmy Tomkins were left looking lovingly into each others eyes.
Soon after though bentley worked the right really well (like he did for most of the game) and a cross came in that met Coles flailed shot that the palace keeper saved but only to land at nolans feet, for our off form captain to draw us level, he finished well considering.
Lansbury looked once more like a youngster aiming to amaze as he was dashing all over the back four, a few failed crosses from mcartney (whom I really rated until today) and some good attacks from the palace youngsters took the game into half time.
During which I had a foot long hot dog to console myself whilst preparing for another 45 mins in the Holmsdale stand far from my west ham brothers who were drowning the place out with corus after corus of bubbles.
The second half began an unchanged west ham we hadn't left the starting blocks and were punished after a few mistakes by faubert (who had been looking better until today) and much needed tackles wernt made, goal number two for the home side went in.
2-1
Time dragged and so did bottom lips as from about the 60th min palace decided time wasting was a good tactical option to take.
A few more long range efforts from bentley and Lansbury saw our first substitutes of the game and a change of formation (4-4-2)off went an unfit,slow jack (proving taylor is missed on the left) and a fatigued cole and on came a massive Carew/Bigfoot and a hobbit/baldock after a few good moves I already felt comfortable with baldock in a no.7 shirt. Carew went straight forward and centre on the last man and let baldock do all the leg work after 10mins it paid off as their back 4 stared to stretch and a well crossed floater from Lansbury met Carew's head to give us our well deserved equaliser. A few more chances went astray one brilliant one from Carew that would of resembled the other. Sears then entered the field of play and bently made way with an applause from the west ham fans. Followed by a corus of "where winning awaaaay " but with the words replaced to mark our recent loan inquiry for a familiar little argentine. "he wants to coooommee home" and carlos's name was all I gathered. Then! The 4th official held up the board to say 4mins stoppage time added on ( 4mins from where nobody knew!) which triggered something I hadnt seen from my claret and blue for a while. A sense of urgency, fight and passion filled every man wearing the badge, something that we lacked last season! At the heart of this emotion filled 4mins was our captain proving that even though his ability might still be on it's way from Newcastle but his spirit is deffinatly thriving through the veins of the other players.
Final result 2-2 against a young fit palace side I was happy with a point.
Henry Lowe's Crystal Palace v West Ham Match Report @HJLowe6 on twitter
I think I speak for most west ham fans when i say that we were all going into this game against 9th place crystal palace with optimistic views of a big win at selhurst park especially taking into account our recent away form under the "Big Sam" regine. With big wins at both watford and nottingham forest under our belts everyone at west ham was going into this one believing that we could continue our outstanding away form against a crystal palace side who although swept away a strong brighton side at the amex had not been using the flashes of class that they had shown in that game in their previous encounters with leeds united and blackpool. However as we had been defeated by an ipswich side who had made a slow start in their championship campaign there was perhaps a doubtful thought in some west ham heads that this would be a tougher challenge than we first anticipated.
The day started well as there was a lot of noise being created in the surrounding streets of selhurst park where west ham fans were living up to the name that they have always had. I had gone to this game on my own as most of my friends actually support Crystal Palace. Spirits were high in the lead up to the game with both sets of fans walking within metres of eachother and not a sight of trouble anywhere near the ground. Selhurst park has always been one of those grounds that if you didnt support a london club you most likely wouldnt make the effort to visit. Dont get me wrong the set up is good and it isnt a bad ground but then again no ground is like upton park. The police were out in force along the streets putting somewhat of an uneasy atmosphere on the proceedings. The athur waite stand beckomed for the 4,000 odd travelling west ham fans. There was plenty of noise from the west ham fans in the minutes leading up to the game beginning. As the two teams emerged the famous glad all over song burst out and the palace fans were in force singing it. I felt west ham fielded a very strong side but with mark noble matt taylor and joey o'brien all key players missing through injury it wasnt sam's preferred starting 11.
Palace started the stronger looking menacing in attack while the west ham defence was defiantly not at its best. Darren Ambrose struck in the 6th minute of play to give palace a 1-0 lead that in some respects was handed to them on a plate with some very poor defending and Ambrose was able to squeeze a shot through and beat West ham's number 13 debutant Manuel Almunia. But from that moment in west ham started to play with some very attractive football and Julien faubert key to most attacks bombing down the left wing beating dean moxey with most attacks. Jack collison and Henri Lansbury also were playing a key part in the play but more importantly playing well together wihich could prove very valuable for west hams title hopes this season.
We carried on pushing palace back and on the 16th minute carlton cole's header back across goal was put in the net by kevin nolan on the back post. The noise from inside the Arthur Waite stand was deafining as all west ham fans were celebrating the goal that surely would kickstart things and see us to a comfortable victory. The first half was very entertaining with some class football on display and west hams julien faubert still key to most attacks. The half time whistle blew with the scores level at 1-1 which in all truthelness was a fair scoreline. The teams re-ameged from the dressing room to a round of applause and we were back underway. Both teams were playing good football with Wilfred Zaha looking threatening for crystal palace, it was mainly down to him that palace took the lead on the 52nd minute when glenn murray struck low into the bottom right hand corner of the goal leaving manuel almunia on the floor looking into the net. The second half passed by rapidly with a bunch of crystal palace fans making some good noise which we were easily matching with renditions of carlos tevez wants too come home and bubbles. jack collison who was playing well and carlton cole who had been somewhat isloated were replaced on the 68th minute by john carew and sam baldock making west ham alot more threatining up front. it was down to this tactical change that west ham got their second of the match to pull level when john carew made his mark and hit the back of the net with 10 minuted left to play. The final 10 minutes plus 4 for injury time were quite even with good efforts from our sam baldock and crystal palace's jermaine easter but as the final whistle went i think it is fair to say that the points were fairly distributed. I think we can take many positives from this london derby and sam allardyce said himself that he was pleased with the result. Good action from selhurst on a nice day to enjoy.
After the match Henry had his picture taken with BFS, Carlton Cole and Henri Lansbury.
Henry with BFS
Henry with Cole
Henry with Lansbury
Both Match reports are covered on Moore Than Just A Podcast Episode 7
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Moore Than Just A podcast will be on an international break next week. We will be back after the Blackpool game. COYI
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