Nationwide Division One
West Ham United 0 Derby County 0

Saturday, 10th April 2004
by Graeme Howlett

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Player Ratings

Pavel Srnicek
A fairly solid if unspectacular game for the Czech, who was making his home debut. Rarely called into action due to the nature of the game but still had Hammers hearts in mouths when he decided to dribble the ball away from his area despite the close attention of two Derby players! At 36 he's not going to be around for ever, but as a deputy for Stephen Bywater you probably couldn't ask for much more.


Jon Harley
Yet again Jon's defensive frailties were cruelly exposed, with Derby capitalising frequently on a combination of errors and poor marking. Ironically perhaps Harley - who is yet to play in 100 (first-team) matches in his career - is enjoying one of his most successful season in terms of remaining injury-free. However on this form he is unlikely to be offered the contract which is required to ensure he stays until the end of the current season and beyond. What is interesting to note is that the forgotten man, Wayne Quinn, rarely played much worse than this - yet received an awful response from the crowd, unlike Harley.


Hayden Mullins
Hayden was performing at centre-half for the second time this season, the previous occasion being the man of the match effort at Wolves in the 3-1 FA Cup win earlier in the season. As is sometimes the case when he plays in the back four his positioning was a little suspect, but that is perhaps an slightly unfair criticism on a day where he performed capably enough. One still wonders whether we would be better served with Mullins alongside Michael Carrick in midfield, however.


Christian Dailly
Thankfully the idiotic fraternity were strangely quiet today, and Hammers captain Dailly enjoyed a fairly 'boo-free' game for a change. However he hardly helped his cause by missing two glorious first half opportunities in front of Derby's goal. Still, he was competent defensively - on a day like today perhaps we should be grateful for small mercies.


Tomas Repka
Yet again Tomas finds himself at the centre of a storm of controversy for all the wrong reasons; this time, an ugly confrontation with the home fans (from whom he had to be dragged away at the end of the game) will have done him no favours. Fortunately perhaps for Repka he faces an impending three match ban - all of which means he won't have to face the home fans again this season - and possible never again. His on-field performance? Riddled with errors; desperately disappointing.


Steve Lomas
Starting his first game of the season, Lomas - who was welcomed back to rapturous applause like some returning long, lost war hero - got stuck into the opposition immediately, showing within the first 15 minutes just how much we've missed his special brand of 'bite' in the centre of midfield. Unsurprisingly he faded as the game progressed, but it's still something of an achievement that he managed to last the full 90 minutes. Welcome back sir.


Michael Carrick
Again an unconvincing performance from Michael; on occasions he was sublime, highlighted no better than when he ran through the heart of the Derby defence only to have his shot snuffed out. However he also disappeared far too frequently, which allowed Derby to pressurise our defence to a greater extent. C+ - but could do better - for Mr.Carrick.


Marlon Harewood
All the talk in the week preceding this match had been about Harewood's continued inclusion on the right of midfield. Alan Pardew must have been unperturbed by the calls for Harewood to start up front as yet again he continued his policy of playing the league's top goalscorer out on the flank. Sadly Harewood - who despite looking more 'up for it', so much that he regularly challenged for headers - failed to impress yet again. Even Pardew now admits that is may be time to return him to his natural position.


Chris Cohen
The undoubted star of the show. Making his first senior start Cohen - a lad barely 17 years old - offered the success-starved Boleyn Ground a glimpse of a bright future ahead, with a performance full of youthful exuberance and scintillating runs. The mark of a good player is being able to cope with all that is thrown at him from the start - Rio Ferdinand did, as did Glenn Johnson after him. So did young Cohen today. Watch this space.


Bobby Zamora
A dreadful performance from a player clearly lacking in confidence. Absolutely nothing went right for Zamora on the day, although he forced one good save out of the Derby keeper. Simply not doing enough to justify his place in the first team at present, and a spell on the sidelines looks inevitable.


David Connolly
A frustrating afternoon for DC. Despite putting in his usual commitment and effort nothing came off for the Irishman, although he hardly helped his cause with an error prone performance. For a man renowned as a goalscorer he looks a million miles away from an accomplished striker at present - perhaps the speculation over his future has had a major impact.



Substitutes

Brian Deane
(Replaced Zamora, 66) Offered nothing to the team again bar the odd won header.


Nigel Reo-Coker
(Replaced Cohen, 66) On for Cohen (another strange one from Pardew) but failed to make an impact. No better than his place on the bench at present.


Jobi McAnuff
(Replaced Harewood, 76) Returning from injury, Jobi arrived on the field with a burst of energy but failed to make the difference. Likely to start against Palace on Monday.


David Forde
Did not play.


Andy Melville
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Pavel Srnicek, Jon Harley, Hayden Mullins, Christian Dailly, Tomas Repka, Steve Lomas, Michael Carrick, Marlon Harewood, Chris Cohen, Bobby Zamora, David Connolly.

Goals: None.

Booked: None booked.           .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Derby County: Grant, Kenna, Mawene, Jackson, Vincent, Osman, Taylor, Huddlestone, Holmes, Peschisolido, Tudgay.

Subs not used: Oakes, Edwards, Costa.

Goals: .

Booked: None booked..

Sent off: None.

Referee: J.Robinson.

Attendance: 28,207.

Man of the Match: Chris Cohen.