West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0
Saturday, 22nd March 2003
by James Dawson
A slightly new experience for me and fellow Hammers, we travelled to a home match without worrying about a poor performance from the lads. After the last few games, West Ham has given all of their fans something to smile about and a little more confidence in their team.
As West Ham trotted out to Bubbles, they huddled in their half as they have been doing in recent times. This is something that we like to see after a few arguments between the players in recent matches.West Ham started well with some nice flowing football and were challenging the Sunderland ?EUR~keeper Sorenson straight from the off. Sunderland were giving several free kicks away on the edge of the box but as we have seen to many times this and last season, they were poorly wasted.
Sunderland started to take control of the game and were playing around West Ham?EUR(TM)s midfield. Kevin Phillips placed a high, dipping ball towards Flo?EUR(TM)s head but he headed it just over James?EUR(TM) bar.
Captain Cole was now taking centre stage with some marvellous tricks and flicks and was running rings around the Sunderland midfield. This got the crowd into a frenzy of chants and we were really getting behind the team.
West Ham kept pressuring the Sunderland back four but couldn?EUR(TM)t make the breakthrough but still managed to maintain possession on the edge of the area until finally Defoe was laid the ball, back facing to the goal he turned and half chipped over Sorenson?EUR(TM)s head into the back of the net. The goal we had been threatening finally arrived.
West Ham were eager for a second and were still pushing for it but then Sunderland once again took control of the game and started to calm things down with some easy balls across the back four. Joey Cole was again playing his tricks on the Sunderland midfield and got himself into a good shooting position on the edge of the 18 yard box but steered his shot wide.
Now West Ham were waiting for the well earned break and were just laying easy balls to each other.
Half Time came and everything was going well for the Hammers.
Kanoute walked onto the pitch in place of a tired Les and looked anxious to get some first team football under his belt.
Sunderland wasted the kick off and Lomas received the ball and started charging his way through the Sunderland players but hit a poor yet powerful shot. Defoe followed this with some nice turns on the edge of the area and made his way into the box when he hit a nice shot just wide of the post.
West Ham had Sunderland on the back foot. Cole hit a long searching ball for Kanoute who skinned to defender but fired his shot wide and into the side netting. West Ham were getting closer and closer and were in touching distance of a second goal.
Defoe again burst passed several defenders and even rounded the ?EUR~keeper but he was at too acute angle to strike so he placed it into the penalty spot where Kanoute should have been but wasn?EUR(TM)t, Sunderland managed to clear the ball away.
Sorenson redeemed himself after making a wonderful save against Lomas?EUR(TM) shot after a flurry of scrappy shots in the Sunderland area. West ham lost possession in this play by a two footed tackle on Johnson which I feel we should have got a penalty for. The referee?EUR(TM)s failure to award anything was followed by an astounding roar of boos.
Things calmed down a bit and Sunderland were on the attack. Carrick robbed Kilbane of the ball and began charging towards the goal from the half way line. There was only Carrick and Kanoute in attack and Carrick slipped an inch perfect pass through the two defenders into the path of a charging Kanoute who nicely slotted the ball home to cap off a lovely move. The goal we had been waiting for was finally provided by the long term injury recovered Kanoute.
Instantly after we were in the Sunderland area and Sorenson made a couple of good saves to deny a third.
As spectators started to leave, the football calmed down and West Ham were playing easy balls and each one was being cheered in a mocking way by us fans. Hutchison and Cisse came off of the bench but nothing else happened until the final whistle was blown and our boys were hugging and congratulating each other.
A great game to watch which has seen us move out of the bottom three.
Player Ratings
David James (6) Nothing to do today.
Glen Johnson (9) Excellent and I hope this is a sign of things to come.
Tomas Repka (7) Good, solid performance.
Ian Pearce (7) Another good performance, no mistakes.
Rufus Brevett (6) Got stuck in.
Trevor Sinclair (8) Again he was excellent and was creating many chances.
Michael Carrick (7) Bit quiet to start off with but proved his worth late on.
Joe Cole (10) Excellent and his tricks and flicks were wonderful to watch. Man of the Match.
Steve Lomas (5) Was chasing balls down but did nothing special.
Les Ferdinand (7) Was winning headers and was a good presence to have.
Jermain Defoe (9) Was a constant threat to Sunderland?EUR(TM)s defence all afternoon.
Substitutes
Frederic Kanoute (6) Quiet apart from his goal.
KUMB Stats
West Ham United: James, Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett, Sinclair, Carrick, Lomas (Hutchison 87), Cole (Cisse 84), Les Ferdinand (Kanoute 45), Defoe.
Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Dailly.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, El Karkouri, Bjorklund, McCartney (Proctor 64), Butler (Stewart 80), Thornton, Kilbane, Gray, Phillips, Flo (Kyle 57).
Subs not used: Poom, Babb.
Goals: Defoe (24), Kanoute (65).
Booked: Johnson.
Attendance: 35,033.
Referee: Rob Styles.
KUMB Man of the Match: Joe Cole.
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Player Ratings
Substitutes
Match Facts
West Ham United: , , , , , , , , , , .Goals: None.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
: .
Subs not used: .
Goals: .
Booked: .
Sent off: None.
Referee: .
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: .