Pardew feeling the heat

  • by Graeme Howlett
  • Wednesday, 26th November 2003

Hammers boss Alan Pardew has admitted that he is feeling the pressure for the first time since succeeding Glenn Roeder last month.

Pardew's first month in charge has thus far yielded just 5 points from a possible 18 - with the former Reading man still searching for his first win as Hammers boss, despite having overseen 7 matches already.

His troubles deepened last night with a desperately disappointing performance at the National Hockey Stadium, where the Hammers hung on to a solitary point in a 1-1 draw.

And speaking after the game, he revealed that he was aware of the voices of concern already being raised amongst Hammers supporters.

"I am feeling more pressure because I want to win a game," he told the post-match press conference. "There are murmurings of discontent among the fans about me and I can understand that.

"There are good enough players here - yet they need to pull together. We are searching for that first win and, perhaps, that is weighing down on them.

"The last 15 minutes of tonight's match left a sour taste in my mouth. If we are going to start giving away sloppy goals, it makes it all very difficult.

"A win would have been just what we needed."

Of course, Pardew can hardly be blamed for the lack of depth in the squad which has been the case since the club's fire sale which took place in the summer - nor the injuries to the likes of Rufus Brevett, Steve Lomas and Matthew Etherington - all vital players in this division.

And nor can he be blamed for the poor attitude of striker Jermain Defoe, who, by the end of his current spell on the sidelines will have already missed 7 games through suspension this season.

When asked about Defoe's future - and whether he still had a part to play at the club following the signing of Marlon Harewood - he said:

"I am assured that I don't need to sell Jermain in the window - so I am hoping now to have the firepower to take us up. I can only be reassured by the board and go by what I have found.

"Marlon has been brought in because I wanted to add something down our right side and I thought he did that at times against Wimbledon, even though there was not much room for him on the pitch.

"It is quite mouth-watering thinking of him, Connolly and Defoe in the same team - and there is also Brian Deane, Neil Mellor and Richard Garcia backing that up, so I am excited."

And on the new signing - who registered just hours ahead of the deadline yesterday - Pardew added:

"It was a tough game for Marlon, but we were so short of bodies I felt it was a gamble worth taking. He had moments and I think it is a good deal financially."

West Ham under Alan Pardew:

Wimbledon 1 West Ham United 1 (Deane)
Watford 0 West Ham United 0
West Ham United 3 WBA 4 (Deane 2, Defoe)
Coventry 1 West Ham United 1 (Defoe)
Tottenham 1 West Ham United 0 (aet)
Cardiff 0 West Ham United 0
West Ham United 1 Nottingham Forest 1 (Defoe)

Played 7, Won 0, Drawn 5, Lost 2 - League Points 5 (out of 18)

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