Premiership
West Ham United 0-2 Manchester City 

Saturday, 11th August 2007
by Gordon Thrower

There are days that I wish I’d spent in bed. This was one of them. Given that this has been the wettest summer since God had a word with Noah about nipping down to B&Q for some gopher wood, it was highly irritating to develop a heavy cold on one of the few warm sunny days we’ve had.



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Not really tested much. No chance with the goals.


Jonathan Spector
Distribution was poor. Caused an unintentionally hilarious moment in the second half when he thought he was Ronaldo and pushed the ball one side of a defender whilst running around the other side. Unfortunately half way round he remembered he was Spector.


George McCartney
Was just beginning to combine well with Etherington when he was replaced.


Anton Ferdinand
Some players have a languid, laid-back style that is deceptive. Not this one. Lost the ball far too many times and seemingly wasn?EUR(TM)t too worried too much about getting it back.


Matthew Upson
The total lack of challenge for the first goal was par for the course. Won a few headers that invariably landed at the feet of the opposition.


Mark Noble
At his best when he keeps it simple. Spent too much time trying to find that killer ball or to beat players when the simple pass was on.


Lee Bowyer
Shocking.


Freddy Ljungberg
A couple of good touches but appeared short of pace.


Luis Boa Morte
More shocking.


Craig Bellamy
Some promising runs down the left in the first half but being played out of the position for much of the second he faded from view.


Bobby Zamora
There?EUR(TM)s no middle ground with Bobby. He?EUR(TM)s either a world beater or poor. Today was poor.



Substitutes

Hayden Mullins
(Replaced Bowyer, 45) An improvement on Bowyer anyway.


Matthew Etherington
(Replaced Boa Morte, 45) I?EUR(TM)m not his greatest fan but it looked like, if we were to get anything out of the game, it was going to come through him. So we moved him to left back and handed back the initiative to City.


Dean Ashton
(Replaced McCartney, 62) A couple of chances gave a hint of what might be to come. Short of sharpness. Dodgy barnet.


Richard Wright
Did not play.


Danny Gabbidon
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Jonathan Spector, George McCartney, Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Mark Noble, Lee Bowyer, Freddy Ljungberg, Luis Boa Morte, Craig Bellamy, Bobby Zamora.

Goals: None.

Booked: None booked.           .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Manchester City: Schmeichel, Richards, Corlunka, Dunne, Garrido, Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Ireland, Bianchi.

Subs not used: Hart, Gelson.

Goals: Bianchi (18), Geovanni (87).

Booked: Garrido (23, unsporting behaviour), Ireland (30, unsporting behaviour), Elano (73, unsporting behaviour), Geovanni (88, unsporting behaviour).

Sent off: None.

Referee: P.Walton.

Attendance: 34,921.

Man of the Match: Robert Green.