Ipwich Town 2 West Ham United 3

Sunday, 28th October 2001
by Vinny Ryan

Well what can I say - What a fantastic performance.

After beating Chelsea on Wednesday in what was one of the most nerve racking nights of my life I didn't think it could get any better - but beating these Blues just made the week all the more special.

Tomas Repka was suspended (which worried me and many others) so Hayden Foxe came in for his first start of the season.

There was also another first start for Scott Minto, who replaced the injured Laurent Courtois.

I applauded Roeder for playing Minto, as under Harry I am sure John Moncur would have been playing instead. And even though I know Moncur is West Ham through and through etc. I don't think he should be in the team as all he does is gets booked
early - and that restricts the amount of challenges he can make in a game.

The first 20 minutes were hard fought and both teams had their fair share of pressure. On 22 minutes we showed what we are all about.

A fantastic one touch move was ended with Hutchison turning to put Paolo Di Canio through. He slotted home with some aplomb to make it 1-0 to the Irons.

It was the second consecutive year that Di Canio has scored at Portman road - and it was a precious one.

Ipswich had their spell of pressure but Shaka Hislop made a save which was one of the best I've seen in the Premiership (and no, i'm not going over the top!) He then recovered after a slip to save again from a looping header moments later.

We too had our chances with the impressive Schemmel putting good crosses in but Freddy was unable to covert.

So we went in at half time 1-0 up.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half were much like the first, but you could sense Ipswich starting to get back in the game. After Sinclair brought down Hreidarsson on the egde of the box the resulting free kick left Shaka flapping and Heridesson getting somewhat lucky as it hit his thigh and rolled in.

All our good work had been undone and Ipswich were starting to look good.

But soon after Michael Carrick hit the bar with a fabulous shot, and we were starting once again to put on the pressure. It all paid off on 72 minutes when Foxe fed Hutchison who went on a
great run from the halfway line into the Ipswich box before pulling it back for Freddie who turned and scored (via a defelection) to put us 2-1 up.

Paolo Di Canio was replaced in the 88th minute by Jermain Defoe, who, just two minutes later raced onto a long ball and scored his first Premiership goal to the delight of the travelling Hammers.

The goal also sealed West Ham's first Premiership away win of the season - and the club's first success on their travels since the 2-1 victory at Bradford last February..

Matt Holland did score with a very good long range effort just after the Defoe goal but it was all too late; we had won our third consecutive game.

And now with Fulham at home next week and Charlton away I'm sure we can make our way up the table.

Going down? I don't think so ...

Vinny Ryan

Player Ratings:

Hislop (8) Made some world class saves.

Schemmel (9) Got up and down the line all day and defended brilliantly. Man of the match for me.

Foxe (7) Played well in his first start of the season.

Dailly (7) I'm not a fan of his at all but today he was solid.

Minto (7) Came back into the team and fitted in very well.

Winterburn (8) Looking fantastic. Played his heart out.

Hutchison (8) Made the second goal with a fantastic solo run. Worked hard.

Carrick (8) Ive not been impressed with Carrick this season but today he worked extremely hard.

Sinclair (7) Didn't get forward as much as he can but still did well.

Di Canio (9) Fantastic. He showed everyone that he still is very much West Ham. Also our new top goalscorer away from home!

Kanoute (9) Looked very good and he scored again. Freddie is looking the business at the moment.

Subs:

Defoe (7) Got a goal all through his own hard work. Going to be big in the future.

Overall team performance - 8

West Ham United: Hislop, Winterburn, Schemmel, Dailly, Foxe, Sinclair, Minto, Carrick, Hutchison, Di Canio, Kanoute

Subs: Defoe (Di Canio 88), James, Potts, Kitson, Moncur

Ipswich Town: Sereni, Makin, Gaardsoe, Hreidarsson, Venus, Clapham, Holland, Reuser, Wright, Stewart, Armstrong

Subs: Perelta (Clapham 46), Counago (Armstrong 56), Magilton (Wright 87), Branagan, Wilnis

Goals: Di Canio (22), Hreidarsson (63), Kanoute (72), Defoe (90), Holland (90)

Bookings: Winterburn (unsporting behaviour, 13), Gaardsoe (foul, 20), Stewart (dissent, 55), Carrick (late tackle, 64)

Referee: Steve Dunn

Attendance: 22,834

Man of the Match: Seb Schemmel

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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: .