The AET Soccer/Football Thread

ladygooddiva

West Ham 4 Blackburn 2

By SUN ONLINE REPORTER

DEAN ASHTON must be wondering how he will break into the West Ham team.

The £7million record signing was not fit to make his debut - and was forced to watch as two of his rivals for a starting place hit clinical goals.

Teddy Sheringham's penalty and Bobby Zamora's clincher were both from the top drawer.

And with top scorer Marlon Harewood also looking dangerous when he came on, Ashton will know he has got a fight on his hands.

Goals were always likely to flow in this FA Cup fourth round tie. The two sides had already racked up nine in their two Premiership matches this season.

But it was still a surprise when David Bentley struck after just 28 SECONDS to give Rovers the lead.

But Sheringham's cheeky spot-kick and Matthew Etherington's second goal of the season put the Hammers in control at half-time.

Zurab Khizanishvili's own goal extended that advantage and although Lucas Neill pulled one back for Blackburn, Zamora sealed the win with his first goal at Upton Park this season.

Hammers boss Alan Pardew said: "Bobby carried it for us in that first half. He was terrific. This is what competition does, it pushes people.

"And what a terrific attitude Marlon showed after being left out of the team, to come on and put that effort in.

"I am blessed with luxury up there. Ashton is definitely fit for the Arsenal game on Wednesday - so God knows what I am going to do!

"It is a question of giving the strikers a platform. I am not going to run with two strikers and say they are my best two - it is important we keep the games coming so everyone can play regularly.

"That is why it was important we won here. And it is an important week this week, with Arsenal and then Sunderland at home.

"The cup gives us a platform to really have a go at a trophy."

West Ham also came from behind to beat Blackburn on the opening day of the season but Pardew said: "It's not a habit we enjoy.

"Some of the games we have conceded first have been real quality goals but we started this one poorly.

"The feeling wasn't quite right in the dressing room. We conceded the goal and didn't look good for 20 minutes.

"Then we got going and had a terrific spell. Defensively we still didn't look correct but offensively we looked like we would score goals.

"And that is the lucky thing we have had going for us all season. Whoever we are playing, we look like we can score goals."

Pardew admitted he is struggling to fill the right-back position vacated by Tomas Repka and with Christian Dailly suspended for the Arsenal game it poses the kind of dilemma Pardew doesn't want.

He added: "Defensively things aren't too pretty. I feel we will struggle to get a new right-back before the window closes.

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"We are not getting the right responses and the figures we are being quoted I am not going to pay. We have plenty of targets but teams are getting edgy now, they don't want to lose their best players.

"It is difficult because I don't want to bring in a stop-gap, I want someone who will take the club forward."

Sheringham started his first game since November as Harewood was rested, while Mark Hughes had Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov both out.

But Blackburn began with more urgency as Steven Reid cut in from the right to reach the edge of West Ham's box unchallenged, before slipping the ball out to Shefki Kuqi.

His cross found Bentley unmarked just a yard from goal and he made no mistake.

West Ham tried to conjure an immediate response but were second best for most of the first half hour as Blackburn closed them down quickly and effectively.

Reid blasted one chance over,while Kuqi forced a corner when he rose above Danny Gabbidon in the area.

Pardew's men survived but Andy Todd then forced Shaka Hislop into a smart save with a header from Robbie Savage's curling cross.

Despite being outfought in the centre of midfield, West Ham enjoyed success down the flanks and slowly worked their way back into the game.

Zamora stole in front of his man to meet a long cross from Dailly but his header lacked power.

Etherington then nicked in to intercept a poor backpass from Todd, but his first touch took the ball out for a goal-kick.

Just before the half hour West Ham enjoyed a good shout for a penalty.

Yossi Benayoun jinked his way into the box and his cross appeared to be blocked by the arm of Khizanishvili, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the protests and awarded only a corner.

Three minutes later West Ham had their spot-kick - and their equaliser.

Zamora was held back by Khizanishvili and Sheringham stepped up to chip Brad Friedel, who was left clawing at the air as the ball floated into the net.

The hosts marched into the lead five minutes later when Zamora fed a neat ball wide for Etherington to calmly slot past Friedel.


BENTLEY MOTORS ... Blackburn's David Bentley<br> gives the visitors false hope early on
BENTLEY MOTORS ... Blackburn's David Bentley
gives the visitors false hope early on

Etherington's only previous goal this season came in West Ham's opening day victory over Blackburn. Pardew's men came back from 1-0 down on that day too.

Zamora wasted a glorious chance immediately after the interval but West Ham soon worked an excellent third.

Sheringham fed Konchesky down the left and the England full-back drove a low cross into the six-yard area where Khizanishvili smashed his attempted clearance into his own net.

Rovers hauled themselves back into the game on the hour mark when Neill played a neat one-two with Morten Gamst Pedersen before curling a delightful shot past Hislop.

Sheringham was then replaced by Marlon Harewood and after his powerful drive was blocked by Friedel, Zamora pounced to score his ninth of the season.

Blackburn boss Hughes said: "It was a perfect start from the point of view of scoring after 30 seconds but West Ham got back into the game very quickly.

"Our defending wasn't very good and we didn't give ourselves a chance. That is something we have prided ourselves on, but we have had three hard games in a row.

"Our efforts midweek against Manchester United took something out of us. When you come to Upton Park you need to be on top form and as sharp as you can be and we weren't.

"I am not going to sit here and single anybody out but we will review the game as we always do and take it from there."

West Ham: Hislop, Dailly, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun (Fletcher 84), Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Sheringham (Harewood 71), Zamoa (Katan 78). Subs not used: Bywater, Newton. Booked: Dailly.

Goals: Sheringham 33 pen, Etherington 37, Khizanishvili 59 og,
Zamora 73.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Khizanishvili, Gray, Reid, Savage, Mokoena (Tugay 73), Pedersen, Kuqi (Emerton 60), Bentley (Johnson 60). Subs not used: Enckelman, Nelsen.

Goals: Bentley 1, Neill 65.

Att: 23,700

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

ladygooddiva

West Ham boss Alan Pardew:
""I am blessed with luxury up there (in attack). Dean Ashton is definitely fit for Wednesday - so God knows what I am going to do!

ladygooddiva

i´ve noticed that west ham won their last four games ....and even in the pl they lost vs the rovers .So good sign for them .and i think they can beat arsenal!!!

BrotherLoveBone

Do you support West Ham?

ladygooddiva

BrotherLoveBone wrote:

Do you support West Ham?

not as much as i support manchester united but yea i support them a bit.... why?

BrotherLoveBone

ladygooddiva wrote:

not as much as i support manchester united but yea i support them a bit.... why?

Just curious and surprised since it's not a really big or succesful club

ladygooddiva

BrotherLoveBone wrote:

Just curious and surprised since it's not a really big or succesful club

yeap i know but that´s why i love support them
you see i support manu united anyways they are leading 2:0 vs wolves goals:richardson and saha. and support west ham they won yesterday 4:2...

ladygooddiva

Manu 3
wolves 0

richardson,saha,richardson!!!!

ladygooddiva

so manu won3:0
so now Portsmouth has to beat liverpool:p:p

AnnePJAM fan

I'm originally from Sunderland, miles adrift at the bottom of the premiership and just got knocked out of the cup too:(:(
any Sunderland supporters here??

AxlUlrich

AnnePJAM fan wrote:

I'm originally from Sunderland, miles adrift at the bottom of the premiership and just got knocked out of the cup too:(:(
any Sunderland supporters here??

lol poor you...Sunderland just doesnt have the resources...but im very sure they will get promoted next season.

halftime now...arent playing too well..but hey leading 2-0..who can complain

ladygooddiva

i´m sorry not me .....


http://www.manutdpics.com/previewimage.php?mediaid=170842&mediatype=2

by the way nürnbergvs hamburg yesterday 2:1 (((((

ladygooddiva

oh no liverpool is leading with 2 goals so no happy surprise for us!!!!

ladygooddiva

A scrapy match but Livepool are the team in the hat for the fith round.

AxlUlrich

din enjoy the game meself..better 2nd half performance though..all that matters i guess is that we are through

ladygooddiva

AxlUlrich wrote:

din enjoy the game meself..better 2nd half performance though..all that matters i guess is that we are through

ok...we had a better game

anyways

sweet 16;););)

Reds await fifth round draw
30/1/06 8:06 AM





United To Discover Fifth Round Opponents

United will find out who they'll face in the FA Cup fifth round at 13:30 GMT today.

The Reds overcame Championship side Wolves on Sunday thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory.

Louis Saha's eighth goal of the season and a double strike from Kieran Richardson gave United a deserved place in the hat for the last 16.

The Reds are number 16 in the draw.

Other numbers to look out for are: 1 Stoke, 2 Newcastle, 3 Coventry/Middlesbrough, 4 Reading/Birmingham, 5 Liverpool, 6 Southampton, 7 Bolton, 8 Aston Villa, 9 Brentford, 10 Manchester City, 11 Everton/Chelsea, 12 Preston/Crystal Palace, 13 West Ham, 14 Colchester, 15 Charlton, 16 Manchester United.

The fifth round ties will be played over the weekend of 18/19 February.

ladygooddiva

England's Ferd Way
Paul Ince last night told England boss Sven Goran Eriksson to consider Rio Ferdinand for a central midfield role at the World Cup. The former Manchester United and England star was unable to cope with Ferdinand, who was used in a holding central role as Sir Alex Ferguson's side stormed into the fifth round of the FA Cup at Molineux. Ince said: "Rio can play that holding midfield position for England - the kid is good enough to do it. Sven should be looking at Rio to do that in the World Cup because I think he is awesome. He can play centre-half, right-back, anywhere."
Martin Rogers, Daily Mirror


:);):D:)

AxlUlrich

Liverpool vs Manure for the 5th round of the FA Cup!
time for revenge!

ladygooddiva

AxlUlrich wrote:

Liverpool vs Manure for the 5th round of the FA Cup!
time for revenge!

ohohoh but we will beat you....again:D so how about the others ...who will face west ham???

ladygooddiva

FA Cup Fifth Round Draw
Preston / Crystal Palace v Coventry / Middlesbrough
Newcastle v Southampton
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Everton / Chelsea v Colchester
Charlton v Brentford
Liverpool v United
Bolton v West Ham
Stoke v Reading / Birmingham

i just hope we win will be hard
and west ham ´bout the rest mhhh no idear !!!
charlton should win too