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Reading 0 West Ham 3
By Jon West, PA Sport
http://tinyurl.com/yr2bbq
West Ham wiped away the bad memories of their last visit to Reading by leaving the Madejski Stadium with a well-deserved 3-0 win.
The Hammers had been thrashed 6-0 there on New Year's Day last term but never looked back after Craig Bellamy had given
them an early lead.
Matthew Etherington added two more in the second half but Reading had known it was not to be their day when Kevin Doyle's
penalty was saved.
It had taken the home fans just a few minutes to start the inevitable "6-0" chants but within seconds Bellamy had netted his
third goal in claret and blue, adding to his midweek Carling Cup double at Bristol Rovers with aplomb.
Reading's undoing was of their own initial making however as James Harper was carelessly dispossessed in midfield by
Lee Bowyer and Ivar Ingimarsson was never going to catch the Welshman.
There was work still to be done for the £7.5million summer signing from Liverpool but his low, angled drive from the right
of the box was perfectly placed to elude the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
The Hammers had at last been able to give Dean Ashton his first start since the 2006 FA Cup final, with the birth of his
first child having prevented that earlier in the week.
The striker, who had missed all of last season's traumas through a shattered ankle, fired a shot at Hahnemann after
having won a corner seconds earlier and the Hammers continued to look dangerous on the break.
Mark Noble crashed a drive just wide from the edge of the box and there was a let-off for Hahnemann when he fumbled a
cross into Etherington's path only for the winger to stab it harmlessly wide.
Reading were relentless in their pursuit of an equaliser however and striker Leroy Lita was incensed when referee
Howard Webb allowed play to continue after Anton Ferdinand had appeared to barge him over on the edge of the box.
Brynjar Gunnarsson saw a shot blocked and Duberry headed just wide before Doyle set up Stephen Hunt in the 43rd minute
for box-edge effort that had the beating of Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green but bounced off the top of the crossbar.
It took West Ham just four second half minutes to double their lead through Etherington. The winger played a clever
one-two with Bellamy after Hayden Mullins ball across the Reading box had not been intercepted and he was able to beat
Hahnemann with a rising drive from an angle on the left.
Duberry headed a Hunt corner over from six yards as the West Ham fans taunted Nicky Shorey with chants of
"You should have joined West Ham", a reference to the Hammers' failed £4million bid in the run-up to the game.
The England man had not enjoyed his afternoon, contributing little except a few free-kick deliveries.
Anton Ferdinand, who had put through his own goal in the January 1 debacle, was having a game to remember however,
dispossessing Lita in the box after Green had been booked in the 55th minute for time-wasting as he delayed his goal-kick
while Ashton tied his laces.
Reading swapped midfielder Emerse Fae for striker Dave Kitson just after the hour mark and within seconds Bowyer missed a
great chance to put his side three up minute after Bellamy, seizing on an Ashton header, had put him through.
The former Newcastle man rolled his shot past Hahnemann but also beyond the far post.
Ashton was replaced in the 65th minute by Carlton Cole before Hahnemann's brave dive at Etherington's feet
prevented the Hammers from claiming the points there and then.
Reading swapped Gunnarsson for Kalifa Cisse in midfield before Lita stabbed a good chance wide after Kitson's cross had
reached him on the penalty spot.
Reading passed up an opportunity to get back in the match when goalkeeper Green saved a penalty he had conceded himself.
The England man upended Kitson but stayed on the pitch to guess correctly and block Doyle's spot-kick with a dive to his left.
Hahnemann kept the score down with a save to deny Cole, who had earlier fired just wide on the turn.
Duberry did well to stop Etherington before Hunt and Bellamy clashed near a corner flag, with the Irishman seemingly throwing
a punch at the Welshman.
Referee Webb had not seen it too clearly but was quick to intervene and restore calm.
Cisse saw a stoppage time effort blocked as Reading were destined to be denied even a consolation.
There was still a goal in the game and Etherington claimed it with a solo run after Reading had been caught with too many
men upfield in stoppage time.
STAT ATTACK
Reading......West Ham
3 Shots On Target 9
6 Shots Off Target 4
10 Fouls (Conceded) 11
14 Corners 4
0 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
What the papers say: West Ham
the telegraph
West Ham give Reading harsh lesson
By Steve Thomson, Sunday Telegraph
Reading (0) West Ham United (1) 3
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... rea102.xml
Nicky Shorey could have been forgiven if he had shown all the symptoms of a split personality yesterday. The subject of a rejected
£4 million bid from West Ham only days earlier, Reading's England full-back turned out against his prospective employers and
the Romford-born defender may well have had mixed feelings as his current club suffered a comprehensive defeat.
Not quite so humiliating as the Hammers' 6-0 surrender at the Madejski Stadium on New Year's Day, when Shorey set up four of the
goals, but another reminder to Steve Coppell that his side's second season in the top flight will be twice as challenging as their first.
On target: Bellamy having given West Ham the lead at Reading
The Reading manager admitted the result had got
"the alarm bells ringing" and added: "I was frightened every time we attacked because they kept hitting us on the break.
Two of their goals came from our corners.
"I made a decision that we wouldn't do much business before the deadline because I had faith and confidence in our players,
but that's been severely tested today."
While Coppell swapped Seol Ki-Hyeon for Fulham's Liam Rosenior, his counterpart Alan Curbishley brought in Henri Camara
from Wigan and Newcastle's Nolberto Solano.
Although Curbishley certainly needed reinforcements to his injury-stricken squad, those on view yesterday made an
impressive case to be retained. "That was a very important game for us," he said. "Defeat would have left us in the bottom half and
now we're in the top."
In the sixth minute Reading got themselves into a terrible midfield muddle as James Harper lost possession and Lee Bowyer pounced
to put Bellamy clear. The Wales striker out-sprinted his marker and guided an angled shot into the far corner for his first Premier
League goal in a claret shirt.
The pattern had been set for the opening period and, although Reading built up some momentum as half-time approached,
luck suddenly deserted them as Stephen Hunt's curling shot eluded Robert Green only to deflect behind off the top of the bar.
Falling to one sucker punch is careless but to be knocked back again as Coppell's team were four minutes after the interval was
cruelly decisive in determining the outcome.
Again they were caught by a breakaway as Hayden Mullins swept the ball across to Matthew Etherington, whose smart exchange
of passes with Bellamy enabled him to skip through and slot home.
Reading's hopes of a fight-back were squashed 14 minutes from time when Green atoned for his late challenge on substitute
Dave Kitson by diving to his left to keep out Kevin Doyle's penalty kick.
Etherington's second strike in injury time, following Carlton Cole's fine pass, added salt to Reading's wounds.
Match summary
Moment of the match: Robert Green sent Dave Kitson sprawling but bounced back up to make a spectacular diving save from
Kevin Doyle's penalty to squash Reading's comeback hopes.
Match rating: 7/10
West Ham give Reading harsh lesson
By Steve Thomson, Sunday Telegraph
Reading (0) West Ham United (1) 3
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.j ... rea102.xml
Nicky Shorey could have been forgiven if he had shown all the symptoms of a split personality yesterday. The subject of a rejected
£4 million bid from West Ham only days earlier, Reading's England full-back turned out against his prospective employers and
the Romford-born defender may well have had mixed feelings as his current club suffered a comprehensive defeat.
Not quite so humiliating as the Hammers' 6-0 surrender at the Madejski Stadium on New Year's Day, when Shorey set up four of the
goals, but another reminder to Steve Coppell that his side's second season in the top flight will be twice as challenging as their first.
On target: Bellamy having given West Ham the lead at Reading
The Reading manager admitted the result had got
"the alarm bells ringing" and added: "I was frightened every time we attacked because they kept hitting us on the break.
Two of their goals came from our corners.
"I made a decision that we wouldn't do much business before the deadline because I had faith and confidence in our players,
but that's been severely tested today."
While Coppell swapped Seol Ki-Hyeon for Fulham's Liam Rosenior, his counterpart Alan Curbishley brought in Henri Camara
from Wigan and Newcastle's Nolberto Solano.
Although Curbishley certainly needed reinforcements to his injury-stricken squad, those on view yesterday made an
impressive case to be retained. "That was a very important game for us," he said. "Defeat would have left us in the bottom half and
now we're in the top."
In the sixth minute Reading got themselves into a terrible midfield muddle as James Harper lost possession and Lee Bowyer pounced
to put Bellamy clear. The Wales striker out-sprinted his marker and guided an angled shot into the far corner for his first Premier
League goal in a claret shirt.
The pattern had been set for the opening period and, although Reading built up some momentum as half-time approached,
luck suddenly deserted them as Stephen Hunt's curling shot eluded Robert Green only to deflect behind off the top of the bar.
Falling to one sucker punch is careless but to be knocked back again as Coppell's team were four minutes after the interval was
cruelly decisive in determining the outcome.
Again they were caught by a breakaway as Hayden Mullins swept the ball across to Matthew Etherington, whose smart exchange
of passes with Bellamy enabled him to skip through and slot home.
Reading's hopes of a fight-back were squashed 14 minutes from time when Green atoned for his late challenge on substitute
Dave Kitson by diving to his left to keep out Kevin Doyle's penalty kick.
Etherington's second strike in injury time, following Carlton Cole's fine pass, added salt to Reading's wounds.
Match summary
Moment of the match: Robert Green sent Dave Kitson sprawling but bounced back up to make a spectacular diving save from
Kevin Doyle's penalty to squash Reading's comeback hopes.
Match rating: 7/10
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Bellamy and Etherington leave ragged Royals looking flushed
Arindam Rej at the Madejski Stadium
Sunday September 2, 2007
The Observer
This was a masterclass in how not to play against West Ham. For all West Ham's faults, they are a team who know how to break quickly from deep positions and have the players to capitalise on counter-attacks. Reading defeated West Ham 6-0 in their last meeting here on New Year's Day, so Steve Coppell's team really should have known better. But clearly they didn't. Three times, they recklessly committed men forward and allowed West Ham to run at their backpedalling defence. Three times, they were punished.
Three men deserve special praise. Craig Bellamy, showing pace and poise, scored the first and teed up the second. Matthew Etherington delivered the killer touches for the second goal and then - in the dying moments - the third. And the other West Ham hero was their goalkeeper Robert Green, who made the 76th-minute save from Kevin Doyle's penalty that ensured it would be a far more comfortable end to the game than it could have been for Alan Curbishley's team.
This was a free-flowing game - albeit lacking in quality - that could have turned out so differently had Reading been more watchful and less profligate. They never seemed truly out of the contest until the final minutes but, equally, looked like they needed to step up a gear in front of goal.
Coppell cut a nervous figure, looking on as his team, normally so hard to break down, were dismantled. 'It's the first time since I've been here that I was frightened every time we attacked,' he said. 'It was naive to say the least. Two of their goals came from our corners.'
West Ham were encouraged by Dean Ashton's return to their starting line-up and they began adventurously. The early goal arrived after Bryn Gunnarsson's pass was crucially intercepted by Lee Bowyer in West Ham's half of the field. Bowyer then threaded the ball forward to Bellamy. The former Liverpool striker embarked on a lengthy run down the right before moving in towards the edge of the box and producing an angled drive that evaded Marcus Hahnemann.
Reading's best chance of the half came seconds before the interval when Graeme Murty's long pass fell into the path of Doyle. He knocked the ball back for Stephen Hunt, who struck sweetly. He was peeling away, ready to celebrate, but had to watch the ball dip on to the bar.
West Ham reasserted their supremacy after half-time and doubled the lead following a brilliant passing move involving Hayden Mullins, Etherington and Bellamy. It culminated in a swift one-two between Bellamy and Etherington before the latter's fierce finish.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley recognised the outstanding contribution of Bellamy. 'The fans will just lap it up if he does the business here,' he said.
Reading had an escape when Ashton headed on for Bellamy. The Welshman's pass was collected by Bowyer, whose shot was a whisker away from sneaking inside the far post. 'I wanted to strangle him,' said Curbishley, speaking about Bowyer.
Reading continued creating chances, but repeatedly spurned them. The most disappointing moment for Reading came when Green felled Dave Kitson, leading to the penalty that was saved. Etherington wrapped up the game, fittingly, with a breakaway run from the halfway line that ended in him arrowing the ball beyond Hahnemann from 18 yards.
Man of the match: Craig Bellamy
His opener was a fi ne example of the devastation he can inflict on the opposition when West Ham break with speed. His composure was admirable during the build-up to that fi rst goal. He then played an instrumental part in putting the visitors 2-0 ahead.
Arindam Rej at the Madejski Stadium
Sunday September 2, 2007
The Observer
This was a masterclass in how not to play against West Ham. For all West Ham's faults, they are a team who know how to break quickly from deep positions and have the players to capitalise on counter-attacks. Reading defeated West Ham 6-0 in their last meeting here on New Year's Day, so Steve Coppell's team really should have known better. But clearly they didn't. Three times, they recklessly committed men forward and allowed West Ham to run at their backpedalling defence. Three times, they were punished.
Three men deserve special praise. Craig Bellamy, showing pace and poise, scored the first and teed up the second. Matthew Etherington delivered the killer touches for the second goal and then - in the dying moments - the third. And the other West Ham hero was their goalkeeper Robert Green, who made the 76th-minute save from Kevin Doyle's penalty that ensured it would be a far more comfortable end to the game than it could have been for Alan Curbishley's team.
This was a free-flowing game - albeit lacking in quality - that could have turned out so differently had Reading been more watchful and less profligate. They never seemed truly out of the contest until the final minutes but, equally, looked like they needed to step up a gear in front of goal.
Coppell cut a nervous figure, looking on as his team, normally so hard to break down, were dismantled. 'It's the first time since I've been here that I was frightened every time we attacked,' he said. 'It was naive to say the least. Two of their goals came from our corners.'
West Ham were encouraged by Dean Ashton's return to their starting line-up and they began adventurously. The early goal arrived after Bryn Gunnarsson's pass was crucially intercepted by Lee Bowyer in West Ham's half of the field. Bowyer then threaded the ball forward to Bellamy. The former Liverpool striker embarked on a lengthy run down the right before moving in towards the edge of the box and producing an angled drive that evaded Marcus Hahnemann.
Reading's best chance of the half came seconds before the interval when Graeme Murty's long pass fell into the path of Doyle. He knocked the ball back for Stephen Hunt, who struck sweetly. He was peeling away, ready to celebrate, but had to watch the ball dip on to the bar.
West Ham reasserted their supremacy after half-time and doubled the lead following a brilliant passing move involving Hayden Mullins, Etherington and Bellamy. It culminated in a swift one-two between Bellamy and Etherington before the latter's fierce finish.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley recognised the outstanding contribution of Bellamy. 'The fans will just lap it up if he does the business here,' he said.
Reading had an escape when Ashton headed on for Bellamy. The Welshman's pass was collected by Bowyer, whose shot was a whisker away from sneaking inside the far post. 'I wanted to strangle him,' said Curbishley, speaking about Bowyer.
Reading continued creating chances, but repeatedly spurned them. The most disappointing moment for Reading came when Green felled Dave Kitson, leading to the penalty that was saved. Etherington wrapped up the game, fittingly, with a breakaway run from the halfway line that ended in him arrowing the ball beyond Hahnemann from 18 yards.
Man of the match: Craig Bellamy
His opener was a fi ne example of the devastation he can inflict on the opposition when West Ham break with speed. His composure was admirable during the build-up to that fi rst goal. He then played an instrumental part in putting the visitors 2-0 ahead.
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