Rapport från Dave, vår man på plats
Dave är tillbaka efter ett litet uppehåll. Här kommer hans rapport + bilder från matchen mot West Ham.
Aye up duck
After the disappointing defeat & general lacklustre performance against Man United in the last home game it was great to get back to winning ways against West Ham.
From my own point of view I was also pleased as I don't think I have witnessed a victory over West Ham since 1979. They always seem to beat us.
Some fans were surprised to see that Pulis started this home fixture with the same 11 that had started at Everton. This obviously included the defence minded pair of Diao & Whitehead in midfield. To be fair, they had, by all accounts both played well in that game. However, to start with both of them at home meant that we would be giving the impetus to the away team for the second successive home match. Fortunately West Ham couldn't take advantage as freely as Man United had been able to do.
Sorro.....Did well when called upon. At fault for the West Ham goal though.
Huth.....Was fortunate not to be sent off when the ref failed to spot him twatting Upson. Television pictures will lead to a 3 match ban even though Upson was trying to impede him. Silly boy to be honest.
Shawx....Another consistent performance from Mr. Shawcross. One spell in the second half saw him nearly score at one end and then fantastically block a shot from Cole when the striker was through and about to shoot at the other.
Abdy Faye...At fault for the West Ham goal but I wouldn't tell him that to his face.
Collins........Showed that he is settling into the team by this performance.
Diao & Whitehead........Did OK in their jobs of breaking up opposition attacks. Lacking in forward play though. Diao did pass to Fuller though in the build up to the second goal.
Delap......Had a poor game overall. Even his throws were lacking any penetration.
Etherington....His contribution to the team has really improved since the new signings. He really wanted the win against his former team and worked well. Got fouled for the penalty. It looked a little suspicious to me on the television replay but the media haven't really paid much attention to it. They were more concerned with the Huth incident.
B.T.......B.T. has been struggling this season so to score 2 will give him a massive boost. You could sense his relief in the post match interviews. He has now entered the all time top ten Premiership penalty scorers with this, his 16th spot kick success. He is tenth alongside Robbie Fowler. He has some way to go though as Alan Shearer has the most with 51.
Fuller.....Great effort. Those runs towards the end showed what Fuller is all about. Sheer power, strength & determination. The West Ham centre half Tomkins had a good game last season but Fuller came out on top this time around. It was great to see Stoke going for the third late on and not just sitting back.
Lawrence....Put himself about when brought on for Delap. Lawrence is the second most accurate crosser off the ball in the Premiership this season behind Giggs.
Whelan.......Replaced the tiring Diao. Nearly got a goal with that shot that flew over.
Kitson........Late substitue for Beattie.
The only mystery is whats Pulis going to do with Tuncay.
Dave
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