West Ham Returns The Favour

Manchester United 4 - West Ham 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (3, 24), Tevez (26), Carrick (59)
West Ham: Ashton (28)

Red Cards
Manchester United: Nani (37)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Brown, Hargreaves, Evra, Scholes (O'Shea 72), Carrick, Park (Giggs 61), Nani, Ronaldo (Flectcher 64), Tevez

We played well, in fact we played very well but make no bones about it, West Ham were simply not interested in this game. This was similar to the same fixture at the end of last season when they visited us, needing a win to secure Premiership status, while we slept-walked thru the 90.

This time round the roles were reversed. West Ham had nothing to play for and it showed. They didn't exactly lie down for us, but they didn't pressure us as they had last year.

In fact they were so lackadaisical that Ronaldo shimmied and found a route thru goal as early as the 3rd minute and took his chance, albeit with the aid of a deflection. Before even Kentona and I had warmed our seats over at Queens Country Club, we were already one up. It certainly was a good way to start the night.

West Ham made a token attack and our made-shift defense had to clear off the line. But that was all West Ham provided in terms of attacking strength before we got our second.

Hargreaves floated a nice cross into the area that sailed past all the West Ham defenders and Ronaldo gleefully twisted his body goalwards, redirecting the ball into the net with his thighs.

A minute later, Tevez found time and space in midfield and fired a rocket in beyond the flailing arms of our ex-custodian, Carroll. It was a magnificent goal that even had the West Ham supporters applauding. Yup, they just weren't interested in the points. And we provided them with a style of attacking football that was, quite frankly, missing for quite sometime.

On a rare West Ham counter, Dean Ashton held off Rio and struck a spectacular overhead kick to really give the West Ham faithful plenty of cheer about. In the space of 5 minutes, 3 goals were scored and the atomsphere was just brilliant, not only at OT, but at Queens Country Club as well. Everyone was enjoying the game.

There was even time for some comedy, when Carlton Cole, who was supposed to replace Ashton, left his jersey in the locker room.

Then it all turned sour. Nani head-butted Lucas Neill and was promptly sent off. United was down to ten men and suddenly the game didn't seem as easy as the scoreline would suggest. From then till half time, we were in sixes and sevens, unable to hold on to the ball and the half time whistle just couldn't come quick enough. The only silverlining was that West Ham just weren't interested in anything. Their players were probably dreaming of a holiday at some exotic island.

The team reorganised and played with increasing stability after half time. We played well and extended the lead when Carrick found himself with acres of space. His shot was deflected into the net as were restored our 3 goal cushion.

It possibly could have been more, with Fletcher unluckily hitting the post.

Except for a brief period after the sending off, this was probably one of the best team performances in a long long time. For long parts of this season, we've been playing like a group of uncoordinated, individual players, but today, we actually looked like a team playing for one another. Although the goals today came from bits of individual inspiration, the bulk of the approach play and hassle was gratifying to watch.

All we need now to secure our first piece of silverware this season is to beat Wigan next Sunday. Hopefully Wigan will play like West Ham, since their status in the Premiership has been secured with an unlikely 2-0 victory against Villa. Alternatively, old nemesis, Keegan could do us a favour and take points from Chelsea. In any case, unless there is a major fuck up, it all looks good....really good.

Nani
One of the reasons why I'm so late writing this is because I really don't know what and how to think about Nani's sending off. Nani headbutted Lucas Neill and then fell over clutching his head in agony for quite sometime. It was disgusting and shameful. The headbutt was probably a spur of the moment reaction but the play acting was not.

I know Kentona is utterly pissed off at Nani, yet somehow I don't exactly share his feelings.

The truth is that I'm angry with Nani's play acting after the sending off more than the sending off itself. Spur of the moment actions can be understood, not saying that they should be accepted. But the play acting is on a whole different level. It's cheating, plain and simple.

I really do hope it's one aspect of his game that would be eliminated in time to come. I'm sure Fergie has in mind what punish to dish out and how to prevent it from surfacing again.