22nd March, 2008

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

Sky Sports: The Hammers gave centre-back James Tomkins his first start, and it was something of a baptism of fire against the power of Yakubu - even if the England Under 19 international could have scored inside five minutes... It was Basildon-born Tomkins who almost made it a dream debut. He met Mark Noble's corner 12 yards out, and his looping header clattered against the bar. But three minutes later, after Anton Ferdinand had lost out in the air to Anichebe, Tomkins was equally at fault when he was out-muscled by Yakubu midway inside West Ham's half and the big Nigerian surged away and scored past Green. (Rob Parrish, 22nd March, 2008)

KUMB: Teenage striker Fred Sears was the width of a post away from being a Hammers hero for the second Saturday in succession at Goodison Park this afternoon. The 18-year-old, thrust into the game five minutes into the second half raced through in the final minute of the match with just goalkeeper Tim Howard to beat in order to emulate his match-winning antics against Blackburn last weekend. The youngster kept his cool and picked his spot - but could do nothing but watch as his deft flick agonisingly rebounded against the post and away to safety to preserve a point for the home side that had looked under threat for much of the second half. (Graeme Howlett, 23rd March, 2008)

Sunday Times: Freddie Sears almost made himself a West Ham hero for the second time in a week, firing a shot past Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper, in the closing moments only to see the ball come back off the post... Ashton, however, supplied the game’s defining moment, for it was transformed when he scored his towering equaliser. Lucas Neill was given time on the right to measure a terrific cross towards Ashton, who outjumped Phil Jagielka and directed his header to Howard’s left. The goalkeeper got a glove to the ball but only knocked it against the inside of the post and across the line. Suddenly, the visitors believed they could steal a win, especially when Rob Green proved resistant to Everton’s efforts to grab a second goal. On the break, the Hammers fought tenaciously and Howard had to race off his line to save from Sears, who scored on his debut last weekend at Upton Park, before the youngster beat the Everton keeper in the dying moments, only to hit the post. “We’re disappointed not to have won the game in the end,” said Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager. “Young James Tomkins (like Sears, a homegrown 18-year-old and an England Under19 international) went for the header when the ball came to Yakubu (for the opening goal), he missed it and that rattled him. But he got better and stronger after that and so did the team.” Ironically, Tomkins almost made a dream start on his debut. Mark Noble’s corner was delivered perfectly for him to direct a solid header, alas, against the crossbar. (Brian Doogan, 23rd March 2008)

Hammers Mad: Against the run of play, West Ham should have equalised just after the half-hour mark through Dean Ashton. An uncharacteristic mix-up between Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka led to the big striker having a clear shot at goal but the former Crewe and Norwich hit-man could only drag his effort wide... Having not been tested for nearly the whole of the first half, Howard make a smart save with his foot to deny Ashton just before the interval. The stocky centre-forward rifled in a 25-yard shot and a deflection off Joleon Lescott's knee sent the ball away from a diving Howard but the Blues' shot-stopper reacted well to save the ball on the line with his trailing foot. It took just over an hour for West Ham to start carving out chances of their own as the visitors started to pile on the pressure and an equaliser looked only a matter of time. Mark Noble's free-kick sailed just over the bar and Freddie Ljungberg's effort was saved by Howard. However, the chances kept coming and finally Curbishley's men found the back of the net when a deep cross by captain Neill found Ashton who powered a 68th-minute header home. Everton lost all their momentum and were totally outplayed for the last third of the game and Moyes may feel it is a point gained after young substitute Freddie Sears almost scored in the final minute. The teenager skipped past Jagielka and side-footed the ball past a stranded Howard only for it to roll against the foot of the post and come straight back out.

Daily Mirror: Hammers manager Alan Curbishley, who watched Dean Ashton head home a second-half equaliser, bravely decided to give youth its head in the continuing absence of so many of the big-name players he bought in the summer and it almost paid rich dividends. Tomkins looked yet another defender in the best traditions of West Ham, his early drubbing at the hands of Yakubu apart. And his decision to give 18-year-old Sears his head later in the game was an inspired one. The striker could have won the match after rousing the Hammers with his enthusiasm, and it looked for all the world like he had done everything right in the last minute, only for his shot to hit the post. "These kids deserve their chance," Curbs said. "I believe in them and I decided a couple of weeks ago that we were in no man's land and we had nothing to lose. They will not be fazed because they are so level-headed." (David Maddock, 24th March 2008)

The Times: Against Blackburn Rovers on his debut the previous week, Freddie Sears came off the bench to score the winner. On Saturday, he came off the bench and hit the inside of the post in the 89th minute. He invigorated West Ham, outplayed in the first half and behind to Yakubu Ayegbeni’s goal but dominant in the second period and buoyed by Dean Ashton’s sharp headed equaliser. Three factors helped Sears: he replaced the irrelevant Luis Boa Morte; he faced Phil Jagielka, the hapless centre back; and his partner up front was Ashton, who produced a performance of strength and subtlety reminiscent of the displays that earned him an England call-up before injuries retarded his progress. Another week, another 18-year-old debutant: James Tomkins at centre back. He hit the bar with a header in the first five minutes, was at fault for Everton’s goal, then had a solid showing thereafter. (Tom Dart, 24th March 2008)

The Guardian: As exhaustion set in, West Ham's reserves of energy - indeed, their reserves with energy - prevailed. And it was the men from mid-table, their weekly injury bulletin notwithstanding, who boasted options, the most intriguing of them lending a futuristic look to their side. While Everton's focus on the short term is undiluted, West Ham can take a broader view. "I've got to have one hand on trying to win Premier League matches and another on the future of the club," said the manager, Alan Curbishley. That entailed the introduction of the 18-year-old James Tomkins for his debut. The central defender soon struck the bar and then erred for Everton's goal - "Yakubu rolled him," said Curbishley - before the Nigerian finished forcefully. Yet after an eventful but chastening opening, Tomkins recovered admirably. He forms part of a youthful collective in an East End union that finds favour with its customers. "I came down to breakfast and three of them were sitting round the table, [Jack] Collison, Freddie Sears and James Tomkins," Curbishley said. "Then [Mark] Noble came down and he was like the shop steward because he's a year older than them; I thought he was taking their subs." The apprentices are being schooled in the way of things at Upton Park and one has already shown a propensity to strike. Sears, their match-winner against Blackburn nine days ago, rolled a shot against a post during a sparkling cameo. There is an endearingly old-fashioned element to West Ham's faith in youth, mirrored in their support. "Mark Noble's is the biggest-selling shirt in the club shop because he's home-grown," said Curbishley. "It's as simple as that." Given Noble's intelligent repertoire of an inside-forward's skills, sheer locality should not be the sole reason for the midfielder's popularity with the fans. In the company of such ingenus, Dean Ashton approaches veteran status. The 24-year-old's equaliser, headed in emphatically from Lucas Neill's cross, was almost overshadowed as Sears displayed pace and promise in equal measure. Noble, seemingly inspired, whistled a late long-range shot over the bar. Adventurousness can be infectious but, as Everton know, anxiety is equally contagious. (Richard Jolly, 24th March 2008)

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