23rd February, 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: Nolbert Solano scored a controversial late winner to hand West Ham a 1-0 victory at Fulham and leave their London rivals four points adrift of safety. The Peruvian midfielder came on early in the second half and broke the deadlock with just three minutes remaining after bundling the ball past Antti Niemi. Solano put in a firm challenge on the Fulham goalkeeper and the ball crept in off Solano's arm but the goal stood despite the home side's protests, which saw Leon Andreasen sent off for the Cottagers. Although West Ham created the better opportunities, Fulham had chances of their own to snatch the points late on, with Robert Green denying Jimmy Bullard moments before Solano's winner.

BBC Sport: In the first half, Cole saw three scoring opportunities go begging. First, the striker's dipping shot was saved by Niemi. Then Boa Morte, under pressure from Brede Hangeland, put Cole clear through, but his right-footed shot was diverted to safety by Paul Konchesky. Cole conjured another chance, meeting Julien Faubert's cross in the air and firing the ball towards the goal, only for it to clip over the bar. Boa Morte wasted another decent chance for the visitors when his header from close range looped over the woodwork.

Hammers Mad: Fulham's slide towards the Championship continued with a controversial 1-0 defeat against West Ham at Craven Cottage. Nolberto Solano's winner, three minutes from time, appeared to roll into the net off the Peru international's arm, but referee Howard Webb rejected the pleas of the home players to the disbelief of manager Roy Hodgson. The goal, which was as scrappy as the contest that had preceded it, summed up an afternoon which lacked any real spark or quality on an afternoon which was supposed to pay tribute to the only Englishman to have lifted the World Cup. Bobby Moore may have been remembered in spirit at Craven Cottage but the great man would have been left dismayed by the level of mediocrity on display in West London. Moore, who represented both clubs with distinction during his career, died 15 years ago on Sunday and, after holding a minute's applause for the defender, many would have hoped that the football on show would pay tribute to such a great player. Unfortunately, neither team managed to impress, with England head coach Fabio Capello left yawning in the stands.

KUMB: So with a 0-0 draw looking very likely we scored. In keeping with the rest of the match it was a scrappy goal. Ljungberg found progress blocked on the right and played the ball back to Neill. The skipper took a touch before playing the ball into Boa-Morte who knocked the ball into the path of Solano. Niemi was very slow off his line and Nobby beat the keeper to the ball to settle the match. I’ll be honest here, my first look was towards the ref. Not because I thought it was a foul as such. However, it looked like the sort of challenge that usually gets given by referees irrespective of whether or not it should be. Thankfully ref Webb saw nothing wrong and neither challenge nor the accidental coming together of Peruvian elbow and ball were enough to rule out goal. (Gordon Thrower, 24th February, 2008)

Sunday Mirror: With Fabio Capello watching, West Ham's young England wannabes did enough to merit victory - albeit a cruel one. Freddie Ljungberg played the ball back to Lucas Neill, whose chip was chested down by Luis Boa Morte. Solano, who had replaced Julien Faubert, slid in to Niemi as the ball span away from him - and it rebounded off him into the net. West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said: "From where I was looking it looked a clean connection. Sometimes when you are at the bottom of the table these things go against you. "But I thought our players were fantastic. Mark Noble did well in a three-man midfield. And I can't forget Robert Green's great save near the end. Given all our injury problems the players are doing really well." Noble virtually ran the game in the second half, playing with a maturity and composure beyond his years. Some of the East End youngster's touches were reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle. Green, also watched by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence, produced the save of the match just before Solano's winner. (Anthony Clavane, 24th February, 2008)

Daily Telegraph: Only two players, one on each side, emerged from this mishmash with any real credit. Jimmy Bullard, gaining in confidence with every game since he came back from his long injury lay-off, prompted Fulham's attack assiduously without being able to produce the final pass that would have brought a shot at goal, which his team did not have until the 38th minute. But Bullard was matched, particularly in the second half, by Mark Noble, who drove West Ham on at every opportunity. If Carlton Cole had responded more clinically to the service he received from Noble and others, he might have had a hat-trick. Cole's worst miss was a header straight at Niemi from a Freddie Ljungberg cross midway through the second half. (Colin Malam, 25th February, 2008)

Daily Mirror: Matthew Upson underlined his international credentials to Fabio Capello on the day England's greatest-ever captain was remembered by his two former clubs. Legendary World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore, who died of cancer 15 years ago yesterday aged only 51, was honoured with a minute's applause from both sets of fans. And it was fitting that Upson rose to the occasion with a performance worthy of Moore's famous No.6 shirt to enhance his chances of keeping his place in Capello's line-up for next month's friendly in France. Upson has gone from strength to strength this season and seems to have grown in stature since Capello surprisingly picked him for his first game in charge as England boss against Switzerland. Capello was at Craven Cottage to cast an eye over Upson and Hammers keeper Robert Green, and cannot have failed to notice Mark Noble's outstanding midfield performance. (John Cross, 25th February, 2008)

The Times: Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, tried to put the result into perspective. “I wouldn’t have been doing cartwheels with a 0-0 but I certainly wouldn’t have been as depressed as I am at this particular moment in time,” he said. Had he executed a cartwheel or jumped 50 feet into a bucket of water, it would not have been enough to lift the spirits at Craven Cottage. This was miserable fare won by a controversial goal that compounds Fulham’s plight and gives West Ham hope of a Uefa Cup place. Hodgson did not harangue Howard Webb, the referee, after Nolberto Solano appeared, first, to foul Antti Niemi, then score with an elbow. “What’s the point?” Hodgson said. “Will he change the result, will he go back on his decision, will he rescind the red card, [Leon Andreasen received a second caution for his protests] and will he take away the goal? It’s a pointless exercise.” David McNally, managing director of Fulham, thought otherwise, however, and, an hour after the match, confronted Webb and Rob Styles, the fourth official, angrily. (Alyson Rudd, 25th February, 2008)

The Guardian: Alan Curbishley took over an ailing side midway through last season and like Hodgson he was preparing for the worst. Not now. West Ham are in ninth position and only seven points off the Uefa Cup places. Key to their resurgence has been a steady and defiant defence which has conceded only 23 goals this season. Matthew Upson stands tall at the centre of it and it was apt that he should again excel on the day when the 15th anniversary of Bobby Moore's death was remembered by the two clubs who called the World Cup-winning captain one of their own. Like him, Upson wears the claret-and-blue No6 shirt. (Sachin Nakrani, 25th February, 2008).

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