15th September, 2007

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

SA Sanchoz; CO Coley; IFO If Only; BF Bishops Finger; BU Bumpkin; BH Bonehead;
WH WestLondonHammer; AD Arch Dandy; HS Hammer Scout; HN Houston

West Ham v Middlesbrough: Video Highlights

Sky Sports: West Ham secured their first home win of the season with a 3-0 success over Middlesbrough at Upton Park. After a goalless first half, The Hammers went ahead within a minute of the re-start as Lee Bowyer fired home from the edge of the box. Boro battled throughout and produced some excellent football and should have been level before West Ham doubled their lead as Luke Young put through his own net trying to intercept a Carlton Cole cross. The icing on the cake for The Hammers came just after the hour when Dean Ashton fired home from close range to grab his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final. (15th September, 2007)

BBC Sport: Both Ashton and Bellamy were causing Boro's defence problems, but Curbishley was dealt a major setback when the diminutive Welshman was forced to go off with what appeared to be a groin problem.... The match had lost its spark following the loss of the two playmakers, but Bowyer made sure he reignited it after the restart. The former Leeds and Newcastle player forced his way into the area and connected beautifully with Cole's dinked ball to volley past Schwarzer. Cole, who was the recipient of jeering from some of Hammers supporters during the first 45, was involved again in the second goal when his low pass from the right was deflected in by Young. (15th September, 2007)

Hammers Mad: Within 20 seconds of the restart, man-of-the-match Hayden Mullins found Cole, who picked out Bowyer with the perfect pass. The midfielder, who had scored his first-ever Hammers goal in the previous home game against Wigan Athletic, got the better of his former Leeds United team-mate, Jonathan Woodgate, before rifling a low 18-yarder past the groping left arm of Mark Schwarzer to break the deadlock. Cole was in creative mood five minutes later, too, when he sent an unplayable cross into the heart of the Boro defence, only for the sliding Luke Young to divert the ball beyond the helpless Schwarzer to double the deficit. Having taken that commanding lead, the Eastenders almost paid for their complacency at the back, where Tuncay was twice foiled by Green's brilliant point-blank stops and, when Fabio Rochemback sent the Turkish star racing clear, his chip over the advancing Hammers' keeper bounced agonisingly onto the crossbar. A Boro goal would have set up a nervous ending but, on the hour mark, the red-booted Ashton steadied the nerves when he beat Andrew Taylor at the far post and slid Matthew Etherington's telling, deep, low left-wing cross into the net, to seal what proved to be an emphatic Hammers victory. (15th September, 2007)

KUMB: Little had been going right for sub Cole though he did have a part to play in one of our better chances of the half. Noble played the ball out left where Cole gathered. His cross was poor really – Boro’ had the choice of two defenders and the ‘keeper to deal with it. Schwarzer’s call was loudest but, instead of catching the ball which is something he seemed to have time and space to do with ease, he elected to do a rather girly flap which found Noble on the edge of the box. The youngster should have made a better effort of the shot which went a yard or so wide with Schwarzer stranded. That was effectively the last action of the half.... We needed a sharper, more incisive start to the second half – and, thankfully we got it. Within 30 seconds. Bowyer started the move with a nod-down to Mullins who fed Cole. Cole’s subsequent pass was as good as his first half efforts had been poor and he played a smashing little ball into Bowyer who had continued his run from deep to bury a first time volley home inside the post. It was a fine goal – good build-up and an excellent finish that reminded one of how Bowyer had played back in the days when he had been playing European football for teams like Leeds. It was also probably the first bit of direct and pacy football that we’d seen from the home side all match. It was a lesson well-learned. We only had to wait another five minutes for the lead to be doubled and Cole again was involved. The move started deep in home territory with Collins feeding Neill whose ball inside to Mullins looked a bit risky in all honesty. However, Mullins found Matty who played the ball wide right to Cole. There seemed little danger at first as Cole had no support out on the right but the Boro’ challenges were week bordering on the non-existent as Cole was able to advance to the edge of the box. His attempted pass to the unmarked Mullins found Luke Young in the “Corridor of Uncertainty” and the full-back could only divert the ball past the stranded ‘keeper'.... Much better was his contribution to the move that should have seen us go four up. Combining well on the break as Boro’ pushed forward in search of consolation, Freddie found Cole totally unmarked with just the keeper to beat only for him to screw the ball wide when he ought to have scored. It was a similar miss to that performed by Darren Bent for Spurs against Arsenal with the possible consolation for us that ours had been about £14m cheaper. It was a shame as Cole had had a poor first half but had got into the game in the second period through sheer bloody-mindedness and, on the whole, had probably deserved a goal for his efforts. (Gordon Thrower, 17th September, 2007)

Daily Telegraph: There was no doubting the significance of the moment, in the 62nd minute, when Ashton turned Matthew Etherington's cross home just inside the far post. "When I scored I felt a bit of everything. It was a bit special. Even though it was only from a few yards it meant a lot," Ashton said. "I have been watching videos of myself. It was the only way to keep myself going. I am still worrying about scoring again, to show people I am fit and winning my place in the team. I could set myself targets for the season but I expect to score in every game." It is not just his goalscoring habit. West Ham have also missed Ashton's physical presence, elevated work-rate and ability to bring team-mates into the game. Ashton had received an England squad call-up when he was injured in training in Aug 2006. Now he already has eyes on the international arena again. (Mark Ogden, 15th September, 2007)

Daily Mirror: Dean Ashton completed a magical return from injury... but admitted he will still have to play through the pain barrier for another year. The West Ham hit-man scored his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final defeat by Liverpool after missing the whole of last season with a broken ankle. It has been a long and winding road back for Ashton as he suffered complication after complication in his rehabilitation from an injury he suffered in training while on England duty last August. He needed two operations to repair his ankle - and the key to keeping his spirits high during a season of gloom for Hammers last term was "a little bit of magic." West Ham boss Alan Curbishley brought in Italian sports psychologist Roberto Forzoni to give his players a lift last season, and Forzoni, a member of the Magic Circle, entertained the squad with tricks from his repertoire. "He is a good man to have around the place," said Ashton. "I know him from when I played with England under 17s. I have always liked the way he does things. He has been around a long time and he knows his stuff." Forzoni's magic and motivational skills have certainly put a spring back into Ashton's step even if he is still some way off being fully fit again. He says it will be another six months at least before his ankle is painfree. (John Cross, 18th September, 2007)

The Times: Ashton said that he remained optimistic by watching footage of himself scoring goals, while the club has hired a sports psychologist, Roberto Forzoni, who has recently worked with Andy Murray, the British No 1 tennis player. “I speak to him [Forzoni] when I need to,” Ashton said. “He is a good man to have around the place.” Gareth Southgate must be wondering if West Ham also use the services of a witch doctor. His team made a mockery of the home side’s offside trap but failed to take their chances, with Tuncay Sanli the man who squandered so many that he apologised afterwards to his teammates. A dull first half was only enlivened by a shot from Jérémie Aliadière that hit a post. The second period, however, opened at a blistering pace with Lee Bowyer scoring almost immediately. Luke Young then put the ball in his own net before Ashton latched on to Matthew Etherington’s pass to score West Ham’s third. The home team’s fans rejoiced at the third goal; they, too, have missed Ashton. “All I’ve said is that I want a solid season so we can build,” Curbishley said. “The last four years at West Ham, they have got to a play-off final and lost, got to a play-off final and won, got to an FA Cup Final and lost and had a relegation battle they won. It’s been helter-skelter and I sat down with Eggert [Magnússon, the chairman] in the summer and said we need a nice solid season. He said, ‘Yes, Europe.’ ” And who could blame Magnússon for ignoring a plea for a dull campaign? As Curbishley pointed out, he had £20 million of talent missing on Saturday in Julien Faubert, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer. West Ham do not have a squad built for anything other than adventure. (Alyson Rudd, 16th September, 2007)

The Guardian: Goals change games and can sometimes change minds. By half-time, after a routine mix of the bright and the banal, West Ham United supporters had clearly got it in for Carlton Cole but within half a minute of the second half his was the inspired touch that had the place rejoicing. For the fickle fan Cole is a natural fall guy. Lanky, loping footballers are obvious targets when things go awry. Chelsea were forever loaning him out - to Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa - and since joining West Ham he has still seemed to be living on borrowed time. His arrival against Middlesbrough was precipitated by the loss of Craig Bellamy, who departed midway through the first half with a sore groin, and for a while he did play as if he was wearing the wrong feet. Maybe West Ham are employing a half-time hypnotist. The first-time ball that Cole played through to Lee Bowyer, who completed a sweet movement which saw West Ham take the lead after 23 seconds of the restart, would not have disgraced Pele. Five minutes later Cole, easily riding a half-hearted challenge from Stewart Downing, spotted Hayden Mullins unmarked beyond the far post and tried to find him with a low cross which he mishit, only for Luke Young to divert the ball into his own net. Cole could now do no wrong, although the hypnosis appeared to have worn off in the closing minutes when he put the ball wide with only Mark Schwarzer to beat. (David Lacey, 17th September, 2007)

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