Tunnel bust-up rocks Hammers
West Ham fans turn on board as defeat ends a torrid week
WEST Ham defender Aaron Cresswell and Brighton forward Anthony Knockaert were involved in a heated tunnel bust-up yesterday.
The pair had to be separated just moments after the half-time whistle, with Knockaert furious with Cresswell for a firsthalf challenge that left the Seagulls attacker needing treatment.
THE one positive for West Ham? This week is nearly over. What a humiliating few days it’s been for everyone connected with t he football club.
It seems strange to even suggest that yesterday’s 3-1 loss at Brighton, in the Premier League’s 10,000th game, represents the least of their worries. But that really isn’t so removed from the truth.
Accusations of racism, a stuttering transfer deadline day and a disenchanted fan base.
Happy Hammers? No chance. West Ham’s reputation has been dragged through the mud amid revelations that head of recruitment Tony Henry wanted to restrict the number of Africans the club signed.
Here at the Amex, the team were pummelled from pillar to post. Henry, on Friday afternoon, paid the ultimate price for his comments as he lost his job. But a growing section of West Ham supporters believe their disgraced transfer guru isn’t the only one who should be gone. ‘Sack the board,’ chanted the Hammers fans yesterday.
‘ Maybe t hat’s West Ham, I don’t know,’ said manager David Mo yes when asked about how he’s dealt with the past week. ‘In management no day is ever dull. The job brings up some strange things, some difficult situations and some strange ones. But what has happened this week has no effect whatsoever on the players’ performance, the club have done what they think they have to do and move on, we have to.’ Chris Hughton had far more to be cheery about — his side winning their first Premier League match in seven attempts. ‘I’m delighted, I thought we started very well but it’s hard to sustain those levels so it’s a big disappointment coming in at 1-1,’ said the Brighton boss.
‘But we had to raise it again and the second half was close to being as good as we have been.’
Brighton were ahead inside eight minutes. Glenn Murray slotted past Adrian following Pascal Gross’ through-ball after Javier Hernandez wastefully gave t he ball away.
In truth, West Ham were lucky that was the extent of the damage inflicted on them in the first half.
Anthony Knockaert was the main culprit, wasting four first- half opportunities for the Seagulls.
Davy Propper and Dale Stephens had the measure of West Ham’s midfield, while Knockaert — despite his wastefulness — was proving a handful.
Hughton’s side also saw a strong penalty appeal turned away after Knockaert’s shot struck Angelo Ogbonna on the arm from close range. But recently under Moyes, the Hammers have shown signs of life following their pitiful start to the season.
And they managed to drag their way back into the game in the 30th minute after Hernandez, who was keen to leave the club last month, smashed a brilliant finish into the top right-hand corner after Joao Mario’s superb flick. Moyes stood in his technical area arms aloft, as if a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
The first half ended in controversy as Aaron Cresswell and Knockaert had to be separated in the tunnel after the whistle.
Earlier in proceedings the West Ham defender had caught the Seagulls forward with a nasty challenge and Knockaert seemed intent on letting Cresswell feel his wrath.
The clash would have been the least of Hughton’s worries at halftime, however. His team were a shadow of the one that started the match and their opponents were shifting through the gears . But football’s a funny game. West Ham could only half clear a Brighton corner leaving Jose Izquierdo to pick up the loose ball at the top left corner of the penalty area and whip an unstoppable curling effort past Adrian into the top right-hand corner. Brighton sealed all three points in the 75th minute when Gross fired home from the edge of the area after J a me s C o l l i n s ’ attempted pass was cut out easily by Propper.