West Ham strikers Ian Wright and John Hartson responded to the pressure
growing on them after a combined total of just one goal in eight games by ending
their droughts to secure victory against Coventry.
Wright, who had not scored for two months, took just seven minutes to break
his famine as he capitalised on a cross from Hartson. And the England
international turned provider for his Welsh team-mate 23 minutes from time as
Hartson followed suit by scoring his first goal for five games.
Coventry again face their traditional fight against relegation and with the
defensive weaknesses they showed against the Hammers, it promises to be one of
their toughest yet after failing to win for the seventh consecutive game.
Those deficiencies at the back were exposed almost immediately at Upton Park
when the home side were rewarded for Hartson's busting aggression down the right
wing. The centre-forward shook off two challenges, centred for Eyal Berkovic to
dummy the ball and with the Coventry defence absolutely nowhere, Wright had time
to compose himself before shooting under Steve Ogrizovic's body.
There was no T-shirt prepared this time to match the one which Wright unveiled
after ending a similar run without scoring while at Arsenal last season, but he
wheeled away to the touchline in obvious delight.
Hartson's persistence almost paid off again six minutes later when he found
Stan Lazaridis overlapping down the left and Marc Edworthy had to clear under
pressure from Wright. But despite the occasional touch of skill and a memorable
midfield anchorman display by the indefatigable Steve Lomas, the rest of the
first-half was largely a tale of misplaced passes and wasted possession.
Coventry did have a strong appeal for a penalty when winger Steve Froggatt
went down under a challenge from Lomas but otherwise their attacks foundered
around the imposing figures of Rio Ferdinand and Ian Pearce.
Yet the Sky Blues could simply not fill their gaping holes at the back, with
Trevor Sinclair and Julian Dicks both heading over when unchallenged from
corners.
Then on the stroke of half-time, Wright almost scored his second when Berkovic
flicked the ball forward and the striker's incredible turn of speed took him
clear of Richard Shaw. The former Arsenal striker, who had been a shadow of his
normal self on his return to Highbury on Boxing Day, managed to reach the ball
just ahead of keeper Ogrizovic but it dribbled just past the post.
Coventry were more dangerous on the attack just after the break, with George
Boateng heading narrowly over the bar after more good work down the left flank
by Froggatt. They also had two penalty appeals - first when John Aloisi,
starting his first game for the club, and Noel Whelan collided with keeper
Hislop after initially falling over each other and then when Aloisi tumbled
under a challenge from Pearce.
Referee Paul Durkin was nonplussed by both incidents and also turned down
Hartson's claim that he had been fouled in the area by Gary Breen. But the
Hammers were simply a class above the visitors and could even cope with Berkovic
missing a flick header from close range after Hartson had chipped the ball
forward.
With 23 minutes left, Hartson joined Wright on the scoresheet after his strike
partner had persevered down the left flank and crossed for Berkovic to leave the
ball for the Welsh international to smash home at the far post.
Coventry, even with Darren Huckerby on for Aloisi, were unable to respond,
with Scottish international Gary McAllister still way short of the form he
showed before last season's long-term injury. Their sole attempt on goal of any
real note in the final quarter was a shot a full yard past the post from another
substitute, Paul Telfer.
It looks sure to be a hard spring as well as winter for the Midlands side,
with the signing of an assured defender surely their top priority.
Teams:
West Ham: Hislop, Ferdinand, Pearce, Lomas, Dicks, Lazaridis,
Lampard, Sinclair, Berkovic (Potts 80), Wright (Omoyimni 83),
Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Breacker, Hodges, Forrest.
Goals: Wright 7, Hartson 68.
Coventry: Ogrizovic, Nilsson, Edworthy (Telfer 79), Shaw, Breen,
Boateng, Soltvedt, McAllister, Aloisi (Huckerby 57), Whelan,
Froggatt.
Subs Not Used: Williams, Shilton, Hedman.
Att: 25,662
Ref: P Durkin (Portland).
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