West Ham's Bobby Zamora came off the bench and grabbed the winner against
Stoke to maintain his side's hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Desperately needing a win to get within a point of the Coca-Cola Championship
top six, the visitors were frustrated for long periods against Tony Pulis'
stubborn side.
With 15 minutes remaining and the Potters looking increasingly dangerous,
Hammers manager Alan Pardew threw on Zamora.
The response was swift, with Marlon Harewood setting up the goal with a
terrific low cross that only required tapping in - Pardew's brave move managing
to snatch a contest low on spectacle and full of nervous football.
Either side could have taken a lead in the first minute, however, with the
hosts having the first effort on goal following a speculative punt from Dave
Brammer. Gifton Noel-Williams chased well and volleyed on target but James
Walker was equal to the effort.
In the very next move Harewood blasted over from 10 yards after fortuitously
receiving the ball following Teddy Sheringham's fluffed volley from Shaun
Newton's cross from the right fell.
After the frenetic start chances proved difficult to create although Hayden
Mullins, an able deputy for the injured Mark Noble, continually attempted from
long range without success.
The Potters counter-attacked intelligently, with Noel-Williams' wicked
27th-minute cross for strike-partner Kenwyne Jones just cut out by Anton
Ferdinand. Jones headed over soon after as the hosts crept back into the game.
Pardew's side, however, did look likely to break the deadlock in the early
exchanges, Newton found room at the far post on the half-hour mark but totally
missed his kick. Potters keeper Steve Simonsen then saved well from Ferdinand
when the defender broke forward.
Simonsen was called upon again with eight minutes of the half remaining,
Harewood unleashing a 25-yard drive after pouncing on a slip by Taggart.
But Noel-Williams' partnership with Jones was always a threat while the match
was goalless. Just before the break Noel-Williams headed just wide from a Lewis
Buxton cross, and Elliott Ward cleared off the line after Jones almost took
advantage of a Walker spill.
Just after the interval the pair almost combined from a Darel Russell cross
from the left, but Jones' flick just evaded his strike partner.
Noel Williams, the former Watford striker, was sent through on goal in the
54th minute and appeared to be hauled down by Ferdinand, but Graham Laws angered
the majority of the 14,534 crowd by not awarding a penalty.
Chris Greenacre was the next to try his luck, the Stoke midfielder flashing a
volley from a corner which was blocked to safety.
The Hammers had lost their passing from the first-half, their attacks from
wide not testing Simonsen. And their frustration was illustrated by Ward's
booking for a trip on Noel-Williams in the 67th minute.
Sensing a goalless draw, Pardew chased the game in the final 15 minutes with
his masterstroke of bringing on Zamora and Carl Fletcher for Tomas Repka and
Mullins.
Zamora almost found the net with his touch, but his finish after a fine run
was too high.
His second touch, after 77 minutes, was a goal. The former Tottenham player
latching onto Harewood's pacey cross from the right and having the simple task
of rolling into an empty net.
Noel-Williams had two late chances but could not find the leveller. Clive
Clarke had an injury-time effort ruled out for offside. Walker was booked for
time wasting.
Teams:
Stoke Simonsen, Buxton (Henry 74), Duberry, Hill, Taggart,
Brammer, Clarke, Russell, Greenacre (Neal 83),
Jones (Ricketts 83), Noel-Williams.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Clark.
West Ham Walker, Ferdinand, Repka (Zamora 76), Ward, Powell,
Etherington, Newton, Reo-Coker, Mullins (Fletcher 76),
Sheringham, Harewood (Chadwick 90).
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Brevett.
Booked: Ward, Walker.
Goals: Zamora 78.
Att: 14,534
Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).
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