Hammer Blow

First FLC Loss 2005
By Chris O'Brien
February 10 2005

West Ham United ended Cardiff City's unbeaten Football League run of 2005 with a narrow 1-0 win. A late header from Carl Fletcher, the Welsh international, decided the tight encounter at Upton Park.

A dramatic last minute header from Welshman Carl Fletcher saw Cardiff City lose their first Football League Championship game of the season, as West Ham United edged a close encounter with a 1-0 victory at Upton Park.

In-form Cardiff stated the game well against Alan Pardew's Londoners, on a shocking run of three straight losses. 1,000 Bluebirds made the Sunday morning trip to the Boleyn, with an intimidating atmosphere in and around the ground with expected skirmishes of troubles and mammoth numbers of Police.

After a fiery start, the game settled and Cardiff matched their more illustrious opponents. West Ham enjoyed more possession but struggled to create chances as a confident City side frustrated West Ham. On-loan Junichi Inamoto went close at one end, whilst the hosts had plenty of half chances but did not create a clear opportunity of note.

Home supporters began to turn against the under-fire Pardew as his the game went on in goalless fashion. Neither side dominated and Cardiff were going close, with Peter Thorne going oh so close on 73 minutes as he blazed an effort over the crossbar. Richard Langley and Alan Lee also had chances.

However, it was the favourites who were to take the points and in remarkable style. England international Chris Powell whipped a cross into Fletcher, who headed past Neil Alexander. City were left to rue missed chances as the Hammers celebrated a late goal to give them a crucial three points for their play-off hunt, and knocked Lennie Lawrence's side back into the relegation dogfight.

The defeat will have dented Cardiff's confidence, which has sky-rocketed in recent weeks. The Bluebirds stay in 19th, 5 points off the relegation three and next Saturday's home clash against struggling Brighton is now even more important. As for the Hammers, they sit 7th one point off the play-offs as the pressure eases on boss Pardew.

Full Time - West Ham United 1-0 Cardiff City
Attendance - 23,716

West Ham United: Bywater, Mullins, Ferdinand, Mackay, Powell, Noble (Rebrov 84), Reo-Coker, Fletcher, Sheringham, Harewood, Zamora (Chadwick 61).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Brevett, McClenahan.

Cardiff City: Alexander, Weston (Vidmar 77), Gabbidon, Lee, Langley, Barker, Collins, McAnuff, Kavanagh, Thorne, Inamoto (Ledley 86).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bullock, Fleetwood.