Nottm Forest v West Ham 21/09/96 3.00Nottm Forest (0) 0 West Ham (1) 2 FT Bowen 45 Hughes 54 West Ham overcame the handicap of playing most of the second half with only 10 men to register their first away win of the season. Goals by Mark Bowen and Michael Hughes, either side of Marc Rieper's 53rd minute dismissal for a professional foul, left Forest still looking for their first home win of the campaign. With away games at Chelsea and Leeds to follow, the pressure could start to mount on Forest boss Frank Clark, whose side are without a league win since the opening day of the season. The Hammers star of the show was left-winger Stan Lazaridis who proved deceptively quick and caused Forest all kinds of problems. With Hughes also effective in midfield, the Hammers were generally in command either side of early Forest promise and a late rally in which Bryan Roy could have claimed a hat-trick. But Hammers Australian 'keeper Steve Mautone produced a series of fine saves to atone for his Coca Cola Cup blunder against Barnet in mid-week. To add to Forest's problems, Croatian international defender Nikola Jerkan was stretchered off in the second half after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from John Moncur. Forest had started brightly with the recalled Chris Allen prominent on the left flank and he wasted a good chance after being put clear by Roy, screwing the shot wide. Then the same player thought he had won a penalty after appearing to be brought down by Moncur but referee Gary Gillard indicated that he thought the Forest player had dived and cautioned him. But the Hammers came more into the game and David Phillips was forced to clear a Rieper header off the line, then the visitors struck a minute before the interval. Hughes fed Lazaridis on the left flank and his inswinging cross was met at the far post by Bowen who headed in his first goal since his summer move from Norwich City. Rieper was given his marching orders after obstructing Roy when he bore down on goal but within 60 seconds West Ham had doubed their lead. Tony Cottee burst into the box and Mark Crossley did well to beat away his fierce shot but Hughes pounced to drill home the rebound. Hammers boss Harry Redknapp then took off Cottee to accommodate Tim Breacker at full-back but the Hammers continued to look menacing despite having the numerical disadvantage. Crossley tipped a low drive from Lazaridis around the post and Iain Dowie headed wide from close range the sort of chance he would expect to convert. Forest finally came to life with Roy glancing a header against the bar and having a fierce shot parried over by Steve Mautone. But it was too little, too late. 
Nottm Forest: Crossley, Lyttle, Pearce, Cooper, Phillips, Saunders, Woan, Jerkan (Lee, 57), Allen, Haaland, Roy. Subs not used: Bart-Williams, Gemmill, Fettis, Howe. Booked: Roy, Allen. West Ham: Mautone, Dicks, Bilic, Rieper, Bowen, Bishop (Lampard, 86), Moncur, Hughes, Lazarides, Cottee, Dowie. Subs not used: Breacker, Dumitrescu, Jones, Shilton. Booked: Dowie, Moncur. Attendance: 23,352. Referee: G S Willard (Worthing). |
