Newspaper Article

Football: Barcalys Premier League: Agbonlahor floors Hammers hopes

Doyle, Paul

2011

Overview

Villa's Ashley Young played his part, too, dawdling as the visiting defence rushed out after half-clearing a Mark Noble corner and thereby leaving Robbie Keane onside to collect Thomas Hitzlsperger's header over the top. The Irishman swivelled sharply and slammed the ball into the net from close range. But that was the end of West Ham's glory. Hope just about lingers. Villa dominated after that as [Darren Bent] and Ashley Young excelled and the effect of [Scott Parker]'s absence became apparent on West Ham, who looked irreparably fragmented. \"It was a very crucial match and the players knew it and they were a little bit nervous, especially without Parker,\" said Avram Grant, who knows that, with Parker's ankle injury possibly sidelining him for another two weeks, his team cannot afford to carry on like this. \"We need to deal with this situation,\" the West Ham manager said. \"I told the players before the game that this could be a turning point and we couldn't miss it,\" said Gerard Houllier, the much-maligned manager whose own position may not yet be quite as comfortable as that of his team, who now sit ninth. \"When you're in danger you can't have egos in the team and you can't have grudges. You've got to be man enough to work for each other. I thought we did that. The season is going into the home straight and we are well-placed.\"

• Publisher: Guardian News & Media Limited
• Subject: Bent, Darren / Green, Rob / Keane, Robbie / Parker, Scott / Young, Ashley