Portsmouth capitalised on their FA Cup semi final win on Saturday with a their eighth away victory in the Premier League season against a lacklustre West Ham at Upton Park.
Niko Kranjcar struck his fifth goal of the season on the hour to consign the Hammers to another defeat in a campaign that is rapidly running out of steam. In a game that was utterly lacking in verve and passion, it was Harry Redknapp’s side who emerged victorious.
Such a win sets them in good stead as the season draws to a close and leaves them four points behind Everton in the race for fifth. West Ham remain marooned in tenth. Injury and form have disrupted their campaign too often this term and psychologically, they already seem done.
First Half
For his third visit to Upton Park since vacating the West Ham hot seat, Harry Redknapp made a number of changes to his victorious FA Cup semi-final line-up. Match-winner Nwankwo Kanu made way for David Nugent as Lassana Diarra (hamstring) was left out in favour of Arnold Mvuemba. Alan Curbishley, he of the perennial injury list had a number of limiting factors once again. Scott Parker was to fit to start however and Bobby Zamora was afforded a rare berth up-front alongside Dean Ashton. There was no place for the hamstrung Freddie Ljungberg or Mark Noble.
West Ham mildlyhad the better of the opening period that was pretty bereft of chances, although Portsmouth, crucially, were not dominated. Indeed, midway through the half the away support even thought that they had taken the lead. Pedro Mendes’ intricate back-heeled pass found David Nugent who struck just wide - causing a ripple along the net.
Just prior, Zamora had a tremendous opportunity to open the scoring for the Hammers. A timely ricochet off Pedro Mendes sent the ball spinning into the Pompey area. Zamora controlled and jinked past James when the goal beckoned. He forced himself a little wide and flashed his shot across the goal.
Portsmouth looked like a team jaded at times, and Glen Johnson’s lazy challenge in the box on Scott Parker in the 20th minute was characteristic of this. He failed to jump with the West Ham midfielder under a high ball and was lucky not to concede a penalty.
West Ham continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession but could neither force opening nor mistake.
Lucas Neill was a little slack in allowing the dangerous Niko Kranjcar a run at goal in the 30th minute and West Ham were lucky to escape. Such carelessness was to prove detrimental come the second period when the Hammers were made pay.
Second Half:
As the home side tried to change the trajectory of their attacking play in the second period they succeeded in only playing to the considerable strengths of Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin. Their distinct lack of urgency against a side that were never forced to rouse from their FA Cup-induced slumber was palpable; it was no surprise then, when Pompey took the lead.
After an hour of gentlemanly play, short of bite or tackle, Kranjcar received the ball centrally just outside the D from Sulley Ali Muntari. Without a worthy West Ham challenge, the Croatian had three touches. The first two took him away from the claret and blue shirts, the third was a rocket that bounced and spun past Rob Green into the bottom corner.
That proved to be the decisive moment in what was ultimately a lukewarm encounter. West Ham, so guilty of allowing their season to peter-out into obscurity, never had the impetus to unsettle their guests.
The introduction of Freddy Sears on the hour did threaten to spark the game briefly into life and he was unlucky not to make more of a woeful mistake by David James in the 70th minute. Lively too was Carlton Cole, but the sub-total of his contribution was a couple of flick-ons that went untouched and a left-wing run that provided Glen Johnson with a brisk run with ten minutes remaining.
Ultimately, Harry had the nous for his team to keep possession when needed as the game fizzled into a drab stop-start affair with neither side offering any more than the minimum.
Perhaps for Harry, it is beneficial that his team have the winning knack. For Alan Curbishely, it remains to be seen if he can evoke any enthusiasm in his squad before the season’s end.
Line Ups:
West Ham (4-4-2): Green - Spector, McCartney, Ferdinand, Neill - Parker, Mullins (Cole 73’), Boa Morte, Solano (Paintsil 81’) - Ashton, Zamora (Sears 57’)
Portsmouth (4-5-1): James - Johnson, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin - Diop, Muntari, Mendes (Hughes 81’), Mvuemba, Kranjcar - Nugent (Kanu 73’)
Goals:
Niko Kranjcar 60’
Cards:
none
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