morning papers west ham away

The GuardianEssien injury tests Mourinho's goodwillKevin McCarra at Upton ParkThe fixtures come thick and fast over the festive period but Chelseaare quicker still. As the only club with four wins since Boxing Daythey are accelerating towards the title. Much more of this and theprincipal competitive element in the Premiership will be the side'sattempt to surpass last season's points total.Occasions such as this, though, do have individual characteristics.Frank Lampard, booed lustily on this return to his old club, respondedby scoring the opener and made sure he was the last player to leavethe field at full-time, clapping at the emptying stands. "I would liketo come back and get a bit of respect," said the midfielder, "but notmany give me that here so I'll just carry on working for Chelsea."The hostility towards Lampard followed the same path as the intensityof the contest, declining steeply. Chelsea imposed themselvesentertainingly after conceding an unexpected equaliser in the 46thminute and, in an impressive display of their resources, thesubstitute Eidur Gudjohnsen glanced the ball around so beautifullythat Jose Mourinho called him the "blond Maradona".But the Chelsea manager's mood was free of whimsy when he brooded overthe reason for the Icelander's introduction after a mere 13 minutes.Michael Essien's ankle and foot were so swollen by a challenge fromNigel Reo-Coker that, according to Mourinho, he could not walk lastnight, yet there was no booking for the West Ham midfielder. "Therewill be no big deal," Mourinho said in sardonic prediction of themedia reaction.He did not call for Reo-Coker to be punished and was more concerned bythe severity with which his Ghana international is treated. Essienwill miss both legs of the Champions League tie with Barcelona becauseof a foul on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann - acted on by Uefa only after
"I can imagine what would happen if it was [the other way round],"Mourinho remarked of Reo-Coker\'s tackle, before complaining that hisnew bete noire, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, was allowed speciallicence by officials in last month\'s win over Newcastle. "Essien wason TV for 15 days," the manager grumbled. "He is suspended from theChampions League. He cannot tackle or it is immediately a yellowcard." Chelsea await the scans that will reveal the degree of damageto Essien.In general Mourinho was sportsmanlike and volunteered the fact that aclub such as his, who can afford to make five changes to the line-up,have a huge advantage over the likes of West Ham in a busy spell. Thatsympathy did not stop him preying on the weaknesses. His forwards hadbeen instructed to work leg-weary defenders hard. With 10 minutesremaining Didier Drogba had the vitality to break beyond PaulKonchesky and drill Gudjohnsen\'s long pass beyond Roy Carroll forChelsea\'s third goal.Alan Pardew refuses to be disturbed by West Ham\'s lack of a home winsince bonfire night and is probably justified in believing his sideare "more than competitive" at their own level. He need not fret, forinstance, that mid-table rivals will bring on a renownedcentre-forward after an hour who will score in a minute. With thesides tied at 1-1, Arjen Robben freed Hernán Crespo to round Carrolland slot the ball home in the 61st minute. Crespo then curled a finishwide after another piece of service by Robben and volleyed over from aDrogba cross. The Argentinian eventually went off with what appearedto be a pulled muscle, but West Ham had already seen far too much onhim.Pardew\'s team had restricted Chelsea for a while, with Carroll, forinstance, making a particularly good save from the influential Robben,",1]
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video evidence had been scrutinised."I can imagine what would happen if it was [the other way round],"Mourinho remarked of Reo-Coker's tackle, before complaining that hisnew bete noire, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, was allowed speciallicence by officials in last month's win over Newcastle. "Essien wason TV for 15 days," the manager grumbled. "He is suspended from theChampions League. He cannot tackle or it is immediately a yellowcard." Chelsea await the scans that will reveal the degree of damageto Essien.In general Mourinho was sportsmanlike and volunteered the fact that aclub such as his, who can afford to make five changes to the line-up,have a huge advantage over the likes of West Ham in a busy spell. Thatsympathy did not stop him preying on the weaknesses. His forwards hadbeen instructed to work leg-weary defenders hard. With 10 minutesremaining Didier Drogba had the vitality to break beyond PaulKonchesky and drill Gudjohnsen's long pass beyond Roy Carroll forChelsea's third goal.Alan Pardew refuses to be disturbed by West Ham's lack of a home winsince bonfire night and is probably justified in believing his sideare "more than competitive" at their own level. He need not fret, forinstance, that mid-table rivals will bring on a renownedcentre-forward after an hour who will score in a minute. With thesides tied at 1-1, Arjen Robben freed Hernán Crespo to round Carrolland slot the ball home in the 61st minute. Crespo then curled a finishwide after another piece of service by Robben and volleyed over from aDrogba cross. The Argentinian eventually went off with what appearedto be a pulled muscle, but West Ham had already seen far too much onhim.Pardew's team had restricted Chelsea for a while, with Carroll, forinstance, making a particularly good save from the influential Robben,
Geremi\'s long throw-in eluded both Drogba and Anton Ferdinand beforethe home midfielder Yossi Benayoun inadvertently headed down forLampard to score crisply on the half-volley.With reference to the fixture congestion, Mourinho commented that he"saw some players making mistakes that they normally don\'t do". He mayhave been thinking of the slackness of John Terry in the openingseconds after the interval. Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood capitalised,the latter\'s finish bouncing off Petr Cech before he followed throughto knock the ball over the line.West Ham faded, however, and Chelsea\'s ninth consecutive Premiershipwin began to look inevitable. They do, though, have niggling issuesand Ricardo Carvalho, who ought to have been booked for dragging downHarewood, has become a less reliable defender now that his appearancesare scarcer.Mourinho is not sure if he will be watching Arsenal\'s match withManchester United this evening. "It depends on my wife," he said."Maybe there will be no permission." She may well argue that he canafford to forget about the rest of the Premiership.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:West Ham United 1 Chelsea 3: Lampard revels in a ruthless defeat of HammersBy Sam WallacePublished: 03 January 2006The long walk to the tunnel at full-time will have been one of FrankLampard\'s favourite moments at Upton Park and he made sure he treatedevery side of the old ground to a fulsome, ironic round of applause.In the Bobby Moore stand they responded with burning vitriol and allthe old hatred but as he reached the exit, there was a polite responsein kind from the handful of West Ham supporters who had waited.",1]
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and the goal they did concede in the 25th minute was highly avoidable.Geremi's long throw-in eluded both Drogba and Anton Ferdinand beforethe home midfielder Yossi Benayoun inadvertently headed down forLampard to score crisply on the half-volley.With reference to the fixture congestion, Mourinho commented that he"saw some players making mistakes that they normally don't do". He mayhave been thinking of the slackness of John Terry in the openingseconds after the interval. Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood capitalised,the latter's finish bouncing off Petr Cech before he followed throughto knock the ball over the line.West Ham faded, however, and Chelsea's ninth consecutive Premiershipwin began to look inevitable. They do, though, have niggling issuesand Ricardo Carvalho, who ought to have been booked for dragging downHarewood, has become a less reliable defender now that his appearancesare scarcer.Mourinho is not sure if he will be watching Arsenal's match withManchester United this evening. "It depends on my wife," he said."Maybe there will be no permission." She may well argue that he canafford to forget about the rest of the Premiership.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:West Ham United 1 Chelsea 3: Lampard revels in a ruthless defeat of HammersBy Sam WallacePublished: 03 January 2006The long walk to the tunnel at full-time will have been one of FrankLampard's favourite moments at Upton Park and he made sure he treatedevery side of the old ground to a fulsome, ironic round of applause.In the Bobby Moore stand they responded with burning vitriol and allthe old hatred but as he reached the exit, there was a polite responsein kind from the handful of West Ham supporters who had waited.
They, at least, had realised that all resistance was futile. Thegoalscoring return of the prodigal son to Upton Park marked the daythat Chelsea went 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership, witha disposal of West Ham so ruthlessly executed that this time therewere no complaints from Jose Mourinho.The Chelsea manager saved his condemnation instead for the forces hebelieves are conspiring against a team who are proving impossible tostop.His target this time was Steven Gerrard who may have been 200 milesaway yesterday but was dragged into the dispute over the treatment ofMichael Essien who was carried off after 12 minutes following a foulby Nigel Reo-Coker.The Ghanaian midfielder still does not know the extent of the injuryto his leg and it prompted a diatribe by Mourinho on how Englishfootball would have passed judgement had the offending boot been onhis player\'s foot."Essien is injured and he cannot walk so we will have to wait for thescans," Mourinho said. "I can imagine what would happen if it was theopposite situation. We are seeing how people treat Chelsea."I can imagine what a Chelsea player would get if he did what StevenGerrard did against Newcastle [when he shoved Alan Shearer in theback]."The replays of Essien [fouling Dietmar Hamann] were on television for15 days - I think I only saw [the footage of] Gerrard twice. Essien issuspended for the Champions\' League against Barcelona and when hetackles it is immediately a yellow card."The mood was not all black for Mourinho however, who took greatpleasure in the effect his introduction of Hernan Crespo had in the61st minute when the Argentine striker rattled home Chelsea\'s secondgoal within 30 seconds of coming on.Liverpool have two games in hand, and Manchester United play Arsenaltoday but Mourinho is so far ahead he is still not certain he will",1]
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They, at least, had realised that all resistance was futile. Thegoalscoring return of the prodigal son to Upton Park marked the daythat Chelsea went 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership, witha disposal of West Ham so ruthlessly executed that this time therewere no complaints from Jose Mourinho.The Chelsea manager saved his condemnation instead for the forces hebelieves are conspiring against a team who are proving impossible tostop.His target this time was Steven Gerrard who may have been 200 milesaway yesterday but was dragged into the dispute over the treatment ofMichael Essien who was carried off after 12 minutes following a foulby Nigel Reo-Coker.The Ghanaian midfielder still does not know the extent of the injuryto his leg and it prompted a diatribe by Mourinho on how Englishfootball would have passed judgement had the offending boot been onhis player's foot."Essien is injured and he cannot walk so we will have to wait for thescans," Mourinho said. "I can imagine what would happen if it was theopposite situation. We are seeing how people treat Chelsea."I can imagine what a Chelsea player would get if he did what StevenGerrard did against Newcastle [when he shoved Alan Shearer in theback]."The replays of Essien [fouling Dietmar Hamann] were on television for15 days - I think I only saw [the footage of] Gerrard twice. Essien issuspended for the Champions' League against Barcelona and when hetackles it is immediately a yellow card."The mood was not all black for Mourinho however, who took greatpleasure in the effect his introduction of Hernan Crespo had in the61st minute when the Argentine striker rattled home Chelsea's secondgoal within 30 seconds of coming on.Liverpool have two games in hand, and Manchester United play Arsenaltoday but Mourinho is so far ahead he is still not certain he will
permission."Even Matilde Mourinho will have recognised the quality of ArjenRobben\'s performance who was Chelsea\'s best player in a first halfwhich saw the Dutch winger tear into the right flank of West Ham\'sdefence.Mourinho pointed out that three of Alan Pardew\'s defenders had playedevery minute of the three Christmas games while the rests he had beenable to give his key squad players showed in the match\'s early stages.Yossi Benayoun\'s mistake presented the ball to Lampard in the area on25 minutes and he volleyed past Roy Carroll for a goal that didnothing to improve the mood of the West Ham fans who had greeted himwith the chant "you\'re just a fat Paul Ince".He clashed with Carl Fletcher in the second half and was booked afterWest Ham equalised but once Chelsea\'s victory was assured Lampard evensignalled the score with his fingers at the invitation of the awayfans."Very special," was how Lampard described his first goal against WestHam in his fourth match back at Upton Park. "I was really pleased," hesaid. "I would like to come back here and get some respect but notmany here give me that so I just carry on working for Chelsea."Marlon Harewood scored within 22 seconds of the start of the secondhalf after Benayoun and Reo-Coker had fashioned an opening but, evenwith Hayden Mullins in outstanding form, West Ham could not hold on.Played in by Robben on the hour, Crespo went round Carroll and slippedthe ball home.The Argentine played only 22 minutes before limping off to be replacedby Shaun Wright-Phillips. Eidur Gudjohnsen, described by Mourinho as"the blond Maradona", struck the pass for the third which found DidierDrogba\'s run down the right and he hit a low shot past Carroll.",1]
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watch the game. "I have to ask my wife," he said. "Maybe nopermission."Even Matilde Mourinho will have recognised the quality of ArjenRobben's performance who was Chelsea's best player in a first halfwhich saw the Dutch winger tear into the right flank of West Ham'sdefence.Mourinho pointed out that three of Alan Pardew's defenders had playedevery minute of the three Christmas games while the rests he had beenable to give his key squad players showed in the match's early stages.Yossi Benayoun's mistake presented the ball to Lampard in the area on25 minutes and he volleyed past Roy Carroll for a goal that didnothing to improve the mood of the West Ham fans who had greeted himwith the chant "you're just a fat Paul Ince".He clashed with Carl Fletcher in the second half and was booked afterWest Ham equalised but once Chelsea's victory was assured Lampard evensignalled the score with his fingers at the invitation of the awayfans."Very special," was how Lampard described his first goal against WestHam in his fourth match back at Upton Park. "I was really pleased," hesaid. "I would like to come back here and get some respect but notmany here give me that so I just carry on working for Chelsea."Marlon Harewood scored within 22 seconds of the start of the secondhalf after Benayoun and Reo-Coker had fashioned an opening but, evenwith Hayden Mullins in outstanding form, West Ham could not hold on.Played in by Robben on the hour, Crespo went round Carroll and slippedthe ball home.The Argentine played only 22 minutes before limping off to be replacedby Shaun Wright-Phillips. Eidur Gudjohnsen, described by Mourinho as"the blond Maradona", struck the pass for the third which found DidierDrogba's run down the right and he hit a low shot past Carroll.
Mourinho will certainly need cover for Essien now and the Portuguesemidfielder Maniche said yesterday that he is poised to join Chelsea.By the time he arrives, Lampard and his team-mates will have gone along way to deciding the title.West Ham United (4-1-4-1): Carroll; Dailly, Collins, Ferdinand,Konchesky; Mullins (Zamora, 71); Benayoun, Fletcher, Reo-Coker,Etherington (Bellion, 78); Harewood. Substitutes not used: Hislop(gk), Clarke, Aliadière.Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno; Makelele;Robben, Essien (Gudjohnsen, 12), Lampard, Duff (Crespo, 60(Wright-Phillips, 82)); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk),Johnson.Referee: H Webb (South Yorkshire).------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Essien feels the boot on a West Ham footBy Henry WinterWest Ham (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 3This is the time of year for resolution and Chelsea\'s determinationcarried them through a brief claret-and-blue storm at Upton Parkyesterday.Frank Lampard rose above the Cockney cat-calls to score, and thechampions then fought back from Marlon Harewood\'s equaliser to winwith fine poacher strikes from Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba. Newyear, old story.Resolve coursing through their rich ranks, Chelsea even refused tohave their pursuit of a ninth successive Premiership triumph derailedby injuries to Michael Essien and Crespo, though the imminent arrivalof the Portuguese midfielder Maniche will be particularly well-timedif scans reveal serious damage to Essien\'s ankle."Hernan is injured but can walk," coach Jose Mourinho said. "Essien isinjured but can\'t walk."Nigel Reo-Coker\'s late challenge on Essien, a ball-winner deservedlyvilified for poleaxing Liverpool\'s Didi Hamann, was a classic case of",1]
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Mourinho will certainly need cover for Essien now and the Portuguesemidfielder Maniche said yesterday that he is poised to join Chelsea.By the time he arrives, Lampard and his team-mates will have gone along way to deciding the title.West Ham United (4-1-4-1): Carroll; Dailly, Collins, Ferdinand,Konchesky; Mullins (Zamora, 71); Benayoun, Fletcher, Reo-Coker,Etherington (Bellion, 78); Harewood. Substitutes not used: Hislop(gk), Clarke, Aliadière.Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno; Makelele;Robben, Essien (Gudjohnsen, 12), Lampard, Duff (Crespo, 60(Wright-Phillips, 82)); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk),Johnson.Referee: H Webb (South Yorkshire).------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Essien feels the boot on a West Ham footBy Henry WinterWest Ham (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 3This is the time of year for resolution and Chelsea's determinationcarried them through a brief claret-and-blue storm at Upton Parkyesterday.Frank Lampard rose above the Cockney cat-calls to score, and thechampions then fought back from Marlon Harewood's equaliser to winwith fine poacher strikes from Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba. Newyear, old story.Resolve coursing through their rich ranks, Chelsea even refused tohave their pursuit of a ninth successive Premiership triumph derailedby injuries to Michael Essien and Crespo, though the imminent arrivalof the Portuguese midfielder Maniche will be particularly well-timedif scans reveal serious damage to Essien's ankle."Hernan is injured but can walk," coach Jose Mourinho said. "Essien isinjured but can't walk."Nigel Reo-Coker's late challenge on Essien, a ball-winner deservedlyvilified for poleaxing Liverpool's Didi Hamann, was a classic case of
Not that Mourinho could appreciate the \'what goes around\' argument. "Ican imagine if it was the opposite situation," he said. "We\'re gettingthis experience every week. Imagine a Chelsea player doing what StevenGerrard did against Newcastle [a push on Alan Shearer]."Nobody speaks about Gerrard, nobody asks for suspension, yet Essienis suspended for the Champions League. He can\'t tackle, otherwise itis immediately a yellow card. Today there was a foul on him and hecan\'t walk but it will not be a big deal in the media."I have Sky to see Essien\'s tackle on Hamann repeated for 15 days, andto see Gerrard against Newcastle replayed twice."Sky are a great channel but they want to chase Chelsea, and don\'ttreat us like other people. No problem. We can fight. We can play. Nota lot of people say we\'re boring because now we score, and concede."Against enterprising hosts driven on by the tireless Reo-Coker, whoseperformance, according to Alan Pardew, "wouldn\'t put him out of thepicture with England", Chelsea mixed containment and entertainment.Essien\'s early replacement, Eidur Gudjohnsen, was hailed as "the blondMaradona" by Mourinho, and impressed along with Arjen Robben, Drogbaand Ricardo Carvalho.Lampard was influential until tiring, with Mourinho confirming hewould not feature in the FA Cup against Huddersfield Town.Hell hath no fury like a fan scorned, and the West Ham faithfulunleashed all manner of invective against the returning Lampard."You\'re just a fat Paul Ince," came the chant from the Bobby MooreStand, rolling two hate figures in one.The East End boy who became a West End star, Lampard focused onimposing his talent. When Yossi Benayoun misdirected his headedclarance of Geremi\'s throw-in to Lampard, the England midfielder",1]
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the biter bit.Not that Mourinho could appreciate the 'what goes around' argument. "Ican imagine if it was the opposite situation," he said. "We're gettingthis experience every week. Imagine a Chelsea player doing what StevenGerrard did against Newcastle [a push on Alan Shearer]."Nobody speaks about Gerrard, nobody asks for suspension, yet Essienis suspended for the Champions League. He can't tackle, otherwise itis immediately a yellow card. Today there was a foul on him and hecan't walk but it will not be a big deal in the media."I have Sky to see Essien's tackle on Hamann repeated for 15 days, andto see Gerrard against Newcastle replayed twice."Sky are a great channel but they want to chase Chelsea, and don'ttreat us like other people. No problem. We can fight. We can play. Nota lot of people say we're boring because now we score, and concede."Against enterprising hosts driven on by the tireless Reo-Coker, whoseperformance, according to Alan Pardew, "wouldn't put him out of thepicture with England", Chelsea mixed containment and entertainment.Essien's early replacement, Eidur Gudjohnsen, was hailed as "the blondMaradona" by Mourinho, and impressed along with Arjen Robben, Drogbaand Ricardo Carvalho.Lampard was influential until tiring, with Mourinho confirming hewould not feature in the FA Cup against Huddersfield Town.Hell hath no fury like a fan scorned, and the West Ham faithfulunleashed all manner of invective against the returning Lampard."You're just a fat Paul Ince," came the chant from the Bobby MooreStand, rolling two hate figures in one.The East End boy who became a West End star, Lampard focused onimposing his talent. When Yossi Benayoun misdirected his headedclarance of Geremi's throw-in to Lampard, the England midfielder
Showing his maturity, Lampard was wonderfully restrained in hiscelebration, simply kissing his wedding band, and pointing towards themoon in tribute to his daughter Luna. No smile of satisfaction creptacross his face, no gesticulation towards those who decried his everystep."It was very special," he revealed afterwards. "I would like to comeback and get a bit of respect. Not many people give me that here."For all the running of Harewood, Matthew Etherington and Reo-Coker,Lampard\'s team could have turned around further ahead, but Carrolltwice saved well from Robben. Sadly, the half descended into a scrappysequence of flailing arms.Geremi caught Benayoun accidentally but his arm into Reo-Coker\'s facelooked dangerous.Clearly angered by the incidents, West Ham directed their ire well asthe second half opened. When John Terry made a rare mistake, Pardew\'smen pounced,Reo-Coker teasing the ball through for Harewood to chase. AlthoughPetr Cech took some of the sting out of his strike, the burly forwardmade sure on the line.Tempers flared when Lampard, annoyed by a Carl Fletcher challenge andhis first-half sledging, lowered his head towards the West Hammidfielder - though he was quick to shake hishand at the end. Otherwise Chelsea responded well to the equaliser."It was a bit of a wake-up call," Gudjohnsen admitted.Belying their cautious image, Lampard, Robben, and Drogba all wentclose before Crespo darted on. Almost immediately, the Argentine wasracing through, brilliantly released by Robben, to round Carroll andscore.Usually only four-star fare in the style department, Chelsea put onthe Ritz. Crespo wasted two fine chances but then chested the ballback to Gudjohnsen, whose lofted pass over Paul Konchesky released",1]
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responded superbly, smiting the ball past Roy Carroll.Showing his maturity, Lampard was wonderfully restrained in hiscelebration, simply kissing his wedding band, and pointing towards themoon in tribute to his daughter Luna. No smile of satisfaction creptacross his face, no gesticulation towards those who decried his everystep."It was very special," he revealed afterwards. "I would like to comeback and get a bit of respect. Not many people give me that here."For all the running of Harewood, Matthew Etherington and Reo-Coker,Lampard's team could have turned around further ahead, but Carrolltwice saved well from Robben. Sadly, the half descended into a scrappysequence of flailing arms.Geremi caught Benayoun accidentally but his arm into Reo-Coker's facelooked dangerous.Clearly angered by the incidents, West Ham directed their ire well asthe second half opened. When John Terry made a rare mistake, Pardew'smen pounced,Reo-Coker teasing the ball through for Harewood to chase. AlthoughPetr Cech took some of the sting out of his strike, the burly forwardmade sure on the line.Tempers flared when Lampard, annoyed by a Carl Fletcher challenge andhis first-half sledging, lowered his head towards the West Hammidfielder - though he was quick to shake hishand at the end. Otherwise Chelsea responded well to the equaliser."It was a bit of a wake-up call," Gudjohnsen admitted.Belying their cautious image, Lampard, Robben, and Drogba all wentclose before Crespo darted on. Almost immediately, the Argentine wasracing through, brilliantly released by Robben, to round Carroll andscore.Usually only four-star fare in the style department, Chelsea put onthe Ritz. Crespo wasted two fine chances but then chested the ballback to Gudjohnsen, whose lofted pass over Paul Konchesky released
drilled the ball past Carroll.Mourinho hopes to watch Arsenal play Manchester United tonight butconfessed: "It depends on my wife. Maybe she wants to go out." He maynot rule at home but Mourinho seems to have the rest of the countryunder his control.Match detailsWest Ham (4-3-2-1): Carroll; Dailly, Collins, Ferdinand, Konchesky;Fletcher, Mullins (Zamora 71), Reo-Coker; Benayoun, Etherington(Bellion, 77); Harewood.Subs: Hislop (g), Clarke, Aliadiere.Chelsea (4-1-2-2-1): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno;Makelele; Essien (Gudjohnsen, 12), Lampard; Robben, Duff (Crespo, 60;Wright-Phillips, 82); Drogba.Subs: Cudicini (g), Johnson. Booked: Duff, Lampard, Gudjohnsen.Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)Att: 34,758------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Times January 03, 2006Mourinho bemoans crude sense of injusticeBy Matt Dickinson, Chief Football CorrespondentWest Ham United 1 Chelsea 3WELL, now at least we know that there is someone to whom José Mourinhodefers. Asked if he would be watching Manchester United try tomaintain their vain pursuit of Chelsea with victory away to Arsenal inthe Barclays Premiership tonight, the Portuguese replied that it"depends on my wife".With a 14-point advantage, Mourinho could afford to be light-hearted(and with another championship bonus on the way, he can afford to takeMrs M shopping this evening) but the competitive zeal is never farbelow the surface. He had followed Chelsea\'s previous victory bycriticising his own players and fans for toying with the opposition,and we will be waiting a long time before he comes in and lights up abig cigar.",1]
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Drogba down the inside-right channel. In a blur of movement, Drogbadrilled the ball past Carroll.Mourinho hopes to watch Arsenal play Manchester United tonight butconfessed: "It depends on my wife. Maybe she wants to go out." He maynot rule at home but Mourinho seems to have the rest of the countryunder his control.Match detailsWest Ham (4-3-2-1): Carroll; Dailly, Collins, Ferdinand, Konchesky;Fletcher, Mullins (Zamora 71), Reo-Coker; Benayoun, Etherington(Bellion, 77); Harewood.Subs: Hislop (g), Clarke, Aliadiere.Chelsea (4-1-2-2-1): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno;Makelele; Essien (Gudjohnsen, 12), Lampard; Robben, Duff (Crespo, 60;Wright-Phillips, 82); Drogba.Subs: Cudicini (g), Johnson. Booked: Duff, Lampard, Gudjohnsen.Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)Att: 34,758------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Times January 03, 2006Mourinho bemoans crude sense of injusticeBy Matt Dickinson, Chief Football CorrespondentWest Ham United 1 Chelsea 3WELL, now at least we know that there is someone to whom José Mourinhodefers. Asked if he would be watching Manchester United try tomaintain their vain pursuit of Chelsea with victory away to Arsenal inthe Barclays Premiership tonight, the Portuguese replied that it"depends on my wife".With a 14-point advantage, Mourinho could afford to be light-hearted(and with another championship bonus on the way, he can afford to takeMrs M shopping this evening) but the competitive zeal is never farbelow the surface. He had followed Chelsea's previous victory bycriticising his own players and fans for toying with the opposition,and we will be waiting a long time before he comes in and lights up abig cigar.
Yesterday\'s emphatic, stylish triumph at Upton Park brought a smile toMourinho\'s lips but also more complaints about the world\'s treatmentof Chelsea. Sky television was given another bashing from a managerwho, like Sir Alex Ferguson, regards a little conflict as an essentialpart of his daily life.With Michael Essien removed from the game after only 13 minutes by aclumsy tackle from Nigel Reo-Coker, the Chelsea manager speculatedthat there would have been an outcry had the roles been reversed. Forhaving the temerity twice to spurn Mourinho, Steven Gerrard was alsodragged into the argument by a manager still seeking vainly tooverturn Essien\'s two-match Champions League ban."We are getting this great experience of the way people look atChelsea," Mourinho said. "I can imagine if a Chelsea player did whatSteven Gerrard did against Newcastle United (when the Liverpoolcaptain grabbed Lee Bowyer by the throat)."Michael Essien was on TV for 15 days. Steven Gerrard I saw twice.Nobody asks for suspensions, nobody says this is the country offootball and we must go for a pure situation. But it is not a problem.We get stronger. We can fight and we can play."The champions were required to stand up for themselves in anoccasionally feisty game yesterday in which Reo-Coker, Carl Fletcherand the impressive Hayden Mullins set about ruffling their vastlysuperior opponents. Frank Lampard was sufficiently riled by Fletcher\'sincessant niggles that he picked up a caution, although a fine openinggoal, his thirteenth of the league season, gave him a hearty lastlaugh.With Arjen Robben excelling, Chelsea were playing with panache and anequaliser 22 seconds after half-time by Marlon Harewood was not somuch a setback as a reminder to be more ruthless. They deliveredimpressively as Hernán Crespo came on for Damien Duff and scored in",1]
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Yesterday's emphatic, stylish triumph at Upton Park brought a smile toMourinho's lips but also more complaints about the world's treatmentof Chelsea. Sky television was given another bashing from a managerwho, like Sir Alex Ferguson, regards a little conflict as an essentialpart of his daily life.With Michael Essien removed from the game after only 13 minutes by aclumsy tackle from Nigel Reo-Coker, the Chelsea manager speculatedthat there would have been an outcry had the roles been reversed. Forhaving the temerity twice to spurn Mourinho, Steven Gerrard was alsodragged into the argument by a manager still seeking vainly tooverturn Essien's two-match Champions League ban."We are getting this great experience of the way people look atChelsea," Mourinho said. "I can imagine if a Chelsea player did whatSteven Gerrard did against Newcastle United (when the Liverpoolcaptain grabbed Lee Bowyer by the throat)."Michael Essien was on TV for 15 days. Steven Gerrard I saw twice.Nobody asks for suspensions, nobody says this is the country offootball and we must go for a pure situation. But it is not a problem.We get stronger. We can fight and we can play."The champions were required to stand up for themselves in anoccasionally feisty game yesterday in which Reo-Coker, Carl Fletcherand the impressive Hayden Mullins set about ruffling their vastlysuperior opponents. Frank Lampard was sufficiently riled by Fletcher'sincessant niggles that he picked up a caution, although a fine openinggoal, his thirteenth of the league season, gave him a hearty lastlaugh.With Arjen Robben excelling, Chelsea were playing with panache and anequaliser 22 seconds after half-time by Marlon Harewood was not somuch a setback as a reminder to be more ruthless. They deliveredimpressively as Hernán Crespo came on for Damien Duff and scored in
could change the game but in half an hour not 30 seconds," Mourinhosaid of his introduction of Crespo. Modesty from the Special One? Itwill not last.Crespo, who later had to withdraw, should have scored twice more andit was left to Didier Drogba to show him how to finish. The IvoryCoast forward ran on to Eidur Gudjohnsen\'s superbly clippedthrough-ball and buried a cross-shot past Roy Carroll.Gudjohnsen\'s poise in midfield saw him christened "the blond Maradona"by Mourinho and, with Essien likely to be out for some weeks with anankle injury, if not the African Cup of Nations, the Icelandinternational looks primed for a busy month.Maniche is also due to arrive from Dynamo Moscow to reinforce themidfield and so there was no encouragement whatsoever yesterday forthose seeking signs of weakness in the champions. Au contraire.West Ham\'s goal may have followed a rare mistake from John Terry but,as Mourinho pointed out, "the relationship between brain and legs isnot the same" after so many games in such a short time. Lampard hasalready been promised a rest against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cupthird round.WEST HAM UNITED (4-5-1): R Carroll — C Dailly, A Ferdinand, J Collins,P Konchesky — Y Benayoun, H Mullins (sub: R Zamora, 72min), CFletcher, N Reo-Coker, M Etherington (sub: D Bellion, 78) — MHarewood. Substitutes not used: S Hislop, C Clarke, J Aliadière.Booked: Fletcher.CHELSEA (4-3-3) P Cech — Gérémi, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Del Horno — MEssien (sub: E Gudjohnsen, 13), C Makelele, F Lampard — A Robben, DDrogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo, 60; sub: S Wright-Phillips 84).Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, G Johnson. Booked: Duff, Lampard,Gudjohnsen.Referee: H Webb.Insults inspire Lampard to achieve his goal",1]
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less than a minute thanks to Robben's perceptive pass. "I thought hecould change the game but in half an hour not 30 seconds," Mourinhosaid of his introduction of Crespo. Modesty from the Special One? Itwill not last.Crespo, who later had to withdraw, should have scored twice more andit was left to Didier Drogba to show him how to finish. The IvoryCoast forward ran on to Eidur Gudjohnsen's superbly clippedthrough-ball and buried a cross-shot past Roy Carroll.Gudjohnsen's poise in midfield saw him christened "the blond Maradona"by Mourinho and, with Essien likely to be out for some weeks with anankle injury, if not the African Cup of Nations, the Icelandinternational looks primed for a busy month.Maniche is also due to arrive from Dynamo Moscow to reinforce themidfield and so there was no encouragement whatsoever yesterday forthose seeking signs of weakness in the champions. Au contraire.West Ham's goal may have followed a rare mistake from John Terry but,as Mourinho pointed out, "the relationship between brain and legs isnot the same" after so many games in such a short time. Lampard hasalready been promised a rest against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cupthird round.WEST HAM UNITED (4-5-1): R Carroll — C Dailly, A Ferdinand, J Collins,P Konchesky — Y Benayoun, H Mullins (sub: R Zamora, 72min), CFletcher, N Reo-Coker, M Etherington (sub: D Bellion, 78) — MHarewood. Substitutes not used: S Hislop, C Clarke, J Aliadière.Booked: Fletcher.CHELSEA (4-3-3) P Cech — Gérémi, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Del Horno — MEssien (sub: E Gudjohnsen, 13), C Makelele, F Lampard — A Robben, DDrogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo, 60; sub: S Wright-Phillips 84).Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, G Johnson. Booked: Duff, Lampard,Gudjohnsen.Referee: H Webb.Insults inspire Lampard to achieve his goal
IT WAS always going to be asking too much of West Ham United fans, asthe cheery PA announcer did shortly before kick-off, to "pleasewelcome Frank Lampard back to Upton Park". The season of goodwill doeshave its limits.Not that Lampard had a quiet afternoon. The England midfield playeradded a first goal against his former club to his ever-expandingcollection and a booking to his smaller catalogue, as well as pickingup a lorryload of abuse from supporters who never really liked him,even when he was one of their own.Lampard deserves sympathy for being pilloried by his own people, buthe enjoyed the last laugh. The long walk to the tunnel on the finalwhistle was not lonely for a man blessed with the stamina of a long-distance runner as he milked every moment, offering ironic applause toevery corner of the ground."It was very special," Lampard said. "The most important thing is thethree points, but personally after four years away from the club, toscore my first goal I was really pleased."The reception wasn\'t great but I expect that. I would love to comeback here and get some respect, but not many people here give methat."Such was Chelsea\'s supremacy that by the end few of the home fanscould be bothered to boo. Perhaps recalling Luis Figo\'s return toBarcelona, Lampard insisted beforehand that he could cope withanything the bile-spitting locals would throw at him, though therewere no pigs\' heads in sight. The best they could come up with was tocall him a "fat Paul Ince", stretching credulity beyond its limits.Lampard thrived on the insults and had to wait only 25 minutes for theinevitable goal, smashing home a half-volley for his sixteenth of theseason. After scoring 29 goals in 2005, this year promises to be justas productive.",1]
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By Matt HughesIT WAS always going to be asking too much of West Ham United fans, asthe cheery PA announcer did shortly before kick-off, to "pleasewelcome Frank Lampard back to Upton Park". The season of goodwill doeshave its limits.Not that Lampard had a quiet afternoon. The England midfield playeradded a first goal against his former club to his ever-expandingcollection and a booking to his smaller catalogue, as well as pickingup a lorryload of abuse from supporters who never really liked him,even when he was one of their own.Lampard deserves sympathy for being pilloried by his own people, buthe enjoyed the last laugh. The long walk to the tunnel on the finalwhistle was not lonely for a man blessed with the stamina of a long-distance runner as he milked every moment, offering ironic applause toevery corner of the ground."It was very special," Lampard said. "The most important thing is thethree points, but personally after four years away from the club, toscore my first goal I was really pleased."The reception wasn't great but I expect that. I would love to comeback here and get some respect, but not many people here give methat."Such was Chelsea's supremacy that by the end few of the home fanscould be bothered to boo. Perhaps recalling Luis Figo's return toBarcelona, Lampard insisted beforehand that he could cope withanything the bile-spitting locals would throw at him, though therewere no pigs' heads in sight. The best they could come up with was tocall him a "fat Paul Ince", stretching credulity beyond its limits.Lampard thrived on the insults and had to wait only 25 minutes for theinevitable goal, smashing home a half-volley for his sixteenth of theseason. After scoring 29 goals in 2005, this year promises to be justas productive.
only becoming animated when he was booked for a second-half scufflewith Carl Fletcher, an anomaly that José Mourinho put down to hisrecent illness."He was suffering in the second half but showed class, quality andconfidence," the Chelsea manager said. "People realise that they cansay what they want and it will not affect him."Having learnt their lesson, West Ham fans may maintain a respectfulsilence next season.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f\u003d11&sid\u003df57be3b886a1f1942b4baee745cafccc",0]
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Having made his point, Lampard cruised through the rest of the match,only becoming animated when he was booked for a second-half scufflewith Carl Fletcher, an anomaly that José Mourinho put down to hisrecent illness."He was suffering in the second half but showed class, quality andconfidence," the Chelsea manager said. "People realise that they cansay what they want and it will not affect him."Having learnt their lesson, West Ham fans may maintain a respectfulsilence next season.