ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:Portsmouth 1, West Ham 1
GIANFRANCO ZOLA had described himself as “optimistic” in the build-up to this game but he might concede that an opportunity was missed. West Ham had threatened to haul themselves away from the stragglers, only to surrender their advantage late.
Relegation remains disconcertingly close and it was Pompey who will cling to signs of recovery here. For sure a period of frantic recruitment awaits both clubs ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Monday. The cavalry cannot arrive soon enough.
West Ham’s new owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, may have brought relative financial security after last week’s takeover but they remain embroiled in a struggle against relegation and fear of the drop has dictated their transfer policy. West Ham continue to compete with Spurs to sign Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who played with Zola at Chelsea. More certain is the arrival of the Blackburn forward Benni McCarthy for a fee of around €2.9 million.
The locals agony intensified when Alessandro Diamanti drifted over a fine cross from the right flank which prompted panic and Younes Kaboul, under intense pressure from Matthew Upson, saw the ball loop into his net with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic stranded.
Confidence is so brittle in these parts that chasing a deficit felt daunting. Frederic Piquionne’s departure with a hand injury might have drained hope of recovery yet further, only for his replacement, Danny Webber, to sprint on to John Utaka’s pass and steer a low shot beyond West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.
Guardian Service
PORTSMOUTH:Begovic, Finnan, Kaboul, Wilson, Hreidarsson, Basinas, Mokoena, Mullins (Vanden Borre 64), Boateng, Piquionne (Webber 73), Utaka. Subs not used:Ashdown, Hughes, Ben-Haim, Ritchie. Booked: Basinas, Boateng, Mokoena.
WEST HAM:Green, Faubert, Tomkins (Da Costa 80), Upson, Spector, Collison, Kovac, Noble, Behrami, Diamanti (Stanislas 87), Nouble (Cole 73). Subs not used:Stech, Jimenez, Sears, Daprela. Booked: Noble.
Referee: Andre Marriner(W Midlands).
