West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers: Post Match

West Ham United against Queens Park Rangers. The Hammers have been unbeaten against Harry Redknapp’s side since October 2004 and were looking to add another win to the 50 they have against the R’s.

Bang on 15:15 came the team news for the Hammers with Sam Allardyce opting for an attacking line up with Amalfitano, Sakho, Valencia and Zarate all starting with academy players Reece Burke, who signed his first professional contract earlier in the week, and Elliot Lee who netted two goals against Sunderland’s U21 side at Upton Park on Monday evening.

After a cagey opening four minutes West Ham are awarded a corner thanks to Diafra Sakho knocking the ball of former Hammer Rio Ferdinand’s shins. Stewart Downing knocked in an inswinging corner which saw Nedum Onuoha put the ball past another former West Ham man Robert Green into his own net. 1-0 to West Ham. Had Onuoha not got there Sakho would’ve been presented with the opportunity to break the deadlock. Inside an unusually quiet Upton Park West Ham were playing some beautiful football, something that hasn’t been seen in a while. Amalfitano, Song and Downing linking up brilliantly as they continued to threaten Rangers’ back line. West Ham dominated possession in the opening exchanged and Ferdinand definitely looked stretched trying to contain the pace and skill of both Valencia and Sakho. Towards the end of the first fourty five Charlie Austin hit a shot towards the Hammers goal, however Adrián was more than up to the task and saved rather comfortably. Two added minutes didn’t yield anymore chances and West Ham went down the tunnel and into the break 1-0 up.

Both teams emerged from the tunnel with advice from their managers still fresh in their minds. Queens Park Rangers opted to bring play-off final winner Bobby Zamora off the bench to replace Junior Hoilett and within two minutes he crossed in and connected with Charlie Austin, luckily for the hosts Austin’s shot just bounced wide. And early let off for the men in claret and blue. Little more than ten minute later and after a spell of consistent QPR pressure West Ham found themselves 2-0 up. And who else to find the net than top scorer for the East London side than Diafra Sakho?! After a spell of West Ham pressure defender James Tomkins hooked a ball in and Sakho had the ever so easy task to heading the ball over the line. 2-0 and the game was now slipping away from QPR.

Just a few moment later and £12 million man Enner Valencia thought he had added a third to West Ham’s tally. To the Hammers dismay referee Anthony Taylor ruled his strike out due to Valencia not being 10 yards away from Robert Green’s free kick. No quick fire third for West Ham. With twenty five minutes left Queens Park Rangers peppered Adrián’s goal with shots, Onuoha and Kranjcar both coming close but the Spanish shot stopped was more than up to the occasion as he closed in on West Ham’s first clean sheet of the competitive season. A few substitutions later and substitute Kevin Nolan should’ve had a third four minutes from time. A low ball in from Downing found Nolan but he first straight into Green’s arms. That was the end of a Super Sunday between the London rivals and West Ham were victors against the West Londoners. West Ham United 2-0 Queens Park Rangers.

Sam Allardyce will be happy with the performances of Sakho, Downing, Song and Cresswell who’s performances really made West Ham tick. In the opposing dug out Harry Redknapp would’ve been less than pleased at QPR’s inability to break West Ham down. Next up for the Hammers is a trip up north to winless and newly promoted Burnley. They definitely will fancy their chances as QPR wonder when and where they’ll next pick up a few points.