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NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP 2011-12 |
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West Ham Utd 1 |
Barnsley FC 0 |
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Diop 6 | - |
In one of the big tests for Keith Hills Barnsley, we didn't have enough to overcome Promotion contenders West Ham United, despite keeping the scoreline down and having a couple of gilt edged chances to equalise it wasn't to be on the day.
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It was West Hams veteran player Papa Bouba Diop who fired in a rare goal and the hammers into a sixth minute lead against Barnsley FC. A win that put them level on points at the top of the Championship.
The reds couldn't get back into it despite some good chances in front of a sell out crowd at Upton Park. The hammers also had chances to add to Diop's strike but it ended with the narrow 1-0 victory, but the Reds will be kicking themselves that they didn't snatch something from this game.
West Ham had numerous injuries sidelining some key players and Allardyce had to bring in a couple of youngsters one of them Potts a seventeen year old making his debut and son of former skipper Steve Potts. The only goal of the came early on as Mark Noble swung in a corner which was latched onto by the large figure of Diop who powered in his header past Luke Steele.
West Ham could have made it two on the half hour mark as Carlton Cole got on the end of a Noble ball held off two defenders rounded Steele but skewed his effort wide.
One of the best chances for the reds came just after the break and a break for a cat on the pitch when Rob Edwards powered in a header which was saved well by former England man Rob Green.
With just seven minutes left Allardyce was sent to the stands after having a hissy fit and kicking some bottles on the sideline after the referee didn't award what was a dubious penalty shout after Freddie Sears went down in the area.
It was a nervous finally for the home side as Barnsley pressed to get something from the game, with just the one goal seperating the teams, being how the game finished.
