West Ham Utd 2 West Brom 2:ALL THAT was missing for Scott Parker was the red cape with the large letter S. Sadly for the West Ham captain, the deficiencies in those around him once again made for foot-stamping frustration.
Parker marked his 100th appearance for the club with a stunning equaliser, which unexpectedly propelled his team back into this vital game. But, after Frederic Piquionne had put the home team in charge, they managed to let it slip.
Pablo Ibanez’s header gave West Brom a deserved point and sent West Ham into another bout of soul-searching. Boos reverberated at full-time. The pressure has intensified further on the manager, Avram Grant.
The subtext to the evening’s entertainment was that victory was essential for the home side. No more hard luck stories could be tolerated.
West Brom have demonstrated their capability on the road this season – witness the results at Arsenal and Manchester United – and with Roberto Di Matteo content to allow West Ham to force the issue, which always felt as if it would be problematic for them, the visitors looked to strike on the counter. Peter Odemwingie flickered with intent.
West Ham’s task became more difficult in the 38th minute. West Brom had looked the more likely scorers and they were presented with the opportunity to do so when Luis Boa Morte bundled over Steven Reid inside the area. No team likes to concede a penalty for such grappling and, initially, nobody could quite believe referee Mike Dean had pointed to the spot. Odemwingie finished coolly.
West Ham desperately needed inspiration and, as ever and out of nothing, it was Parker who provided it. After West Brom had dallied at the back and Carlton Cole had won the ball, it broke to the West Ham captain and he arrowed a first-time right-footed beauty from 25 yards into the far top corner.
From the moment Parker’s goal went in, though, West Ham looked a different team and they enjoyed Dean levelling things up early in the second half. Kieron Dyer skipped into the area, felt Gabriel Tamas barge him and went down, with the ball seemingly having got away from him. Penalty? Piquionne lashed it home.
West Ham looked to have the game in their grip.
Back came West Brom. They hinted at the equaliser before scoring it when the impressive Chris Brunt’s cross was headed home by the unmarked Ibanez.
When Cole felt his hamstring and limped off the crowd cheered the announcement of his withdrawal. These are fraught times for the Hammers.
Guardian Service
WEST HAM UTD:Green, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Jacobsen, Boa Morte (Kovac 54), Parker, Dyer, Barrera (McCarthy 88), Cole (Obinna 76), Piquionne. Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Tomkins, Spector. Booked: Boa Morte, Kovac, Gabbidon.
WEST BROM:Carson, Cech, Pablo, Tamas, Reid, Scharner, Brunt, Thomas (Barnes 75), Dorrans (Cox 67), Morrison, Odemwingie (Fortune 88). Subs not used: Myhill, Tchoyi, Shorey, Zuiverloon.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Attendance: 33,023
