Sport

West Ham not to be denied

Glenn Roeder seemed on the verge of dismissal after a 7-1 defeat at Blackburn a little over a fortnight ago

Mon Oct 29 2001 - 00:00

Glenn Roeder seemed on the verge of dismissal after a 7-1 defeat at Blackburn a little over a fortnight ago. This morning the West Ham manager must be in line for a 10-year contract and the freedom of east London. Memories of the Ewood Park debacle are fast fading. The speed with which fortunes can turn never ceases to surprise.

West Ham's third successive victory, and their first away from home since February, was well deserved and makes the haste with which many chairman have sacked managers this autumn seem even more ridiculous. By standards elsewhere George Burley should be panicking, but Ipswich, despite their increasing problems, are not that type.

Roeder resisted the temptation to stick two fingers up at his critics - "I have never resorted to that," he said. "It's not my style." - but beneath his emotionless exterior must have raged delight. From 19th in the Premiership after the defeat at Ewood Park and a 5-0 hammering at Everton, they are up to 11th.

"I asked for some old-fashioned bottle against Southampton," said Roeder of the game that sparked this mini-run, "and it's rolled on since."

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There was talent as well as bottle to admire here. Goals by Paolo di Canio, Frederic Kanoute and the substitute Jermain Defoe showed the club are not short of capable strikers.

While Roeder has moved quickly from crisis to calm, Ipswich have headed in the opposite direction. The away fans left blowing bubbles, the home fans pondering how quickly their team's bubble has burst. Fifth in the league last season, Ipswich are stuck in the bottom four after nine league games without a win.

Error-ridden at the back and manufacturing few chances, they again looked a pale shadow of their best and, after equalising for 1-1 through Hermann Hreidarsson, were beaten before Matt Holland's injury-time strike.

Don Hutchison was a major influence and set up West Ham's first two goals. Up front Kanoute and Di Canio were impressive.

Ipswich were behind after 22 minutes, Hutchison's good turn and pass setting up Di Canio to beat Matteo Sereni coolly. Although it required two excellent saves by Shaka Hislop to keep Ipswich out before half-time, the home side looked far from convincing when Hislop diverted an awkward Mark Venus free-kick into the body of Hermann Hreidarsson, who brought Ipswich level.

Michael Carrick hit the bar before a neat cross by Hutchison enabled Kanoute to restore West Ham's lead with the help of a deflection off Hreidarsson. Defoe's calm finish for his first Premiership goal in injury-time meant Holland's 25-yard strike was academic.

IPSWICH: Sereni, Makin, Gaardsoe, Hreidarsson, Venus, Clapham (Peralta 46), Holland, Reuser, Wright (Magilton 87), Stewart, Armstrong (Counago 55). Subs Not Used: Branagan, Wilnis. Booked: Gaardsoe, Stewart. Goals: Hreidarsson 63, Holland 90.

WEST HAM: Hislop, Minto, Foxe, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair, Carrick, Hutchison, Schemmel, Di Canio (Defoe 88), Kanoute. Subs Not Used: James, Kitson, Moncur, Potts. Booked: Winterburn, Carrick. Goals: Di Canio 22, Kanoute 72, Defoe 90.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).