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Steve Bruce opted for his fourth left back in four games, Damien Johnson dropped to the defensive role whilst Stan Lazaridis – so impressive against Leyton Orient in the Cup – earned his first league start of the season against his former
club.
Blues started the game impressively, with Paul Devlin and Lazaridis both looking threatening on their respective flanks. In fact, it took the visitors just 4 minutes to take the lead, following some awful defending from former Blues central defender Gary Breen, who was out muscled by John.
John then cut inside, and just as it looked like he should pull the ball across the face of the goal, he fired in a low drive which sneaked past David James at his near post to put Blues 1-0 up.
Blues continued to pressure the suspect looking West Ham defence, and Devlin himself went close with a dipping volley. However, the home side, with the likes of Paulo Di Canio, Joe Cole and Trevor Sinclair, were always going to create chances, and sure enough began to.
After 17 minutes, Di Canio drew the Blues defence, and laid the ball off to his left to the unrushing Cole who fired the ball across Nico Vaesen into the far corner of the net to send the home fans wild.
Both teams then continued to look for the third goal of the game, with Sinclair and Cole going close for the Hammers, before John’s moment of brilliance sent Blues into the lead for the second time. A Lazaridis cross was taken on his chest by the Trinidadian who was still positioned with his back to goal, and both Breen and Tomas Repka at his back. However, in one swift movement, he dragged the ball back under his foot, turned Repka, and was left faced with James whom he poked the ball past low into the corner of the net to put Blues into a 2-1 lead that was held until half time.
Compared to the first half, the second half was reasonably uneventful, with West Ham enjoying much possession, yet never really threatening Vaesen’s goal. On one occasion, Vaesen was forced to save well with his feet from Sinclair.
However, it was still Blues who looked the more dangerous on the break with Lazaridis and Devlin continuing to cause problems, and Clinton Morrison missing a couple of good chances. John also went close to his second consecutive hat trick heading wide when well placed from a Lazaridis cross just seconds before being replaced by Geoff Horsfield.
Blues hung on to their lead to come away from the capital with a valuable three points.
With WBA, Man City and Bolton our next three league opponents, this provides a genuine opportunity to put some real distance between ourselves and the danger zone. In reality, nine points from the next three games should be what is aimed for, and should anything like that, or even close, be our haul over the next month, then our position will look very promising.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Vaesen – Did his job
Kenna – Strong
Johnson – Struggled against Sinclair at times, as to be expected
Purse – Excellent defensively, though appalling distribution
Cunningham – Another faultless display
Devlin – Caused Schemmel problems
Lazaridis – Always dangerous
Cisse – Got better throughout
Savage – Excellent
John – Class goals
Morrison – Disappointing
SUBS:
Horsfield – Held the ball up well
Powell – Rushed and harried opponents as others tired