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Football: Allen at the double: Hammers nail Wednesday

Norman Fox
Wednesday 25 August 1993 23:02 BST
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West Ham United. . . . .2

Sheffield Wednesday. . .0

SAFETY this season would satisfy West Ham, who can only make ends meet by selling players. Safety was what the infinitely richer Sheffield Wednesday eventually played for at Upton Park last night and they paid with two late West Ham goals by Clive Allen.

Poor finishing had not hitherto allowed West Ham to take advantage of Chris Woods' uncertain goalkeeping until 10 minutes from the end when Keith Rowland's corner dropped into the goalmouth and Colin Foster prodded it forward. Allen was virtually on the goal-line when he thrust the ball over. Four minutes later Ludek Miklosko cleared and Allen took the ball to the goal-line six yards from the post. Woods failed to intercept and Allen squared the ball across the goal and saw it deflect in off the other post.

Though the clubs' financial circumstances were beyond compare, their situation at the outset was the same - neither side had won a match. Wednesday had the luxury of being able to bring in Chris Waddle for his first match this season, leaving Chris Bart-Williams to roam in midfield and Carlton Palmer to take a central defensive role. The inevitable problem was that Wednesday were attempting to discover an understanding on the hoof, so pounds 6m worth of strangers to each other found themselves penned back. Had Allen been more incisive, a few doors could have opened sooner at the other end.

Waddle quickly opted to keep clear of the bulldog tenacity of Julian Dicks. Veering into the middle as often as possible, he cluttered the area belonging to Paul Warhurst and David Hirst.

What chances that were forthcoming tended to be of the bagatelle variety. A Warhurst volley from promising range went in search of missing probes to Mars, but when Miklosko scratched the earth trying to avoid fumbling Graham Hyde's side-footed shot at least he re-discovered the ball.

Having Palmer and Des Walker frustrating West Ham's attacks until so near the end seemed to bring Wednesday a semblance of security. However, they as good as advertised that they would be satisfied with a point by substituting both Warhurst and Hirst. It was a mistake that Allen emphasised.

West Ham United (4-4-2): Miklosko; Breacker, Foster, Potts, Dicks; Gordon (Holmes, 83), M Allen, Butler, Rowland; C Allen, Morley. Substitutes not used: Peyton (gk), Gale.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Woods; Nilsson, Walker, Palmer, Worthington; Bart-Williams, Waddle, Hyde, Sinton; Hirst (Pearson, 75), Warhurst (Bright, 60). Substitute not used: Pressman (gk).

Referee: J Worrall (Warrington).

(Photograph omitted)

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