It may sound close, City even had late half chances to pinch a point, but the gulf was massive. Cardiff were outclassed on the receiving end of a Hammers hammering.
In a one-sided contest, Martyn Margetson played the role of General Custer producing save after save in a truly outstanding display of goalkeeping brilliance. His supporting cast were the crossbar and post which saved City in each half, linesmen who rightly disallowed two goals and West Ham’s own finishing which let them down on several occasions. Otherwise, it would have been a rout. At the other end, Bywater had only two stops - one in each half - and both were routine.
There was no faulting City’s effort and commitment, they were given a huge ovation at final whistle but it was very evident they just lack the necessary quality to match the likes of West Ham. It proved yet again that play-off dreams are simply that - dreams. You could understand Lennie saying City may have deserved a draw for work-rate and heroics but that‘s no acknowledgement that our side were inferior, outplayed, out fought and out-thought by a magnificent and professional West Ham display.
There was no disgrace in defeat, I doubt any First Division side could live with West Ham in that form. Their passing, perhaps not always perfect, was still far better than ours. Their pace, passing and movement however belonged to a higher level, something City need to aspire towards to make a genuine Premiership challenge next season.
Apart from Sunderland last weekend, we’ve fallen short against every leading side this season, that’s why we’re in mid-table. I hope Lennie and the players still give it their best shot but unless they produce outstanding form and results quickly, the reality is very clear. However, it’s been said before, a top half finish in our first season at this level for 20 years will still be an achievement, that’s far better than consolidation. Mind you, it still takes some getting used to if we close out the season with no annual promotion or relegation battle - that‘s not the Cardiff City we‘re used to!
It was a fixture that was our most anticipated away game post-promotion. The result and performance were not what he hoped for but the experience was awful too, for many different reasons. It was anything but a family day out ... although, for our coach, it was compensated by a fantastic unplanned evening in the West End (well, Slough!).
The problems, all should have been avoidable, started well ahead of the trip. We all know that West Ham is not the friendliest place to visit or the safest place to go. Visiting fans have to be wary. However, despite West Ham being allowed unrestricted access in terms of travel and where to visit twice this season in Cardiff, we were subjected to compulsory coach travel. Worse than that, plans to stop en route for a drink and some lunch were prevented by our own club, even though the Metropolitan Police were prepared to allow that. That is out of order, our own club should be accountable for what we had to endure for much of the day that followed.
Coaches all left South Wales by 8am. Forty seven set off in total. We had a stop at Reading Services en route - it’s really not a good idea to have 2,000 City fans (or 2,000 group of any people) at a motorway services at the same time. They probably broke even on what was paid for and what wasn‘t, the sheer numbers made it impossible to control, some will always take advantage. Sandwiches and pasties were gone in seconds, an Easter Egg display right by the front entrance seemed to “disappear” with one guy alone taking enough to supply his family and everyone in his street! Just as all the coaches were leaving, two police vans pulled up - obviously the rapid response team!
Next stop was South Mimms on the M25 which by contrast had police everywhere and a cavalcade of vans, cars bad motorbikes - not so much to stop more “Ram”-raiding but to escort us to Upton Park. “Don’t worry”, they promised us, “we’ll take you straight to the ground where the bars and catering will be open for you”. Famous last words.
The coaches were taken in clusters of 10 or so along the M11 into East London, the stadium structure was visible to our right with the white elephant that was the Millennium Dome standing out on the horizon behind it. That was the last time the area looked glamorous.
East and West Ham is an ethnic, multi-cultural, heavily built up area with old housing and building and no great evidence of anything new or modern in recent times. It has undoubtedly seen better days. It was only on the Barking Road, the main shopping road leading to the ground (if your ideas of shopping is grocers, launderettes, second hand car sellers, pawnbrokers, kebab houses, halal meat, Splott Market style clothes and off-licences), that our match tickets were distributed. As they were, one or two decided to jump out, police quickly warned them. Traffic hardly moved so we were eventually allowed off to walk the last stretch and herded towards the ground surrounded by hundreds of police, plenty of police horses and a hell of an annoying female steward shouting out messages that nobody could understand on her megaphone.
Upton Park is land-locked with houses, flats and tower blocks surrounding it. Grey, grimy and dirty. A concrete jungle if ever there was one. Upton Park was hugely unimpressive outside too. Special mention has to the to the Sir Geoff Hurst Executive Suite (right). Ing-er-lund’s World Cup Winning hero celebrated by his club with a sign that looked like it was made at Halford’s over a narrow purple metal door entrance, most of the paint flaked away, next to graffiti-covered walls. It looked more like an entrance to a store-room or shed. That door had another sign on it, “Warning - Premises patrolled by Guard Dogs”. A fitting English tribute, I’m you’ll all agree! 
We got to the ground at 1:30pm, chaos was already in full swing. One bar and catering point to serve the 2,500 who had been on the road for almost 6 hours. It was 50 foot long, 50 feet deep before the stairwells into the ground with no entrance/exit barriers and 5 staff serving. Complete farce and anarchy ensued, only the fittest, biggest or fattest survived. Families had no chance of getting food and drink.
I made it - I’m in the fattest category! - oh what fun suffering crushing, smelling everyone’s farts and finding it impossible to get my hands into my pockets just for non-value for money draught Carling at £2.70 a time. I don’t drink lager but I do when the only option is John Smith’s bitter in cans at £2.60 a go!. Getting away past hundreds behind you trying to force their way forwards was even worse and complicated by trying to spill as little drink as possible. It was an art-form, I did well, years of practise in pubs you see!
More problems followed as stewards tried to get everyone to sit in the seats allocated to them indiscriminately on the coaches - which meant separating friends and family - and force them back down staircases into areas it was impossible to access with all the crushing underneath. Common-sense, there was so little of it from officialdom from start to finish, took over and fans were eventually allowed to take places where they liked. Not that it was any problem in the first place as our 2,200 was restricted in an away end that could probably have accommodated at least another 1,000 and surely many more again.
Local stewards and police commented that they had never seen it so congested under the stand and they had serious concerns but they also added that never before had 2,000 fans turned up there before at the same time and a full 90 minutes before kick-off. Those at our club responsible for these arrangements, restrictions and timings failed to think of us, they never put us first.
The area underneath however had several plasma TV screens, a couple of thousand pounds each, watching them helped pass the time. As someone commented, maybe they would have been better with ordinary televisions and spending the rest on increasing and improving the catering area and facilities. The programme, at £3 a time, was good too. 68 pages packed with reading including 8 relating to City - a shame their full page tribute and interview with Jason ’Psycho’ Perry was accompanied by a picture of Tony Philliskirk instead - a player I’d rather forget!
However it was pretty good in the ground although again, it really wasn’t as impressive as I’d always imagined (or remembered). The away end was the Lower Tier of the Centenary stand, a double-decker construction with home fans above us. Thankfully, that was the only similarity to the antics many of us endured last time we were in similar surroundings - inside San Siro with Wales.
A new main was to our right. Very modern, all metal and so with so many walkways that probably prevented hundreds more seats inside had it been efficiently designed. They moved the pitch over to be in front of that stand and intended to build an identical stricture to our left but money problems kicked in so worked never started leaving the old West Stand isolated and set back probably 25 yards or more from the pitch with the linesman having a virtual half pitch to himself to run up and down. Another old stand, the Bobby Moore stand, was opposite and with two big screens at opposite corners, they was always a chance to see the action. The crowd was 31,858, about average for the home team but the biggest league crowd City have played in front of for a couple of decades. I’m without access to facts but I suspect the last time we had bigger was the 35,876 at Ninian Park when we played Hereford back in 1976, a night still talked about by many to this day.
City made one enforced change forcing Lennie to change his selection for the first time in 5 matches but it hardly weakened us. Peter Thorne suffered a foot injury last weekend but having failed to score in his last 5 games after a hot streak and with Alan Lee looking hungry and mean coming back after injury with 2 goals in his last 2 substitute appearances, it was time to unleash the rampaging rhino. Margetson, Weston-Gabbidon-Vidmar-Barker, Langley-Kavanagh-Boland-Parry, Earnie-Thorne. No changes to the bench either with Alexander-Prior-Campbell-Lee and Whalley.
West Ham lost 3-0 at home to Fulham in midweek FA Cup action, an unfair score by all accounts, but they were also missing half their side as manager Alan Pardew has brought in new faces, nearly all were cup-tied. League-wise, after struggling with too many draws and only 3 wins in 18 games, they have shown signs of making a charge with 3 wins in the last 4 ahead of this fixture and being unbeaten in 5. Their home form wasn’t that impressive - 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats - which gave hope but they‘re a different side now with 5 new faces in recent weeks in their starting line-up of Bywater, Repka-Mullins-Dailly-Harley, Reo-Coker-Carrick-Connolly-Etherington, Zamora-Harewood.
Stephen Bywater was on loan at City a couple of seasons ago but never played. He is however an England under-21 international getting his chance after David (Calamity) James was sold to Man City last month. The defence were all strong experienced players with the Czech mauler Repka, Haydn Mullins just signed from Crystal Palace, Christian Dailly played with a bandaged head after getting 18 stitches in a midweek clash. In midfield, was Nigel Reo-Coker, a player long linked for City but who we never appeared to make a serious move to get. He showed that he would improve City overnight in midfield when he bossed us about at Wimbledon recently and he proved it again today. Their strikers needed no introduction to us.
City looked well up for it at the start as twice in the opening minute, Alan Lee tried to burst through their defence. The first time finding Earnie who was tackled, the second time being denied as he tried to burst into the area.
It signalled a period where the opening exchanges was fast, fluent and quite even. Both sides had similar outlets with West Ham seeking to feed Matthew Etherington at every opportunity in one side of the pitch with City doing exactly the same for our left winger, Paul Parry, on the other side. Both players were in form and looked dangerous, causing problems with their pace and trickery.
On 5 minutes, West Ham had a goal disallowed after Zamora crossed, the niggling Connolly nodded down and Michael Carrick, the man with the mullet, smashed the ball home high into the net. The linesman rightly ruled that Carrick was offside, his flag up long before he shot.
Alan Lee used his strength to good effect on 10 minutes as he turned and forced his way past Tomas Repka, who seemed to combine his on-pitch football with greco wrestling and anything other spoiling means, to stop attackers. This time he lost out, City fans screaming on Lee as he raced at goal with defenders chasing hard. His shot was too close to Bywater who saved easily. Moments later, another flashing move via Paul Parry found Earnie but his goalbound shot was deflected behind off Repka, Kav’s corner being forced away in a penalty area scrum.
City’s problems started on 17 minutes. Rhys Weston failed to control a ball, went into a 50/50 challenge with Reo-Coker, the noise as both met the ball full on at the same moment was heard at our end, 80 yards anyway. Weston came off second best, was clutching his knee and had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Spencer Prior, Vidmar was sent to right back. Although Prior did well - although he crucially let City down for the goal - you felt City lost their balance and shape, and obviously, some pace with that re-shuffle. I also think Lennie made a tactical error by not having Gary Croft as a substitute. He was in brilliant form prior to a harsh red card and can cover both full-backs and midfield positions if needs be.
From the restart,. City created their most dangerous moment of the game as Vidmar burst down the right, fed Parry who beat Repka and sent over a brilliant pass into Earnie’s path but his first touch was poor and Bywater was out sharp to snuff a great goalscoring chance.
On 25 minutes, City had a let-off. Reo-Coker sent Zamora away with the sort to through ball our midfielders seem unable to provide for Earnie and he was heading for goal with Gabbidon in pursuit. Just outside the area, Gabbidon threw his arms around Zamora’s waist and sent him to ground. West Ham were baying for a red card, George Cain the ref wasn’t sure and we saw him look to the linesman in front of us to check if Gabbi was the last man. The lino shook his head for ’no’ and was right as a covering defender was coming across, Gabbi had a yellow but it could just have easily have been red - as happened to Bjorklund of Sunderland last weekend. The resulting free-kick brought cheer as David Connolly, one Hammers player who had a poor game, sent the free-kick miles over the bar. However from this point onwards, it was total dominance for West Ham and the onslaught began.
Before half-time, the home side won several corners. Carrick was getting great abuse for his mullet by those with me as he took them in front of us but we weren’t putting him off, he was having a fantastic game. A through ball of his Reo-Coker sent Harewood clear but he fired wide. Margetson made his first save from Zamora who headed straight at him from close range, meeting a cross, he should have done better. Dailly headed over, Reo-Coker flashed an effort wide and Margetson made tow stunning stops.
The first was from Etherington was broke into the area, cut across Vidmar and unleashed a low drive destine to go in the far corner, Margetson getting down and finger-tipping it wide was fantastic. A couple of minutes later, Reo-Coker smashed the ball from 30 yards, it smacked Margetson‘s post then incredibly ran across the goal-line and spun behind at the opposite post for a goal-kick. It was only when Margetson took it that TV replays showed he got his fingertips to it again and managed to divert the ball enough to stop it going in.
Cardiff were just not in it. Our midfield looked particularly poor, struggling to help our defence, unable to feed our attack and helping to build up pressure by continually giving the ball away when they ahead. Kav and Boland could not force themselves to make a presence. It was now a shadow chasing exercise.
On half-time, there was some drama as Tomas Repka had a free-kick on halfway which he tried moving forwards. Twice the ref stopped him before Repka lost it, shouted at the ref and went toe-to-toe with him, some nearer the incident swearing that he put his head against Cain’s. The ref gave a yellow card, a few would have given red, but still allowed Repka to take the free-kick. The incident annoyed home and away fans equally but for different reasons.
Half-time: WEST HAM 0 CITY 0
City needed the half-time break more than the home side but two types of vastly different entertainment was on offer at the City end. On the pitch, the Hammertoes - 20 or more young girls helped warm things up a little for those looking on but underneath the stand, it was mayhem. The catering point refused to serve drink, it was impossible to get served, the crushing was major and the police over-reacted. Within moments, there was a clash and stand-off underway between fans and police, a couple of supporters injured and lead away for treatment. The police pouring in from everywhere. It was ridiculous. You can’t condone the behaviour of some fans but many of the police was totally out of order too, showing no respect for fans - especially those not there to cause problems.
This situation again the result of supporters being denied any proper chance to eat and drink all day.
Any hope of a change on the pattern of play was quickly wiped out as West Ham ripped into us as soon as the second half kicked off. There were just too many chances and misses to describe but the key ones arrived as Bobby Zamora came to life. On 50 minutes, he turned brilliantly on the edge of the area and smashed a rising effort against the bar (Margetson might have finger tipped that too). The rebound fell to Etherington which the goal gaping in front but he failed to control and sliced his effort well wide. Zamora hadn’t finished, for once turning Gabbidon, and facing Margetson he blasted horribly wide too.
City fans tried to spur on their team with Men of Harlech because it was like Rorke’s Drift out there and another let off came when West Ham were convinced Vidmar had brought down Etherington for a penalty as he flew in to stop the winger breaking on goal. Cain said no bringing more derision from the home support thinking it just wasn’t their day and as a couple of passes went astray, you could hear their frustrations all around the ground.
Margetson had them groaning again producing a brilliant flying save to push away a curling Harewood effort heading to corner of goal and five minutes later managed to parry a screamer by the former Forest player. “He should have held that one”, we joked.
In between Captain Caveman, John Robinson, came on as sub for Richard Langley who ran and worked was totally ineffective as the game passed him by. City needed leadership and strong men out there too. That changed nothing, Margetson making yet another wonderful save to deny a Zamora close range header from a corner when our defenders yet again gave a clear chance - when they ever learn?
The day had been bitterly cold with a biting wind, my lips and mouth still have cracked skin, and now it was snowing too but the clock was running down and we were thinking City could get an unlikely result, and even fantasised about pinching a win, but it wasn‘t to be and justice really did prevail on 73 minutes when Bobby Zamora finally scored.
The ball was in midfield but West Ham, who had no luck all afternoon, finally had some good fortune as a cruel deflection sent the ball behind Prior and put Zamora away. Prior stopped appealing for offside giving ZAMORA more time and space. Chris Barker tried to get across but as Zamora reached the edge of the area, he belted it low to Margetson’s right and 1-0 it was. Four times Zamora has played against City and every time he has scored, three times to get 1-0 wins and once to get a 1-1 draw.
City tried in vain to fightback, Campbell replaced Paul Parry for City’s final change of the afternoon whilst West Ham brought on another former Wimbledon pair - Nowland and McAnuff - plus veteran Brain Deane for Zamora, Harewood and Connolly. Cardiff had two late opportunities, Alan Lee managed to cut inside but failed to shoot when the opportunity was there whilst Earnie tried to storm though but couldn’t.
It was a tortuous afternoon but the right result. City’s defence hung on but were indebted to Margetson more than anyone, our midfield was thoroughly exposed for the one paced, non creative set up it us - Parry apart who played well again - whilst Earnie had no service and failed to light up the day whilst Alan Lee gave his all and will have better days. His runs to the channels need to be more considered though especially with Parry hugging the left side, at least three times they both chased after the same balls.
Most City fans just wanted to get home and away but there was no chance of that. Kept inside for 15 minutes, held in the street directly behind the away end for another 15 and then allowed onto Barking Road to find our coaches which, end to end, must have stretched for well over half a mile. Problem was, this set up was always likely to attract any West Ham nutters who wanted a go at our lot and gave our lot an opportunity to gesture and posture back. With Barking Road having side streets on both sides every 100 yards or so, the police were struggling to clear the area and control things, flashpoints were inevitable. We were sitting ducks, there to be shot at.
There were charges on both sides, objects flying through the air and one or two clashes. Our coach was second in the queue and at the front, there was some fighting too although, if it’s possible for humour in these surroundings, some laughs too. With no weapons to chuck, West Ham fans turned over a street sweeper’s cart and threw a sweeping brush as City - oooh. Back came City at a grocer with his wares outside and potatoes were flying at the West Ham - spud-u-like sir! Not to be undone, The Hammers found another greengrocer and City were under a fruit attack. Our driver phoned to boss to say the coach was under attack. The boss obviously asked if there was damage, “no he said but I think the windscreen was hit by an apple and a banana“.
It took until 6:30, almost two hours after the game ended, before police decided it was safe enough for us to move. Many will feel all this justified the restrictions and heavy policing and attitude, I personally do not buy that. I honestly feel the problems were caused by all of us being there in the way we were. Had loads gone by car or train, the pressure on the police and area would not have been as great. If anyone wanted trouble, it may still have happened but the families were less likely to be caught up in it. This time, everyone was whether we wanted to be or not.
By complete contrast and something that underlines this, City supporters in London and the South East were allowed to make their own plans. They met for a pre-match drink and lunch, mingled with Hammers fans on trains. They left the ground afterwards, caught trains and were home or back in pubs while the rest of us were still there. Now all this has happened, will it be any different next season? I fear not. What a complete mess it all was.
Anyway second in the queue meant we were away well before the rest and all seemed fine - especially with Jackass The Movie to give us a much needed laugh - but our coach blew a tyre near Slough. Marvellous. Two other coaches from the same company picked us up and took us to a pub awaiting ours to be repaired. It was the highlight of the day as we had a fantastic evening.
A good pint, a laugh, a chat, pool tables, great. Then a band checked in for what was probably the greatest gig of their lives. Rather than a handful of punters politely clapping, there was us lot cheering them on and heckling. No wonder when the barman was a dead ringer for Shane McGowan of The Pogues and the bass player looked like David Seaman with a small beard. They looked crap but they played really well with rock covers that had us singing along.
Still, we wanted our own songs and, give them credit, they played Don’t Look Back In Anger and Hey Jude for the first time ever. The lead singer looked emotional as he stopped the vocals and cut the playing to allow us have us sing the choruses, the pub was rocking. This was their Wembley Arena and a career highlight!
City fans dancing, some taking over the mic ands singing their own tunes between songs, Ali the p.a. guy waving his lighter in the air, Barry Manilow-style on the slower numbers and some ropey old birds in a private birthday party bringing all their catering out for us to eat. Fantastic hospitality, a couple of the boys even had a snog and grope to go home with and the Landlord dished out plastic glasses for us all to take our beer after his better night’s takings since New Year I bet. We’ve an open invite to go back.
And so, our coach was the 2nd of 47 to head home but surely the last to get back as we got to The Lansdowne at half midnight. Terrible day, bad result, crap experience but what a bloody marvellous night. I love going away with City!
Report from FootyMad
Lifelong Hammers fan Bobby Zamora marked his Upton Park debut with a 73rd minute winner that lifted his side into sixth place.
That was the Barking-born striker's second goal since his January transfer from Spurs and after having seen him squander a handful of earlier chances, it left Alan Pardew declaring: "I was disappointed with Bobby's hold-up play in the first half.
"But after the break he was much better and when he was given his best clear cut chance he kept his head and dispatched it. It was an important win for us."Following their FA Cup capitulation at the hands of Fulham, West Ham were back focusing on the main job in hand - promotion.
And Pardew was given a huge boost by being able to select his best 11. But it was City who started best as Paul Parry forced Stephen Bywater into a low save, before the Hammers keeper then denied Robert Earnshaw with a point-blank stop after the striker was sent clear.
Midway through the half, the Bluebirds had their wings clipped when Rhys Weston was stretchered away with an ankle injury following a robust Nigel Reo-Coker tackle and they should have been reduced to ten men shortly afterwards when Daniel Gabbidon cynically chopped Zamora as he raced away in desperate pursuit of that home debut goal.
David Connelly skied the resulting free-kick high over, while Christian Dailly and Matthew Etherington agonizingly sent efforts across the face of goal before Reo-Coker struck the base of Martyn Margetson's right-hand post in the 40th minute with a low 18-yarder.
While Gabbidon had been lucky to escape with only a yellow card, Tomas Repka was equally fortunate to escape with just a booking - a dirty dozen for the season - after leaning into referee George Cain during a furious injury-time argument, for which Pardew made him apologize at the final whistle.
Just after the restart, Zamora wrapped the Bluebirds' bar before climaxing a clever jag-back with an angled shot that flew across the face of goal.
On the hour, Marlon Harewood saw his 20-yarder parried by Margetson and as the snow started to fall from the freezing East End skies, the Hammers striker's powerful 15-yarder was then brilliantly parried by the keeper.
On 73 minutes, however, Margetson was finally beaten when Zamora sprinted on to a deflection off Connelly and outpaced Chris Barker before slotting a 15-yarder under the exposed keeper to claim a victory that sent his side into a play-off berth.
"We came away with three points and I was delighted to get the winning goal, even though it wasn't one of my best performances," smiled the Hammers matchwinner.
"I set myself high standards, I'm in a good team that creates chances and it has to be up to me to put them away. We could have won by three or four.
"I wouldn't have left Spurs to come down to the Nationwide for any other club than West Ham, but hopefully we can continue to progress towards the Premiership from here."
External reports
Wales On Sunday
Western Mail
The Echo