Blades prove deadly in battle with Hammers

AFP - 14 April 2007 19:12

Sheffield United thrashed West Ham United 3-0 at Bramall Lane here in Saturday´s crunch battle between two sides desperate to avoid relegation from the English Premiership. Goals from midfielders Michael Tonge, seen here in action in August 2006, and Phil Jagielka plus a third from striker Jon Stead were more than enough to secure the Blades´ most crucial victory of the season.

SHEFFIELD, England (AFP) - Sheffield United thrashed West Ham United 3-0 at Bramall Lane here in Saturday's crunch battle between two sides desperate to avoid relegation from the English Premiership.

Goals from midfielders Michael Tonge and Phil Jagielka plus a third from striker Jon Stead were more than enough to secure the Blades' most crucial victory of the season to leave the Hammers teetering on the brink of relegation.

Tonge broke the deadlock with a powerful free kick on 39 minutes to notch his second goal of the season and inspire Neil Warnock's side to their first win in five matches.

Jagielka doubled the home side's advantage just after the hour mark with a powerful header before Stead completed the rout 12 minutes from time to bring the Hammers' three match unbeaten run crashing to a halt.

The visitors knew another win would lift them over the Blades and leave them on the verge of climbing out of the relegation zone with precious few games left.

Not surprisingly, Alan Curbishley had named an unchanged side as he looked for his side's purple patch to continue.

Warnock made four positional changes to the side which suffered a late 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United last Saturday, recalling Tonge, Derek Geary, Christian Nade and record signing Jamaica defender Claude Davis in a bid to strengthen his leaking back line.

The Blades have found goals hard to come by of late, netting just twice in five games throughout their worst run since the start of the season.

Warnock had even drafted in a psychologist to get his players thin king positive thoughts.

This was an match for cool heads but a frantic opening saw chances squandered at both ends.

West Ham's Carlos Tevez shot high and wide before failing to find the unmarked Bobby Zamora close to goal after the Argentina striker had beaten Davis with a clever run.

The Hammers, however, were fortunate to escape falling behind on nine minutes when James Collins missed Keith Gillespie's cross altogether, allowing Colin Kazim-Richards the chance to break the deadlock.

The winger looked slightly shocked that the ball had managed to reach him at the back post and shot tamely at goalkeeper Robert Green.

Despite the hectic pace and bluster from both sides, the quality on show indicated it was no surprise they were struggling to beat the drop.

The point was illustrated on 34 minutes when Hammers midfielder Lee Bowyer took it upon himself to intercept a Zamora cross meant for Tevez only to send his header from just eight yards hopelessly wide.

Bowyer's miss was to prove costly just five minutes later when Tonge introduced some quality to proceedings to fire the Blades ahead in stunning fashion.

Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand, who had been booked moments earlier for clattering into Nade, shoved the Frenchman to the ground on the edge of the penalty box and was fortunate to escape a red card.

But the Hammers did not escape the attentions of Tonge, who rifled an unstoppable drive in off the underside of Green's crossbar.

The Hammers rallied after the break but Zamora missed a clear headed chance on 57 minutes before Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny's inspired save somehow denied Australia defender Lucas Neill.

Moments later Tevez twisted and turned beyond three defenders only to scoop his shot high and wide.

He was duly punished on 61 minutes when Jagielka rose to meet Gillespie's corner before powering a downward header past the helpless Green to sink Curbishley's men even before Stead's late blast.