Coventry 1 West Ham 2 - Carling Cup 4th Round - 30/10/2007
Coventry 1 West Ham 2 - Carling Cup 4th Round - 30/10/2007
Coventry: Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Arjan de Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle (c), Jay Tabb, Julian Gray (Robbie Simpson, 46), Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Kevin Kyle, 70).
Subs Not Used: Elliot Ward, Ellery Cairo, Kevin Thornton.
Booked: Isaac Osbourne
Goals: Jay Tabb (68)
West Ham: Richard Wright, Lucas Neill (c), Anton Ferdinand (Daniel Gabbidon, 85), Matthew Upson, George McCartney, Mark Noble (John Pantsil, 61), Lee Bowyer, Hayden Mullins (Jonathan Spector, 46), Matthew Etherington, Luis Boa Morte, Carlton Cole.
Subs Not Used: Robert Green, Kyle Reid.
Booked: George McCartney, Lucas Neill, Jonathon Spector
Goals: OG (Hall, 72), Carlton Cole (90)
Attendance: 23,968
Referee: R Styles
Teamtalk
Cash-strapped Coventry had their Carling Cup dreams cruelly ended by Carlton Cole's injury-time winner which sealed a 2-1 victory for West Ham.
Beset by financial problems and takeover talk, Coventry needed a win to maintain some kind of feelgood factor generated by their stunning success at Manchester United last month.
And it appeared they would get it too when Jay Tabb exposed some woeful West Ham defending to nod Iain Dowie's men into a second-half lead.
But, after Luis Boa Morte's deflected effort off Marcus Hall had pulled West Ham level, the visitors continued to push forward and with referee Rob Styles about to confirm extra-time, Cole held off Ben Turner on the edge of the Coventry box, then kept his nerve to stroke home the winner.
It was the England Under-21 forward's second goal of the campaign and, after saving their top flight skins so unexpectedly last term, kept the East Enders on course for a second cup final appearance in three years.
If Sir Alex Ferguson was watching at home on TV, he could at least content himself with the knowledge that his youngsters, so badly exposed to his utter disbelief, fared no worse that a vastly more experienced Hammers defence when faced with the pace and trickery of Michael Mifsud.
The Malta international goaded George McCartney into one early booking and the only surprise in a largely sterile opening period was that he failed to isolate the full-back often enough to cause him some real problems.
Leon Best and Julian Gray did their best to provide Mifsud with some support, although the nearest Coventry came to breaking the deadlock was through skipper Michael Doyle's fizzing drive, which flashed past Isaac Osbourne before he could stick out a boot to divert it in.
Having named what was, in the absence of injured trio Dean Ashton, Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, whose non-participation with an abdominal injury was probably a blessing on this occasion given the frosty reception he would have received, his strongest line-up, Hammers boss Alan Curbishley had every right to be disappointed.
Disjointed for long periods and lacking in firepower, the visitors rarely made their Premier League class tell.
In fact, their only notable attacking move saw Boa Morte charge onto Lee Bowyer's pass, only to fall under the physical presence of Ben Turner.
At first glance it looked a clear foul and an automatic sending off. Styles felt otherwise and to the consternation of Hammers skipper Lucas Neill, who was booked for his extensive protests, amazingly ruled Turner was the one being fouled.
With Jonathan Spector introduced for Hayden Mullins, the visitors improved after the break.
Cole rose highest to meet Matthew Etherington's corner and while the England Under-21 striker could not keep his glancing header on target, it at least provided a signal of intent.
Unfortunately for Curbishley and his men, their intent had turned into nothing tangible before their defensive frailties were exposed by Tabb.
Curbishley had every right to be disappointed, not just with his side's failure to clear with an initial set piece but the shambolic nature of an offside ploy which allowed Tabb a free run at Osbourne's far-post cross.
Had Coventry been able to hold their advantage for any length of time, the Hammers might well have panicked.
Instead, the visitors benefited from a large slice of good fortune as both Hall and Kevin Kyle stuck out a boot to block Boa Morte's 15-yard half-volley and succeeded only in deflecting it past an unsuspecting Andy Marshall.
The Hammers' chances of forcing a victory without the need for extra-time looked to have been ended by the loss of Anton Ferdinand with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
But Coventry reckoned without Cole, who had the Hammers fans blowing their familiar bubbles by keeping them on track for Wembley.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are out of the Carling Cup at the fourth round stage after a last minute strike from Carlton Cole handed West Ham a narrow victory at the Ricoh Arena.
Iain Dowie's men performed gallantly throughout and were well worth the lead when Jay Tabb headed in at the back post early in the second-half.
But Marcus Hall deflected Luis Boa Morte's cross into his own net to ensure a quick reply for the visitors before Cole struck after latching onto a long ball forward deep into stoppage time.
City started brightly as boss Dowie reverted to the attack-minded 4-3-3 formation which worked to great success at Old Trafford in round three.
Jay Tabb replaced Kevin Kyle in the only chance to the side victorious over Colchester four days earlier with Michael Mifsud shifting upfield to form a three-man strike-force alongside Best and Julian Gray.
That attacking intent was certainly evident in the opening exchanges as Arjan de Zeeuw glanced a header wide from an Isaac Osbourne cross and Gray headed straight at Hammers' goalkeeper Richard Wright inside the opening 15 minutes.
Jay Tabb goes to ground under the challenge of Anton Ferdinand
West Ham seemed happy to catch the hosts on the counter attack with a teasing George McCartney cross from a dangerous breakaway halted by a fine sliding intervention from Ben Turner.
But it was at the other where the action continued to flow as Mifsud danced past a defender before seeing his shot cannon into the back of Matthew Upson.
And City went agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the half when Best twisted away from his marker in the area and fired a low effort at goal from an acute angle only for the slightest of touches from Wright diverting the ball around the post.
The visitors felt they were denied a clear goalscoring opportunity as referee Rob Styles waved play on when Luis Boa Morte fell under the challenge of a back-tracking Ben Turner on the edge of the area.
West Ham remained on the back-footas the Sky Blues began the second-half in a similar fashion to how they'd started the first with Tabb firing over before a speculative effort from Best also flew too high from 20-yards.
They thought their moment of glory had arrived on the hour mark when Mifsud found space in the area and steered the ball beyond Wright, but the assistant referee promptly raised his flag for offside against the tricky Maltese international.
But there was certainly no doubt eight minutes later as Tabb ghosted in at the back-post to nod home Osbourne's floated ball into the danger area.
However, West Ham found themselves back on level terms just four minutes later when Boa Morte's shot across the face of goal was turned into his own net by the luckless Hall.
That sparked the Premier League outfit into action and they wasted a great opportunity to take the lead when full-back George McCartney skewed into the side-netting with the goal gaping at the back-post.
City seemed to have weathered the storm and could have regained the lead shortly after when substitute Kevin Kyle dragged an effort wide.
But with extra-time looming, Cole outmuscled Turner and confidently found the bottom corner of the net to give Alan Curbishley's side a rather undeserved passage into the quarter-finals of the competition.
BBC
West Ham left it late before earning a place in the last eight of the Carling Cup with a goal from Carlton Cole.
Coventry played the match at a fast pace and deservedly took the lead when Jay Tabb stole in at the back post to nod in Isaac Osbourne's flighted pass.
But West Ham were level within three minutes when Marcus Hall deflected Luis Boa Morte's shot into his own net.
And the visitors snatched victory in the third minute of added time when Cole pounced on a Ben Turner mistake.
Interview: Coventry boss Iain Dowie
Interview: West Ham boss Alan Curbishley
It was a cruel end for the centre-back and Coventry, who took the game to their Premier League opponents from the first moment and played much the better football.
The lively Tabb and Michael Mifsud set the tempo and both had chances which flashed wide, as did striker Leon Best.
The Hammers failed to muster a single effort on target in the first half, when they were aggrieved that Turner escaped punishment after tangling with Boa Morte outside the box and Cole in it.
To make matters worse, Hayden Mullins did not reappear for the second 45 because of a knee injury and Anton Ferdinand failed to see out the match because of a hamstring problem.
The Hammers conjured a chance when Cole headed wide from a Matthew Etherington corner before Tabb showed him how to do it, nodding in Osbourne's delightful forward ball on 68 minutes.
The home fans at the Ricoh Arena were in raptures, but West Ham were given a lifeline when Boa Morte pounced on Arjen de Zeeuw's weak clearing header.
George McCartney soon wasted a good opportunity for the Hammers, lashing into the side-netting, before Etherington fired a free-kick well wide.
But with extra-time looming Cole struck to break home hearts with a clean finish from the edge of the area after Turner's error in judging a long ball forward.
Coventry boss Iain Dowie on an alleged handball in the build-up to West Ham's late winner:
"I do not want to bemoan the referee's decision but yes there was a handball. I'm sure Rob Styles will ring me to say he's got it wrong.
"I am very proud of the players. They could not have done anything more.
"Obviously, it is very galling to lose in that way. There will be a few broken hearts in our dressing room."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
"Coley's worked ever so hard and deserved his goal.
"I hope it gives him more confidence because we play next at Upton Park and I hope he carries on.
"He has had to wait for his chance and he is now grabbing it. He is there, he has got a chance."
Coventry: Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Arjan de Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle (c), Jay Tabb, Julian Gray (Robbie Simpson, 46), Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Kevin Kyle, 70).
Subs Not Used: Elliot Ward, Ellery Cairo, Kevin Thornton.
Booked: Isaac Osbourne
Goals: Jay Tabb (68)
West Ham: Richard Wright, Lucas Neill (c), Anton Ferdinand (Daniel Gabbidon, 85), Matthew Upson, George McCartney, Mark Noble (John Pantsil, 61), Lee Bowyer, Hayden Mullins (Jonathan Spector, 46), Matthew Etherington, Luis Boa Morte, Carlton Cole.
Subs Not Used: Robert Green, Kyle Reid.
Booked: George McCartney, Lucas Neill, Jonathon Spector
Goals: OG (Hall, 72), Carlton Cole (90)
Attendance: 23,968
Referee: R Styles
Teamtalk
Cash-strapped Coventry had their Carling Cup dreams cruelly ended by Carlton Cole's injury-time winner which sealed a 2-1 victory for West Ham.
Beset by financial problems and takeover talk, Coventry needed a win to maintain some kind of feelgood factor generated by their stunning success at Manchester United last month.
And it appeared they would get it too when Jay Tabb exposed some woeful West Ham defending to nod Iain Dowie's men into a second-half lead.
But, after Luis Boa Morte's deflected effort off Marcus Hall had pulled West Ham level, the visitors continued to push forward and with referee Rob Styles about to confirm extra-time, Cole held off Ben Turner on the edge of the Coventry box, then kept his nerve to stroke home the winner.
It was the England Under-21 forward's second goal of the campaign and, after saving their top flight skins so unexpectedly last term, kept the East Enders on course for a second cup final appearance in three years.
If Sir Alex Ferguson was watching at home on TV, he could at least content himself with the knowledge that his youngsters, so badly exposed to his utter disbelief, fared no worse that a vastly more experienced Hammers defence when faced with the pace and trickery of Michael Mifsud.
The Malta international goaded George McCartney into one early booking and the only surprise in a largely sterile opening period was that he failed to isolate the full-back often enough to cause him some real problems.
Leon Best and Julian Gray did their best to provide Mifsud with some support, although the nearest Coventry came to breaking the deadlock was through skipper Michael Doyle's fizzing drive, which flashed past Isaac Osbourne before he could stick out a boot to divert it in.
Having named what was, in the absence of injured trio Dean Ashton, Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, whose non-participation with an abdominal injury was probably a blessing on this occasion given the frosty reception he would have received, his strongest line-up, Hammers boss Alan Curbishley had every right to be disappointed.
Disjointed for long periods and lacking in firepower, the visitors rarely made their Premier League class tell.
In fact, their only notable attacking move saw Boa Morte charge onto Lee Bowyer's pass, only to fall under the physical presence of Ben Turner.
At first glance it looked a clear foul and an automatic sending off. Styles felt otherwise and to the consternation of Hammers skipper Lucas Neill, who was booked for his extensive protests, amazingly ruled Turner was the one being fouled.
With Jonathan Spector introduced for Hayden Mullins, the visitors improved after the break.
Cole rose highest to meet Matthew Etherington's corner and while the England Under-21 striker could not keep his glancing header on target, it at least provided a signal of intent.
Unfortunately for Curbishley and his men, their intent had turned into nothing tangible before their defensive frailties were exposed by Tabb.
Curbishley had every right to be disappointed, not just with his side's failure to clear with an initial set piece but the shambolic nature of an offside ploy which allowed Tabb a free run at Osbourne's far-post cross.
Had Coventry been able to hold their advantage for any length of time, the Hammers might well have panicked.
Instead, the visitors benefited from a large slice of good fortune as both Hall and Kevin Kyle stuck out a boot to block Boa Morte's 15-yard half-volley and succeeded only in deflecting it past an unsuspecting Andy Marshall.
The Hammers' chances of forcing a victory without the need for extra-time looked to have been ended by the loss of Anton Ferdinand with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
But Coventry reckoned without Cole, who had the Hammers fans blowing their familiar bubbles by keeping them on track for Wembley.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are out of the Carling Cup at the fourth round stage after a last minute strike from Carlton Cole handed West Ham a narrow victory at the Ricoh Arena.
Iain Dowie's men performed gallantly throughout and were well worth the lead when Jay Tabb headed in at the back post early in the second-half.
But Marcus Hall deflected Luis Boa Morte's cross into his own net to ensure a quick reply for the visitors before Cole struck after latching onto a long ball forward deep into stoppage time.
City started brightly as boss Dowie reverted to the attack-minded 4-3-3 formation which worked to great success at Old Trafford in round three.
Jay Tabb replaced Kevin Kyle in the only chance to the side victorious over Colchester four days earlier with Michael Mifsud shifting upfield to form a three-man strike-force alongside Best and Julian Gray.
That attacking intent was certainly evident in the opening exchanges as Arjan de Zeeuw glanced a header wide from an Isaac Osbourne cross and Gray headed straight at Hammers' goalkeeper Richard Wright inside the opening 15 minutes.
Jay Tabb goes to ground under the challenge of Anton Ferdinand
West Ham seemed happy to catch the hosts on the counter attack with a teasing George McCartney cross from a dangerous breakaway halted by a fine sliding intervention from Ben Turner.
But it was at the other where the action continued to flow as Mifsud danced past a defender before seeing his shot cannon into the back of Matthew Upson.
And City went agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the half when Best twisted away from his marker in the area and fired a low effort at goal from an acute angle only for the slightest of touches from Wright diverting the ball around the post.
The visitors felt they were denied a clear goalscoring opportunity as referee Rob Styles waved play on when Luis Boa Morte fell under the challenge of a back-tracking Ben Turner on the edge of the area.
West Ham remained on the back-footas the Sky Blues began the second-half in a similar fashion to how they'd started the first with Tabb firing over before a speculative effort from Best also flew too high from 20-yards.
They thought their moment of glory had arrived on the hour mark when Mifsud found space in the area and steered the ball beyond Wright, but the assistant referee promptly raised his flag for offside against the tricky Maltese international.
But there was certainly no doubt eight minutes later as Tabb ghosted in at the back-post to nod home Osbourne's floated ball into the danger area.
However, West Ham found themselves back on level terms just four minutes later when Boa Morte's shot across the face of goal was turned into his own net by the luckless Hall.
That sparked the Premier League outfit into action and they wasted a great opportunity to take the lead when full-back George McCartney skewed into the side-netting with the goal gaping at the back-post.
City seemed to have weathered the storm and could have regained the lead shortly after when substitute Kevin Kyle dragged an effort wide.
But with extra-time looming, Cole outmuscled Turner and confidently found the bottom corner of the net to give Alan Curbishley's side a rather undeserved passage into the quarter-finals of the competition.
BBC
West Ham left it late before earning a place in the last eight of the Carling Cup with a goal from Carlton Cole.
Coventry played the match at a fast pace and deservedly took the lead when Jay Tabb stole in at the back post to nod in Isaac Osbourne's flighted pass.
But West Ham were level within three minutes when Marcus Hall deflected Luis Boa Morte's shot into his own net.
And the visitors snatched victory in the third minute of added time when Cole pounced on a Ben Turner mistake.
Interview: Coventry boss Iain Dowie
Interview: West Ham boss Alan Curbishley
It was a cruel end for the centre-back and Coventry, who took the game to their Premier League opponents from the first moment and played much the better football.
The lively Tabb and Michael Mifsud set the tempo and both had chances which flashed wide, as did striker Leon Best.
The Hammers failed to muster a single effort on target in the first half, when they were aggrieved that Turner escaped punishment after tangling with Boa Morte outside the box and Cole in it.
To make matters worse, Hayden Mullins did not reappear for the second 45 because of a knee injury and Anton Ferdinand failed to see out the match because of a hamstring problem.
The Hammers conjured a chance when Cole headed wide from a Matthew Etherington corner before Tabb showed him how to do it, nodding in Osbourne's delightful forward ball on 68 minutes.
The home fans at the Ricoh Arena were in raptures, but West Ham were given a lifeline when Boa Morte pounced on Arjen de Zeeuw's weak clearing header.
George McCartney soon wasted a good opportunity for the Hammers, lashing into the side-netting, before Etherington fired a free-kick well wide.
But with extra-time looming Cole struck to break home hearts with a clean finish from the edge of the area after Turner's error in judging a long ball forward.
Coventry boss Iain Dowie on an alleged handball in the build-up to West Ham's late winner:
"I do not want to bemoan the referee's decision but yes there was a handball. I'm sure Rob Styles will ring me to say he's got it wrong.
"I am very proud of the players. They could not have done anything more.
"Obviously, it is very galling to lose in that way. There will be a few broken hearts in our dressing room."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
"Coley's worked ever so hard and deserved his goal.
"I hope it gives him more confidence because we play next at Upton Park and I hope he carries on.
"He has had to wait for his chance and he is now grabbing it. He is there, he has got a chance."
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