ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Blackpool 1 West Ham Utd 3:WEST HAM will have to make history to stay up having started February at the bottom of the Premier League table, but on this evidence it could be Blackpool who endure a more uncomfortable spring.
The Hammers are bottom no longer, after Victor Obinna scored two goals and made a third for Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane in a frantic first half, and although Ian Holloway’s team remain in the deceptively comfortable position of 13th, this fourth successive defeat leaves them only four points ahead of Avram Grant’s improvers.
They don’t do dull first halves in Blackpool, and the latest knockabout instalment featured goals from West Ham’s debutant Keane and Blackpool’s wantaway Charlie Adam – the latter direct from a corner, courtesy of a Rustenburg-style Robert Green howler.
But all three were upstaged by Obinna, the Nigerian forward who is on a seriously hot streak.
Fresh from a hat-trick that saw off Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last Sunday, Obinna’s first night on the Fylde did not start well, as he was brusquely brushed aside by Adam – whose attitude could not be questioned despite his midweek on-off transfer ordeal – and did not even receive a free-kick.
But midway through the half the Nigerian was the recipient of a gift from Ghana, as Richard Kingson – who had already made two sharp saves to rescue Blackpool’s sloppy defence – allowed a low drive to dribble through his hands.
Kingson flirted with further embarrassment when he dribbled around Frederic Piquionne five minutes later, but his only responsibility for West Ham’s second goal came in diverting it from Obinna to Keane, as he made two good saves from the forward only for the much-travelled, experienced Irish striker to slice in the second rebound.
Blackpool were then handed a route back into the game by Green, who allowed Adam’s low inswinging corner to curl beneath his body.
Within two minutes, however, the Hammers had regained their two-goal cushion, Obinna giving Kingson no chance with a superb 30-yard drive into the top corner.
Blackpool’s manager, Ian Holloway, having acknowledged an error in leaving out Ian Evatt by bringing on the previously ever-present defender at the start of the second half, made two further changes 15 minutes later, introducing the former West Ham striker, Marlon Harewood, and his new loan signing, James Beattie.
Luke Varney and Republic of Ireland international Andy Reid, who had buzzed around energetically on his debut and forced a good save from Green, came off.
The shake-up produced a spell of pressure, during which Neil Eardley hit the post with a sweet free kick, and two penalty appeals were turned down.
But the damage had already been done, extending the worst home record in the league and ensuring that Holloway and Blackpool will continue to be reminded of other promoted teams who have flourished before Christmas, only for the results to fade with their novelty.
Guardian Service
BLACKPOOL:Kingson, Eardley, Baptiste, Cathcart (Evatt 46), Carney, Reid (Harewood 60), Vaughan, Adam, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney (Beattie 61). Subs not used: Rachubka, Southern, Grandin, Puncheon.
WEST HAM UTD:Green, Jacobsen, Gabbidon (Reid 33), Tomkins, Bridge, O'Neil, Noble, Parker, Obinna (Boa Morte 83), Piquionne, Keane (Kovac 84). Subs not used: Boffin, Cole, Sears, Ba. Booked: Parker.
Referee:Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Attendance:15,095
