NEWSNOWMiddlesborough 1-2 West Ham
Scott Parker gives the Hammers an impressive victory at the Riverside. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Scott Parker’s last minute strike gave West Ham a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday that extended their impressive away form.
The Hammer’s have won five Premier League matches on their travels this season – a total which not even Arsenal or Manchester United can match.
They left it late at the Riverside Stadium before completing an impressive comeback. David Wheater put Middlesbrough ahead before half-time but Dean Ashton equalised and Parker stole the points with seconds to go.
It was Parker’s first goal for the Hammers and brought Middlesbrough’s three-match unbeaten run to an grinding halt.
Gareth Southgate handed Julio Arca his first Middlesbrough start since September after the Argentinian returned from knee ligament damage.
Middlesbrough had started to show signs of a revival recently, while West Ham’s successive defeats to Everton had left the east London club in a state of shock.
So it was no surprise that Southgate’s side were the ones to take charge early on, with Tuncay at the heart of all their best moves.
The Turkey striker had scored in his last three appearances after a miserable start to his spell at the Riverside. He jinked into the West Ham penalty area before the danger was snuffed out, then sent Emmanuel Pogatetz clear with a back-heel.
West Ham were struggled to find any momentum but they finally sparked into life as Henri Camara’s pace took him clear, only for Mark Schwarzer to sprint off his line to clear.
Robert Green was called into action when Jon Woodgate’s pass picked out Jeremie Aliadiere, the West Ham keeper racing out to save.
Aliadiere was the provider when Middlesbrough took the lead in the 40th minute. The former Arsenal forward turned a free-kick across goal and Wheater was perfectly placed to shoot into the empty net.
But their advantage was short-lived. It was a goal out of the blue. A lofted pass picked out Ashton in midfield and he turned before lashing a superb drive past Schwarzer.
Nolberto Solano’s free-kick brought a fine save from Schwarzer early in the second half. West Ham’s Peru winger was unlucky then but he should have done better than drag his shot wide moments later.
When Pogatetz wasted a chance for Middlesbrough midway through the half, a draw looked odds-on.
Parker had other ideas though. The England midfielder took the ball down on his chest and surged into the penalty area before curling a fine strike into the far corner.
Scott Parker is my Player of the week at West Ham, his challenges for the ball makes him a gladiator of football.
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