Source: Daily_Mail
Blackpool 1 West Ham 3: Robbie Keane scores on debut
The FA Cup might trail some way behind Barclays Premier League survival in West Ham's list of priorities, but it has certainly helped to re-ignite Victor Obinna.[LNB] Three days after hitting a hat-trick in the fourth-round win over Nottingham Forest, a striker who only had one League goal to his name before this match was right in form to hit another two. [LNB]Victory lifted Avram Grant's team off the foot of the table and dragged Blackpool deeper into trouble.[LNB] Best foot forward: Robbie Keane cracks in his first goal for West Ham[LNB] [LNB]The in-form Nigeria striker stole the show at Bloomfield Road on a night when all eyes were meant to be on the new arrivals and one man who went nowhere. [LNB]Charlie Adam, returning perhaps somewhat reluctantly to duty after seeing his hopes of a move to Liverpool or Tottenham dashed, was on the scoresheet in bizarre circumstances. Robbie Keane also marked his West Ham debut with a well-deserved goal. [LNB]But they were upstaged by Obinna who more than made up for his sending-off in the Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham last month.[LNB] You're Keane! New West Ham striker Robbie (left) scored on his debut[LNB] 'He wasn't very happy with the red card but he's responded well,' said Grant who threw his scarf into the away supporters at the end. [LNB]Goalkeeper Robert Green appeared to give a less friendly, one-fingered gesture towards the Blackpool fans. Grant added: 'It's not easy to come to the Premier League from other countries and he hasn't played much in the last year. But he did well and I hope it continues. [LNB]Match factsBLACKPOOL (4-3-3): Kingson 5; Eardley 5, Baptiste 6, Cathcart 4 (Evatt 46min, 5), Carney 6; Vaughan 6, Adam 6, Reid 7 (Harewood 60, 5); Taylor-Fletcher 6, Campbell 5, Varney 6 (Beattie 61, 5).Subs not used: Rachubka, Southern,Grandin, Puncheon.[LNB]WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Green 6;Jacobsen 6, Tomkins 5, Gabbidon 6(Reid 34, 6), Bridge 7; O'Neil 6, Noble 6,Parker 7, Obinna 8 (Boa Morte, 83);Piquionne 6, Keane 7 (Kovac, 84).Subs not used: Cole, Sears, Ba, Boffin.Man of the match: Victor Obinna.[LNB]Referee: Stuart Attwell 6.[LNB]'It was a very important win for us.I've been confident of staying up since the beginning of the season andnow we're into the final third.'[LNB]Grant's side took the game to Blackpool from the start and were rewarded with a goal in the 24th minute. It summed up a wretched first half for Craig Cathcart who was tormented by Obinna as he twisted past him on the edge of the penalty box before turning inside to set up a left-foot shot from a difficult angle.[LNB] Goalkeeper Roger Kingson appeared to have the Nigerian's low effort covered as he went down on one knee at his near post but succeeded only in scooping it into the back of his own net. It was a poor goal for Kingson to concede but no less than the Hammers deserved after a high-octane start that nullified Blackpool's attacking threat. [LNB]A rare foray 12 minutes before half-time did inflict some damage on Grant's side, however, with Danny Gabbidon having to go off injured and central defensive partner James Tomkins only returning after treatment. [LNB] Off the mark: Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson can't prevent Victor Obinna (not pictured) from hitting the first of his two goals[LNB]It was Tomkins' sliced clearance thatgave debutant Andy Reid the chance to force Robert Green into his onlyreal save of the half, back-pedalling to tip over the Irishman'scurling attempt. [LNB]But West Ham doubled their lead from Mark Noble's free kick in the 37th minute. [LNB]Obinna saw his low shot and follow-up effort well saved by Kingson, but the loose ball looped towards Keane who reacted faster than any of the three defenders around him to stab home. [LNB]Blackpool were back in it thanks to a freakish goal five minutes later. [LNB]There appeared to be little danger when the usually reliable Adam scuffed his corner from the right, but Frederic Piquionne missed the ball completely as it rolled under his foot at the near post and Green and Mark Noble could not keep it from creeping over the line. [LNB]However, it took less than two minutes for West Ham to restore their two-goal advantage. [LNB]Parker slipped the ball to Obinna 25 yards from goal and he was given too much time and space to line up a fantastic left-foot effort that flew past Kingson into the top corner.[LNB] Holloway sent on Beattie and Marlon Harewood in the second half, but the nearest Blackpool came to a goal was Neal Eardley's free kick against the bar and a fluffed clearance from Green that saw the ball bobble over his foot and almost into an empty goal.[LNB] It means Blackpool have lost six of their last seven League games, but Holloway said: 'I'm still proud of my lads. [LNB]'What could have gone wrong did. The goalie should have saved Obinna's first goal and that knocked the stuffing out of us. But his second was probably one of the goals of the season. Unstoppable.'[LNB] Holloway: Adam will get his big move away from Blackpool eventuallyMcCarthy rejects ?1m to walk away from West Ham after shocking stintPREMIER LEAGUE: All of Wednesday's action as it happenedAll the latest Blackpool news, features and opinionAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Robbie Keane, Charlie Adam, Robert Green, Danny Gabbidon, Marlon Harewood, James Tomkins, Stuart Attwell Places: Liverpool, Birmingham, Nigeria
