Norwich v West Ham reaction

15 September 2012 17:02
Chris Hughton could not fault the efforts of Norwich's players even though the draw with West Ham left them still without a Premier League win. The Canaries enjoyed the better of the first half at Carrow Road on Saturday and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when James Collins upended Andrew Surman, but referee Chris Foy correctly ruled the challenge was just outside the area. Jussi Jaaskelainen denied Simeon Jackson with a fine save just after the restart, but both sides ran out of ideas and the match ended 0-0. On-loan Tottenham youngster Harry Kane could have won it for the hosts in stoppage time, only to scuff his shot straight at Jaaskelainen. "There is a bit of frustration because we have had three games where we cannot fault the performance or the chances we have created," said Hughton, who took over from Paul Lambert after he left for Aston Villa in the summer. "We coped with West Ham very well, but when we have our opportunities, we have to be showing a bit more quality and guile, perhaps also a bit of fortune in that final third. "I felt we did enough today and on the balance of play had enough to win the game. "There can be a disappointment we have not got the goals to win the game, but no-one can question the endeavour of the players." The Norwich manager accepts Hoy's decision was spot on, but that perhaps the hosts were out of luck. He said: "The one on the line was very close. In another game, with another referee, then that is given. "I think the referee got his calls right." Norwich captain Grant Holt failed to test the West Ham defence, scuffing wide his best chance in the first half when the ball fell to him in the penalty area. Hughton maintains the 31-year-old has lost none of his hunger, having agreed a new deal after handing in a shock transfer request at the end of the season which saw him become a summer target for West Ham. "I have seen the same desire in him that he has always shown here," said Hughton. "The fact he has not scored will be a disappointment for him, because he is a striker, and will work even harder to make it right. "What we want from every player is to be showing their best. "Strikers want to score and that is what Grant has done here over the past few seasons. "I am sure that will be the case again." Hughton added: "He has been very focused on the games and in training, and I am quite sure with somebody of Grant's qualities, if he keeps getting in the right positions and we can keep creating chances, then it wont be long until he scores." West Ham also had their chances, especially early on when Carlton Cole's effort was blocked and John Ruddy saved from Kevin Nolan. Substitute Matt Jarvis, a £7million signing from Wolves, also saw a late effort deflected wide. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "It could have been anybody's game with the way it went and the chances created, which no-one took. "In the end, we got the clean sheet and a very valuable point away from home. "We have to be satisfied with that because our finishing was not as good as it should have been, nor was our final ball. "We defended well, so it was a good point and clean sheets now in three games out of four is a great basis to build any team on." Allardyce praised Merseyside referee Foy for what could easily have been a game-changing call. "It is a good decision by Chris Foy," he said. "I have looked at the replay and he has got it right by inches. He could so easily have been persuaded to give the penalty by where the player finished in the box. "Major decisions have to be given correctly by the referee, and in this case, it was."

Source: team_talk