Source: Daily_Mail
West Brom 3 West Ham 3: Scott Parker a leader to shout about
They entered the visitors' dressing room at half-time with a whimper, and 3-0 down to West Bromwich, but left with a roar and a 3-3 draw. [LNB]A Churchillian address had been made and was going to save the day. A speech to rally the downhearted set a fire raging in everyone's belly and even, dare we say it, brought a tear to the eye.[LNB]For heaven knows that when the West Ham players trooped into their private sanctuary at the interval, they needed a confidence boost.[LNB] Mr Motivator: Scott Parker revived West Ham - and was thanked by manager Avram Grant at the final whistle (below right)[LNB]So step forward manager Avr...er, captain Scott Parker, whose reputation as a withdrawn and rather shy individual was shattered when he grabbed centre stage. [LNB]It was Carlton Cole who broke the universal code about what goes on in the dressing room staying in there when he was asked for an explanation behind the latest instalment in the Hammers' weekly Jekyll and Hyde show. [LNB]'Our captain, Scott Parker, was inspirational at half-time,' he said, 'I told him when I came off the pitch at the end that he had given me so much motivation. [LNB]'He showed a lot of passion in the second half and it just spurred us on. I've never seen him like that. I was like, ''Wow, this is the real deal''. I can't explain that first half, it was diabolical. But it was like a new team out there in the second half.' [LNB]If West Brom had converted their three-goal lead into a win, it would have left West Ham needing five points to reach safety with the worst goal difference in the division. [LNB]Coming six days after defeat by Birmingham, they were facing the prospect of having played two relegation rivals in the past week and being turned over by both. [LNB]Parker chose his moment well because survival was slipping through the Hammers' grasp. [LNB]Suddenly, there were winners all over the pitch and West Bromwich's own defensive frailties were exposed. In truth, it was a horrible first 20 minutes that cost Parker - sorry, Avram Grant - any hope of winning this.[LNB] Hit man: Demba Ba scores West Ham's third goal[LNB]Parker did not reveal his own part in the comeback at the final whistle - though he was one of few who had been right on the money from the start. [LNB]BA THE STAR Demba Ba, 25, has been capped eight times by Senegal, scoring twice. After failing to make the grade in France, he had trials at Barnsley and Watford in 2004 before signing a one-year deal at Vicarage Road. After spells at several European clubs, he netted 14 goals in his first season in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim in 2008-09 before joining West Ham in January on a three-year deal. [LNB]The 30-year-old was the driving force on the pitch as well. Busy, inventive, the outstanding player on show by a country mile. [LNB]'Coming here today we wanted the three points but when we sit down and reflect on the afternoon - 3-0 down at half-time, when you are bottom of that league - coming back from that we have done well,' Parker said. [LNB]''We just weren't awake for the first15-20 minutes, so I think you could say there were a few fierce words at half-time. There was a lot said.' [LNB]So, in the end, the players did their job. And one of the players looks to have done the manager's. [LNB] Double delight: West Ham's Demba Ba celebrates[LNB]All that remains is for the rest of West Ham's team, apart from Parker, to act upon those same noises before the game - not when they are 3-0 down. Then staying up shouldn't be a problem. [LNB]Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, will be formally unveiled at The Hawthorns on Monday afternoon with a three-pronged mission ahead of him. [LNB]The club's new head coach will be judged on survival - but to do that he will need to shore up a defence that has leaked two goals or more in each of their last 10 matches in the Premier League.[LNB] Grant rewards Hammers by giving them three days off and go-karting tripGovernment close to confirming West Ham as victors in race for Olympic StadiumHammers legend Dicks set to return to Upton Park as reserve team coachWEST HAM UNITED FC
