Danny Gabbidon and West Ham perplexed by Hulls spot-kick routine
23 Nov 2009 - 03:50:38
West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon said that they feared Hull were going to repeat Thierry Henry and Robert Pires's penalty antics against Manchester City in 2005.
When Hull were awarded a penalty during the teams' 3-3 draw on Saturday, shortly before half-time, both Jimmy Bullard and Bernard Mendy shaped up to take it - and ran towards the ball close to each other.
Bullard eventually hit it - and scored. But West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was fuming afterwards, complaining to referee Mark Clattenburg. Green was confused about who was going to strike the ball, which put him off. The England keeper felt that Mendy should have been penalised for encroachment.
Fears: Gabbidon (left) and West Ham were furious with Hull's spot-kick antics
Back in 2005, Pires tried to set up Henry from a spot-kick - although he eventually scuffed the pass, conceding a free-kick. The French pair had copied the tactic from Johan Cruyff and Jesper Olsen, who had done the same thing with success for Ajax in the early Eighties.
Gabbidon, returning to the West Ham defence at left-back rather than centre back, admitted: 'Robert (Green) said after the game he wasn't really sure who was going to take the penalty. It was a good pen from Bullard but Mendy was running right behind him. Usually that gets pulled up for encroachment.
'I think Robert (Green) might have been worried the two of them were going to do an Henry and Pires. I didn't know who was going to take the penalty. I thought Bullard was probably going to take it but I wasn't sure.'
No doubt: Bullard convincingly fired his spot-kick past Green
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola picked out Gabbidon as one of the two best players from his side, saying: '(Guillermo) Franco was outstanding - he and Gabbidon were above everybody.'
Franco was exceptional, particularly early on when he scored a header as West Ham raced into a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes. Speaking about the Mexican forward, Zola added: 'He has done very well for us since he came in. I am surprised that Villareal didn't give him a contract. Maybe that is because of something else.
'He is an excellent guy and works very hard. Above all, he is a very intelligent player and does what is the right thing for the team.'
One for the training ground: West Ham have conceded 23 goals
Franco's strike partner Carlton Cole - reportedly a target for Manchester United and Liverpool - was less impressive, but the West Ham boss said: 'Carlton has been out for a while with an injury and it is not easy to come straight back and pick up straight away. He could not train properly, so I am not worried about Carlton. He is going to be there when we need him.'
In the meantime, Zola will concentrate on his side's defending. West Ham are making a habit of throwing away leads. Zola said: 'We know that we should handle those situations better and that is one of the things we are going to be talking about through the week.' Hull City 3 West Ham 3: Hunt miffed to lose out to Bullard in spot kick spatWest Ham to cover Quashie's wages when he joins Milton Keynes on loanBrown and Allardyce discussed heart problems shortly before surgeryHULL CITY FC
