West Ham 5 Burnley 3- Hair-raising for Zola who relies on home comforts
30 Nov 2009 - 00:15:01
Gianfranco Zola is nine days older than Owen Coyle, but both managers may have a few more grey hairs after Saturday's thriller at Upton Park.
Zola was relieved after his West Ham managed to protect a 5-0 lead, having twice squandered two-goal advantages against Hull and Sunderland in their last four Premier League matches.
Burnley boss Coyle, meanwhile, had to defend another poor defensive away display and justify his commitment to playing open, attacking football on the road.
Taking a break: Zola
The 43-year-olds were both attack-minded players and they each encourage their sides to play the same way, but this must increase the stress levels in the Coyle and Zola households. Both admitted they rely on their families to give them balance.
Zola is married to Franca and has three children one of whom,18-year-old Andrea, plays for West Ham reserves and Coyle and hiswife Kerry also have three kids.
Zola said: 'It is verystressful but you learn to cope with it. You have to handle thepressure and keep focus. I try to do normal things with my family. Myfamily is the best way to relax. I think we're doing football the waythe fans like. I like the team to play offensively, but there aremoments in the game where you have to be solid. It was an important dayto win and we did so and I think we did it with style.'Burnley's commitment to stylish football is commendable, but resultssuggest it is starting to seem a bit naive.They have one point in sevenaway games, shipping 25 goals and scoring eight.
They played some delightful football particularly when Chris Eagles switched from the right to left but were crying out for a Plan B at 3-0 down after 45 minutes.
Coyle joked: 'Let's bring in a league that only counts the home form. I've got a few more grey hairs now, which takes the edge off my good looks, but I've been grey for a few years.
'I usually bring it home with me until my wife gives me a slap. Having a family is very grounding they put things in perspective.'
High fives: Substitute Luis Jimenez completes the scoring for West Ham from the penalty spot
Burnley's Robbie Blake added: 'We only know one thing and that is to go and attack teams. We are sat in mid-table in the league with a lot more points than people thought we would have.
'We've got too much quality to sit back and expect to get a 0-0 or try and nick a 1-1 in the last minute with a set-piece.'
Scott Parker put Jack Collison through after 18 minutes for the opener, Junior Stanislas made it 2-0 and Carlton Cole added a third, scoring his first West Ham penalty after Blake brought down Jonathan Spector.
England striker Cole, 26, was substituted at half-time and went to hospital for a scan on his right knee.
Breaking the hoodoo: West Ham won for the first time this season when Cole scored
Guillermo Franco nipped clear to poke home a Stanislas free-kick after 52 minutes and his replacement, Luis Jimenez, won and converted a second penalty to make it 5-0.
But the home side never looked comfortable, particularly after Steven Fletcher was twice allowed to sneak in at the far post and score from Eagles crosses.
Parker said: 'I think we are a bit nervy. We need to be strong, concentrate on the positive things. Obviously there is a little underlying problem which we need to sort.'
A red card for captain Steven Caldwell, judged to have pulled back Zavon Hines, seemed to have ended Burnley's challenge, but there was still time for Eagles to score the visitors' third.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Green 6; Spector 6, Gabbidon, 6, Da Costa 6, Ilunga 6; Collison 6 (Faubert 77min), Parker 8, Kovac 6, Stanislas 6; Franco 6 (Jimenez 59, 6), Cole 6 (Hines 46, 7).
Booked: Ilunga, Kovac.
BURNLEY (4-5-1): Jensen 4; Mears 6, Carlisle 6, Caldwell 5, Jordan 5 (Kalvenes 55, 6); Eagles 7, Alexander 6 (McDonald 70, 6), Elliott 6, Bikey 6, Blake 5 (Nugent 55, 6); Fletcher 7.
Booked: Jensen. Sent off: Caldwell.
Man of the match: Scott Parker.
Referee: Chris Foy.
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