Ipswich pour more misery on Hammers

Reuser netted his third of the season

West Ham 0-1 Ipswich

Martijn Reuser's free-kick on the hour mark kept Ipswich in the hunt for a European place and condemned West Ham to another home defeat.

The Dutchman's effort gave George Burley's men their first away victory since December and it was a well deserved three points after a fine second half performance.

Reuser's strike from the edge of the area came after Ipswich were only awarded a free-kick as Marcus Stewart was brought down inside the West Ham penalty area.

The game needed one side to take the initiative after a dour opening period and the Suffolk side seized that advantage, while West Ham failed to hit the target in the second half.

From start to finish I thought we played some exceptional football

  George Burley

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the opening 45 minutes as play was almost totally confined to the middle third of the pitch.

A back-pass from Stuart Pearce on 12 minutes gave the visitors a free-kick just six yards from Shaka Hislop's goal, but almost inevitably Matt Holland's effort was charged down.

Jermaine Wright then sent a 30-yard effort just over Hislop's bar while at the other end Stuart Pearce's 35-yard free-kick was straight at Richard Wright.

Just before the break Michael Carrick was another to try his luck from long range but he was well off target.

Harry Redknapp introduced Todorov and Moncur in place of Cole and Schemmel at the start of the second half but it was Ipswich who took control.

Reuser laid on a perfect opportunity for Stewart, but the leading scorer failed to hit the target with a header from an unmarked position just eight yards out.

Pearce was fortunate not to concede a penalty

Just before the hour though Ipswich did break the deadlock and once again Reuser and Stewart were involved.

Stewart had his legs scythed from under him by Stuart Pearce a yard inside the Hammers' area but referee Dean awarded a free-kick just outside the box.

Ipswich complaints soon subsided as Reuser ensured justice was done as he blasted the ball past Hislop's left hand.

Reuser was now running the show and five minutes later he cut in from the right and forced Hislop into a brilliant save, diving at full stretch to his right.

It's all about belief and confidence and I've got confidence in the players - but today they had no confidence in themselves

  Harry Redknapp
West Ham manager

Jermaine Wright saw an effort deflect wide off Stuart Pearce and as the visitors' domination continued, cries of 'what a load of rubbish' rang out from the Upton Park faithful.

Ipswich could even afford to substitute Reuser, bringing on the more defensive Jamie Clapham, but still posed the greater threat with Wilnis and Jermiane Wright spurning further opportunities.

Five minutes from time Paolo Di Canio went down in the Ipswich area under the challenge of Wilnis but his penalty appeal was turned down.

It was a decision that incensed the Italian and he took out his frustration on the post to sum up West Ham's miserable afternoon.

And the boos that will have still been ringing in the ears of West Ham players in the dressing room will have done nothing to lift their mood.

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West Ham: Hislop, Stuart Pearce, Ian Pearce, Schemmel, Winterburn, Song, Cole, Carrick, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs: Bywater, Moncur, Soma, Todorov, Foxe.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Wilnis, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Makin, Magilton, Holland, Jermaine Wright, Stewart, Armstrong, Reuser. Subs: Branagan, Burchill, Venus, Clapham, Abidallah.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral)