West Ham‘s 2-0 victory at Peterborough took them to within a point of second place in the Championship behind Reading but their delight was tempered by a serious head injury to Abdoulaye Faye and more criticism of the ‘long ball’ style by their fans.
Faye, one of West Ham’s most consistent performers this season, was taken to hospital after a collision with Peterborough’s Lee Frecklington just before half-time and manager Sam Allardyce said: “We hope it's only severe bruising but it might be a fracture of the skull. At the very least there was some concussion."
Allardyce also hit back at fans who chanted: “West Ham United - we play on the floor” even after West Ham were two goals up through Ricardo Vaz Te and Gary O’Neil and passing the ball around at ease.
“I’m sick of all that rubbish,” he said. “It just keeps rearing its head. We’ve outplayed and out passed the six teams we’ve played recently. The facts speak for themselves and the perception of people that it is anything other than that, is deluded.
“You can play on the floor when you’ve earned the right to play but you can’t do it when the opposition are shutting you down as Peterborough did in the first half.
“You play according to the situation which means long balls only when necessary.
“Unfortunately it seems to be highlighted as far as we are concerned but we can live with it as long as we win football matches.”
Before the game Allardyce had conceded the Championship title to Southampton but midfield star O’Neil, who scored West Ham’s second goal in the 57th minute, has not given up hope.
“I know people have been talking about us slipping away and going into the play-offs but there’s none of that talk here,” he said. “We’re still gunning for the title - we’re only six points behind Southampton.”
West Ham will go above Reading if they beat their Berkshire rivals at Upton Park on Saturday and O’Neil admitted that the 3-0 away defeat earlier this season, during which Allardyce’s team had added an extra incentive.
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“There will be a bit of a feeling that we owe them one,” said O’Neil. “We haven’t lost to many sides this season so being beaten three at Reading is one the lads want to put right.
“The only focus is finishing in the top two though and we need to win Saturday to stand the best chance.
“Reading are the form team in all the leagues at the moment and they will be coming to Upton Park thinking that, if they can beat us, they will be pulling away. We have the best squad in the league though and we just need to start well at home."
