West Ham 2 West Brom 2: Chris Lepkowski's Big Match Report
PABLO Ibanez scored his first Premier League goal to salvage a point for West Brom, end their mini-slump and pile more misery on West Ham.
There were boos and jeers in East London, but all of them directed towards the home side.
The Hammers were subjected to a barrage of abuse from their own supporters following the draw against Albion.
The nation’s capital might have the Olympics in 2012, but class and sporting behaviour were clearly in short supply.
Their night got even worse when Pablo equalised late on to give Albion a share of the points.
The Baggies had taken the lead thanks to a Peter Odemwingie spot-kick after Steven Reid was held back by Luis Boa Morte.
Scott Parker equalised with a brilliantly-taken equaliser in the dying minutes of the first half before Frederic Piquionne scored a penalty himself after Gabriel Tamas was deemed to have fouled Keiron Dyer.
But it wouldn’t be an Albion performance without a late fightback. And this time it was Pablo who responded with an excellent header during a dramatic late charge by the visitors, who looked most likely to score.
Roberto Di Matteo made four changes to his starting line-up. Peter Odemwingie made his first start for some seven weeks and was joined back in the first XI by James Morrison, Steven Reid and Graham Dorrans, who was subject of several derisory bids from West Ham during the summer.
A cagey opening saw Albion tip-toeing around for the opening 10 minutes. They weren’t under pressure in front of their own goal but were struggling for possesion. A potential breakthrough came in the 11th minute when the Baggies broke swiftly through Jerome Thomas.
The Albion winger steamed through the middle and had both Odemwingie and Dorrans free. Neither were utilised - the ex-Arsenal winger’s shot was feeble and easily held by Robert Green.
The Baggies were to briefly show glimpses. In the 26th minute Pablo was to wheel away from his markers to head Brunt’s free-kick over.
And at the other end Carlton Cole was to send his header even closer to the goal. Both sides guilty of poor misses.
But Albion’s slow-burn dominance came to the boil in the 37th minute. Chris Brunt’s shot was deflected away for a corner.
