West Ham 2 Wolves 0: Bill Howell's Big Match verdict

Jan 3 2011 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

THE Inca ruler Pachacuti fashioned the skulls of executed enemies into drinking jars, made their bones into flutes, wore their teeth as necklaces and drums were crafted from their skin. Cruel.

Vlad III of Romania banged nails into heads, cut off limbs, used blinding, strangulation and burning. He cut off noses and ears, scalped, skinned and boiled humans alive. Cruel.

Ivan IV of Russia beat his daughter-in-law for wearing indecent clothes. His son, also named Ivan, argued with his father. Ivan hit him on the head with a sharp stick, and killed instantly. Very cruel.

And a professional football team from the Staffordshire town of Wolverhampton lifted expectations to unbearable heights with a victory of historic proportions at Anfield.

They then asked around 1,500 supporters to pay £36 for an adult ticket at West Ham in a six pointer of all six pointers.

They made them sit through a decent start.

They made them watch their heroes force Robert Green into three fine saves at the start of the second half.

They made them watch Nenad Milijas head a glorious chance over the crossbar and see Ronald Zubar execute the blooper of all bloopers.

And at only 1-0 down, made them watch Sylvan Ebanks-Blake head against the woodwork when he really should have scored.

They lost the game. Cruel. Cruel. Cruel.

“The Premier League is harsh, it is unrelenting. You get punished,” reflected Mick McCarthy and it was hard not to have a degree of sympathy for him and his team.

Still, they and he always knew it was going to be a long winter. A long, arduous season.

Defeat here won’t relegate them, just as 15th place at the beginning of January won’t keep West Ham up. It will help, though.