West Ham United...3 Nottingham Forest...2Upton Park was clinking with rose-tinted spectacles on Saturday evening. West Ham's first home win of the season, in dramatic circumstances, had convinced some this could be the pivotal moment in a dismal campaign.
"It could be the turning point of the season, who knows?" said manager Glenn Roeder, dredging up a watery smile. "We can take this result into the league," said their two-goal forward Jermain Defoe.
The hard truth, however, is if this match showed anything it was that the Hammers could struggle in the First Division next season. Forest, who led twice, missed a penalty and had a goal disallowed, were desperately unlucky not to get at least a replay.
West Ham, whose next Premiership matches are against Newcastle and Arsenal, are almost certain to be relegated. That will not be because their luck will turn bad again but because their defence, in which a porous four play nervously in front of a dodgy keeper, is so awful fans of The Office would walk away in cringing embarrassment.
David "Calamity" James came up with another howler on Saturday. It can only be assumed that Roeder coaches his defence with Keystone Kops videos.
The encouragement taken from the sometimes brilliant performance of the captain, Joe Cole, also suggested a heavy dose of denial.
Roeder said afterwards: "At this stage I'm going to leave Joe as captain. I've spoken to the (injured) club captain, Steve Lomas, about that and I've got his full support.
"I've told Joe I'm not expecting him to be pulling players about and tell them what they should be doing. David Beckham doesn't do that. He leads by example and the added responsibility will help him learn about the game."
But a captain who pulls players about, particularly in defence, is exactly what West Ham need. Even so, though West Ham are awful at the back and depleted in attack, without Paolo Di Canio and Frederic Kanoute, their priority would be appear to be a midfield player. Yesterday they refused the opportunity to deny they were interested in signing Lee Bowyer.
Given his and the club's reputation it is difficult to think of a less appropriate signing. But West Ham's managing director, Paul Aldridge, said last night: "There has been no communication with Leeds and our priority is to sign a striker. But Lee is a quality player and people know that he is available because he's not going to re-sign for Leeds."
Forest are an impressive, passing side who deserved to salvage some lost confidence here following their recent promotion slide. But manager Paul Hart was phlegmatic as he said: "When I went from the old Second Division to the First Division I learned that mistakes get punished. But, if I gave a rollicking out every time we made a mistake, we would never pass the ball."
Forest were the more accomplished side but it took James's gaffe to present them with the lead as Marlon Harewood took advantage of his fumble.
Defoe equalised before, in the second half, Andy Reid volleyed home from Harewood's cross. Defoe set up Cole for the second equaliser before scoring the winner. And suddenly, West Ham were launched into delusions of Premiership adequacy.
WEST HAM: James, Schemmel, Breen, Dailly, Winterburn (Repka 85), Pearce (Camara 74), Carrick, Sinclair, Cisse, Cole, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Moncur, Sofiane. Goals: Defoe 26, Cole 61, Defoe 83.
NOTTM FOREST: Ward, Louis-Jean, Doig, Dawson, Brennan, Scimeca, Thompson, Prutton, Reid, Johnson, Harewood. Subs Not Used: Roche, Williams, Bopp, Jess, Westcarr. Booked: Louis-Jean. Goals: Harewood 17, Reid 50.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
