Football: Hammers missing in action

West Ham are offering free admission to watch training at Upton Park this week. It will probably be more entertaining than this leaden match under leaden skies that served only to offer Derby a useful point. It would have been three had not a linesman wrongly disallowed them a goal in added time.

Defensive misdemeanours had plagued Alan Pardew when, in their previous weekend's game, West Ham had visited his former club, Reading. Yesterday it was a lack of attacking drive and impoverished communication that again cost them the chance to consolidate their promotion challenge. Pardew admitted: "We need a win, and quickly, for confidence." Crystal Palace tomorrow are not likely to accede meekly.

Distinguishing the difference between teams going for promotion and those moving towards the drop in this undistinguished First Division is often problematic. Here, Derby began the more careless of the two. They regularly allowed West Ham to approach unchallenged into their penalty area.

Bobby Zamora and David Connolly enjoyed the space but neither could use it to any effect. Zamora was denied by Lee Grant in the Derby goal who blocked a sharp, accurate shot, one of the few, and Grant was similarly alert when pushing wide another rasping one from Connolly. In the meantime Derby relied on counterattacks aimed at Paul Peschisolido whose nimbleness sometimes troubled Haydon Mullins. But they rarely put serious thought into sending anyone forward in support until shortly before half-time when they brightened considerably.

Realising that West Ham were offering less and less of a challenge, Derby risked more commitment and their teamwork gathered confidence. Consequently their opportunities grew in number. A free- kick from Leon Osman was headed ominously close to a post. The home crowd's patience waned and even the introduction of Nigel Reo- Coker's pace failed to raise their spirits. A poor miss by Brian Deane further aggravated them while Derby's fans complained that in added time a perfectly legitimate goal from a breakaway by Manel was ruled offside.

George Burley, the Derby manager, rightly said: "That decision cost us three points and another one cost us points last week. We've just got to win all of our remaining home games."

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