Footballers are habitually encouraged to do their talking on the pitch and for much of this season West Ham have been spouting gibberish. Last night, however, they issued a firm declaration of support for their under-pressure manager, Gianfranco Zola, in the form of a tenacious and purposeful performance that endeda run of six games without a win and hoisted them clear of the relegation zone. More displays like this and they will not return there.
This was the ideal outcome for Zola, whose suitability to manage had been called into question in the run-up to the game by the West Ham co-owner, David Sullivan, who had suggested the Italian might be "too nice" to succeed. Though Sullivan subsequently issued a public assurance that Zola's job was not in jeopardy, the original comment, coming after a disagreement between the two men over the timing of the owner's announcement about swingeing cost cuts, doubtless spawned a feeling of vulnerability that words alone could not dispel. Security is more likely to spring from victories like this.
Perhaps in an attempt to show he can make cold-hearted decisions, Zola dropped Mark Noble and Jack Collison from the starting line-up, two youngsters in whom he had hitherto kept faith despite jaded-looking recent performances. He also gave a first start to the January signing Mido, and the Egyptian striker, so often sulky during previous spells at English clubs, combined well with Carlton Cole, who too frequently this season has been isolated up front. Mido's powerful impact overall, however, did not apply in the box, where he was guilty of squandering West Ham's first two chances of the game with tame finishes.
West Ham had begun in buoyant fashion but as they struggled to convert their good play into goals the brittleness of their confidence became apparent and Birmingham grew in menace. Cameron Jerome shot wide for the visitors from 18 yards before Scott Parker, a relentless driving force in West Ham's midfield, switched the momentum back in his team's favour with a storming run forward that Scott Dann curtailed illegally at the edge of the box. Alessandro Diamanti curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner, before charging to celebrate, pointedly, with his compatriot manager on the sideline. "It was a good gesture and I appreciated it very much," said Zola. "He just said 'this is for you, me and the team'. It's important that there is a good connection between the staff, myself and the players and everyone who works here. It means we are all going in the same direction and that's vital."
Cole sealed West Ham's win when he steered a header into the net from close range after enterprising work down the right by Julien Faubert. Birmingham, whose manager, Alex McLeish, had elected to change his line-up for the first time in 13 league matches, retained much of the compactness that has been responsible for their successful season but never summoned enough creativity to suggest they could threaten a comeback.
Zola, asked whether the comprehensive nature of the win might embolden him to tackle his employers anew, replied: "I didn't take offence [at suggestions he was 'too nice']. The chairman made a point, I made a point, now it's in the past. The important thing is I'm motivated to do well for this team. That is my message. Now we have to work together to give this team a better position. I'll do my job, the chairmen will do their jobs and the team will do theirs. End of story."
It is not yet the end of West Ham's relegation fight, of course. Though this win propelled them up to 14th spot, they remain a solitary point above the bottom three. Zola, however, believes the confidence harvested from the evening means there are happier times ahead. "This is a massive boost," he said. "Psychology is unbelievably important in football. I believe that this team is still only playing at 70% of its potential but the more freedom we get the better you will see us."
