Hat-trick hero Harewood silences critics
The powerful Hammers striker could have spent most of the season languishing on the bench if Czech international Milan Baros had not snubbed a move to West Ham in favour of Aston Villa.
But the Upton Park crowd were left chanting “Baros, what’s the score?” after Harewood had fired West Ham back to winning ways and repaid the faith shown in him by Alan Pardew.
West Ham’s pressure finally paid dividends after 24 minutes when Harewood linked expertly with Sheringham, spinning into space to receive a return ball and then charging into the box to slide his shot under Sorensen.
West Ham’s tails were up. Repka whipped in a cross from the right that forced Hughes to stoop and head over his own bar. Etherington picked out Mullins with the corner and Harewood poked the ball home from close range.
After 50 minutes Harewood got his third when Sorensen came charging out and got nowhere near Etherington’s cross and the ball fell to Harewood unmarked at the far post to smash into an empty net.
Villa pressed in search of something but Anton Ferdinand and then Gabbidon cleared West Ham’s lines magnificently.
The final party piece came from Benayoun, who twisted and turned inside the box before firing low into the bottom right corner.
: Carroll, Repka, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Konchesky, Mullins (Dailly 90), Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Etherington (Newton 70), Sheringham, Harewood (Zamora 76).
: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Bouma, Milner, Davis, McCann (Hendrie 81), Barry (Berger 62), Baros, Phillips (Angel 57).
: R Styles.
