Football: Defoe only bright spot for Roeder

PROTESTS and petitions are no way to build a successful club, and West Ham manager Glenn Roeder knows this well.

Fans again called for the head of chairman Terence Brown inside and outside the ground and Roeder found it hard to keep his thoughts to himself, despite being seen as part of the problem by many.

He said: "From a team's point of view we have started the season with two wins and a draw.

"The players are doing everything they can to lift everybody but it's not helpful for them, especially the younger ones, to play in this atmosphere."

The fans seemed distracted for long periods and it was no surprise given the way West Ham's performance petered out in the second half to the extent where Sheffield United could have taken home all the points.

Roeder will be relying on Jermain Defoe this season and the fear of losing him before August is out is written all over the manager's face.

He all but refused to discuss his young striker despite Defoe's performance being the highlight once again in a disjointed display by the home side.

Roeder pointed to the first half showing of his team, but the fact they failed to capitalise on their superiority spoke volumes for the challenge ahead.

Defoe failed to take the chances which he created almost alone, but a successful team needs to be more than just one man.

To make things worse for those fans, they know this could be Defoe's final match in claret and blue if Manchester United extend their interest.

Last season's home form was West Ham's undoing and they must not allow it to slump again - but it could have been so different yesterday.

After a tetchy opening 30 minutes which kept referee Keith Hill busy dispensing yellow cards, Defoe nearly undid United's defence with a marvellous jinking run.

He ended it with a shot against a post which David Connolly, selected ahead of Neil Mellor following last week's outburst, failed to convert. Defoe was again the danger man just before the break but Phil Jagielka managed to block the chance and in the second half Matthew Etherington set up the young striker with a driving run into the heart of the defence.

But again Defoe's radar was not working properly and he blazed over.

With Neil Warnock badgering his team from the touchline, the Blades began to establish some shape and even looked the more likely team to snatch three points.

David James, likely to be England keeper against Croatia in midweek, saved superbly from Peter Ndlovu's angled drive after outstanding work by Nick Montgomery.

Jack Lester nearly forced a penalty in the closing minutes but Neil Warnock's clenched fist at the end spoke volumes for what the point meant to him.

He said: "You don't come up against that type of movement too often. You can see how important it is for them to keep Defoe.

"One would like to think we will finish above West Ham, because I think they'll go up."MAN OF THE MATCH JERMAIN DEFOE

His jinking runs and pace were always a threat.

WEST HAM: James 6, Repka 5, Brevett 6, (Garcia 5, Mellor 6), Hutchison 6, Lee 6, Dailly 7, Connolly 7, DEFOE 8, Etherington 7, Horlock 6, Pearce 6.

SHEFF UTD: Kenny 6, Kozluk 6, Jagieika 6, Morgan 6, Page 6, Montgomery 6, McCall 6, Tonge 7, Lester 6, Ndlovu 7, Ward 6.

MANAGERS: Roeder 6; Warnock 7

REFEREE: K Hill 7.

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