Football: Blades hammer the point

NEIL WARNOCK'S clenched fist at the end said it all.

This was a big point at this stage of the season and the Sheffield boss was in the mood to share his joy.

Germaine Defoe had threatened to shred the Blades' defence, instead he ended empty-handed in what may have been his final appearance in claret and blue.

Not many First Division defenders will be sorry to see the young Hammers' striker go, especially the Sheffield back four, who were forced to perform more twists than Chubby Checker.

But it was worth it as Defoe drew a blank and Warnock said: "I was pleased with the centre-backs because against Macclesfield in midweek they were a shambles. And 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 will go up.

"We limited them to a few opportunities and then had a few chances of our own. It is a little bit special playing West Ham but we are a good, solid unit with a lot of younger players. I just wish they had sold Defoe before they played us."

Sheffield spent much of the match on the back foot, especially after a tetchy opening 30 minutes, as Defoe gave the visitors a taste of what attracts Manchester United, among others. He hit a post in the 33rd minute and Phil Jagielka had to be alert to block another shot just on the break.

But West Ham are a club with problems on and off the pitch and their initial domination soon petered out.

Protests and petitions are no way to build a club and boss Glenn Roeder knows it.

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

He said: "The players are doing everything they can to lift everybody but it's not helpful for the players, especially the young ones, to perform in an atmosphere like that."

MAN OF THE MATCH JERMAIN DEFOE

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.

MANAGER RATINGS: Roeder 6; Warnock 7

REFEREE: K Hill 7.

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