Shortly before Aaron Cresswell scored the goal that lifted West Ham into fifth place, he had the ball in Newcastle United’s half and options to his left and right. Andy Carroll was hurtling into the area anticipating a cross and Stewart Downing wanted a pass but Cresswell ignored them and sent a wild, ugly shot over the bar from 30 yards. Downing and Carroll were unimpressed while Sam Allardyce demanded an explanation from the left-back.
Cresswell kept going, though, and he was the toast of Upton Park a few minutes later when he ran on to Cheikhou Kouyaté’s woeful volley and steered the ball past Rob Elliot. It was the 24-year-old’s first goal for West Ham since his arrival from Ipswich Town in the summer and a player of lesser character could have gone into his shell after being admonished by his team-mates and manager.
Yet Cresswell is a quick learner and knows how to bounce back from disappointment quickly having been left heartbroken when he was released by Liverpool, his team, as a teenager.
“Kevin Nolan had the same,” Allardyce said. “He got discarded by Liverpool and went to Bolton. We all know what he achieved in the Premier League over the last 10 years. Aaron has had a slow process when building the base of his career. I think it was Paul Jewell who saw him at Tranmere and took him to Ipswich.
“When I talk about injuries the game record of Cresswell is better than anyone at the club. He played three seasons for Ipswich at 40-plus games. He did the same for Tranmere. We only have 38 games in the Premier League. Mr Dependable, not only in terms of his performances but his reliability. I hope I’m not jinxing him.”
Cresswell has impressed defensively but he also has a wicked left foot and is adventurous in possession. Much of the credit for West Ham’s improved performances this season has gone to their attacking players but the work of Cresswell and his fellow full-back, Carl Jenkinson, has been vital.
“They’ve made just as big a difference,” Allardyce said. “What the pair of them give us isn’t only defensively but in attacking flair. They are very good at receiving the ball and get us attacking on a regular basis.”
It was a tight game and West Ham were not as fluent without Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia. Allardyce, who indicated that Andy Carroll may be rested at West Bromwich Albionon Tuesday night, is hopeful they will be back soon but he is unhappy with Senegal’s medical staff for exacerbating Sakho’s back injury while he was on international duty last month.
“It’s a medical mishap by Senegal which is the biggest contention we have,” Allardyce said. “This wasn’t an injury gained by him playing football, it was a mishap by their medical staff. Because of the quality of our medical staff his recovery will hopefully be quicker than we thought. And the determination of the player.
“This player does not want to miss a game or a day’s training. If I said could he play today, even though he wasn’t fit, he would’ve said he’d give it a go.”
For Newcastle, who lost Moussa Sissoko to a foolish red card, there was disappointment about the end of their winning run. Sissoko and Jack Colback are suspended for Tuesday’s trip to Burnley and Alan Pardew said Tim Krul could be out for a few weeks with an ankle injury, but Newcastle’s manager expects Rolando Aarons and Fabricio Coloccini to return at Turf Moor.
“The most important thing is now to get the next result,” Pardew said. Newcastle could follow Cresswell’s example.
Man of the match: Aaron Cresswell (West Ham)
