West Ham United's George McCartney and Stoke City's Peter Crouch

West Ham defender could not stop Stoke City goal

Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent Tuesday, November 20, 2012
5:45 PM

Hammers full back George McCartney was hoodwinked by the Potters corner routine on Monday night, but bears no grudges

West Ham defender George McCartney knows he was fouled for Stoke City’s goal at Upton Park on Monday night, but he has already accepted it as one of those things.

Stoke’s clever corner saw McCartney’s man Jonathan Walters steal a march on him and then hammer the ball into the net as the defender watched helplessly.

But Stoke manager Tony Pulis admitted that it had been a cunning training ground plan and that they had deliberately blocked McCartney from getting back to the player.

“Obviously it was a well-worked set-piece,” admitted the Northern Ireland international. “It is a big part of their game – free kicks and corner.

“There is me and Mo Diame at the back post, plus two of their players and Walters has made the run and Charlie Adam has just blocked me off.

“Once you give someone two or three yards in the box, it gives them an opportunity to score, but looking at the replay it is a great finish and it has sneaked in at the near post.”

It was clearly a cunning plan and McCartney did not bear any grudges against Adam.

“If the ref has seen it, he could probably have given a free kick, but I think it happens week-in-week-out,” said the full back.

“It is just one of those things that the ref doesn’t see and they get away with it and score a goal.”