I can't believe the unprofessionalism of it he railed

I can't believe the unprofessionalism of it," he railed.And yet Kitson, up to that point, was having the sort of game in which anyone would have backed him to put away the spot-kick with ease. What is it? A testimonial match? We're in a relegation battle."In the absence of the injured Julian Dicks, John Hartson was West Ham's designated penalty taker and Redknapp was plainly furious at the heart- rules-head decision to foist the task on to Kitson "That was the killer for us. "But we've given it to a boy who isn't interested in taking penalties. It was Barmby's cross, nodded down by Ferguson, that brought a goal for Michael Branch 14 minutes from time and with that panic set in.Everton had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Branch went over after Richard Hall's challenge, but, just as it looked as though the Hammers would survive, an unnecessary foul by their substitute, Marc Rieper, allowed Barmby to set up what might be the fatal blow to their survival ambitions.The West Ham manager, Harry Redknapp, was less vitriolic about Miklosko's blunder than he was about the circumstances surrounding the penalty "If we had scored it, the game's over," he said. His effort was neither firm enough nor well enough placed to beat Neville Southall and the chance to kill off Everton was gone.A combination of that escape and the arrival at half-time of the enigmatic Barmby had a revitalising effect on visitors who had seemed drained by their midweek efforts in the Merseyside derby. Two minutes into injury time, the goalkeeper came out to take Nicky Barmby's long free-kick, flapped at it ineffectually and then watched in horror as Duncan Ferguson side-footed the equaliser.All that can be said in Miklosko's defence is that it should never have come to that and, if Paul Kitson had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot early in the second half, it never would have.Hugo Porfirio, whose performance in a free-roving role was one of the highlights of West Ham's display in the first half, was brought down by Richard Dunne, and Kitson, with two fine goals already to his credit, was the sentimental, if reluctant, choice to take the kick. West Ham United 2 Kitson 10, 32 Everton 2Branch 78, Ferguson 90Attendance: 24,525West Ham slipped back into the relegation zone, their talent for self-destruction never more apparent than in this failure to win a match they dominated for so long.Ludek Miklosko will take his share of the blame for turning victory into a draw that might not be enough, in the final analysis, to save their Premiership skins.

Middlesbrough have their FA Cup semi-final replay with Chesterfield that night - followed by at least another six cup finals like yesterday's before their marathon season ends.. The local lad was obliged to make a bookable challenge the first time the Brazilian threatened to slip free but Sunderland held firm under pressure to record their first league win away from Roker Park since November.Peter Reid and his players will face Southampton at home on Tuesday with renewed heart. His free-kick from the right invited a header as it arced along the six-yard line and Williams duly obliged.Robson released Juninho from bench duty eight minutes into the second half, thus providing Williams with his intended task. The red tide turned with one sweeping cross-field pass delivered from Chris Waddle's left boot although Allan Johnston's woeful first touch wasted the chance.Beck rattled Perez's right-hand post on a rare Boro break but it was Robson's men who were rattled by half-time Waddle, inevitably, was the source of their torment. The Worcester referee ignored a blatant handling offence by Michael Gray in the fifth minute and bemused even the Wearsiders in attendance by brandishing yellow, not red, when Lionel Perez raced out of his area and sent Mikkel Beck crashing to the ground.Bryan Robson made five changes to the side beaten by Leicester in the Coca-Cola Cup final replay on Wednesday night and his reshuffle looked likely to pay dividends as Beck and Neil Cox tested the reflexes of Sunderland's French goalkeeper in the opening eight minutes.

It is doubtful whether Gerald Ashby would have dared to venture into Middlesbrough town centre on his homeward journey. "I decided to go to York City instead."Sunderland just about deserved their victory, but Middlesbrough were not just yorked by the Boro boy who came home to haunt them. "There were changes at Boro at the time which unsettled me," the 19-year-old said. He was offered a YTS contract by Middlesbrough four years ago. The lingering irony for the locals, heartbroken again yesterday, was that Williams might have been on the home side.

Sunderland's last win in Middlesbrough dated back to times BC: 31 March 1962, in fact, when a certain Brian Clough scored the only goal in a Second Division meeting at Ayresome Park. Instead, Williams made his mark as the match- winner, with a goal that gives Sunderland a lifeline and leaves his home- town team fighting for Premiership life.Williams' 44th-minute header also earned him a place alongside another Teessider in the annals of this particular North-eastern rivalry. With Juninho on the bench at kick-off time, it seemed his afternoon might be spent marking time. The teenager from Middlesbrough was drafted into Sunderland's midfield yesterday with the specific intention of performing what might be termed as a Kaamarking job on Middlesbrough's No 10 in the other local scrap of critical importance in the Premier League yesterday. Middlesbrough 0 Sunderland 1 Williams 45Attendance: 30,106It is a fair bet that Darren Williams was not walking the streets of his home town last night. Fettis will be needed for the rest of Forest's relegation campaign as Mark Crossley will have an operation on Wednesday in the hope of solving a hernia problem..

Pierre Laurent made his full debut for Leeds and, with his pace and control, could have sealed the match in the final minute but Alan Fettis blocked his shot from 10 yards. Gemmill also headed over from a similar position after Leeds' equaliser but Brian Roy could have extended Forest's lead much earlier.The mercurial striker failed to connect with one chance but then unleashed a sweet left-foot drive which Martyn tipped on to the bar, a save Bassett described as "England class". Van Hooijdonk scooped the ball over Nigel Martyn but the referee David Elleray deliberated with his assistant before allowing the goal to stand.Gemmill wasted a first-half chance, blazing over from 10 yards after being released by Brian McNeil, on loan from Celtic, who provided stability and vision in midfield. The Dutch striker appeared to have drifted beyond the last defender when Scott Gemmill's measured pass found him unmarked six yards out. But even then a potential offside decision resulted in a collective holding of breath.