CAIRO: Mido contributed to West Ham s only goal and struck the post late in the game as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. The Middlesbrough-bound striker replaced fellow new signing Benni McCarthy at halftime to make his debut, having joined from Zamalek on loan until the end of the season. He helped West Ham pull one back after trailing Burnley by two goals from David Nugent and Daniel Fox either side of the interval. Nine minutes from time, Mido s effort was pushed by Burnley keeper Brian Jensen into the path of Brazilian striker Ilan, who also joined in the January transfer window, to fire into an empty net. West Ham piled on pressure in the latter stages and were unlucky not to secure a share of spoils just before the stoppage time. Mido slid in to convert Junior Stanislas cross goalwards but his effort was denied by the post. The Egyptian striker s encouraging appearance could prompt coach Gianfranco Zola to include him in West Ham s starting line up for their next league game as they face a fight against relegation The Hammers lie third from bottom in the table with 21 points, one adrift of the safety zone.
