Peterborough United v West Ham United
Pre-season friendly
London Road
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: Kevin Wright

 

Final score - Peterborough United 1-2 West Ham United

93 mins - Peterborough are not done yet... Boyd delivers and the ball bounces wide of the far post and out for a goal kick. The away supporters celebrate with a quick song, and well they might. Kurucz clears upfield and the final whistle is blown. West Ham begin their pre-season and Avram Grant starts his reign with a win!

92 mins - Seconds left and West Ham have a goal kick. It looks like the elusive away victory is finally going to arrive! On a more serious note, West Ham have done well here considering the number of changes and the large number of untried youngsters who have played the entire second half.

91 mins - We're going to have a minimum of two added minutes.

89 mins - Sears breaks clear down the left again and wins a corner. Edgar swings the ball in but his delivery is too deep and the ball bounces out for a goal kick.

88 mins - Peterborough have a late chance through a Boyd free-kick. Tomkins heads the ball out again and when it drops to a home player, Eyjolfsson is there to make a fine block.

87 mins - Of course, no round-up of the game would be complete without mention of boxing legend Mike Tyson's half-time appearance on the pitch.

86 mins - As we approach full-time, I think I'll give a quick re-cap of the evening's entertainment. Thomas Hitzlsperger looked a class act on his debut, producing a number of fine passes with his famous left foot. Carlton Cole's finish was sublime. Peterborough came on strong after the break, but the young Hammers weathered the storm and secured their victory courtesy of a fine individual goal from Anthony Edgar. Back on the pitch, the Posh win another corner, but Tomkins is there to head the ball well clear of the penalty area.

84 mins - Edgar wins a free-kick wide on the left and takes it himself, but his delivery is too close to Lewis, who claims the ball in front of his face.

82 mins - Lee brings down Davies just outside the box. Boyd crosses but the ball flies miles high and wide of the far post and into the stand. A final change for the Hammers as Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson replaces Lee for the final few minutes.

79 miins - Another chance for Montano. Spence finds McCarthy, who spins on the halfway line and releases Sears. The forward gets to the penalty area and crosses high for Montano, whose header flies wide of the far post. Peterborough bring on a couple more subs, replacing Langmead and Lee with Piergianni and Griffiths.

77 mins - A brilliant run from Montano should bring him a goal. He does everything right, splitting the Peterborough defence with a superbly-timed run, side-stepping Lewis and composing himself before shooting on target. Unfortunately, he waited just too long and left-back Ofori-Twumasi is able to head off the line and behind for a corner.

75 mins - Peterborough take off Whelpdale and bring on Josh Simpson. West Ham replace Dyer and Ilunga with Ahmed Abdulla and Callum McNaughton. Before anybody panics unduly, those were both planned substitutions.

74 mins - Tomkins is wearing the captain's armband for the second half.

73 mins - The Hammers are bossing this now. Ilunga gets on to Edgar's pass and reaches the byline. He looks up and picks out Sears, who takes a touch and slams a left-foot shot wide of the near post. Good passing football again.

70 mins - West Ham have got six Academy graduates on the pitch at the moment, yet another endorsement of the fine work done by Tony Carr MBE and his staff at Little Heath.

68 mins - The goal has really given West Ham a confidence boost. Montano and Sears pop the ball around before it is worked inside to Lee. The midfielder takes a touch and tests Lewis with a low shot from 20 yards. Encouraging signs.

66 mins - I know this is tempting fate, but if the score stays the same, this will be West Ham's first away win since beating Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 15 August 2009. The away fans are in full voice, as you might expect.

65 mins - GOAL! And what a goal it was too. Edgar picks the ball up 30 yards out, bursts past the Peterborough defence and slams the ball low inside the far post. His cousin, a certain Jermain Defoe, would have been proud of that finish.

64 mins - Dyer breaks clear inside the box. The angle is against him though, and he tries to square to a team-mate, only for a Peterborough defender to slide in and hack the ball out for a throw. Better.

63 mins - Wesolowski finds Davies, but his cross is headed clear by Tomkins. Good defending there.

60 mins - Hmmm.... Tomkins challenges goalscorer Hibbert inside the penalty area and the forward goes down. Referee Wright looks at the incident before waving his arms, despite strong calls for a penalty.

59 mins - Peterborough win a corner but West Ham clean up the danger and clear through the experienced heads of Ilunga and Dyer.

58 mins - The new West Ham XI are just struggling to find their passing rhythm at present, but it should be remembered that many of these youngsters have never played in the first team before.

55 mins - If you can bear nipping away from the live text updates for a few moments, an exciting transfer update has just been posted on the official website homepage.

52 mins - Lee picks up the loose ball 25 yards out and shoots low, but Langmead sticks out his right leg and blocks.

51 mins - The home fans have found a drum at half-time and are now beating it enthusiastically. The goal has injected some volume into their singing, too.

49 mins - GOAL! Spence concedes a free-kick wide on the left. The ball is curled in low by Boyd and Hibbert loses his marker to smash the ball past Kurucz from about eight yards. Nothing the goalkeeper could do about that.

48 mins - Edgar picks up the ball just outside the penalty area, but can only drive his low shot wide.

46 mins - We're off and running again. Peterborough have also made a host of changes.

Peterborough second-half team: Lewis, Little, Langmead (Piergianni 79), Queudrue, Ofori-Twumasi, Whelpdale (Simpson 75), Lee (Griffiths 79), Wesolowski, Boyd, Davies, Hibbert

The second half is going to start a bit late following 'Iron' Mike's appearance. I wonder if he's been into the away dressing room to impart any of his sporting knowledge.

West Ham are going to field a completely new XI for the second half, aside from goalkeeper Kurucz, who keeps his place.

Second-half team: Kurucz, Spence, Tomkins, Fry, Ilunga (McNaughton 75), Dyer (Abdulla 75), Lee (Eyjolfsson 82), Edgar, Sears, Montano, McCarthy

Mike Tyson is out on the London Road pitch dressed in a Peterborough United home shirt, complete with the No1 and TYSON on the back. I have now officially seen everything. Tyson is now addressing the crowd. Unfortunately, the Press Box here is behind glass so I can't hear exactly what he is saying, but I'm reliably informed that he has heard of West Ham. Good lad.

47 mins - The half-time whistle is blown. Apparently, Tyson is coming on to the pitch during the interval to speak to the crowd.

45 mins - Mike Tyson is in the building! We're going to have one extra minute.

44 mins - I've lost count of the number of corners Peterborough have won. Little forces Gabbidon to concede the latest one. McCann crosses and the ball flies out for a Peterborough throw on the near side. Seconds later, Faubert concedes another corner. McCann crosses and Cole heads clear at the near post.

43 mins - Brown passes to a Peterborough player and the home side break clear through Mackail-Smith. The forward is forced slightly wide by McCann's pass and can only drive his shot into the side-netting at the near post.

42 mins - Boyd comes close, skipping past two challenges and shooting low, but Gabbidon gets his leg in the way and diverts it out for a corner. McCann crosses and Bennett heads over the top again.

41 mins - Ofori-Twumasi passes straight to Noble. The captain finds Cole, who is challenged as he tries to release Boa Morte. Luckily, the ball spins wide to the midfielder, but his shot is too close to Lewis, who saves low to his left.

39 mins - Alert goalkeeping from Kurucz, who dives low to his left to push aside a curling free-kick from McCann. The Academy graduate has certainly got a sweet left foot. Peterborough have a corner.

38 mins - Good, composed play from Brown, who turns Mendez-Laing before sliding a square pass to Gabbidon, who completes the clearance.

37 mins - Gabbidon gives the ball away carelessly inside the West Ham half. Boyd picks up possession and drags his shot a few yards wide from an angle. The Hammers will need to tighten things up a bit if they are to retain their advantage.

35 mins - Noble gifts possession to Mackail-Smith, but thankfully the striker's shot is high and not very handsome from 25 yards.

34 mins - Lovely stuff from Hitzlsperger, who nutmegs his marker before driving an outstanding 40-yard pass to the feet of Noble. The midfielder turns inside Ofori-Twumasi before swapping passes with Cole and being crowded out.

33 mins - Don't you just love football! Ofori-Twumasi puts in a sliding challenge on Boa Morte before being stopped in his tracks by a superb tackle from Noble.

32 mins - Brown does well to beat a challenge or two before being tackled 25 yards out. Shame, as that was an encouraging piece of play from the left-back.

29 mins - Noble does well to rob McLean and set up another attack. Hitzlsperger gets free down the inside-left channel and loops a cross between the Peterborough centre-backs. Cole stretches and diverts the ball goalwards, but it lacks the pace to beat Lewis.

27 mins - Faubert concedes another corner. McCann delivers another superb ball, but Bennett can only head the ball well wide. Boa Morte and Stanislas have swapped wings, by the way.

25 mins - Da Costa is penalised for bringing down McLean about 30 yards out. McCann takes the free-kick and shoots, forcing Kurucz to tip the ball over. McCann crosses and Boa Morte swings his right foot at the ball, slicing it goalwards. The Hungary U21 international shows good reactions to claw the ball away from the danger zone.

24 mins - Top class. Little beats Boa Morte in the air and the ball drops to Stanislas, who takes a touch and curls a shot inches wide from 20 yards. Lewis was worried about that and threw himself full-length to his left.

20 mins - Little gets forward down the right and beats Boa Morte to the ball before whipping the ball in dangerously. Mackail-Smith gets up and should hit the target, but the unmarked forward can only glance the ball wide of the goal.

18 mins - I was wrong! Noble tries a curler, but it flies a couple of yards over the top.

17 mins - Good again from West Ham. Faubert finds Noble, who turns and releases Stanislas down the right. Hitzlsperger and Cole fill the box, but the cross is headed away. The Hammers come forward again and the German is fouled by McCann about 22 yards out. I fancy that Hitzsperger will be taking this one...

13 mins - GOAL! I really do hope that is a sign of things to come. Da Costa brings the ball out imperiously from the back before finding Hitzlsperger. The German strides forward as the Peterborough defence back off. Just when you think 'Der Hammer' is going to let fly, he slides a perfect pass through for Cole, who clips the ball over the advancing Lewis and into the far corner. That is a fine goal.

12 mins - Better from Brown, who holds off Mendez-Laing before finding Hitzlsperger.

10 mins - Cole does superbly to get goal-side of Bennett and hold the ball up. He lays it back to Faubert, but the right-back's cross is too close to Lewis.

9 mins - Mendez-Laing gets past Brown to the byline and crosses to the near post, where Kurucz is able to gather the bouncing ball.

6 mins - Gabbidon sprints back and gets to the ball ahead of Mendez-Laing, but can only concede a corner. McCann crosses and Bennett's header is blocked behind for another flag-kick. The cross is deep and West Ham are able to clear.

5 mins - Cole is fouled ten yards outside the box. Hitzsperger fancies it, but it looks like Stanislas has won the argument. He shoots and the ball clears the wall and bounces into the arms of Lewis.

4 mins - Brown concedes possession on halfway and Peterborough break down their right flank. Mendez-Laing crosses but Faubert is there smartly to control and bring the ball clear.

3 mins - It's all action here! Boyd shoots speculatively from 25 yards, but Kurucz is able to catch easily enough above his head.

2 mins - Hitzlsperger threads a superb pass inside Langmead for Boa Morte to chase. The midfielder gets there first but Lewis is out smartly to save at his feet.

1 min - Mackail-Smith gets in behind Gabbidon and lays the ball off before Faubert concedes a corner. McCann crosses deep and Bennett heads well over the top from 12 yards.

7.54pm - The away fans are in full voice away to my left, as usual! West Ham will kick-off through Noble and Cole... Hitzlsperger takes possession and finds Stanislas with his trademark left foot.

7.50pm - The balloons have been released and the giant inflatable Champagne bottle is being dismantled. No sign of Mike Tyson yet, but we are told he will be here soon. He will be appearing at a special event at the East of England Showground on Thursday evening, if anyone fancies spending the evening with him.

7.47pm - The PA man is announcing the whole Peterborough squad. Kick-off could still be some way off... We've still not released the baskets full of balloons either. George Boyd is signing a new contract and, after a short delay, the two sets of players are able to shake hands and peel away to their respective halves.

7.46pm - In fact, both captains are Academy graduates. Grant McCann, who has joined Peterborough from Scunthorpe United, is wearing the armband for the home side.

7.45pm - The tunnel is a bit narrow here at London Road, so West Ham emerge first, led by Noble and with new signing Hitzlsperger wearing No10. Peterborough follow, with each player being announced in-turn by the PA announcer.

7.43pm - With two minutes to go until the scheduled kick-off, I would suggest that it's going to be slightly delayed. That gives me time to inform you that Mark Noble will captain the West Ham side this evening.

7.38pm - The two teams have headed indoors to make their final preparations ahead of the big kick-off. With the FIFA World Cup filling the last month or so, it really doesn't feel like the football season ever finished! I am sitting directly opposite the Noel Cantwell Suite, named in honour of the former West Ham and Manchester United full-back who twice managed Peterborough. The Republic of Ireland international made 274 appearances in claret and blue between 1953 and 1960, scoring eleven times. It is therefore apt that the new away kit, modelled on the side of the late 1950s, is making its debut at a stadium with links to one of the stars of that period.

7.30pm - Chairman David Gold emerges from the tunnel with Peterborough Director of Football Barry Fry. Mr Gold and Fry know each other well from their time together at Birmingham City. In his programme column, Fry talks warmly of his friendship with Mr Gold, David Sullivan and Vice-Chairman Karren Brady.

7.20pm - OK, this is superb. Former world heavyweight boxing champion 'Iron' Mike Tyson is here tonight! With a nickname like that, you would hope he is supporting West Ham...

7.10pm - David Coles is out there working goalkeepers Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz. With Robert Green away following his FIFA World Cup duty, this is a big night for the two young stoppers. Both are likely to be given 45 minutes to prove themselves, as will be the case again when the Hammers face German side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday evening. Here come the two teams for their pre-match warm-ups...

7pm - It will be really exciting to see Thomas Hitzlsperger turn out in a West Ham shirt for the first time. That shirt, of course, is the new away shirt. Predominantly white with single claret and blue hoops, the shirt is a nod to that worn by the Hammers in the late 1950s. Back then, of course, the Academy of Football was born, with the likes of a young Bobby Moore helping West Ham to gain promotion to Division One in 1957/58.

6.55pm - Two massive nets full of balloons are being carried on to the pitch, one of them blue and the other of them white. There, they are joined by a huge inflatable Champagne bottle and four inflatable men in Peterborough kit. Meanwhile, I should inform you all that Alessandro Diamanti is at home with his family this evening following the birth of his second child.

6.40pm - West Ham's players take to the sun-drenched pitch for a wander. Jordan Spence is the first one out, accompanied by fellow youngsters Anthony Edgar, Freddie Sears, Cristian Montano and Olly Lee.

Good evening and welcome to a bright but wet London Road, home of League One Peterborough United.

West Ham United will kick-off their pre-season schedule with what should be an entertaining match against Gary Johnson's side.

An afternoon deluge has relented, leaving a perfect-looking playing surface ready to play host to West Ham's only fixture before the first-team squad head off to Germany for an eight-day training camp at the end of the week.

Peterborough are celebrating 50 years in the Football League this evening, but there will be no room for sentiment as Avram Grant begins his reign as Hammers manager.

The Israeli has named a strong starting XI, despite the absence of the FIFA World Cup quartet of Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Valon Behrami and Jonathan Spector, as well as Scott Parker and the injured Jack Collison and Zavon Hines.

The only real surprise in the lineup is the inclusion of first-year professional Jordan Brown, with the former Academy captain being named at left-back. Switzerland Under-19 full-back Fabio Daprela misses out after suffering a twisted ankle in training.

Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger is handed his West Ham debut in a three-man midfield alongside Radoslav Kovac and Mark Noble, while Junior Stanislas and Luis Boa Morte will support Carlton Cole in attack.

West Ham United: Kurucz, Faubert, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Brown, Kovac, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Stanislas, Boa Morte, Cole
Subs: Stech, Ilunga, Fry, Tomkins, Spence, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton, Lee, Edgar, Dyer, Abdulla, McCarthy, Sears, Montano

Peterborough United: Lewis, Little, Langmead, Ofori-Twumasi, Lee, Boyd, McCann, Bennett, Mendez-Laing, McLean, Mackail-Smith
Subs: Wesolowski, McKeown, Rowe, Hibbert, Simpson, Whelpdale, Davies