WEST HAM UNITED v PORTSMOUTH
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 14 JANUARY 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM

FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV

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Final score - Portsmouth 0-1 West Ham United

95 mins - The free-kick from Huseklepp hits the wall and flies over. Before the corner can be taken, the final whistle is blown! That's Portsmouth's first home defeat since 27 September and West Ham's first away success since they won at Middlesbrough on 29 November. Great stuff. Mark Noble is the match-winner and we'll have exclusive reaction from him, manager Sam Allardyce and match highlights on West Ham TV soon. Southampton's 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest means the Saints and Hammers are now four points clear of third-place Cardiff CIty. The Bluebirds drew 0-0 at Doncaster Rovers, while Middlesbrough went down 2-0 at home to Burnley. Elsewhere, nine-man Millwall lost 6-0 at home to Birmingham City.

94 mins - Can you believe it! A loose ball drops in exactly the same place where Lawrence took his previous free-kick and Diop is penalised for a high boot. Second chance for the Pompey captain, maybe?

94 mins - Maybe it was four...

92 mins - The free-kick is blocked, as is the follow-up, before Diop beats the taker in a battle of strength and races upfield. He gets as far as the Portsmouth area before going to ground. No foul, though. After another Pompey raid, Diop is fouled. I'm afraid I didn't see the added-time board, although there are rumours that it said three minutes...

91 mins - Into added time and Tomkins is penalised for a foul on Benjani. Free-kick, 25 yards out; Danger. Liam Lawrence will take, I think, although Huseklepp also fancies it. Lawrence wins the argument.

89 mins - Huseklepp again, running diagonally from left to right. He tries to find Benjani but McCartney gets a foot in. The cross comes over from Webster, but it's too strong and Green collects.

88 mins - Cripes! A long straight ball forward is headed down by Benjani and Futacs gets there first. He shoots powerfully, but the ball clears the bar. Close call. The West Ham fans decide to keep the ball, so there is a slight delay in Green taking the goal kick.

86 mins - Another chance for the Hammers to make the game safe. Collison beats a man inside the box and finds Cole. He lays square for Nolan, who tries to curl into the top corner but lifts his shot well over the top.

85 mins - West Ham lose possession as Webster robs Noble. The ball is worked wide right to Kitson. He crosses for Benjani and Tomkins challenges. The ball drops and the home fans shout for handball. Nothing given and West Ham scramble the ball away and Reid is fouled.

84 mins - Pompey attack down the left and Faubert slips. However, when Kitson gets in behind, he is offside. Before the goal kick can be taken, Faubert is replaced by Henri Lansbury.

83 mins - Mullins is replacede by the former Manchester City man Benjani.

82 mins - Portsmouth are getting Benjani ready. West Ham are still controlling the possession but cannot quite fashion a clear-cut opening to wrap the game up. While it's still 1-0, there remains a chance for the home side.

80 mins - O'Neil and Baldock are warming up.

79 mins - Will Big Sam elect to make any changes, or will he stick with his starting XI and trust them to see the game through? Mullins has a dig from 20 yards but Green is there again to make a decent save low down. Routine, but safe.

77 mins - Huseklepp makes a powerful diagonal run before finding new man Webster. He beats Collison but cannot get past McCartney.

75 mins - Halford is the second Portsmouth player to be replaced, with Adam Webster coming on in his place. Webster goes to right-back. Ben Haim is now in the centre of the defence.

73 mins - That would have been a rarity! Faubert collects a pass wide right and cuts inside and blazes a powerful shot narrowly over with his left foot. Before the re-start, the referee wants a word with Nolan and Lawrence. I'm not sure what that's about, but again no cards are shown.

71 mins - A fleeting attack from Pompey as Lawrence turns in midfield - he's now playing in the centre of a three with Huseklepp and Mullins - and finds Ward wide left. He crosses high and the ball sailed harmlessly behind.

70 mins - Collison spins from a McCartney pass and finds Cole, who wins a corner. Noble takes but it's high and hanging and claimed easily by Henderson.

69 mins - Ben Haim brings down Cole on halfway and gets a talking-to from the referee. No card is shown, though.

68 mins - West Ham are missing chances here and I hope they don't rue their profligacy later on. Faubert gets past Ward and crosses low. Cole dummies and Nolan is unmarked on the edge of the box. He elects to shoot first-time and sidefoots wide of the post. The skipper puts his hands to his face. He cannot believe it.

65 mins - Great pressing by Nolan and Faubert forces Henderson to punt the ball square and out for a throw. Collison crosses, Faubert rises and the ball drops to Nolan. He cannot get the shot away. The ball is worked wide right again to Collison, whose cross is inadvertantly chested towards the bottom corner by Halford. Henderson dives and makes a great save from his own defender!

63 mins - West Ham are right on top. McCartney and Noble combine before Cole's cross is cleared behind by Ward. Corner. Collison takes and the ball loops off a head to Faubert. He takes a touch and launches his volley a mile over the top from 18 yards. That was a decent chance, too.

61 mins - 'Ooohs' from the away fans and hands on head from Collison as he collects a pass from Nolan before curling a left-footer just past the angle of post and crossbar. The home fans are really frustrated and are venting their feelings at Mr Friend. They want a free-kick for a handball by Reid in the middle of the pitch, but the ball was literally punted at his arm from a distance of a yard.

59 mins - Reid's defensive header is a little short and falls to Futacs. He turns and shoots left-footed from about 22 yards. It's well-struck and low and Green is in exactly the right place to make the catch. He got his body right behind that one.

58 mins - Tomkins lifts the free-kick into the box and it skims off Cole's head and out for a goal kick.

57 mins - Red card! Out of nothing Winston Reid wins the ball on his chest and brings it clear into the centre circle. He tries to find Cole with a through ball and is taken out late by Norris. Mr Friend immediately shows the red card. I must confess my eyes followed the pass from Reid and I didn't see the challenge but the referee was in no doubt.

56 mins - It is still fairly scrappy out there. Pearce illustrates the fact by shooting from about 40 yards. He shanks it badly and the ball dribbles away for a goal kick. Neither side has really got going since the break. It is an intriguing contest, however.

54 mins - Diop is back on, but not before a low cross from Ward is cut out by Tomkins and Nolan clears.

53 mins - Two Hammers are down injured after separate collisions. Diop is soon up on his feet, followed shortly afterwards by Cole. Diop comes to the touchline for some running repairs and West Ham are down to ten men.

52 mins - Tomkins heads a Lawrence cross clear and it drops to Nolan. He tries to pick out Cole's run, but the No9 cannot control. Today's attendance is 18,492.

50 mins - West Ham's first real attacking move and it's down the left involving Collison, Noble and McCartney. The cross finally comes over from Collison after some neat interplay but Halford is there to knee the ball clear. West Ham win it back again and Cole's lay-off finds Faubert, but he can only poke a shot straight at Henderson.

47 mins - Diop gets caught the wrong side of the ball, but Norris can only cross high into Green's hands. Pompey win the ball back from the long clearance and Ben Haim is involved heavily before the ball is worked wide left to Huseklepp. He cuts inside O'Brien and Faubert but lifts his shot high and wide and into the Hammers fans behind the goal.

46 mins - The standard pass back to O'Brien and the Irishman's long ball forward leads to a throw. O'Brien takes it himself but Cole cannot benefit and Portsmouth have a free-kick.

West Ham will kick-off the second half. It looks like both teams are unchanged from the way they went in at the break. Collison and Noble will kick-off...

Half-time score - Portsmouth 0-1 West Ham United

The away fans enjoy the half-time scores being read out. Middlesbrough, Millwall and Tottenham losing are particularly popular...

48 mins - Right on 47 minutes, referee Kevin Friend blows for half-time. Portsmouth came right back into the game after Mark Noble's penalty had capped a decent opening 24 minutes from the visitors. There is plenty of work left to do, but West Ham are on top at the break. Mr Friend receives some jeers on his way down the tunnel.

47 mins - Nolan finds Faubert wide right, but he crosses straight to Henderson. Portsmouth try to counter but Huseklepp slices his cross behind and out for a goal kick. When Green clears upfield...

46 mins - Into added-time and we're going to have at least two minutes. Ward comes forward down the left but West Ham stand firm again. The Hammers just need some possession to get them through to the break unscathed.

42 mins - The second corner is cleared behind after a scramble and the third is cleared upfield but Faubert cannot hold it up. FInally, after another shot is charged down, Diop spins about three times before being fouled. West Ham need half-time...

40 mins - Mokoena's injury has benefitted Portsmouth massively. A diagonal ball from Kitson finds Lawrence the wrong side of McCartney. He cuts inside and forces Green into a superb diving save. Tomkins pokes the ball behind. From the near post corner, Green makes another fantastic stop to keep out Pearce's flick. Another corner...

38 mins - It's getting physical out there! Mullins goes down before Nolan is penalised for a foul on Norris. Free-kick to Portsmouth about 30 yards out to the right of Green's goal. Lawrence takes it short to Futacs, whose shot is charged down by Noble. Portsmouth get the ball into the box again and it's head tennis time before O'Brien smashes the volley upfield.

36 mins - O'Brien slips again and Huseklepp benefits. He finds Norris, whose cross is charged behind by Tomkins. The corner is taken short and Cole heads the cross clear. Portsmouth try again before Nolan punts the ball upfield. Henderson comes out and, after some nifty footwork, clears the danger.

34 mins - Huseklepp controls superbly on his chest before cutting infield and finding Norris. He shoots from 25 yards and the ball clips Tomkins on its way wide. Lawrence takes the corner but it is flicked on by a West Ham head and goes behind again. The second corner is dangerous and eludes Tomkins before hitting another West Ham player and bouncing clear of the area. Any which way...

33 mins - Positive change from Appleton, bringing on Huseklepp - a Norway international striker - for Mokoena. Halford has gone to centre-back, with Ward now at left-back. Huseklepp will play on the left wing, I think.

32 mins - I think Mokoena might have to be replaced. He went down after challenging Cole a minute or two back. After getting to his feet, the South African sits down before being led to the touchline by the physio. Drinks all-round for both teams.

30 mins - The home side attack through Lawrence, who takes advantage of a slip by O'Brien before beating Tomkins. He stabs the ball across the box and it hits Reid. Thankfully, Nolan is there to head behind for a corner. Cole heads clear at the near post and the threat subsides.

27 mins - Now Noble fancies opening his account from open play. Diop intercepts a pass 30 yards out and finds Noble in space. He leans back slightly and shoots low and well wide of the left-hand post from 20 yards.

26 mins - Noble has now scored a penalty in both fixtures against Portsmouth this season. In all, the No16 has netted four goals this season - all spot-kicks.

24 mins - GOAL! Noble drills the ball low to Henderson's right. The keeper guesses right and gets a hand to the ball, but he can't keep it out. The 3,500 behind the goal go ballistic!

23 mins - Penalty! Winston Reid collects a backheel from Nolan after the captain had controlled Noble's free-kick and is pulled down by Pearce. Noble himself will take the penalty. That's the second in two weeks earned by Reid.

22 mins - A first yellow card of the game for Dave Kitson. The flame-haired striker allows O'Brien to burst past him inside the Pompey half and he slides in and takes the Irishman out. Free-kick.

20 mins - Noble's free-kick hits the wall and Halford concedes a throw. From the second throw-in, O'Brien crosses and Tomkins heads down. Faubert gets there in front of Halford and prods the ball wide. That wasn't really a shooting chance. Faubert did well to get there ahead of the defender.

19 mins - Cole flicks on Noble's free-kick. Halford heads clear only as far as Faubert, who is brought down a yard outside the penalty area inside the D. Great chance...

17 mins - Futacs looks to be the focal point of most of Portsmouth's attacks. He has good control for a big man, but maybe not enough pace to get away from his marker. This is illustrated as Tomkins makes an inch-perfect sliding challenge on the Hungarian inside the penalty area. The home crowd howl for a penalty, but it looked a good challenge from here. West Ham break and Diop is brought down on halfway. Free-kick.

15 mins - West Ham have decent possession inside the Pompey half on the left. Collison and McCartney work an opening from a knock-down, but McCartney's cross is high and over the top. Signs that the Hammers are getting on top...

14 mins - I must say this has hardly been a classic so far. Cole has time and space to head to Noble, but he mis-controls and handles inside the centre circle.

11 mins - Some better passing from the Hammers involving Diop and Noble, but when O'Brien tries to play Collison in behind Halford, the Welshman is offside. That's a shame, because he was right at the byline and in a good position to deliver into the box for Cole or Nolan.

9 mins - Noble lifts the ball over the top for Nolan. Pearce heads straight to Faubert. He takes a touch and wins a corner. Noble curls the ball in under the crossbar and Henderson does well to punch clear of his box.

7 mins - Good news from the Riverside. Burnley are 1-0 up at Middlesbrough.

6 mins - Pompey win a free-kick inside the Hammers half. Lawrence lifts it over diagonally and Halford gets in front of O'Brien. He dives and has clear header from eight yards, but powers the ball over the top. Let-off for the Hammers.

5 mins - Cole intercepts and West Ham counter. Noble has ages to cross from the right with Cole and Nolan to aim for, but his delivery is not great and Portsmouth head clear through Pearce. Diop tries to find McCartney from the follow-up but he lofts the ball out of play.

4 mins - A long punt forward is headed backwards by Reid. Tomkins gets above the giant Futacs to head clear and McCartney punts the ball forward. The home crowd wanted a foul against Tomkins, but Futacs didn't jump.

3 mins - Formation-wise, West Ham are 4-3-3 with Faubert and Collison supporting Cole. Portsmouth are 4-4-2 with Ben Haim at right-back, Halford at left-back and Mokoena and Pearce at the heart of the back four.

2 mins - Ben Haim nutmegs Collison but Nolan nips in and steals possession. He runs to the edge of the Portsmouth box before being challenged by Pearce.

1 min - Pompey lose possession and Faubert finds O'Brien. He punts the ball forward for the Frenchman to chase, but it's too strong and Henderson collects on the edge of his box.

3.01pm - Futacs and Norris get the game started...

3pm - The mascots are heading for the touchline and, after the coin toss, we're swapping ends. West Ham will shoot towards their own fans in the opening 45 minutes. Portsmouth will kick-off. Robert Green gets a 'warm' welcome from the home fans behind the goal to my left!

2.57pm - Here are the players, led by captains Kevin Nolan and Liam Lawrence. Lawrence was sent-off in the reverse fixture at the Boleyn Ground earlier this season. The 3,500 away fans are making a right din with a chorus of 'Come on you Irons'. West Ham are in claret and blue shirts, light blue shorts and light blue socks. Pompey are in blue shirts, white shorts and red socks.

2.56pm - I should point out that it is not a real dog dressed as a pirate. It is a human dressed as a dog dressed up as a pirate. The pirate dog is accompanied by another female dog dressed in a long blue dress. Presumably she is the pirate dog's wife.

2.55pm - The mascots - both human in the shape of children and animal in the shape of a dog dressed as a pirate - are lining the tunnel entrance awaiting the two teams. It surely won't be long now...

2.50pm - Both teams are back in their respective dressing rooms and the atmosphere is really something to behold here at Fratton Park. It is a proper, old-fashioned football stadium and the noise is naturally amplified by the low roofs on the stands. For the away fans, that roof is a welcome recent addition, as for many years there was no covering on the away section here, leaving supporters open to the elements.

2.45pm - The Pompey CEO and FA head of football integrity David Lampitt is sat next to me doing a radio interview. The vibe seems to be that, despite their ongoing financial issues, Portsmouth are targeting a Play-Off place. Let's hope the home team's charge can be slowed this afternoon. To my right, the West Ham fans are singing Carlton Cole's name. The big man has enjoyed some good days against Portsmouth in the past.

2.35pm - George Moncur makes his Football League debut for AFC Wimbledon alongside former Hammer Callum McNaughton at Port Vale. Callum Driver makes his second league start for Burton Albion at Plymouth Argyle - the full-back played for West Ham at Home Park in the FA Youth Cup in December 2009. To complete the list of loanees appearing today, Peter Kurucz starts in goal for Rochdale at home to Stevenage in League One.

2.20pm - News from elsewhere and Ahmed Abdulla and Cristian Montano are both starting for Dagenham and Redbridge at home to Hereford United. Montano replaces fellow Hammer Eoin Wearen, who drops to the bench.

2.05pm - The teams are in. Big Sam makes just one change from the starting XI that defeated Coventry City 1-0 on 2 January, replacing Sam Baldock with Joey O'Brien. O'Brien will play at right-back, with Julien Faubert moving forward to support striker Carlton Cole. Just as he did at Reading before Christmas, the manager goes without a substitute goalkeeper. Both Papa Bouba Diop and substitute Gary O'Neil have played for Pompey. For Portsmouth, ex-Hammers Tal Ben Haim and Hayden Mullins both start.

Portsmouth: Henderson, Mokoena, Pearce, Ward, Ben Haim, Halford, Mullins, Lawrence, Norris, Kitson, Futacs
Subs: Ashdown, Webster, Williams, Huseklepp, Benjani

1.50pm - The Hammers have arrived at Fratton Park ahead of today's game, having stayed overnight in Portsmouth last night. Big Sam will name his starting XI and substitutes in about ten minutes, with four players going to be left disappointed from his 20-man squad. Meanwhile, great news from Little Heath where the Under-18s have scored a 6-1 FA Premier Academy League win over Norwich City. Paul McCallum and Kieran Sadlier scored twice apiece, while Blair Turgott and Frazer Shaw were also on target. Turgott even found time to miss a penalty with the game still goalless!

12.30pm - Portsmouth are on a fantastic run of form at home, having taken five wins and two draws from their previous seven league matches at Fratton Park. Pompey have not been beaten on home turf since 27 September, when they went down 3-2 to Peterborough United. Since then Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Coventry City and Watford have all left with nothing, while Leicester City and Southampton were held to 1-1 draws. So, it doesn't need me to say that this will be no walk in the park for Sam Allardyce's side. Michael Appleton's side might have been beaten 4-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup third round, but they were 1-0 down with five minutes remaining and caused the Blues plenty of problems.

12.15pm - It is a glorious afternoon down here on the south coast - cold, but glorious! The kit has been laid out in the away dressing room here at Fratton Park, with the squad expected to arrive at the stadium at 1.30pm.

Good afternoon and welcome to Fratton Park for today's npower Championship fixture between Portsmouth and West Ham United.

The Hammers will be eager to rekindle their excellent away form from earlier in the season and record their first win on their travels in five matches. Since winning at Middlesbrough on 29 November, Sam Allardyce's side have lost at Reading and Derby County and drawn at Birmingham City in the npower Championship and lost out 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup with Budweiser third round.

However, if they ever needed an incentive, then the Hammers know that victory on the south coast would take them top of the table if Southampton do not win at Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

Portsmouth are seeking a fourth win in seven league games, and their second back-to-back victories of this Championship campaign after their 2-0 home success against Watford on 2 January. However, Steve Cotterill's side were beaten 4-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup last weekend.

Big Sam has a 20-man squad to choose from, with only Matt Taylor (calf) and Guy Demel (thigh) absent through injury. That means the manager has big choices to make, with seven midfielders and four strikers vying for a start. New signing George John has not travelled with the squad as he continues to work his way towards full match-fitness.

Cotterill has injury doubts over Ricardo Rocha (calf), former Hammers midfielder Hayden Mullins (calf) and Luke Varney (knee), while West Bromwich Albion defender Joe Mattock has not returned to Fratton Park on loan after an injury crisis at the Premier League club.

The starting lineups will be announced at 2pm and will be posted first on the club's official twitter feed and here on whufc.com