West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 25 September 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Final score - West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
To fill in the gaps, Piquionne was also voted man of the match by sponsors Barclays. Fully deserved for the big Frenchman. There were some outstanding displays all over the pitch, though. Green was magnificent, while Upson led the back four superbly. Noble and Parker didn't stop working, while Obinna and Barrera were a real threat further forward. Avram Grant's side are now unbeaten in three matches and will look to make that four when Fulham come to town next Saturday. The Cottagers' draw with Everton means West Ham are also off the bottom of the table.
93 mins - Cole wins a free-kick this time! 30 seconds to go... Cole holds off two Spurs defenders but Barrera is offside when Parker tries to find him. Thankfully it doesn't matter as when Huddlestone belts the ball upfield, the final whistle is blown. Cue pandemonium!!
92 mins - Cole tries to keep possession inside the quadrant by the Spurs corner flag, but is penalised for a foul. I'm not sure about that...
91 mins - We're going to have at least three more minutes... Super play from Scott Parker, who brings the ball 60 yards before being pushed to the ground by Huddlestone.
90 mins - Into the final minute of the 90... Cole tries to hold off Bassong from a high clearance, but is penalised for a foul. The striker is clearly frustrated and holds on to the ball, earning himself a needless yellow card.
89 mins - Kovac is on for Obinna, who gets a rousing reception on his way to the touchline. He responds by giving the crowd a round of applause.
88 mins - Less than three minutes to go and Radoslav Kovac is stripped on the touchline and ready to come on as West Ham try to keep their first Premier League clean sheet of the season.
86 mins - Spurs are trying to play through West Ham, but this time it's Da Costa who is in the right place. He blocks an attempted through ball before hacking the ball upfield. Tottenham win the ball back in midfield and Keane looks to have space to pick his spot, but he rushes his shot and it is weak and straight into Green's hands.
84 mins - Boa Morte pulls back Pavlyuchenko about 30 yards out. This one is more central than the one a couple of minutes ago. Again, Huddlestone looks favourite to take. The set piece is taken short to Pavlyuchenko, but his shot is blocked.
83 mins - West Ham take the free-kick quickly after Boa Morte is fouled. Obinna tries to pick out Cole, but he just cannot quite control the cross under pressure from a defender.
82 mins - Parker fouls Pavlyuchenko about 30 yards from goal. Huddlestone stands over the free-kick. He clips the ball in and Cole heads clear before Barrera and Jacobsen launch the ball upfield.
80 mins - Cole is fouled. The ball is crossed into the box and flicks off a West Ham head, but flies wide of the far post. Spurs make a final change, bringing on Pavlyuchenko for Crouch.
79 mins - How has that not gone in!? Barrera gets in behind and crosses low. Bassong and Cudicini get in each other's way and both Cole and Obinna try to force the ball over the line. Both see efforts blocked before Cudicini pounces on the loose ball.
78 mins - When you are 1-0 up, you are always living on your nerves! Jenas breaks and swaps passes with Modric before screwing a shot across the face of goal. Van der Vaart's race is run - he is replaced by Barrera's Mexico team-mate Giovani.
77 mins - West Ham win another corner thanks to Parker's tenacity and drive. He beats his man, swaps passes with Obinna and then crosses towards Cole. The striker is being impeded by Bassong, but still manages to get a shot away. It hits the defender and goes behind. Obinna takes the corner and Upson wins it, but he heads the ball into the ground and Cudicini gathers.
75 mins - Obinna takes the corner right-footed this time and Cole wins it, but it flicks off Corluka's head and behind for another flag-kick. Obinna takes the corner, but it's low again and Gabbidon wins possession. Obinna finds Barrera, but his cross is too close to Cudicini.
73 mins - That may win the award for Most Needless Corner of the Season as Bale completely miscontrols the ball under pressure from Cole. Obinna's corner is poor and cleared to Noble, who skips past Keane before forcing Cudicini to make a fantastic save, tipping the ball just over the top at full-stretch.
72 mins - West Ham get a bit lucky when Crouch's header hits Da Costa and falls kindly to Jacobsen. The right-back clears and Cole forces Huddlestone to concede a throw. A moment's respite.
70 mins - Better from West Ham. Gabbidon finds Obinna, who runs at Hutton before picking out Cole with a lofted pass. The No9 holds off his marker but can only flash his shot wide of the near post.
66 mins - The corner is low to Cole, who holds off his marker and tees-up Boa Morte, but he can only screw his shot wide from 12 yards. Spurs make their first change, with Keane coming on for Lennon.
65 mins - Good sportsmanship from Tottenham, who take the throw and thump the ball back to Green. West Ham come forward immediately and, although the initial attack breaks down, Boa Morte lifts a wonderful pass over the top for Obinna, who forces Cudicini into a superb save low to his right.
64 mins - Cole is waiting to come on for the clearly-injured Piquionne and, when Green hacks the clearance out of play, the No9 enters the fray.
63 mins - As I type, Spurs come forward and Van der Vaart sees his shot blocked well by Da Costa. Obinna gifts possession back to Lennon, but his shot is half-blocked and Green gathers.
62 mins - Barrera finds Upson, who so nearly picks out Parker. Bassong is at full-stretch to hack the ball clear inside his own penalty area. West Ham are on top again, but they need to add a second to give themselves a bit of insurance.
60 mins - Piquionne signals to the bench. He may have a calf issue. Before anything can be done, he wins a header and Obinna puts Corluka under pressure, forcing the defender to concede a corner. Piquionne gets up, but he's not 100 per cent. Obinna's corner is good, but Hutton heads clear.
58 mins - Spurs come forward and Modric finds Jenas. He sees a gap, but his shot is misdirected and slices wide of the far post from 25 yards.
57 mins - Same attack and Parker is fouled. Obinna crosses superbly from the resulting free-kick and Upson is there, but can only head over the top from 12 yards.
56 mins - Barrera does well defensively to win the ball back. Obinna goes free down the right and crosses low towards Piquionne, forcing Cudicini to hack clear. West Ham work the ball to Noble from the throw and he picks out Parker, who gets to the byline but sees his low cross cleared by Bassong.
55 mins - To clear up the goal saga, Piquionne scored the 10,000th Premier League goal scored with a Nike ball. We nearly saw another one, there as Huddlestone skips through and tries to round Green, only to make a complete hash of his finish. To give you some idea, he basically had a completely empty net and somehow lofted his shot miles wide of the near post.
54 mins - Boa Morte tracks back with Hutton and when the Scot crosses, the ball hits the winger and then bounces back off Hutton and behind for a goal kick.
53 mins - The information earlier about Piquionne's goal being the 9,999th in Premier League history was incorrect. Apologies.
52 mins - Spurs are really piling on the pressure here. Bale crosses and the ball is headed clear by Upson to Huddlestone, who takes a shot and sees his shot flick off Crouch and loop just wide. Close call.
51 mins - Obinna romps forward before trying to find Piquionne. The striker tries to beat both Bale and Bassong, but unfortunately is crowded out and Cudicini smashes the ball clear to Hutton.
50 mins - Van der Vaart takes a free-kick wide on the right, but he overhits it and Green claims. The goalkeeper sends West Ham on the counter-attack through Barrera, but his cross is blocked and bounces harmlessly into the hands of Cudicini.
47 mins - Boa Morte loses the ball wide on the left and Spurs break through Lennon. Gabbidon shows a turn of pace to get back in and deny the winger and Green is able to sweep the ball upfield.
46 mins - It has got a bit chilly here in east London, but I somehow doubt the home fans are feeling the cold at present! Obinna is fouled about 40 yards out and looks like he fancies shooting until Noble has a quiet word! Upson tries to win the high ball but Spurs clear with relative ease.
Spurs are back out first after the break, closely followed by West Ham. 'Bubbles' is given another airing over the PA system. Right, we've got 45 minutes to go. West Ham need a second to calm a few nerves, but they've looked fully capable of getting it. That said, Spurs have carried a threat, too. Obinna is a tad late arriving, but following a short delay, we're back under way...
Half-time score - West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
47 mins - Huddlestone brings the ball forward but before he can create anything, the half-time whistle is blown to loud cheers. Join us again in less than 15 minutes for the second half. It should be a belter!
46 mins - We're going to have one added minute, at least. West Ham attack through Piquionne and Obinna. The ball is crossed into the box and worked by Barrera and Parker back for Noble, whose first-time shot pole-axes Jenas. The physio comes rushing on to tend to the No8. After some repairs, the midfielder is OK to continue and Spurs thump the ball upfield to Green.
45 mins - Spurs are really piling on the pressure here. Hutton crosses from the right and Crouch gets in front of Da Costa, but can only head powerfully over the top from ten yards.
43 mins - Green punches the corner clear and Parker helps it on, but only to a Spurs player. The ball is crossed back into the box, but it thankfully comes to nothing. West Ham break and Barrera tries to beat Hutton inside the Spurs penalty area, but the full-back stands firm.
42 mins - Unfortunately, Dyer's afternoon ends early as he is replaced by Barrera. West Ham need half-time here as Van der Vaart gets in behind and tries to pick out Crouch at the far post. Jacobsen does superbly to get there first and divert the ball behind.
41 mins - Obinna does well to keep possession but his shot is wayward and flies wide of the far post from 25 yards. Piquionne holds his arms aloft. A pass might have been the better option there.
39 mins - The ball hits Green on its way down and goes out for a corner. Modric regains possession and crosses for Van der Vaart who heads goalwards, but Green is there again to save with his legs. Amazing drama!
38 mins - Boa Morte is booked for a lunging challenge on Hutton. More importantly, perhaps, it hands Spurs a free-kick in dangerous territory wide on the right. Piquionne heads clear but Obinna loses possession. Lennon outstrips Noble and Gabbidon before crossing for Modric. The Croat catches his volley flush but Green makes a miraculous save to tip the ball on to the crossbar.
37 mins - Piquionne's goal was the 9,999th in Premier League history. Call me Statto!
35 mins - Parker goes on a ridiculous run, picking up the ball in midfield and bulldozing his way through two challenges before getting to the byline, where Corluka concedes a corner. The initial kick is cleared but the Hammers keep the ball alive and work it through Noble and Dyer to Obinna, whose left-foot shot is deflected behind. The corner is headed goalwards, but weakly so and bounces into the hands of a grateful Cudicini.
33 mins - Spurs come forward again through Van der Vaart but just when he looks as if he is through into the penalty area, Noble gets in a good block and the ball flies behind. The corner looks dangerous until Crouch commits a foul and lifts the pressure on the home side.
32 mins - They do just that as Obinna does brilliantly to hold on to possession in midfield. Jacobsen breaks forward and gets to within 22 yards before shooting. Unfortunately, the Dane's effort is sliced wide of the near post.
31 mins - Spurs try to hit back, but Lennon's cross is headed clear by Jacobsen before the ball is launched upfield. West Ham need to keep possession for a while now...
29 mins - GOAL! Piquionne nets his first at the Boleyn Ground, outjumping Bassong to plant a header inside the far post. The stadium erupts! That was a good corner, to be fair. Noble sent his delivery to the edge of the six-yard box, where Cudicini could not come to claim.
28 mins - Another corner for Spurs, this time as Jacobsen blocks Bale's cross behind. Modric takes and Obinna heads clear. West Ham counter attack and Dyer is released down the left. He runs at Hutton and wins a corner off the Scot.
26 mins - Gabbidon sticks to Lennon like glue, but cannot stop himself from blocking the winger's cross and conceding a corner. Lennon himself takes and Green gets a hand to the ball before it is smashed upfield.
24 mins - Better from West Ham as Dyer breaks down the right and Bassong is forced to smash the ball hurriedly out for a throw.
22 mins - Van der Vaart is starting to look menacing. He takes a pass from Modric and shoots again from 25 yards. Green dives full-length to his right, but thankfully the ball swerves a couple of yards wide of the far post.
21 mins - More work for Green. Van der Vaart picks up a pass from Lennon and works the goalkeeper with a strike from 25 yards that is clawed behind for a corner. The Dutchman takes the flag-kick and Upson rises highest to head well clear.
19 mins - A close call there as Noble wins the ball in midfield. It falls to Piquionne who looks odds-on to send Obinna clean through. He just delays his pass too long though, and Obinna is marginally offside.
17 mins - Gabbidon gets a big cheer from the crowd as he nutmegs Aaron Lennon! The 'Oles' are coming out as West Ham knock the ball around with real confidence. They need a goal to show for their bright start, though.
15 mins - A first bit of work for Robert Green, who has to punch clear a fierce drive from Jermaine Jenas. Gabbidon is in the right place to head the loose ball clear.
14 mins - Boa Morte does well to find Piquionne, who lays the ball back to Gabbidon. Boa Morte receives again and wins a corner off Corluka. It comes to nothing, though, as Cudicini claims the high ball.
13 mins - Obinna this time, collecting a pass from Dyer before spinning brilliantly and shooting low from 25 yards. The shot takes a slight nick, though, and is easy for Cudicini to gather.
11 mins - Spurs are panicking a bit here and giving possession away with abandon. Piquionne has a low shot after cutting in from the left that Cudicini can only punch to safety. Jacobsen keeps up the pressure, but his cross is too high for Piquionne.
9 mins - Gabbidon finds Piquionne, whose shot it blocked behind for yet another corner. Can the Hammers make this one count? Not initially, but Boa Morte wins the ball back before finding Dyer. He shoots low, but it's too close to Cudicini.
8 mins - A loose clearance falls to Dyer inside the box. He shoots left footed and it flicks off a heel and goes wide for a corner. Noble takes it and the ball bobbles on to the head of Da Costa, whose header is deflected wide again. The corner comes to nothing. Cracking start to the game!
6 mins - Van der Vaart's corner is a poor one and Piquionne smashes the ball clear at the near post.
5 mins - Gabbidon finds Noble in lots of space. There looks to be a chance to play in Obinna, but the midfielder's pass is woefully short and cut out by Bassong. Spurs break and Noble fouls Crouch. Van der Vaart takes the free-kick and it takes a deflection before flying narrowly wide for a corner.
4 mins - Green thumps the ball upfield and Piquionne is fouled by Bassong. Another chance to get the ball into the box for the home side, who have started well. Noble curls the ball in, Upson wins it and Bassong heads behind for a corner.
2 mins - Crouch is penalised for handball on the edge of the penalty area. The referee didn't see it, but thankfully the assistant referee did and flagged furiously.
30 seconds - Oooh, that was close. Da Costa lumps the ball upfield and Piquionne outjumps Corluka to flick the ball into the path of Obinna. Bassong tries to stay with the striker, but he manages to get a shot away, only to scuff it a few yards wide of the far post. Good chance, that.
3pm - Van de Vaart, Crouch and Jenas get us under way...
2.59pm - The mascots run to the touchline after having their photo taken by Steve Bacon and we're nearly ready to go. As if by magic, the sun comes out and is shining bright over the Boleyn Ground. West Ham will attack the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand end of the stadium. Before we start, however, Spurs get together for a last-minute huddle.
2.56pm - 'Bubbles' rings around the East End as the two teams enter the arena. The home fans are in superb voice, as you might expect.
2.55pm - It's been more than four years since West Ham tasted victory over their near-neighbours. Nobody will forget the final day of the 2005/06 season, though, when goals from Carl Fletcher and Yossi Benayoun prevented Spurs from reaching the UEFA Champions League. Ironically, the distraction of the Champions League could give the Hammers an additional advantage this afternoon.
2.48pm - Tottenham's players have disappeared down the tunnel, so I think we're all set to start on time at 3pm. A false alarm, some might say!
2.45pm - Some whispers that the kick-off may be slightly delayed as Tottenham were late arriving at the Boleyn Ground. Nothing confirmed as yet, however. I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything concrete. At present, the Spurs squad are still out on the pitch warming up.
2.40pm - The two teams are concluding their pre-match preparations on the pitch. In the tunnel, old pals Avram Grant and Harry Redknapp have enjoyed a warm handshake. The stadium is slowly filling up as kick-off approaches. No doubt, by 3pm, the atmosphere inside the Boleyn Ground will be electric.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be a rip-roaring London derby between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Hammers go into the game on a high, having drawn 1-1 in the Barclays Premier League at Stoke City a week ago before securing their first away win in 13 months in the Carling Cup at Sunderland in midweek.
Spurs, in contrast, were thrashed 4-1 at home by north London rivals Arsenal in the Carling Cup and will be seeking to steady a slightly uncertain start to the new league season that saw them beaten at home by Wigan Athletic and draw at newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion.
Avram Grant has a strong squad at his disposal, with only Thomas Hitzlsperger, Valon Behrami, Herita Ilunga and long-term absentees Jack Collison and Zavon Hines unavailable. Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon return, while forwards Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne will be seeking to add to their first goals for the club at Sunderland on Tuesday.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Gabbidon, Dyer (Barrera 42), Noble, Parker, Boa Morte, Obinna (Kovac 89), Piquionne (Cole 64)
Subs: Stech, Ben Haim, Faubert, McCarthy
Tottenham Hotspur: Cudicini, Hutton, Corluka, Bassong, Bale, Lennon (Keane 66), Jenas, Huddlestone, Modric, Van der Vaart (Giovani 78), Crouch (Pavlyuchenko 80)
Subs: Pletikosa, Palacios, Sandro, Kranjcar