WEST HAM UNITED v DERBY COUNTY
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 5.20PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
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Final score - West Ham United 3-1 Derby County
96 mins - That's that. Cole's goal just before half-time was the turning point and, from the moment West Ham went in front there was only going to be one winner. The Hammers deserved their win in the final analysis and will go to Middlesbrough full of confidence on Tuesday evening. Thanks for joining us here this afternoon/evening!
95 mins - The game might be nearly over, but there will be plenty of post-match reaction and exclusive extended highlights to be enjoyed on West Ham TV. The Hammers have come from behind to win a second straight game.
93 mins - West Ham can go top of the table if they win at Middlesbrough on Tuesday if the Saints lose at home to Hull City. However, we all know how strong are the Saints are at St Mary's.
92 mins - Unless something very strange happens, West Ham will win their third straight league game for the first time since May 2007! They will also win for the fifth time in six games and will maintain their three-point advantage over third-place Cardiff City.
91 mins - We're going to have at least FIVE added minutes.
90 mins - Derby have given up the ghost here. West Ham are completely in control and are trying to fashion an opportunity to score a fourth goal for the fourth time this season.
87 mins - Faubert is voted man of the match by match sponsors New Media Law.
86 mins - Derby are asleep from the corner and Collison virtually runs to the edge of the box unchallenged before crossing for Piquionne. He heads goalwards and it's blocked on the line. West Ham pick up possession again and McCartney is on the right wing (!). He cuts inside and shoots a couple of yards over the top.
85 mins - The group of schoolchildren high in the Alpari Stand are loving their day out and are singing their hearts out. They might have more to sing about soon as Taylor wins a corner.
82 mins - Matt Taylor makes his comeback, replacing the impressive Julien Faubert. The Frenchman recently chalked up his 100th game for the club and has been outstanding all season. He gets a very good round of applause on his way off, as well as a chorus of 'Julien'! Taylor also gets a clap as he makes his first appearance in more than a month.
78 mins - Derby make a third change. Why didn't they just make all three together?! Doyle is on for Ward.
77 mins - Piquionne wants a goal for himself, but his shot is too high. Faubert wanted the pass threaded through to him, but Piquionne was single-minded there.
77 mins - Brayford and Barker are replaced by Jeff Hendrick and Mark O'Brien.
76 mins - Cole's race is run as he is replaced by John Carew. He gets a real send-off as he jogs to the bench. A great afternoon's work from Cole, who responds by clapping the crowd.
75 mins - There was so much to admire about the counter that brought that penalty and subsequent goal. Cole's defensive header, Faubert's desire, Collison's quick-thinking and Piquionne's opportunism. Great stuff from the Hammers.
74 mins - GOAL! Noble rifles home the penalty! He strolled up and smashed the ball into the top left-hand corner, beating Fielding despite the goalkeeper going the right way.
73 mins - The corner is powerfully headed clear by Cole and Faubert makes something of it on halfway. He sprints away before checking and finding Collison. He passes the ball on to Piquionne, who is brought down from behind by Bryson inside the box! Penalty!
73 mins - Tomkins had been nearly flawless until that loose pass. It results in Priskin collecting a pass and shooting, but Faye is there to block the ball behind.
72 mins - Ward is lively but his shot is blocked. Collison and Faubert harry and hustle their opponents and force a Rams player to concede a throw. The crowd cheer their appreciation for the hard work.
70 mins - Derby win a corner off O'Brien. I wonder if Nigel Clough will be tempted to make a change soon? He might need to as Green makes a fine catch.
67 mins - Noble concedes a free-kick midway inside the Hammers half. Davies takes but Nolan is there to show his defensive value with a powerful clearing header.
65 mins - As soon as the ball was thrown to Cole, Metgod yelped in frustration. The goal itself had him waving his arms around in frustration. I don't blame him. Cole had far too much space to turn on the corner of the Derby penalty area.
64 mins - GOAL! Cole has far too much space from a throw-in and he lofts the ball over the top for Collison inside the box. He toe-ends it up in the air and Nolan unleashes and outstanding volley from 22 yards that arrows into the bottom left-hand corner. That was outstanding from the skipper and marks his first home goal.
63 mins - West Ham are right on top here. First, Nolan's backheel for Collison is cut out. Then Faubert delivers a super cross that is headed clear to Piquionne on the right-corner of the box. His low shot is blocked. All Hammers at present.
61 mins - Collison takes the corner and Faye rises high and powers his header just over the top.
60 mins - Good save Fielding. Nolan and Faubert help the ball on after Cole's flick-on and Piquionne is in. His touch takes him a little wide and Fielding is out quickly to block. The ball spins behind.
59 mins - Priskin is on his own up top but he does well there. Running away from Faye before checking and being brought down by O'Brien. A chance to deliver from wide on the Rams left. Davies' free-kick flicks off Faubert and is then headed out for a throw by O'Brien. It's taken by Brayford to Bailey, whose cross is not very good.
57 mins - Barker is back on and West Ham are back on the attack. Johnny Metgod, the former Tottenham and Netherlands midfielder is sat to my left. He's Derby's first-team coach and he's getting increasingly agitated as his side fail to mount any sort of attacking threat.
55 mins - The Hammers attack again but play is halted by the referee as a Rams player is down with a head injury. Correct decision by Mr Webster. It's Barker who needs the physio on and he does look a bit groggy.
54 mins - Surely it's only a matter of time? Collison's cross is good but headed clear. The ball is picked up by Piquionne before Tomkins brings it forward 20 yards and finds Cole. His cross is low into the heart of the box, but Fielding is there.
52 mins - It's all West Ham since the break. Cole finds McCartney and his low cross is put behind for a corner. Noble takes it but Nolan is penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper.
49 mins - West Ham have started fast here. Cole and Faubert combine to win a corner. Faubert takes it quickly and his delivery is good and powerful. Piquionne wins the header, but glances it wide of the far post. He is frustrated with himself as that was a half-chance.
47 mins - Good build-up before Cole wins a corner. Noble takes it but it's too high. Derby clear. West Ham regain possession and O'Brien crosses. Cole controls but he can't get a shot away. The ball breaks wide left to Nolan, but he concedes a goal kick.
46 mins - Tomkins punts the ball forward and Cole flicks on. Left-back Roberts tries to clear and Faubert charges it down. The ball flies across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. Strange start!
46 mins - Collison and Noble get the second 45 minutes up and running...
Here come the Hammers for the second half. Didn't 1980s pop sensation MC Hammer have a song with a similar title? Anyway, both sides are back out on the pitch and we're nearly ready for the second half.
Half-time score - West Ham United 1-1 Derby County
48 mins - Into the dying embers of added time and Faubert wins a corner. Collison takes and again it's deep. The ball flicks off a Derby head and referee Mr Webster blows for half-time. Well, 1-1 is better than 0-1 and West Ham have a few gears they can find to win this game after the break.
45 mins - We're going to have at least three added minutes.
44 mins - GOAL! That'll do nicely! Cole! Noble's initial ball in is good, but a Derby defender heads it away. O'Brien gets there first wide on the right and sends over a superb first-time cross that Cole gets to first with a brave header that a Rams defender cannot keep out on the line.
43 mins - Cole is brought down by Davies. The midfielder doesn't think it's a foul, but he is booked anyway. A chance to deliver from about eight yards outside the box. Noble...
42 mins - Nolan gets to the byline and tries to cut the ball back for Faubert. He can't wrap his foot around it enough, though, and Fielding is able to claim low down.
40 mins - McCartney concedes a free-kick which Davies takes. His delivery is caught by Green. West Ham attack and Piquionne is fouled. The inital free-kick is cleared as far as Noble, whose through ball is dummied by Faye and rolls harmlessly behind. McCartney was booked for that eariler foul, by the way.
38 mins - A free-kick on halfway is won and taken by McCartney. Derby head it clear and break again, but this time they secure only a throw rather than a goal.
36 mins - For the second week in a row, West Ham will have to come from behind. For now, Derby are on the attack again and have a corner. It's delivered deep and Barker gets up, but his header bounces wide.
34 mins - GOAL! Cole gives the ball away in midfield and Derby break with numbers. The pass finds on-loan striker Priskin and he picks his spot with a low first-time finish into Green's bottom right-hand corner. Good finish, but a poor goal to concede from an attacking position inside the Derby half.
30 mins - Green crosses from the Derby right but it's wayward and the ball flies harmlessly over the top. West Ham slowly regaining the ascendancy.
29 mins - Collison moves across the face of the box before passing and retrieving the ball off a Derby toe. He shoots low and early and Fielding makes a scrambling save low to his right. The ball bobbles loose for a moment but the goalkeeper recovers just in time to prevent Faubert following in to score.
27 mins - Cole's wonder-strike against Tottenham was back in August 2009! Was it really that long ago?!
25 mins - To be honest, this game hasn't exactly caught light just yet. Neither team are putting together what you could call incisive attacking moves so far. Cole tries to go the direct route, controlling O'Brien's throw on his chest before shooting on the turn left-footed. That would have been a carbon copy of his goal against Spurs a couple of seasons back. Instead, this time the ball flies over the crossbar.
22 mins - Baldock is replaced by Frederic Piquionne. Both players get a round of applause from the home faithful.
20 mins - It looks like Baldock might be in a bit of trouble here as he has sat down on the turf and is receiving treatment. It looks like a hamstring injury and he'll have to be replaced. That's a shame as he's started well today, has little Sam.
19 mins - Collison crosses from the left of the penalty area and Faubert leaps, but his jump is mis-timed and the ball goes over his head and behind for a goal kick. West Ham are employing a 4-4-2 formation this afternoon, as you might have guessed.
18 mins - Green gets a tad lucky there as his clearance hits Priskin before bouncing clear of the penalty area. Tomkins clears up.
17 mins - Noble spreads play with a fine pass to Faubert. He chests the ball down for O'Brien before Nolan tries to pick out Baldock. The No7 does well to hold the ball up before finding Faubert again. Unfortunately, nobody tells the No18 he does not have time to weigh up his cross and he is tackled before deliverying the ball.
15 mins - West Ham have not really cleared their lines and the pressure from Derby wins a free-kick from O'Brien. Davies crosses but Cole only half-clears the inital delivery and the ball is chested back to Ward 20 yards out. He lofts the ball back into the box, but it flies harmlessly over the top.
13 mins - Jamie Ward is a decent player and he wins a corner with a low cross that Faye is forced to hack behind. Green takes and Nolan heads emphatically clear at the near post for a throw.
12 mins - Just as they were at Coventry last week, West Ham are playing a team lacking in confidence after a bad run of results. Unlike at the Ricoh Arena, however, the Hammers have started on the front foot.
10 mins - Collison gets forward well and backheels the ball to O'Brien, who wins a corner. Collison takes this time, but it's just too high for Tomkins, who commits a foul at the far post.
9 mins - Derby threaten for the first time in the game, playing neat triangles out on their right wing. FInally, it's Green who goes around Collison and crosses. Green collects. That may have been a shot, but I'm not 100 per cent sure.
8 mins - Baldock has started really well here. He wins a header into the path of Nolan. The skipper is inside the box and takes a touch, but his half-volley flies a fair way wide. He holds his hand up to apologise to Cole, who was in the middle of the penalty area.
7 mins - Good football again. Nolan and Faubert work space before the ball is played inside to Cole. He spins and sends it wide left to McCartney. He takes a touch and shoots from 30 yards, but it flies a few yards wide of the far post.
5 mins - Noble's corner is cleared but West Ham win a throw before another ball down the inside-left channel finds Baldock. He crosses high and Cole flicks on, but Faubert accidentally handles before shooting over. Mr Webster had given the free-kick.
4 mins - Good. Collison releases Baldock down the left and he pulls an early ball square into the box. Faubert gallops forward but Roberts gets there JUST in front of the Frenchman and concedes a corner.
2 mins - The atmosphere is decent inside the stadium this afternoon, or is it evening? The pre-match big screen show has had its desired effect and the crowd are in good voice.
1 min - Good start. Derby play the ball back and cannot even get out of their own half as Faubert blocks a pass and Cole wins a throw. Cole flicks on into the box and Baldock tries to turn and cross, but it's blocked. Encouraging signs...
5.21pm - Derby's players have a quick huddle and we're nearly ready for kick-off. West Ham will attack the Bobby Moore Stand end of the ground first. That's a bit unusual. Derby kick-off...
5.17pm - The players break away and a montage of classic Hammers goals plays on the big screens to the strains of Tinie Tempah's 'Written in the stars'. Dicks, Tevez, Moore, Hurst, Brooking... They are all there!
5.16pm - 'Bubbles' starts to play and the two teams emerge from the tunnel, led by referee Colin Webster and captains Kevin Nolan and Shaun Barker. It's a clear and fairly mild November evening here in east London. The wind that was blowing around the place earlier appears to have abated and we're set for a decent game.
5.12pm - Igor Stimac has been down in the tunnel meeting some old friends from both clubs before heading over to the Sky Sports studio in the corner between the East and Bobby Moore Stands. Igor has brought his son Luka with him today. Luka is a big lad and looks like he could make a decent defender himself!
5.08pm - The Hammers are heading back to their dressing room. They were warming up today in the club's new 2420 T-shirts - an exclusive range of stylish T-shirts launched in time for Christmas. WIth 12 new designs exclusively designed by fans to arrive in store this week, there is no better time to kit yourself out ahead of the festive season. To order online, click here.
5.05pm - Good news from elsewhere that the leaders Southampton have lost 2-0 at Bristol City. Cardiff stay third after a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough are still fourth after a 1-1 draw at Peterborough United. Fourth-place 'Boro are now four points ahead of fifth-place Leeds United, who lost at home to Barnsley.
4.25pm - The teams are in. West Ham make two changes from the 2-1 win at Coventry City a week ago. Papa Bouba Diop and John Carew miss out, with Joey O'Brien and Carlton Cole coming in.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert, Noble, Nolan, Collison, Cole, Baldock
Subs: Stech, Demel, Taylor, Piquionne, Carew
Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, Roberts, Barker, Shackell, Bryson, Ward, Bailey, B.Davies, Green, Priskin
Subs: Legzdins, O'Brien, Doyle, Buxton, Hendrick
4pm - A few big names at the Boleyn this afternoon. Ray Stewart is here greeting corporate guests in the Legends Bar, while Alan Taylor, Peter Brabrook and Bobby Gould have also been spotted in the Legends Restaurant. Another former Hammer in the stadium today is ex-Derby and Croatia great Igor Stimac. The centre-back is a studio guest for Sky Sports' live coverage of today's game.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for today's tea-time kick-off between West Ham United and Derby County.
Today's game is the 12th and final fixture of a full npower Championship programme this afternoon. By the time West Ham kick-off, they will know how leaders Southampton have faired at Bristol City and third and fourth-placed Cardiff City and Middlesbrough have got on against Nottingham Forest and Peterborough United respectively.
The Hammers go into this evening's game on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, while the Rams have won just one of their previous nine npower Championship fixtures.
With those statistics in mind, Sam Allardyce will be confident that his team can gain a fifth win in six matches and strengthen their grip on an automatic promotion place. However, Nigel Clough's men are also capable of winning games and will be eager to record a success that could re-ignite their own promotion challenge.
Should the Hammers prevail, they would record a third successive win for the first time since April/May 2007, when the Londoners won four straight games to secure their Premier League survival. Three points today would help the hosts' cause in regaining their position in the top flight after a single season's absence.
Big Sam welcomes back Matt Taylor from a month out with a calf injury, while Carlton Cole will be pushing for a start after excelling off the bench in the recent wins at Hull City and Coventry City.
The two teams will be announced an hour before kick-off - so, at about 4.20pm - and will be posted first on the club's official twitter feed here.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert (Taylor 82), Noble, Nolan, Collison, Cole (Carew 77), Baldock (Piquionne 21)
Subs not used: Stech, Demel
Derby County: Fielding, Brayford (O'Brien 77), Roberts, Barker (Hendrick 77), Shackell, Bryson, Ward (Doyle 78), Bailey, B.Davies, Green, Priskin
Subs not used: Legzdins, Buxton