WEST HAM UNITED v MILLWALL
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2012
KICK-OFF: 12.30PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Final score - West Ham United 2-1 Millwall
96 mins - Kane to take... It's not a good corner and is headed clear but still we play on as O'Brien concedes a throw. The ball comes in again, Kane crosses and Faye clears again and the final whistle goes! Noble punches the air in jubilation. That is a fantastic win for the Hammers, who played for nearly 90 minutes with ten men, if you include the added-time! Don't forget, exclusive reaction and highlights will be available on West Ham TV. Tickets are also on sale for the next few home matches, with mouth-watering fixtures against Southampton, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough coming soon and offers galore for all the family!
95 mins - Into the final minute and Reid wins a header. A long ball forward again and Reid is challenged by Henderson and the ball bounces behind for a corner.
94 mins - A loose header is ushered out for a throw by Vaz Te. Millwall win it back but Faye is there with a massive boot high into the Alpari Stand.
93 mins - Vaz Te does well to collect a pass from Tomkins and then plays the ball to O'Neil. He takes a touch but is challenged and the ball rolls behind off his shin.
93 mins - Faye heads clear and O'Neil does well to invite the challenge from Trotter. Free-kick to West Ham and a chance for Green to clear long upfield.
91 mins - We're going to have five minutes of added time. Vaz Te has the ball inside the Millwall half but he's on his own and drags his shot wide.
90 mins - Taylor loses the ball and Millwall win another corner as Tomkins heads behind. Mason takes and Vaz Te heads clear at the near post. The ball breaks to Smith but his daisy-cutter is straight into the grateful arms of Green.
89 mins - It's Cole who is replaced, having scored his first goal since Boxing Day and his ninth in 25 appearances this season. Vaz Te has BIG hair!
88 mins - Millwall win two corners, the first off Noble and the second off Reid's diving header. Green makes a rock solid claim from the second delivery. Vaz Te will be on for his debut shortly.
86 mins - Cole is penalised for an aerial challenge and booked, I'm assuming for persistent foul play. Forde was also booked earlier for dissent.
86 mins - I can't watch! Millwall keep the ball on the edge of the box and it is worked wide right to Mason inside the box. He sends over a cross-shot and Green spills it. The ball hits Faye's foot and rolls back into Green's hands. Phew!
85 mins - It's still a bit nervy out there as McCartney stubs his foot making a clearance. Dunne is forward but Taylor uses his body well to shield the ball out for a throw.
83 mins - Today's attendance is 27,774, but of course we have a reduced capacity as the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower is closed. Kane takes the free-kick and curls it miles wide.
82 mins - Mason gets his first touch as he tries to head Smith's cross on goal, but it goes harmlessly wide. Green then makes a hash of the goal kick and Faye is forced to foul Keogh. Free-kick about 27 or 28 yards out.
81 mins - Changes for both sides. O'Neil is on for Faubert and Ryan Mason replaces Feeney.
80 mins - The corner is headed straight back to Noble and his second delivery is good. Millwall scramble the ball away. Moments later, Cole does well to hold the ball up before laying off for Faubert. His first touch takes him wide and he lashes the shot wide. Shame.
78 mins - O'Neil will be on soon. He is getting some instructions from Big Sam. Meanwhile, West Ham are on the offensive and win a corner.
77 mins - A nervous moment there as Dunne fires a rasping drive in at goal from all of 25 yards. Thankfully, it flies narrowly wide of Green's left-hand post.
73 mins - It's all gone a bit frantic as Noble gives the ball away and both Reid and Tomkins make a hash of their clearances. Finally, a ball forward bounces through to Green and we can all take a deep breath.
71 mins - So we're back where we were about six minutes ago. Millwall will have to find a second equaliser, while the Hammers need to concentrate and not make the same mistakes that led to Trotter's goal.
69 mins - GOAL! REID! What a finish! Taylor's corner is a cracker and Faye's header is cleared off the line. West Ham get the ball back on halfway and a long ball into the box is punched by Forde straight to Reid about 25 yards out. He lashes it first-time into the vacant net and the Hammers lead again.
68 mins - Ward is booked for a foul on Cole, but play is first allowed to go on and Smith has to head behind for a corner. Taylor will take the corner.
66 mins - GOAL! Trotter equalises. Faye does not deal with Henderson and allows the forward to keep the ball in rather than clearing it himself. The ball drops to Trotter, who takes a touch and volleys the ball into the top corner from 18 yards. Great finish.
65 mins - Twenty-five minutes to go and Baldock and Maynard are out warming up on the touchline. Does Big Sam make another change? Or does he trust the ten men out there to see the game through? Only time will tell...
63 mins - Superb from Tomkins. Keogh gets in behind Reid and his cross looks destined for Kane until Tomkins makes an outstanding sliding intervention. That would have been big trouble had he not got a toe the ball and diverted it out for a throw on the far side. O'Brien then wins a goal kick.
62 mins - Noble takes the free-kick and Tomkins challenges and wins a corner. He curls it to the far post where Forde is fouled as he claws the ball away.
61 mins - Signs of life from the visitors as Feeney takes on Taylor and crosses. It's a well-directed effort that clears Green but is also too strong for Kane and bounces out for a throw on the far side.
60 mins - Feeney gets forward down the right and wins a throw from McCartney. Tomkins and Reid then combine to head clear before Cole does well and West Ham get the ball into the Millwall half.
58 mins - Smith gets in behind O'Brien but the Irishman sticks to his task and does superbly well to get in between Smith and the ball before clearing up to Faubert.
57 mins - Millwall make their first change, bringing on Harry Kane for Barron. Kane is a forward on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He goes wide left.
55 mins - Millwall have changed their formation slightly, with Smith going to left-back to try to stop Faubert. Barron has swapped and is now playing left wing.
52 mins - Another yellow card for a Millwall player and this time it's Lowry who is penalised for bringing down Faubert as he dribbles past him. Before, Reid had made a fine interception and pass to find the Frenchman. Taylor's free-kick hits the wall.
51 mins - The Hammers are at it since the break and win a corner now. Taylor takes left-footed but Forde is there to claim. That was some header by Faubert. He was within an inch or two of scoring his second goal of the season.
50 mins - Argh! So close to 2-0. Taylor and Noble battle away for the ball on the left before McCartney's cross finds Faubert. He wins the header and it loops over Forde and hits the underside of the bar before coming out. Brilliant battling and brilliant play. So unlucky!
49 mins - Henderson catches Reid in the face with an arm and is booked. It's all going on out there and we've still got about 40-odd minutes to go. Don't you just love a good derby match?!
48 mins - Taylor gets his first cross in, but the ball is behind Faubert and Millwall head clear. Moments later, Taylor is then penalised for a tackle on Lowry when in fact it looked like a free-kick the other way.
47 mins - In other developments, the sun has come out...
46 mins - The Hammers kick-off and the ball is punted down the left and out for a Millwall throw. The ball is thrown on and immediately Feenry is down and needs some attention to a bang on the head.
Half-time score - West Ham United 1-0 Millwall
Lots of debate in the Press Box about Nolan's red card tackle. You'll have to see it for yourselves on the television. The most important statistic is the scoreline, and West Ham have 45 minutes to defend or build on a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, Matt Taylor is coming on for Collison at the break.
48 mins - That's half-time!
47 mins - GOAL! COLE! Cole is fouled inside the Millwall half from a long clearance and Noble puts pace on the delivery. Reid challenges and his header loops into the air. Cole gets there ahead of his marker and nods the ball over Forde and into the roof of the net. Get in there!
46 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes as Henderson heads the ball out.
45 mins - Millwall ending the half strongly and Dunne is forward again. His cross is headed out by Reid. West Ham cannot afford to concede within the next few minutes...
42 mins - Barron has been given a torrid time by Faubert and now it's O'Brien who beats him and is fouled by the left-back. Talking-to for Barron and another chance for Noble to deliver. He does, but Smith heads clear.
40 mins - Cole battles with Lowry on the edge of the box and wins possession. He makes half a yard and shoots, but the effort is dragged wide of the far post.
39 mins - A couple of lucky ricochets and Millwall have a man over. The cross from Barron is deep and McCartney wins it, but can only flick it on to Dunne. He crosses, but it's blocked and the home side clear.
37 mins - Millwall have another corner as Henderson and Faye challenge. Replays suggest it was a goal kick... Corner given and then Henderson is penalised for a high foot on Reid. Free-kick to the Hammers.
35 mins - The Millwall fans want a penalty as Henderson goes down under a challenge from Faye as both go for a left-wing cross. Nothing given except a goal kick. West Ham break immediately and McCartney crosses low. Faubert slides in but just cannot make enough contact and the ball slides wide.
33 mins - Noble plays the ball in for Collison, who is fouled 35 yards out. Noble to take the free-kick... Smith heads it clear.
32 mins - Really good West Ham. O'Brien punts the ball down the right again and Faubert again heads on for himself. He then takes on Barron and gets to the byline, but his low cross is cut out at the near post. Unlucky.
30 mins - O'Brien does superbly well, getting forward and controlling on his chest before making ten yards and blasting a shot narrowly wide. Great stuff from the right-back.
28 mins - The Hammers are finding their feet here, with Noble to the fore. He wins the ball back and then tries to pick out Faubert's run with a clipped pass. Ward is there.
26 mins - Henderson makes a clever run and is picked out. He wins the corner off O'Brien. It's taken short and worked to Smith. West Ham cannot clear and finally Feeney collects possession and makes space for a shot. He lets fly from 22 yards but Green is there to make the save.
25 mins - Cole does well to hold the ball up and find Faubert. His cross is overhit and Collison retrieves. He crosses first-time and Cole does well again. Faubert stabs the ball across and Cole heads into the arms of Forde. Better.
23 mins - Cole is trying his best to hold the ball up front, but it's not easy against two centre-backs. He'll have to keep going though, because it's unlikely he'll get a partner this afternoon. Noble lofts the ball down the line for Faubert, who wins a throw.
21 mins - A period of keep-ball from Millwall ends with Barron trying to over-lap on to the pass but Faubert tracks back well and ushers the ball out for a goal kick.
19 mins - Noble wins a fine sliding challenge before being tackled himself and Tomkins can only concede the throw. West Ham just struggling to keep possession here. Maynard and Vaz Te go for a run on the touchline.
17 mins - Faubert has looked most likely to make something happen and he does so again, beating Barron to a bouncing pass from Tomkins and winning a foul wide on the right. Noble takes the free-kick and Tomkins wins it, but his header has not got the power to trouble Forde. Easy save for the keeper.
15 mins - Millwall have been boosted by that sending-off and their main man Henderson spreads play wide. The cross comes over and takes a nick off a defender before bouncing behind for another corner. Trotter takes and Cole heads powerfully clear.
12 mins - West Ham are going to win this game by working harder than Millwall. Noble puts in two good challenges before Cole blocks a clearance and wins the ball down the left channel. He crosses for Faubert, but it's too close to Forde, who collects.
11 mins - Smith had the physio on after the challenge, but he is back on the pitch and looks fine to continue. It looks to me like West Ham have gone 4-4-1 with Cole up front on his own and Tomkins alongside Noble in centre midfield.
9 mins - Red card! Nolan is sent-off for a two-footed challenge on Smith. West Ham down to ten men. Big Sam may have to shuffle his pack now...
7 mins - No real pattern so far, except both teams are clearly intent on going for it. That should make for an entertaining spectacle. Millwall attack again and Keogh gets to the byline and forces Nolan to put the ball behind. Corner. Lowry wins it, but the ball is blocked by Faye and is safely collected by Green.
5 mins - West Ham attack again and McCartney wins a corner. Forde comes for it, but Dunne heads the ball straight up. Tomkins and Faye challenge before Faubert swings his right boot at the ball. He doesn't make great contact and the ball is harmlessly into the arms of the goalkeeper.
4 mins - It is an open game. Faye cannot clear and the ball is worked back to Trotter. He finds Smith about 25 yards out. The ball bounces invitingly, but the half-volley flies well wide.
3 mins - Collison takes the corner from the right. Cole gets there and wins the header under pressure, but it loops on to the roof of the net. Chances for both teams in the opening three minutes.
2 mins - Nolan tries to pick out Faubert with a diagonal pass. The Frenchman heads on for himself and Barron puts the ball out for a throw. Cole works the ball to O'Brien, who wins a corner.
1 min - Dunne wins the header and the ball flashes across the face of goal and behind. Early warning for the Hammers.
23 seconds - Millwall have a corner. Henderson has the ball and shoots. It takes a flick off a defender and Green cannot prevent the corner.
12.31pm - Millwall get us underway...
12.30pm - The two teams are swapping ends, meaning West Ham will attack the Bobby Moore Stand end of the stadium in the first half. The Lions are having a pre kick-off huddle. Julien Faubert is also sporting the brightest pair of yellow boots I have ever seen...
12.28pm - The Hammers are today wearing black armbands in memory of Ernie Gregory. There is a big round of applause for Ernie, who served the club for 51 years.
12.27pm - Kevin Nolan and Liam Trotter are the two captains, while our referee is the experienced Mick Jones.
12.25pm - The atmosphere is decent. Both sets of fans are singing their hearts out as 'Bubbles' starts to play. West Ham need to get back to winning ways today, not only for local bragging rights but also to reinstate the confidence that was there before Tuesday's defeat at Ipswich. Here come the two teams...
12.17pm - Mark Noble is the SBOBET Player of the Month for January. He collects his award and poses for a photograph or two before heading off. Meanwhile, a few lucky fans are receiving a surprise gift in the shape of a 2for20 T-Shirt, with Jack Collison and Abdoulaye Faye among those to throw them to young supporters.
12.15pm - The 1,300-odd Lions fans in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand Upper are making plenty of noise. Meanwhile, the West Ham players are going through a final shooting drill before they head back to the warmth of the Home Dressing Room. The sunshine that was bright over east London this morning has been replaced by white cloud - they've told us that snow is on the way...
12.10pm - Today's matchday programme features and in-depth tribute to Ernie Gregory, who passed away on 21 January at the age of 90. The legendary goalkeeper and coach gave 51 years of service to the Hammers. To order your copy online, click here. Here at the Boleyn, the stands are slowly filling up ahead of kick-off. In about five minutes, we'll find out the identity of the SBOBET Player of the Month for January, as voted for by you, the supporters.
12.05pm - I can report that it is absolutely FREEZING here at the Boleyn Ground. The undersoil heating means we won't have any issues with the pitch being playable, thankfully. Out on the pitch, the home players are warming up (well, trying to warm up!) in the new 2for20 Thames Ironworks T-shirts, which are available now from the Official Online Store by clicking here.
11.35pm - The teams are in! Big Sam makes two changes to the side that lost 5-1 at Ipswich Town on Tuesday, bringing in Joey O'Brien and Abdoulaye Faye for Matt Taylor and Henri Lansbury. James Tomkins or Faye is likely to line up in a defensive midfield role.
Subs: Baldock, O'Neil, Taylor, Vaz Te, Maynard
Good morning and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for today's npower Championship fixture between West Ham United and Millwall.
Today's London derby promises to be an exciting occasion, with both clubs eager to collect all three points for very different reasons - the Hammers to maintain their position at the top of the table and the Lions to keep themselves clear of the relegation zone.
West Ham are also looking to bounce back from their heaviest defeat in more than a year, having fallen to a 5-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening. Millwall were also beaten in midweek, losing 2-0 at home to Watford.
Team news-wise, Sam Allardyce could hand a debut to his deadline day signings Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison, while fellow new boy George John is also looking to make his bow in claret and blue.
Millwall have never won a Football League match at the Boleyn Ground and have only ever won once at the home of the Hammers. However, West Ham have not won any of the previous seven league meetings between the two clubs.
West Ham triumphed on Millwall's most-recent visit to their east London neighbours, winning 3-1 in a Carling Cup tie back in August 2009. The reverse fixture back in September 2011 ended in a goalless draw at The Den.
The starting XIs will be announced at 11.30am, with the team news being announced first on the club's official twitter feed and here on whufc.com