NEWCASTLE UNITED v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
ST JAMES' PARK
SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: PHIL DOWD
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Final score - Newcastle United 0-0 West Ham United
94: That's it! A hard-earned but thoroughly deserved point for the Hammers, who keep their second clean sheet of the season and remain unbeaten. That's four points from two games and Stoke City to come at home next weekend. Tickets for that Kids for a Quid game are on sale now! In the meantime, check out West Ham TV and our social media platforms for exclusive reaction from todays' draw at St James' Park.
92: Nolan is penalised for a foul a yard inside the West Ham half. Anita to launch it... Reid wins the initial header but Newcastle keep possession. Sammy Ameobi takes on Cole and crosses from the left and the ball floats over Jaaskelainen and comes back off the inside of the post! Gouffran then puts the rebound over from six yards. Amazing escape for West Ham! Newcastle's first shot on target was a cross, then. Decent.
91: We're into the first of THREE added minutes. West Ham have a goal kick.
89: Argh! Maiga has the ball in the net, but he's offside as he flicks in Morrison's deflected shot. He did look beyond the last defender, in all honesty, but I've not seen a replay.
88: Good turn from Reid and pass to Jarvis. He beats Debuchy and finds Morrison, who wins a corner off the Frenchman.
87: West Ham win a free-kick as Debuchy is caught offside after taking a throw near the corner flag. Relief for the Hammers after a difficult couple of minutes.
86: Ben Arfa still looks the most likely for the home side. He shoots from miles out again, but Collins makes a flying block.
83: Morrison, who is wearing gloves, is fouled by Shola Ameobi on the edge of his own box. West Ham break at pace and Jarvis beats Debuchy again. He crosses and Coloccini beats Maiga in the air, but the ball drops, hits Morrison on the chest and rolls for Cole, whose first-time left-foot curler is a yard or two wide of the top corner.
81: The corner comes to nothing again and Krul then clears. Newcastle get a slightly fortunate bounce and the ball skips to Gouffran. He shoots left-footed and Collins makes the block. West Ham lose the ball again as the come forward and it's worked right to Ben Arfa. He puts O'Brien on his backside and then runs the ball out of play trying to beat Reid. Goal kick.
79: Maiga turns well and finds Nolan. He plays wide left for Jarvis, who runs Debuchy again and wins a corner. It's West Ham's second corner, but Jarvis' cross is headed away. Moments later, Joe Cole wins another corner off Yanga-Mbiwa. Like London buses, corners. Well, in Newcastle they are, anyway!
78: O'Brien watches the ball superbly as Ben Arfa tries to skip down his weaker left side. The Irishman sticks out his leg and concedes the corner, Newcastle's fifth. It comes to nothing.
77: Nolan gives the ball back to Newcastle and Reid trots back on.
76: Reid is hurt challenging for a header with Shola Ameobi and the big striker puts the ball out for the No2 to receive treatment. Some of the home fans don't like it but that's great sportsmanship from Ameobi. Noble applauds him and Nolan gives his former team-mate a tap of thanks. Good to see.
75: It's Diame who will be replaced. Morrison, with 'Ravel' on his shirt, is on for just his second first-team appearance for the Hammers.
74: Ravel Morrison will be on shortly.
72: The ball finally goes out of play and Cisse is replaced by Gouffran.
69: It's getting ever closer to the stage where one goal here could be decisive. It's still very cagey but Newcastle are knocking on the door. Nolan is there to clip a cross from the left from Sammy Ameobi away but the Hammers cannot get out of their half at present. Gouffran is ready to enter the fray for the Magpies.
65: It's Sammy Ameobi coming on now for Marveaux. The midfielder has had a decent game and there are some boos from the home fans to greet the decision. Just checked the stats again - we've had 17 efforts on goal in this game so far, and only Downing's shot just after half-time was going in!
63: We're going to see Joe Cole soon. He is stripped and ready on the touchline. Jarvis wins a throw and it's Cole on for Downing. The full debutant hasn't done a lot wrong in his hour or so on the field. Can Cole make himself a hero again?
61: Reid and Cisse collide while racing after a long ball. The physios are both on as the rain continues to bucket down. Reid and Cisse are both fine to continue.
60: What a chance for Nolan! Downing collects a throw from Demel and curls in a delicious ball with his left foot from wide on the right. Nolan loses his marker but makes too strong a contact. The ball hits his head, then shoulder and loops wide. He puts his hands to his face in frustration. Nobby normally buries those.
57: Reid is penalised for shoving Ameobi. The free-kick is taken quickly and Cisse is one-on-one with Collins. He tries to nutmeg the big No19, but Ginge watches the ball well and clears. West Ham break but Krul beats Maiga to the cross.
55: West Ham have been slightly second-best since the break and the home crowd are sensing their team are getting on top. A lost tackle in midfield sees the ball worked to left-back Santon and he shoots... wide. The rain is belting down now. Lovely.
53: A good run by Cisse takes him clear of Reid momentarily, but the defender regains his ground and pokes the ball to Ben Arfa. He plays inside for Marveaux, who tries a give-and-go with Ameobi on the edge of the box but the return is too strong. Jaaskelainen collects. Newcastle's fans are growing in belief a bit, here.
52: A hopeful punt forward spins a bit and doesn't quite reach the box, forcing Jaaskelainen into a hurried hack into the stand. No matter, Newcastle waste the throw.
50: Just checked the stats and Newcastle have had eleven shots - all of them off-target.
48: Now it's West Ham's chance to shoot as Downing pops up on the inside-left channel running at Coloccini and Yanga-Mbiwa. He shoots high to the near post and Krul pats down and collects at the second attempt. Moments later, it's another Newcastle shooting gallery special as Marveaux scoops the ball miles over the top.
48: It's shoot on sight from Newcastle. Noble gifts possession to Santon inside the Hammers half. The Italian takes a touch and slides a shot miles wide from about 30 yards.
47: Reid concedes a corner. Marveaux takes from the Newcastle left and Coloccini rises but heads back past the near post by about ten yards.
46: West Ham kick-off the second half. The rain has arrived here on Tyneside and I'm getting a bit wet. Not sure those behind me would appreciate it if the umbrella went up!
OK, no changes at the break, but we do have an attendance. It's 49,622, with 2,200 Hammers among them.
Half-time score - Newcastle United 0-0 West Ham United
47: That, my friends is half-time. West Ham have probably created the marginally better chances in the opening 45 minutes, but it's been fairly cagey stuff. Newcastle clearly want to keep a clean sheet after their mauling at Manchester CIty and have gone much more defensive in midfield than usual. Ben Arfa is always a threat, but his shooting has lacked accuracy so far. As for the Hammers, Maiga and Downing have headed wide, while Reid could have done better with his volley from Maiga's flick-on. As it is, we're goalless. Join us again in ten or so for the second half.
46: Fourth official Kevin Friend has the board out. We'll have one added minute, at least. Newcastle have another dangerous free-kick outside the box following a foul by Diame. Marveaux... Ameobi wins it but his header bounces a few yards wide of the far post.
44: This time Ben Arfa goes on a driving run down the right channel before being unceremoniously brought down by O'Brien. That was a bit cynical from Joey. Yellow card shown by Mr Dowd. The free-kick finds Coloccini, but Mr Dowd spots Sissoko blocking a defender off and blows for a free-kick for West Ham. Good refereeing.
43: The Ben Arfa shooting gallery gets another entry as he beats Nolan and drives high and into the Sir John Hall Stand from 25 yards.
42: West Ham win a free-kick deep inside the Newcastle half wide on the left when Jarvis is fouled near the touchline. The winger himself takes but the delivery is headed clear as far as Downing. His stooping header is cleared and Collins is penalised for a late challenge.
40: Newcastle's third corner. Ben Arfa lifts the ball over left-footed and Sissoko wins it above Collins, but the header loops harmlessly wide. The hosts have definitely carried a threat from set pieces. They are a big side, and not many are bigger than the Hammers.
38: Another chance for the Hammers. Jarvis has got the beating of Debuchy and he races past him again before standing the cross up to the far post. Downing rises and heads back across the face of goal and wide! Close.
36: Newcastle's best move of the game so far. Ben Arfa releases Cisse down the touchline. He passes inside for Ameobi, who lays off for the advancing Sissoko, who leans back slightly and curls his first-time shot a few yards over the top. Flowing football from Pardew's side.
34: Newcastle win their second corner as Collins heads the ball against Reid from a long diagonal into the box. Ben Arfa takes and Yanga-Mbiwa flashes a header wide of the near post.
33: Jaaskelainen lifts the free-kick into the box again and it's allowed to bounce. Reid is there again, but just cannot reach it and Krul collects. Had he scored, that might have been controversial as he was a yard offside.
32: Diame is putting himself about to good effect. He has stopped at least three promising Newcastle attacks already. As I type he robs Cisse again and is fouled. Go on, Mo!
29: Ben Arfa loves a shot, doesn't he. He plays two exchanges of passes and then drags a shot low and wide from 25 yards.
27: Another chance for the Hammers and it's a good one again. Collins is fouled. Jaaskelainen lifts the free-kick into the box from his own half, Maiga flicks on well and Reid is there, but he lifts the shot over the top from about eight yards under pressure from Krul. Big opportunity for the Kiwi captain.
25: Wildly ambitious from Ben Arfa, who benefits from a quick one-two in midfield between Marveaux and Sissoko but then blasts his shot high and not very handsome from about 30 yards.
23: Downing again, racing onto a lofted pass forward from Noble. He beats the offside trap and finds Demel wide right. The first-time cross is high and loops to the far post for Jarvis, who heads down for Nolan. It's behind the skipper, who cannot quite control and then fouls Debuchy.
20: Downing cuts out an errant pass from Sissoko and drives into the Newcastle half with the ball at his feet. Again, he cuts onto his left foot and tries to run through Yanga-Mbiwa, who tackles him. Downing wants a foul, but Mr Dowd waves away the protests.
19: Chance! Demel throws in for Downing and collects the return before shrugging off his marker and crossing to the edge of the six-yard box. Maiga rises and glances his header wide of the far post. He was unchallenged, was Maiga, but maybe stretching slightly. Good chance, though.
18: Cole, Morrison and Rat are out warming up to the strains of Twist and Shout from the away fans!
16: It's not quite happening for West Ham as yet in an attacking sense. Demel wins the ball from Ameobi, who fouls him. Demel takes the free-kick quickly to Downing, who is goal-side of Santon. The winger chooses to cut inside on his left foot and seek out Jarvis on the other flank, but his pass is over-hit. Throw to the hosts.
13: Panic as Diame tries to beat a man inside his own half and loses the ball to Anita. Although the former Ajax man's through ball is wayward, Reid almost helps him out by passing the ball past Jaaskelainen and a yard wide of the post! The Finn was scrambling there. The corner comes over and Collins heads out. Newcastle win the ball back but Reid heads the second cross out. Sissoko volleys miles off-target.
11: If you want to know what it's like to walk out of the tunnel before a Barclays Premier League game, click on the YOUTUBE link above! Fantastic stuff.
9: Diame uses his long strides to challenge Sissoko and the ball spins into the Newcastle half with Santon well out of position. Diame has just one defender to beat but is caught in two minds and his touch lets him down. Shame. Coloccini clears.
7: Or maybe not as Ben Arfa lifts the free-kick over the wall and about ten yards over the crossbar and into the crowd. Ironic cheers from the Hammers fans way up in the Gods.
6: Newcastle race forward and Noble misses his challenge on Sissoko on halfway. Collins puts a stop to the midfielder's rampage with a trip about 30-odd yards out. It's just left of central and dangerous with the likes of Ben Arfa around.
4: A Toon attack ends with Santon cutting inside from the left and floating a cross in for Cisse. It's too strong and Jaaskelainen shouts loudly to his defenders before catching to his chest.
2: Strong run from Diame and he feeds Jarvis wide left. The No7 skins Debuchy and wins a corner off the France right-back. Jarvis takes and the ball flicks off a Newcastle head and lands for Reid at the back post. The Kiwi steadies himself and shoots first-time while slightly off-balance. The effort is blocked and flies out for a throw on the near side. Newcastle then clear their lines from a wayward cross from Diame.
3pm - Newcastle get things underway shooting towards the Sir John Hall End of the stadium. Collins wins an early header and Nolan finds Noble, but his volleyed pass for Jarvis is too strong and skips off the wet turf for a throw on the far side.
3pm - The Toon will kick-off...
2.57pm - Here come the two teams to the strains of Blaydon Races and Local Hero. I must confess I personally love coming to St James' Park. It's a fantastic stadium in a fantastic setting. I love it even more when we win here, of course! Right, time for kick-off. Come on you Irons!
2.55pm - So, one change from Big Sam and it's a tactical one. Downing is probably quicker than Cole and, therefore, will be able to relieve pressure by running the ball upfield in much the same way that Jarvis does so regularly away from home. Tough on Cole, but he can still come on and make a big impact in this game. How will it pan out? Join the conversation on twitter @whufc_official using the hashtag #WHULIVE.
2.50pm - If you follow West Ham United on social media, you will have noticed that we have launched a lot of videos and Vines today! We're committed to enhancing coverage on matchdays and will be bringing you as much as possible from behind the scenes. Anyway, the two teams have headed to their respective dressing rooms for their final instructions from Big Sam and Pards. Beforehand, national team-mates Diame and Cisse swapped a few words on halfway. Alou Diarra also seems to know most of the Newcastle squad from his time in France!
2.10pm - We have the team news and Big Sam has made one change to the starting XI which overcame Cardiff City last weekend, with Stewart Downing making his full debut in place of Joe Cole, who drops to the bench. Four changes for Newcastle, with the suspended Taylor, Tiote, injured Gutierrez and Gouffran being replaced by Santon, Marveaux, Anita and Shola Ameobi.
Newcastle United: Krul, Debuchy, Santon, Coloccini (c), Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita, Sissoko, Marveaux (Sammy Ameobi 65), Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Cisse (Gouffran 72)
Subs: Elliott, Bigirmana, Gosling, Vuckic, Dummett
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Noble, Diame (Morrison 75), Nolan (c), Downing (Cole 63), Jarvis, Maiga
Subs: Adrian, Rat, Tomkins, Diarra, Vaz Te
Good afternoon and welcome to St James' Park for today's Barclays Premier League fixture between Newcastle United and West Ham United.
The Hammers arrive on Tyneside in confident mood following their 2-0 opening-day victory over Cardiff City at the Boleyn Ground, while the Magpies will be desperate to bounce back after being thumped 4-0 at Manchester City on Monday.
Today's match sees two managers coming up against one of their former clubs. Sam Allardyce spent a short period in charge at St James' Park in 2007/08, while Alan Pardew led West Ham to promotion from the Championship in 2005 and to the FA Cup final the following year.
By a quirk of fate, Big Sam was the final boss to manage against Pardew's Hammers, with Bolton's 4-0 Premier League victory over West Ham at the Reebok Stadium on 9 December 2006 contributing to Pardew's departure two days later.
Hammers captain Kevin Nolan also returns to the club he skippered to promotion in 2009, but Gateshead-born Andy Carroll is unavailable as he continues to recover from a heel injury suffered in the final game of last season.
Nolan was the match-winner here at St James' Park last season, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 West Ham victory on 11 November 2012. West Ham also held Newcastle to a goalless draw at home in May, making Big Sam's side the only team to hold the Magpies scoreless in the Barclays Premier League last season.
As for the team news, West Ham could be unchanged, although Stewart Downing is pushing for a first start. For Newcastle, centre-back Steven Taylor is banned after being sent-off at Manchester City, but France midfielder Yohan Cabaye could be included in the starting XI after missing Monday's defeat.
We'll have the team news confirmed at about 2pm. You can watch our exclusive Match Preview by clicking on the West Ham TV link at the top of the page, while you can also view exclusive photos and video from St James' Park on our social media pages now!