NORWICH CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 5.30PM
REFEREE: JONATHAN MOSS
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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94: Game over. West Ham lose a game they should have had won by half-time. As the old saying goes, it's a game of two halves and for all the Hammers' dominance before the break, Norwich were much-improved after the break and took their chances. It's another hugely frustrating defeat. The penalty just after half-time changed everything. Before then, Norwich simply didn't look like scoring. Chelsea at home next, then...
93: Goal! All over. Fer collects the ball after Collins prods it away from Elmander, beats Tomkins' sliding challenge and buries the left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner. Good finish. Wild celebrations from the home players, who engulf Hughton on the touchline.
92: Cole's knock-down finds a Norwich defender. Diame then wins the ball back and passes it straight out of play.
90: Downing is crowded out inside the Norwich box. The Canaries break as Snodgrass turns away from Rat inside the centre circle. He finds Redmond, who opens up space for a shot but blazes over the top. Three added minutes to be played...
89: Norwich look like they will play this game out, to be honest. West Ham cannot really create anything clear-cut. Redmond wins a corner deep in West Ham territory.
87: Matt Jarvis replaces Noble. Bradley Johnson is on for Hooper.
86: Chaos. Cole loses out inside the Norwich box. The Canaries break through Howson and when Redmond's cross is headed high into the air by Collins, the Hammers hesitate and the ball hits a defender and bounces to the unmarked Snodgrass. He should hit the target, but flashes the ball over the top.
84: Rat's long throw is flicked on by Carlton Cole, the ball drops and Ruddy hesitates before collecting, almost allowing Nolan to pounce. The goalkeper recovers in time, however.
83: Time is running out for the Hammers here and, if they lose, they'll drop to 16th and just a point above the bottom three. It nearly gets worse as a shot flies narrowly wide of the target. The Hammers need to find a second wind here. Diame is fouled, Noble curls the free-kick in, Nolan flicks on and the Canaries clear.
81: Nolan lays off Jaaskelainen's goal kick and Diame bursts onto the ball. He shoots, but it takes a slight deflection that takes some of the pace off the ball and Ruddy can collect.
79: Diame loses out on the edge of the Norwich box and Redmond counters. He has been impressive. He runs at Noble and wins a corner. Snodgrass crosses and Fer heads wide of the far post.
78: If I am frustrated, I cannot begin to think how frustrated the fans sitting opposite me must feel. It nearly gets even worse as Redmond finds Hooper, whose low shot is held by Jaaskelainen.
74: The Norwich fans literally cannot believe this. Carlton Cole is on for Collison. At half-time, it was a question of how many West Ham should be ahead. Now they need a goal just to grab a point.
72: Goal! Another direct free-kick beats Jaaskelainen and another set piece does for the Hammers. Snodgrass curls it over the wall and into the corner. Jaaskelainen doesn't move. Norwich lead.
71: Norwich come within a lick of paint of taking the lead. Noble is caught out in midfield and Howson collects and smashes a dipping shot that thumps off the crossbar. The ball loops all the way out to Howson again and he is shoved over by Collins. Before the free-kick, Nolan is booked for dissent. Diame replaces Cole and Snodgrass is lining it up...
69: I think Diame could be on soon. Before then, Howson fouls Cole on halfway. Collins goes forward. The ball is headed out as far as Cole, who fouls his man.
67: To be fair, West Ham are back on top. Downing runs at Olsson and wins a corner off the Swede. Downing himself to take. Tomkins heads it wide, but not before Mr Moss has spotted a foul by a West Ham player.
65: Unlucky. Morrison goes on a mazy run and finds Downing. He lofts the cross in and it's headed out as far as Noble. He tries a ball inside Martin for Rat, but it's just too strong. Goal kick.
64: Is Big Sam considering a change? Norwich are pressing much higher up the pitch and the space that was there before half-time has gone. Jarvis, Diame and Maiga are out on the touchline warming-up.
62: Snodgrass and Rat battle for the ball and the Romanian fouls him. The Scot then lays on the floor holding his head as if he Rat has struck him. There is nothing in it. Mr Moss recognises this and the game re-starts with no further action. Snodgrass recovers...
60: Collins gives away a throw and Norwich work it to Fer, who has space to line up a shot from 25 yards. He lifts it well over the top.
59: The one thing that goal has done is really lift the home crowd. The singing from the home fans has gone up a level. West Ham need to ignore all that and resume their passing and moving.
56: Rat is fouled on halfway. The Romanian lifts the ball in and Bennett's header falls to Collins, who volleys a yard wide. Before the free-kick, Big Sam was shown in his chair, looking a little frustrated. I know how he feels. Redmond nearly makes him even angrier by shooting low from 25 yards. Jaaskelainen's handling is good this time.
55: Goal! Hooper blasts Norwich level out of nothing. For all West Ham's domination, we're now back to where we started.
54: Jaaskelainen drops a routine catch and then fouls Hooper! It's a penalty to Norwich! Replays show that Jaaskelainen got a hand to the ball, but no matter, it's a spot-kick.
52: Downing curls in the free-kick and Ruddy catches and sends Norwich on the counter. Redmond holds it up and Rat puts Snodgrass' cross behind for a corner. Snodgrass himself takes and the initial corner is cleared but...
51: Morrison's free-kick hits the wall and Norwich clear for a throw. Fer then fouls Morrison wide on the West Ham right.
50: Another dangerous chance for West Ham to score. Cole is taken out by Turner on the edge of the D, slightly right of centre. This one is about 25 yards out. Again, a host of claret and blue shirts converge around the set piece...
49: A graphic we've just posted on our Twitter feed - link above - shows Demel and Rat played like wingers in the first half. Their average position on the pitch was inside the Norwich half.
47: West Ham win a free-kick on halfway and Rat lifts it in. Collins twice tries to flick a header on for Nolan, but it just won't drop for him nor Collison. Norwich clear their lines.
46: The second half is underway courtesy of the Canaries. Surely they'll improve during the second 45 minutes? West Ham's challenge is to maintain their level and get a second goal that would surely make the game safe...
Half-time score - Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United
49: That's half-time and the whistle is met with a few boos from the home fans. As for us Hammers, we thoroughly deserve to be in front. The goal itself was a piece of simplicity, with Nolan showing all his experience to check back on the byline and cross low for Morrison to convert with ease. To illustrate West Ham's domination, the Hammers have had nine goal attempts to Norwich's two, three on target to Norwich's one and enjoyed 57.3 per cent of the possession. West Ham have completed 84 per cent of their passes to Norwich's 74 per cent. Overall, West Ham have attempted 275 passes to Norwich's 207, with 90 of those passes being attempted in the attacking third. So far, so good.
48: A Norwich attack ends when Collins steps in and confidently brings the ball away. That should be enough for the Hammers to lead at half-time as the ball is belted out for a throw on the near side.
46: We'll have three added minutes. Collins lifts a pass over the top brilliantly for Downing to race onto. He checks and crosses left-footed. Morrison stretches at the far post and heads back into the centre, but Nolan is caught offside as he challenges Ruddy.
45: Noble is fouled wide left. Norwich again sit deep and some of the home fans don't like it. I think they'd rather see their team pressing a bit higher. The free-kick is taken quickly to Rat, who is offside.
42: West Ham continue to dominate but they cannot create that clear-cut chance to add a second. The passing is superb as the Hammers switch the play from one side to the other, seeking an opening. Eventually, Collison tries to slide a pass through to Demel, but it's too strong and bobbles out for a goal kick.
40: Redmond has a trick and he takes on Demel. He cuts inside and shoots from the corner of the penalty area, but it's wild and flies high and well wide of the far post.
38: Ravel has had three shots on target this season in the Barclays Premier League. ALL of them have resulted in goals! That's his fifth of the season in all competitions.
34: Norwich make a change before the re-start, with Pilkington being replaced by Nathan Redmond. Was that a tactical change? Pilkington did take a knock earlier, but he didn't seem to be seriously injured.
32: GOAL! Morrison puts the Hammers in front! Ironically, Morrison was frustrated when Collins did not pass to him at the start of the attack, but he's celebrating at the end of the move! Rat gets onto Noble's superb pass in behind Martin and crosses low for Nolan. His shot is blocked by Ruddy but the skipper retrieves by the byline, keeps his composure and picks out Morrison, who scores from eight yards!
30: A fantastic first-time pass from Noble sets Rat free away down the left. His cross is not great and Norwich head clear through Turner. When West Ham move the ball quickly through the midfield, they really have Norwich on the back foot.
28: Nolan is caught offside from Downing's header on. Norwich are sitting so deep. They have two strikers on the pitch, but it's a very defensive set-up from Hughton's men so far. That said, it is still goalless, despite West Ham completing 80 per cent of their passes.
26: Controversy as Noble appears to run the ball out for a corner to Norwich. Instead, Collison spins a superb pass out for Nolan and West Ham counter at pace through Rat. He gallops forward and crosses for Nolan, who tries steer a volley past Ruddy from 18 yards, but it's too close to the goalkeeper. Decent move, though.
23: Yet another patient attack involving Morrison, Demel and Downing. Collison takes the pass from the winger and clips a ball over the top for Nolan. It's too strong and bounces away. Rat tries to keep it in, but the cross flies into the crowd as he slides and tries to keep the ball in.
22: Morrison and Noble combine again before the ball is slid wide left for Rat, whose cross is straight into the hands of Ruddy. Norwich are sitting deep. West Ham are seeing almost all of the ball.
21: West Ham keeping the ball patiently in their own half, but not really creating any space for themselves to attack. It's nice to watch, though.
18: Hooper and Snodgrass combine from Elmander's knock-down. Hooper crosses and Collins' clearance hits Tomkins and goes behind for a Norwich corner. Snodgrass takes the in-swinger and Demel heads clear superbly.
17: Rat wins a header and Morrison leads the charge again. He is taken out, but Collison keeps possession. Morrison gets back to his feet and receives the ball from Downing. Collison tries to run in behind, but just checks and Morrison's ball rolls out for a goal kick.
15: West Ham have had five shots to Norwich's one so far, as well as 54 per cent of the possession.
13: Noble's corner is met by Demel's flying header at the near post and the ball cannons back off the crossbar! A scramble ensues before Joe Cole screws a volley over the top from 25 yards and the chance is gone. West Ham, like any team, need to score while they are in the ascendancy.
12: West Ham are all over Norwich here as Morrison runs at the back four and finds Nolan clean through. Ruddy is out quickly and saves with his body. The follow-up from Downing is blocked by Olsson, but Norwich are all over the place and concede a corner from Demel's cross.
10: Norwich try to play out from the back and it's an error as Fer gifts the ball to Rat. He plays a one-two with Nolan, who is taken out by Turner as he plays the pass. Rat volleys wide and Mr Moss blows for the foul on Nolan. Great chance for West Ham. Joe Cole, maybe? Or Morrison? Or Noble? Or Downing?
10: The game re-starts and Fer lofts the ball to Jaaskelainen. Olsson resumes.
8: A decent passage of play ends with Morrison finding Cole, who feeds Rat wide left. The Romanian checks and the ball is spread right for Downing. It is worked through to Collison, who checks and then shoots. The ball hits Olsson right in the unmentionables and the Swede is down in agony. Eventually, referee Jon Moss stops the game for Olsson to receive treatment. How do you treat that?
6: Demel blocks Pilkington's cross behind for a corner, but it comes to nothing. West Ham then have their best attack so far, led by Morrison...
5: Ignore what I said about the lack of atmosphere. It's rocking now, with both sets of fans singing away. Always good here at Carrow Road, especially under the lights. West Ham have a free-kick on halfway. Rat lifts it in and then heads the ball on again when the clearance falls to him, but West Ham cannot benefit and Norwich counter. It's Hooper swapping passes with Elmander, but the return ball scoots through to Jaaskelainen.
3: Morrison leads the charge on the counter but it comes to nothing as first he and then Joe Cole lose out. Norwich attack again through Hooper but Tomkins anticipates superbly, dribbles away from danger and is tripped by Howson. Free-kick.
2: A first chance for Norwich as an offside Hooper leaves the ball from Elmander's pass. Pilkington bursts onto it and holds off Demel before unleashing a cross-shot that is not going in, but still needs to be dealt with by Jaaskelainen. He parries and Collins clears.
1: West Ham are kicking towards the Norwich and Peterborough Stand to our right. It's a chilly but fairly still and - now - dry night in Norfolk. The surface, though, is greasy after a day of rain.
5.30pm - After an immaculate minute's silence, West Ham will kick-off...
5.26pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains Nolan and Martin. The atmosphere is not bad inside Carrow Road, but it's usually rocking. The locals are a bit concerned by their team's recent form, or so I am told. The opening to this match could go a long way to deciding matters. An early goal for either side could be decisive, such have been the problems both teams have had scoring goals this season.
5.22pm - Norwich are marking Remembrance Day by welcoming guests from local military bases and a 94-year-old serviceman Arthur Brough who fought for his country during the Second World War. To my knowledge, there are a lot of RAF and Army bases in this part of the world. The members of the Armed Forces are given a warm welcome by both sets of fans.
5.20pm - Refreshingly retro from the Carrow Road DJ, who has opted for John Farnham's 'The Voice' over more modern R'n'B and suchlike. Good work. This is an absolute tune. Results elsewhere mean a win today would lift West Ham up to 13th and within a point of ninth-place West Brom. A draw would put us back up to 14th, where we started the day.
5.17pm - A good FA Cup first round result for Hammers loanees Jordan Spence today. Spence's MK Dons beat Halifax 4-1, but Paul McCallum's Torquay United were beaten 2-0 at home by Rochdale. Elsewhere, former West Ham midfielder Ahmed Abdulla, Edgar Davids and his Barnet team-mates were beaten 6-0 at Preston North End.
5.15pm - The audience for our live text updates might be a bit smaller than usual, as the game is live on Sky Sports and talkSPORT. Julian Dicks is also here for BBC London and is sitting directly behind me, so I'll be careful what I write in case he fancies launching into a trademark tackle!
4.55pm - If you fancy watching some free video build-up from Carrow Road, including an exclusive interview with James Tomkins, click here.
4.50pm - A couple of ex-Hammers have scored their Championship clubs today. Frank Nouble put Ipswich Town 1-0 up at Blackpool, while Rob Hall did likewise for Bolton Wanderers at home to Millwall. Both lead 2-1 at present. Oh, as I type, Bolton have gone 3-1 up.
4.35pm - The team news is in... Joe Cole and James Collins come into the starting XI, with Matt Jarvis and the injured Winston Reid dropping out. Norwich make thtree changes, despite losing 7-0 last weekend. Right midfielder Whittaker, central midfielder Johnson and centre-back Bassong are out and forward Johan Elmander, Robert Snodgrass and defender Ryan Bennett are in. Two up front for the Canaries?
Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin (c), Turner, R.Bennett, Olsson, Snodgrass, Howson, Fer, Pilkington, Hooper, Elmander
Subs: Bunn, Whittaker, Bassong, Johnson, Redmond, Hoolahan, Becchio
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, Rat, Noble, Nolan (c), Collison, Downing, J.Cole, Morrison
Subs: Adrian, O'Brien, McCartney, Maiga, Jarvis, Diame, C.Cole
3.45pm - Norwich manager Chris Hughton joins those to praise Big Sam and his methods in his programme notes. Hughton, a former West Ham player, wrote: "Sam is a manager with over 20 years of experience to call upon and we know we will be up against a quality and well-organised team tonight. This will certainly be another tough game." Let's hope Hughton is right and the Hammers demonstrate those characteristics in a couple of hours' time.
3.40pm - We have two players in FA Cup first round action this afternoon. Paul McCallum has started for Torquay United at home to Rochdale, while Jordan Spence is in the MK Dons side at home to Halifax.
3.35pm - Good news from Little Heath, where two goals from Jaanai Gordon, a trialist from Peterborough United, and one from Kieran Bywater secured a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. That's seven league games unbeaten for Steve Potts' youngsters, who travel to Reading next Saturday looking to make it eight.
Good afternoon and welcome to a grey and wet Carrow Road for today's tea-time Barclays Premier League fixture between Norwich City and West Ham United.
The two teams meet for just the seventh time in the Premier League, with the last four fixtures between the two ending in draws. West Ham took four points out of six last season, including a goalless draw here in Norfolk in September 2012.
West Ham's most-recent victory at Carrow Road came in January 2006, when James Collins was part of the Hammers side which triumphed 2-1 in the FA Cup third round. Hayden Mullins and Bobby Zamora got the goals that day, while Israel striker Yaniv Katan made his debut.
Today, the Hammers are looking to extend their unbeaten run away from home to four games in all competitions after a recent draw with Swansea City (0-0) and wins over Tottenham Hotspur (3-0) in the league and Burnley (2-0) in the Capital One Cup. Sam Allardyce's side have tasted defeat just once on their travels tin six matches his season, with the sole loss coming at the KC Stadium on 28 September, when Hull City's Robbie Brady scored the only goal of the game. Brady's disputed penalty is the only goal which has been scored against West Ham in six away league and cup outings so far this season.
Goalkeeper Jussi Jasskelainen has conceded only once in 450 minutes of the Hammers' away league matches. Meanwhile right-back Guy Demel has not conceded a goal in his 331 minutes on the pitch away from home this season, and fit-again centre-back James Collins kept clean sheets on his only two previous away appearances at Newcastle United and Southampton.
In all, West Ham have conceded just eight goals in ten league matches this term - the same number as they have scored. It remains to be seen whether Big Sam will stick with his recently-favoured 4-6-0 formation or whether he chooses to deploy Carlton Cole or Modibo Maiga in a centre forward role.
Collins is one of a number of players who will be hoping to be selected today, with the No19 expected to take the place of ankle injury victim Winston Reid. Elsewhere, Joe Cole, Mohamed Diame and Carlton Cole are all pushing for starts. George McCartney has travelled with the squad, as has Development Squad winger Blair Turgott, who has impressed for the U21s and helped Bradford City to reach the League Cup final last season.
In contrast, Norwich conceded seven goals last weekend in going down 7-0 at Manchester City, and have let in 20 in total in their ten league matches. Norwich come into the weekend in 18th place, five places and two points behind their visitors.
Chris Hughton's side have also struggled to score goals, netting just six all season. Their cause will not be aided by an injury to Dutch forward Ricky van Wolfwinkel, who joined the Canaries for £8.5m from Sporting Lisbon in the summer. Norway defensive midfielder Alexander Tetty is also out of Saturday's clash after suffering ankle ligament damage against Cardiff City a fortnight ago, but Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass may return having missed the defeat at Manchester City with concussion.
We will have the confirmed team news at just after 4.30pm. In the meantime, you can enter our #WHULINEUP and #WHUGOAL competitions on our official Twitter page @whufc_official and view exclusive images on our official Facebook page.