DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY U21s
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 7PM
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Full-time: The referee's whistle goes to bring this one to an end. A dull first half was followed by an all-action second with both sides having chances to win the game. A fortuitous Adam Drury cross gave the visitors the lead but they were pegged back when the excellent George Moncur weaved his way into the box before finding the top corner with a curling shot. The Hammers also had a goal disallowed as they pushed for a winner and overall looked the more likely to snatch the win.
90 mins: Whitehead takes a painful one. A Driver clearance hits him right where it hurts as time ticks down on this one.
89 mins: The home side think they've won it as Maguire taps home Fanimo's cross but the jubilation is cut short by the linesman who has his flag up.
88 mins: West Ham pour forward in search of the winner and Shaw sees his thunderous shot fly just wide.
86 mins: Goal! Fanimo races down the left wing and is held back, winning a free-kick. Moncur takes and collects a pass from Whitehead before breaking into the box and curling a beauty past Lawlor.
85 mins: Three on two for West Ham but Moncur decides to shoot when the best option would have been to slide Lee in. It remains 0-1 with five minutes left to play.
84 mins: Evans finds himself in space and decides to have a dig, his shot though is more trouble to the steward midway up the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
81 mins: The home team are leaving gaps at the back as they search for an equaliser. Meanwhile Maguire comes on for the tireless Sadlier.
79 mins: The away side, clearly bouyed by their bit of fortune go close again, Hiwula this time making Spiegel work, before he's replaced by Hutton.
77 mins: Goal! The visitors take the lead with a very fortuitous goal. A Drury cross is turned into his own net by the unfortunate Chambers.
75 mins: Turgott is introduced replacing the hard-working Tombides.
73 mins: Still the visitors probe for an opening with their short passing game but are having no joy against a solid looking home side.
71 mins: The away team bring Drury into the action replacing Denayer.
69 mins: Driver delivers a searching ball to the back post looking for Sadlier, the ball is just out of reach for the sliding winger who can only knock it harmlessly wide of the goal.
66 mins: Nick Haycock makes his first change of the night bringing on Fanimo to replace Miles. Fanimo is immediately into the action as the home side win another corner, which is easily dealt with in the end.
64 mins: The home side are on the defensive now as Leigh sees a shot fly wide after a dangerous looking corner from Bytyqi.
63 mins: Another good delivery by Moncur from a free-kick falls at the feet of Lee who is unable to gather as the keeper slides in at his feet, West Ham are starting to apply real pressure now.
62 mins: The influential Moncur again strikes the frame of the goal but this time courtesy of an excellent save from his piledriver.
60 mins: Good play on the wing again by Sadlier frees him of the attention of two defenders but his cross is slightly over hit.
59 mins: Nice play on the edge of the box by the visitors who eventually work it to Fofana who's well closed down as he releases the trigger.
57 mins: Lee nearly gets onto the end of Sadlier's cross but it's just too high for the in-form striker.
56 mins: Another good cross, this time from Miles, is allowed to bounce through to the keeper without any attackers in the vicinity.
55 mins: Chambers takes a risk with a back pass which forces a hurried clearance from Spiegel. Fortunately for the Hammers Bytyqi's touch is poor and allows Ruddock to clear.
52 mins: A vicious drive by Whitehead forces a smart save from Lawlor as the Hammers enjoy a bright start to the second period.
50 mins: Sadlier is set free by Tombides down the left and unleashes a shot which is blocked by Denayer. City then break and have a penalty shout waved away as Cole tumbles in the box under a challenge from Ruddock.
48 mins: Driver nicks the ball inside his own half and races to the edge of the City penalty are but his cross is wayward this time.
46 mins: West Ham kick us off looking to improve on a flat first half in which both sides lacked any cutting edge.
Half-time: A half of few chances comes to an end as we remain goalless. George Moncur has come closest to opening the scoring with a free-kick which struck the bar but apart from that there have been no other chances of real note as both teams look for the first real opening of the game.
44 mins: The corner is easily dealt with as we near half-time.
43 mins: Corner to the home side as Moncur powers into the box giving the ball to Sadlier who's shot deflects out of play.
41 mins: Tombides takes the ball down in the penalty area but loses possession as Man City launch a counter-attack with Cole eventually conceding a free-kick.
39 mins: The game is drifting along with both sides searching for some penetration to go with their pretty football.
36 mins: Lopes takes himself but the ball in is a poor one and easily cleared by Moncur.
35 mins: Whitehead brings Lopes down on the edge of the box, threatening position here.
34 mins: Corner for City. Bytyqi takes short as City again try and pass their way through the Hammers and again it comes to nothing, easy pickings for Ruddock and co here.
32 mins: Moncur surges through the middle with Lee to his left, he chooses to go it alone and his low shot is parried by the keeper, Lee goes for the rebound but the flag is up.
30 mins: Ruddock rejoins the action as West Ham attack. Tombides is fouled on the edge of the box with Moncur once again standing over the ball. The free-kick is played short to Lee and his powerful effort is well beaten away by Lawlor.
29 mins: He's back on his feet to hobble off the pitch, but looks like he will be able to continue.
28 mins: Ruddock is down on the edge of the area with no one quite sure what happened.
27 mins: City have their first real attempt as Bytyqi shoots wide of Spiegel's post. All very comfortable for the Hammers backline at the moment.
24 mins: The Hammers are on top with Moncur a prominent presence in the game.
22 mins: Shaw is impeded and West Ham have a free-kick in an attacking position. Moncur swings a beauty to the back post and strikes the crossbar with the keeper beaten. Tombides puts the rebound high and wide.
20 mins: Again Lee holds the ball up superbly before releasing Driver down the right who again provides a decent cross, it's too close to the keeper however and falls straight into his arms.
18 mins: A Moncur corner looks dangerous but is cut out at the back post allowing City to release the pressure.
17 mins: There are certainly some vocal home fans to be heard here at the Boleyn Ground whose spirits don't seem to be dampnened by the weather.
16 mins: Both sides are enjoying some possession with neither side yet to take a firm grip on the match.
15 mins: Whitehead loses possession allowing City to counter but the move breaks down as Bytyqi misplaces a pass.
12 mins: Lee is one on one with the last defender but loses control as the danger is cleared.
11 mins: Sadlier heads just wide after finding himself in space to meet an excellent Driver cross.
9 mins: Lee is doing well to hold the ball up as the lone frontman but finds himself devoid of options.
7 mins: Shaw's low cross skids across the face of goal but is untouched as it slides through for a throw in.
5 mins: The visitors are looking to use the wings but so far having no joy as Driver and then Shaw produce powerful defensive headers
3 mins: Sadlier surges meaningfully down the left but his cross is cut-out and the danger cleared.
2 mins: The away side have started confidently, keeping possession and looking to find Devante Cole up front.
1 min: We're underway at the Boleyn Ground with the visitors kicking us off.
The teams emerge from the tunnel ready to kick-off this Barclays Under-21 Premier League encounter.
Just 15 minutes left until kick-off as the Development Squad look to extend their good start to the season and make it four wins from five games.
Both sides are out warming up on the Boleyn Ground turf as heavy rain continues to fall with half an hour to go until kick-off.
The Development Squad resume their Barclays Under-21 Premier League campaign tonight as they welcome Manchester City to the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers have started the season well, winning three of their first four matches including an eye-catching comeback to win 5-4 against Newcastle last time out. Elliot Lee bagged a hat-trick in the win over the Magpies and will be keen to add to the five goals he's already bagged so far this season.
Nick Haycock's team feature several players who travelled with the first team squad for their recent friendly with Espanyol. Pelly Ruddock played 90 minutes whilst Lee, George Moncur, Sebastian Lletget, Callum Driver and Matthias Fanimo all featured from the bench.
Tonight's visitors are under the guidance of Patrick Veira and have one win from their opening three matches of the campaign. A 3-0 victory against Everton at the Ethihad is their only three points so far, with defeats to Tottenham and Fulham kicking off their season.
West Ham United U21s: Spiegel, Driver, Shaw, Chambers, Ruddock, Miles, Moncur, Whitehead, Tombides, Sadlier, Lee.
Subs: Nemrava, Turgott, Maguire, Fanimo, Harney.
Manchester City U21s: Lawlor, Facey, Leigh, Denayer, Plummer, Evans, Bytyqi, Fofana, Hiwula, Lopes, Cole.
Subs: Drury, Gunn, Hutton, Glendon, Kennedy.