West Ham United 2-1 Hull City FT

WEST HAM UNITED v HULL CITY
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014
KICK-OFF: 7.45PM
REFEREE: LEE MASON

FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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95: The final whistle goes and that's it. West Ham pick up a narrow but much-needed victory. That puts the Hammers onto 34 points and within touching distance of safety. Jarvo: "We really needed that. It wasn't pretty and all three goals in the game were not ones you see every day, but the result is what counts. I've enjoyed tonight, so thanks everybody. I'm in early for treatment in the morning and I hope I won't be out for too long. Goodnight." Thanks to Matt Jarvis. We'll have all the reaction from the game tonight on our media platforms soon. In the meantime, you can vote for your West Ham Man of the Match on our Official Twitter feed.

94: Twenty seconds... A free-kick to West Ham for a foul on Tomkins.

94: We are into the fourth added minute. A cross from the right is met by Rosenior, whose shot flies high into the air. Adrian is out to claim and he does after a mini-juggle. Phew!

91: We are going to have four added minutes and they're going to seem like hours the way things are going. Elmohamady lifts the ball into the box and Adrian is out quickly to claim on the bounce. Good goalkeeping.

90: Hull are really pushing for the equaliser. They have ten men, remember. Elmohamady crosses and Long heads over from about ten yards. He has such a leap, has Long. Prodigious is the word many would use.

88: This is so nerve-wracking. A cross to the near post from Rosenior is headed bravely clear by Johnson. Moments later, another cross comes in and this time it's Taylor who heads clear.

87: Match Sponsor Davies Highways vote Mark Noble Man of the Match. It's not over yet, though. Noble and West Ham still have work to do.

85: Demel wins a corner down the right. Joe Cole takes it after a good round of applause from the fans down by the flag. Tomkins wins the header at the far post, but it loops into the hands of Harper.

84: Huddlestone's left-footer flashes in and Adrian tips over. The corner is cleared.

82: Nolan battles with Elmohamady and the ball drops to Downing. His pass is cut out, but the ball drops to Nolan, whose first-time volley is parried by his close friend Harper. The throw is taken and then worked to Taylor. He has acres, but his cross is not very good and lands on top of the net.

82: Hull goalscorer Jelavic is the man to be replaced by Sagbo, who is the half-brother of Guy Demel.

81: Hull are going to bring on Yannick Sagbo. Before that, Rosenior runs down the left and crosses high and behind for a goal kick.

80: Jarvo: "We need to keep the tempo high for the last ten minutes or so and keep hold of the ball. We don't want to give them any hope of an equaliser."

79: Tonight's attendance is 31,033.

78: Some strange goings on tonight. The latest moment sees Elmohamady throw the ball straight to Nolan. He beats one defender but is caught in two minds with Carroll to his left. In the end, the ball just rolls through to Harper.

76: Meyler wins a corner before slipping on the pitch surround. Huddlestone's corner is very deep and Tomkins jumps and forces the Hull player to head out for a throw on the far side.

74: A comedy of errors leads to Demel being tripped on halfway. A third West Ham goal and everyone here can heave a huge sigh of relief. Demel lifts the ball in, Carroll flicks on and Nolan controls with his head - despite being on his knees. The ball breaks to Carroll, but he unleashes an air-kick.

73: West Ham seem to have everything under control, but one over-hit pass and Hull are on the attack. Long forces a corner. Thankfully, it's a short one and Taylor can head away for a throw.

70: Jelavic gets in behind and shoots on the turn. The flag goes up but Adrian makes a flying save diving to his left anyway.

69: Joe Cole is on for Diame. Jarvo: "That was great defending from Rog on the edge of his own box, because we were outnumbered. Now, the Gaffer has put on some fresh legs in Joe Cole and hopefully he can get on the ball and exploit the extra space."

67: Big action. First, Hull win the ball from Noble and Jelavic is in loads of space. Tomkins flies in with a tackle and could be in trouble, but Mr Dean waves play-on. Johnson makes a superb challenge on the edge of the box on Meyler and the chance is gone for the visitors. West Ham break through Downing wide left and he tries to beat his man, but Elmohamady does well to win the ball back after the winger had initially beaten him.

65: Carroll nicks the ball in midfield and runs forward into space before finding Downing wide left. He takes a touch and crosses but it's too high. Carroll forces a throw, however. It comes to nothing.

62: Jarvo: "Watching the game from up here gives me a totally different perspective. There looks to be so much more space on the pitch than there does when you are playing on it. You can really see the shape of the game well, too."

61: A throw in from Demel into Nolan's feet, the skipper lays off to Downing and the winger lashes a left-foot shot over the bar from the corner of the box.

59: Figueroa comes back on, then goes straight off again as Rosenior comes on in his place. Jarvo: "Rosenior is a decent player and he scored in their win on Saturday."

57: Figueroa is down and needs the physio on. It's his right ankle. This doesn't look too for the Honduran. Presumably Liam Rosenior will replace him if he goes off.

55: Hull win a corner off Noble. Not again, surely! The corner is curled over and Davies rises at the far post in a forest of bodies, but his header glances wide.

55: Jarvo: "That is massive for us. Now we need to take advantage of that slice of good fortune. We need to dominate possession."

54: GOAL! Diame and Demel play a one-two wide right before Demel cuts onto his left foot and crosses low. It eludes Nolan's outstretched right boot and flies into the top corner off Chester's left shin. Was that lucky enough?

53: Hull are on top. Jelavic makes a run in behind and goes down under a challenge from Johnson. He could have been in trouble, could Johnson, but for the fact Jelavic had been flagged offside.

50: Matt Jarvis is with us again: "That's exactly what we didn't need, especially straight after half-time." I have to agree with him.

48: Goal! Huddlestone blasts it and it's gone in off Jelavic's shoulder! Adrian could do absolutely nothing about it.

48: Hull have another free-kick, but this one is closer in. Tomkins the man who conceded it.

47: Hull win a free-kick on halfway and it's pumped into the box. Jelavic rises and about five players go to ground. The ball is poked clear and Diame runs away and makes 50 yards. He finds Downing but the chance is lost when his ball for Nolan is cut out.

46: Hull get the second half underway.

Half-time score - West Ham United 1-0 Hull City

The #HammersPlaylist has been created by you at half-time. We've had Spandau Ballet's Gold, The Cockney Rejects' I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles and A Town Called Malice by The Jam.

52: That's half-time. Jarvo: "It's great to be in front at half time. It gives us confidence for the second half and we hope to add to the tally."

51: Into the final minute of the half. Jarvo: "We just need to keep the ball as half-time is approaching and we're in the lead." The cross comes in from the left and Carroll goes with his left foot. Figueroa heads clear and gets a knock for his troubles. No card for the No9, but it's a foul.

49: Hull are threatening. Figueroa collects 25 yards out and unleashes a piledriver that Adrian dives and punches aside for a corner. Wow. The corner comes in and is flicked on and headed out at the far post.

49: Jarvo: "It was a good start from the Hammers and we got the goal. Now we just need to keep the tempo high and not let Hull lift their spirits."

48: Hull earn a free-kick wide left as Diame impedes Jelavic. Huddlestone will take it. It's another superb ball in and Chester heads over. Arms go up, but it's a goal kick.

46: We'll have SIX extra minutes.

45: Jarvo: "Hull are passing the ball quite well when they have it." Meyler nicks the ball past McCartney but catches the Northern Irishman in the face. Free-kick. Meyler and manager Bruce are not impressed.

44: Johnson and Long go up for a header. Johnson wins it and then clashes heads with the Irishman. He'll be OK, will the Season Ticket Holder! Saying that, he has got a shiner.

42: Quick passing opens up a crossing chance for McCartney. He curls it over, ignoring the run of Downing. Carroll wins the header and it bounces off the turf and over the crossbar.

41: West Ham earn a free-kick wide left. Downing whips it in and a defender heads it clear. Demel fouls his man, but the Tigers' attempts at a quick free-kick backfire when the ball is put straight out of play.

38: Nolan and Carroll combine like old times. Nolan tries to lay off for the Big Man, but the pass is just too short. Hull break, but Tomkins comes across on the cover and Long trips him. Free-kick.

37: Big warning for West Ham not to get complacent. Elmohamady gets forward into space and crosses from the byline for Huddlestone. He strikes the ball first-time, but it flies over the crossbar. You might gave expected the Hull No8 to have done better from there. He has superb technique.

36: West Ham enjoy possibly their longest spell of possession of the season, working the ball front to back, left to right, back to front and finally into Noble in the centre. He beats one man and tries to find Carroll, but a Hull defender gets a toe to the ball.

34: Jarvo: "We need to press Hull high because, with a man advantage, they will have nowhere to go."

33: Taylor is fouled by Long. The free-kick is played short and the cross is too long for Carroll. Diame collects, plays a one-two with Tomkins and crosses but it's too close to Harper.

30: After a period of Hull possession, McCartney wins a free-kick. The ball is worked right to Demel. His cross is blocked and Nolan forces a corner. Downing takes and Carroll and Tomkins are both there. The ball flies over. They may have got in each other's way there.

28: Jarvo: "That's just what we needed because it will settle everyone down. We have to keep switched on because teams can become complacent when they go ahead against ten men. The Gaffer will be making sure we don't do that in the next ten minutes."

27: That's Noble's first penalty since the 3-2 defeat by Everton on 21 September, when he was also sent-off. That was also the last time a player was sent-off at the Boleyn Ground.

26: GOAL! Noble does indeed go bottom right and Harper goes the wrong way.

25: Jarvo: "It was a definite red card. The linesman said as much. I'd say he'll go bottom right."

25: Noble is having to wait an awful long time to take this. Alex Bruce is replaced by Harper, so it'll be 4-3-2 for Hull when they re-start.

23: It's a penalty but my word it was a calamity of errors. Noble's through ball hit two Hull defenders and then the hand of Diame before the No21 got his shot away and was taken out by McGregor. Figueroa cleared off the line. Steve Harper will have to come on. McGregor hobbles off. I'm not sure he'd have been able to continue anyway, but Hull are down to ten men.

21: Penalty to West Ham! Noble gets through and plays a one-two off the referee before trying to play in Diame. He gets a toe to the ball and is fouled by McGregor. There is come confusion as both players are down in the box. Play goes on for about 20 seconds but Mr Dean has given the spot-kick. I think the assistant gave that. Is McGregor going to see the red card? The goalkeeper is still down.

18: Noble goes down under a sliding challenge from Livermore. It's very similar to the Nolan challenge, but Mr Dean shows a yellow card to the on-loan Spurs man. Livermore immediately points to where Nolan fouled Huddlestone. He has a point. Jarvo: "There wasn't much difference between the two challenges, to be fair."

16: Nolan gets a toe in then challenges Huddlestone. He gets neither man, nor ball, but Huddlestone goes to ground. Mr Dean gives a free-kick, but nothing more.

15: A chance for Hull to get a ball and numbers into the box as McCartney is penalised for climbing on Jelavic. Huddlestone delivers and the ball comes off a Hull head, then a West Ham defender - Demel, I think - and Adrian claims.

13: West Ham break from a strong Tomkins clearing header. Nolan finds Downing on the right and he gallops forward. The cross is a little high and floats towards the crossbar. McGregor watches and waves his hand at it. The ball clips the back of the bar on the way over. Did he touch it? The ref says 'No'. Goal kick.

11: Jarvo: "I've played against Roger Johnson when he was at Birmingham and trained with him every day here and he is a good defender." Johnson slips in at right centre-back. Carroll gives away a free-kick as he battles for possession outside the Hull box. West Ham have had almost all of the play.

9: The corner comes to nothing and West Ham do need to make a change. With Reid absent, Roger Johnson is on at centre-back, with Collins hobbling off.

8: So close! Demel crosses from the right and Carroll heads down and the ball is cleared off the line as far as Taylor. He shoots first time and the ball is deflected over the crossbar by Chester. Collins looks to be struggling.

7: Downing drops a shoulder to beat Figueroa and drives in a low left-foot shot towards the near post, which McGregor turns aside for a corner. Downing works it short, then crosses and the Scottish goalkeeper comes and punches. West Ham maintain the pressure.

5: Jarvo: "Hull look like they are going to play on the counter-attack using their wing-backs and two strikers." The long ball forward is flicked on by Long to Jelavic, but the Irishman was offside.

3: Hull are sitting in with their five at the back. A point is a good result for them in the circumstances. West Ham controlling the ball in the early stages.

2: Matt warns that Elmohamady loves to put an early cross in. As he speaks, Long lays back to the Egyptian, who does indeed cross first-time. Collins is there to hack clear.

7.46pm - We're off... West Ham kick-off and we're attacking the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand end of the stadium.

7.45pm - Here's Matt Jarvis! His initial thoughts are that the 'View is really good from here!' and he is admiring the little TVs we have to show replays of the major talking points.

7.44pm - I fear we may kick-off a little late. The teams are out but we're only just having the mascot photos taken. Here come the two managers.

7.40pm - The strains of 'Bubbles' ring out across the chilly east London sky. The teams will be with us very soon! In the meantime, keep those selfies coming in on Twitter! Remember, use the hashtag #HammerTime and we'll try to RT as many as we can!

7.35pm - The two teams have headed back indoors for their final instructions from their respective managers and to pull on their match shirts. The atmosphere is building! Each of the players wore a T-shirt bearing a message of support from a Hammers fan tonight. They'll be signing those T-shirts and they will be sent out to the respective supporters as a one of a kind gift of thanks. It's all part of our first-ever Social Media Match tonight. I'm sat in the Press Box and the seat to my right will soon be occupied by none other than Matt Jarvis.

7.25pm - The Hammers are out warming up on the pristine playing surface here at the Boleyn Ground. Antonio Nocerino, who is on the bench, takes a little time out to sign some autographs for young supporters in the Alpari Stand Lower.

7.10pm - We can now reveal that we will be joined by Matt Jarvis in the Press Box tonight. The winger will be giving us his expert opinion on the game as things unfold!

6.55pm - The team news has been confirmed. West Ham are unchanged. Winston Reid misses out with a stomach bug, while Matt Jarvis has failed to recover from a minor thigh problem. Hull look to be going five at the back, with Figueroa and Bruce in for Rosenior and Aluko.

West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, McCartney, Collins, Tomkins, Nolan (c), Noble, Taylor, Downing, Diame, Carroll
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Vaz Te, C.Cole, J.Cole, Johnson, Nocerino

Hull City: McGregor, Figueroa, Bruce, Chester, Davies (c), Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Jelavic, Long, Elmohamady
Subs: Harper, Rosenior, Koren, Fryatt, Sagbo, Aluko, Quinn

6.35pm - We will have the team news confirmed for you in just a little over ten minutes! Get your #WHULINEUP guesses in on Twitter and you could win a signed prize!

Hello and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for this evening's Barclays Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Hull City.

Tonight, the Hammers are holding their inaugural Social Media Match, with lots going on before, during and after the game on the Club's various digital platforms. To get involved, click on the following links - TWITTER I FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I YOUTUBE.

While both teams may be above the relegation zone at present, this fixture is still something of a 'six-pointer', with both clubs desperate to pick up the handful of points required to make themselves safe.

West Ham sit on 31 points from 30 games played and sit 14th, while Hull have 33 from the same number of matches and go into the evening 12th. A win for either would lift them into eleventh place. With Sunderland at title-chasing Liverpool tonight, victory for West Ham could take them nine points clear of the bottom three.

However, things will not come easy against Steve Bruce's side, who recorded a 4-0 victory in their last away fixture at Cardiff City and saw off West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on home turf at the weekend. The newly-promoted Tigers have two in-form forwards in Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, while midfielder Tom Huddlestone has been earning rave reviews following his summer switch from Tottenham Hotspur.

Long faces a race to be fit for the game after suffering a knock to his knee during his match-winning performance against former club West Brom. Defender Curtis Davies also has a knee problem, but should be available.

For the home side, striker Marco Borriello (calf) and full-back Joey O'Brien (shoulder) are definitely out, while winger Matt Jarvis faces a late test on a thigh injury suffered against Manchester United. Centre-back James Tomkins is expected to be fine after suffering a bang on his ankle from the Red Devils' Marouane Fellaini.

We will have the confirmed team news for you at just after 6.45pm. In the meantime, get yourself involved in our Social Media Match!

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