FT - West Ham United 2-1 Man City

WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER CITY
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
REFEREE: MARTIN ATKINSON

FT: West Ham United 2-1 Manchester City

90+5:
The break is on... Jenkinson is away, but as he scurries into the box Mangala gets a foot in and Hart dives on it. No matter, it's all over here! The champions have been beaten at the Boleyn Ground and, remarkably, West Ham move within a point of City with a fourth win in five. What a game! We'll bring you all the reaction to another stunning afternoon here in east London. COME ON YOU IRONS!        

90+3: Kolarov lets fly from all of 35 yards and Adrian is at full stretch as he flings himself to his right and watches the ball brush the side netting on its way behind for a Hammers goal-kick. Nearly there.    

90+2: Close. Stevan Jovetic spins smartly on the edge of the box and smahes one goalward. It's hit hard but, thankfully, is relatively close to Adrian who punches it behind for a corner. West Ham clear, but here come City again...   

90: Into FIVE added minutes we go! Can the Hammers hold on?   

89: West Ham's final change sees Nolan come on for Sakho.

87: The tension is reaching near unbearable levels at the Boleyn Ground but Adrian claims a Navas cross to buy some time.

84: Sakho tries to run Mangala and almost gets around him, but Hart cleans up, accidently catching the Hammers man as he slid in. The game is stopped for a head injury, but he'll be fine to continue.

83: A chance to relieve some of the pressure sees Downing deliver a cross, which loops up off the first man and drops for Noble, whose shot on the stretch is gathered by Hart.

80: City are absolutely piling it on right now, and Toure's eyes light up when the ball drops for him 30 yards out. Thankfully for the Hammers, his shot is wayward and the hosts can breathe a sigh of relief.

78: In the immediate aftermath of the goal, City made a couple of changes, with Kolarov and Milner replacing Clichy and Fernando.

77: Goal! This isn't over yet. Silva ducks his way past a couple of challenges and curls into the bottom left hand corner from 16 yards. A fine finish and a nervy conclusion awaits.

76: West Ham make their second change, with Carlton Cole replacing Enner Valencia.

75: GOAL! SAKHO! One for the Goal Decision System, but there's no doubt that it went over the line. Cresswell crosses from the left and Sakho, who else?, rises to head downwards to the bottom right corner. Hart tries to claw it out but can't get there in time and it's 2-0.

74: Back to the other end and again it's just a whisker away. Aguero darts into the box but is well held up by Collins. Silva is then denied too, but the ball comes out to Toure, whose places effort glances the top of the crossbar and flies over. Still 1-0, but I'm not quite sure how

72: So close again! City may be the team doing the probing, but West Ham still carry a big threat as Song and Kouyate bring the ball forward between them. Kouyate finds space at the far post and passes to Sakho, whose first time shot curls over the angle of post and bar.

68: The home crowd are again calling for Kompany's dismissal as he clips Valencia on halfway, but again Martin Atkinson judges it to be more of a coming together rather than anything cynical from the City skipper and he escapes again.

67: Almost! Valenca's pace is too much for Zabaleta and he nicks possession in the left channel. He crosses low and Sakho is waiting for the tap in, but Mangala gets a vital foot in and City survive.

66: West Ham make a substitution, with Cheikhou Kouyate returning from injury to replace goalscorer Morgan Amalfitano from the bench.

64: City are starting to find more space now and they could not have gone any close to levelling there. First Aguero crashes a shot against the bar from close range after Navas crossed low from the right. Toure then came steaming onto the rebound, but Adrian saves. Still 1-0.

60: Good save Adrian! Silva makes a little dart in midfield and plays Aguero in down the left channel of the box. The away fans rise in anticipation, but Adrian saves with his foot, before Collins gets up to block the Argentine on the rebound. Aguero's first real sight of goal since half-time and the Hammers will be relieved he didn't make the most of it.

59: The visitors make their first change of the afternoon, with Jovetic coming on to replace Dzeko up front.

58: Sakho is looking for his seventh goal in as many starts and he peels off round the back to meets Cresswell's cross, but the ball is too high for him to control the volley and it flies over the top.

56: Terrific ovation for Song after he wins possession back on halfway and draws a free-kick from the visitors. The fans showing their appreciation for some great battling from the Cameroon international.

52: Kompany is penalised for a foul on Valencia as he flicks the ball away from him. He escapes a second yellow card, but not the free-kick, which so nearly leads to a second goal. Valencia's effort is half-blocked, but falls to Song to bring out the rabona and cross for Downing, whose volley slams down into the ground and just wide of the mark.

51: West Ham piece together a decent attack which ends with Jenkinson passing back to Downing. He crosses, Valencia heads and Hart saves, but the No31 was offside so it wouldn't have counted in any case.

50: Corner to Manchester City after Navas' attempted cross is blocked behind by Cresswell. City play it short, but Sakho makes the tackle inside the box and allows his team out.

47: That's a booking for Alex Song and one of the clearest yellow cards you'll see! He loses in footing in midfield and grabs hold of the ball as he fell. Referee Mrtin Atkinsonis straight on the scene with the yellow card.

1.48pm We're back underway. Come on you Irons!

1.47pm The Hammers are back out on the pitch, as Bubbles rings round the ground again. Can we keep it up for the second half. Let us know using #WHUMCI on our social channels.

45+2: The corner is cleared and that's it for the first half. A terrific opening period from the home side, who settled into the game and have looked just as dangerous as their visitors. Valencia and Sakho have again looked a threat, but it was from midfield that the goal game, Amalfitano arriving at the far post at the perfect time to knock home after Valencia made a fine run. 1-0 at the break.

45+1: Chance for Aguero and Adrian has to improvise well to keep the ball out. Collins was surely fouled as he tried to stab the ball clear in the area, but it wasn't given and the ball comes back in. Aguero knocks goalward, but Adrian's outstretched foot guides it over the top.

45: Inches away! The Hammers work the free-kick cleverly into Amalfitano who plays across goal and both Sakho and Collins are a mere hair's breadth away from making the contact that surely woudl have made it 2-0.

44: Kompany goes in the book for an overly aggressive tackle on Valencia as he sprints away down the left.

43: Fernando goes down in the centre circle, earning a furious rebuke from Winston Reid who feels the Brazilian went down too easily. Referee Martin Atkinson agrees and we play on.

41: Valencia finds a pocket of space in the box, but doesn't make the connection he's looking for with the shot and his left-footed effort from 15 yards passes wide of the left hand post.

37: West Ham have been guilty of giving away too many free kicks and Reid brings down Aguero 22 yards from goal in a central position. Dangerous, but Toure's effort goes straight into the wall, and that's greeted with a roar from the home crowd.

35: Alex Song is penalised in the right channel for leaning on Aguero as he tries to make the tackle. Navas to deliver the free-kick, which flicks off Dzeko's head and behind for a goal kick.

32: Aguero is shooting on sight, and why not having scored five goals in the last week. This time is aim is off, however, and his 25-yard effort is wide of Adrian's near post.

28: Great chance for two! Sakho crosses from the right and Zabaleta beats Valencia in the air. The ball loops to Downing though, but he can't get over the header and the ball flies over Joe Hart's crossbar.

27: Some last ditch defending there from the Hammers to stop Silva as he looks to jink through. Cresswell comes across to kick the ball against the City man and let roll through to Adrian.

26: Here's the moment Morgan Amalfitano gave us the lead! A calm finish from the Frenchman following an outstanding pass from Song and an equally impressive burst of pace from Valencia.

 

22: It was an incredible burst from Valencia and his ball was in behind Zabaleta, which meant he couldn't turn in time, allowing Amalfitano a simple finish. 1-0!

21: GOAL! Amalfitano. West Ham lead! What pace from Valencia to reach Song's through ball, beat Mangala and lay the ball on a plate for Amalfitano to touch home.The Boleyn Ground is rocking!

21: The England keeper is ok to carry on though and we're back underway.

19: Brave goalkeeping from Joe Hart to deny Enner Valencia as Sakho rises high to win a flick-on, releasing his strike partner behind him. Valencia gets there first, but Hart blocks and then takes a clatter from the Senegal man.

17: A West Ham attack breaks down 30 yards from goal, allowing Manchester City to break quickly. Augero is looking threatening as he approaches the area, but Collins stands firm to get a foot in and stop him in his tracks.

14: Navas wins a corner for the visitors down the right and the delivery is flicked-on at the near post, with the ball flying across to Aguero, but he cannot control his volley and it goes wide.

11: Terrific harrying there from Cresswell as he forces Navas deep back inside his half and doesn't let him out. The only option is to go back to Hart and the left-back earns a ripple of applause for his efforts.

8: Almost a comedic moment for the visitors as Sakho puts Mangala under pressure and he loops the ball towards his own goal, but Hart gets him out of trouble by touching over the top.

7: The visitors are starting to find a rhythm and Amalfitano goes into the book for a foul on Navas. He delivers the free-kick himself and Kompany rises highest, but sends his header over the top.

6: Close. Adrian is worries there as David Silva curls a free-kick up and over the Hammers' wall. The ball dips towards the top corner, but clears the crossbar. It's still 0-0.

4: Aguero looks like he's running into space near the Hammers box, but Alex Song gets his body in his way and does excellently to wrestle possession back from the City man. He then passes to Downing, who is clipped by Dzeko and it's a free-kick.

2: At the other end Adrian is called unto action to touch the ball around the post after Sergio Augero's shot from 25 yards deflects off Collins' back and loops goalwards.

1: West Ham work possession to the edge of the City box straight away, giving Enner Valencia half a sight of goal from 25 yards, but his shot is wayward.

12.45pm We're underway. Come on you Irons!

12.43pm It's a top four clash here at the Boleyn Ground today! Can we continue our good form, join the conversation using #WHUMCI on Twitter,

12.40pm Here come the teams, West Ham led by their skipper Mark Noble!

12:30pm KIck-off is closing in and the players have returned to the dressing rooms following the warm-ups. We've got some pre-match stats to get you ready for the game...

- West Ham have won four league games this season. In 2013/14 season, it took us until January to reach that tally.

- Diafra Sakho is only the second player in Premier League history (after Micky Quinn) to score in each of his first five starts in the competition.

- West Ham have allowed the opposition fewer clear cut chances (seven) than any other Premier League team this season.

11.50am So, the Hammers name an unchanged team for today's game, with James Collins continuing at centre-half alongside Winston Reid. Cheikhou Kouyate is back from injury and on the bench.

11.45am The teamsheets are in!

West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Downing, Sakho, Noble (c), Jenkinson, Collins, Amalfitano, Song, Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Kouyate, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Poyet, Cole

Manchester City: Hart, Kompany (c), Zabaleta, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Navas, Youre, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Demichelis, Sagna, Kolarov, Milner, Fernandinho, Jovetic

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Manchester City.

We welcome the Citizens to the Boleyn Ground with both teams in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

Manuel Pellegrini's side currently sit second, having taken 17 points from their first eight games. They are unbeaten in their last five league games and defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 last weekend.

Sam Allardyce's team are four points and two places behind, having tasted victory in their last two starts. Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Carlton Cole were all on target as Saturday as the Hammers defeated Burnley 3-1.

The Hammers will be hoping to improve on last season's showings against the Citizens, when they lost all four meetings with Manuel Pellegrini's men.

Stay here for all the build-up as we move closer to kick-off.

West Ham United: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Downing, Sakho, Noble (c), Jenkinson, Collins, Amalfitano, Song, Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Kouyate, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Poyet, Cole

Manchester City: Hart, Kompany (c), Zabaleta, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Navas, Youre, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Demichelis, Sagna, Kolarov, Milner, Fernandinho, Jovetic