Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Molineux
Saturday 15 August
3pm
Referee: Chris Foy
WHUTV - LIVE COMMENTARY I LINEUPS AND STATS
FULL TIME - A superb start to the 2009/10 season for West Ham United as a superb strike by Noble is added to by captain Upson's thumping header. As it stands at the final whistle, United are third in the Premier League table. Now just the small matter of Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday for the first game at the Boleyn Ground.
93 min - After four minutes of waiting for the ball to go out Nouble finally gets on in place of the superb Cole, who carried on exactly where he left off with England.
89 min - It looks like Frank Nouble may be getting his debut as Zola has spent the last few minutes giving him instructions. Meanwhile on the pitch, three corners in a row are all cleared by the Hammers. Three minutes of added time will be played. Surely the Hammers shold be safe now...
85 min - Apologies for the slight delay in getting you those last two updates as we had a few technical issues. To fill you in on what you may have missed, Jimenez had a great chance after a counter attack involving Parker and Cole played him into space in the area. 'Jimmy' had plenty of time but can only fire straight at Hennessey. It was a great chance for the Hammers to put the game out of reach.
80 min - One more change for the hosts, with Millijas leaving the field for David Edwards.
77 min - Without wanting to get too ahead of ourselves, West Ham would sit top of the Premier League table tonight if results stay the way they are. The only team challenging for that honour are Wigan, who are winning 2-0 at Aston Villa.
75 min - Wolves have not given up the chase just yet, though, and they seek to add to their firepower by bringing on Sam Vokes for Foley.
73 min - He is and comes on to replace Dyer, who has put an impressive shift supporting Cole.
71 min - If they were not enjoying it enough before the Hammers' fans certainly are now and taunt the home support with a chant of 'You're going down with the Tottenham'. On the touchline, Stanislas looks like he could be ready to come on.
69 min - GOAL! Cole forces a corner on the left. Noble takes it and Upson rises to plant a firm header low past Hennessey. What a start to the seaon this could be!
67 min - First change for Wolves as Mancienne is taken off to be replaced by Richard Stearman.
65 min - Concern for the Hammers here as Ilunga is forced off after a nasty clash of heads. The defender manages to get to his feet to walk off and Spector is brought on on to replace him.
62 min - A great save from Green again as Ebanks-Blake out paces the back line and tries to flick the ball in. Green comes out quickly, though, and saves with his legs.
58 min - Stanislas, Hines and Jonathan Spector are all warming up on the touchline. Cole looks like he may be limping so Zola could turn to one of them if he needs to go off.
55 min - More positive play from the Hammers as Dyer gets in space in the penalty area twice in a minute. He almost has too much time to pick his pass and Wolves manage to clear the danger. Surely they cannot hang on much longer with the Hammers in this kind of form.
53 min - Collison has a superb chance to make it two as he collects Faubert's ball and rounds Hennessey. With just a defender on the line, he takes the wrong option and tries to roll the ball in allowing Kevin Foley to clear.
51 min - The Hammers have settled now and are looking more dangerous.
47 min - Even better from Green as he blocks another goal-bound shot. The Hammers are under real pressure.
46 min - Wolves get us under way and go on the attack straight away. Green has to be at his best to turn a deflected shot over the bar and from the resulting corner, West Ham struggle to clear their lines. Collins eventually hacks the ball away to set the Hammers on a counterattack, which only breaks down when Noble's pass goes astray.
Half-time - Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 West Ham United
45 min - We are into the last minute of the half here and barring a late goal it will have been a near perfect start for Zola's side. After a slightly tricky start, the Hammers have grown as the game has gone on. In fact, Parker has won a free-kick on the right after being brought down. Jimenez takes it but the ball is headed clear.
41 min - Appeals from the home side for a penalty as Faubert catches Jarvis just inside the area. Replays confirm the referee was right and there was not contact.
40 min - Another fantastic cross from the right by Faubert presents Collison with a free header in the penalty area. The Wales international appears to not realise how much time he has, however, and attempts to head the ball back across goal and the chance goes begging.
37 min - Much better from West Ham. A move of ten or so passes sees Dyer try to float a ball over the top for Scott Parker to chase. The Hammer of the Year races through on goal but can only just get a foot to it and the ball bounces through to the goalkeeper.
35 min - Danny Gabbidon, Zavon Hines and Junior Stanislas are warming up on the touchline. I do not think they will be needed at the moment with the way things have been going.
33 min - The West Ham fans get the first chant of 'Handball' going after a half-hearted penalty appeal from the home side. The away support are starting to enjoy themselves in the away stand.
30 min - This is shaping up to be quite a game. At the other end, Cole rounds Hennessey, but his shot his blocked and the ball falls to Dyer. He sidefoots the ball goalwards but it is hacked off the line. From the resulting corner Herita Ilunga gets up highest to power a header at goal that Hennessey had to turn over the bar. Seconds later Dyer tries to score with a cheeky back heel before the ball is eventually cleared.
29 min - A good chance for the home side to restore parity. A powerful burst forward from Keogh sees him tee up Jarvis, put he puts his shot over.
27 min - This ground holds some fond memories for Noble as he made his debut here in 2005.
22 min - GOAL! And what a goal it is. Cole picks up the ball on the left before rolling the ball across to Noble on the edge of the area. The midfielder takes one touch and curls a superb right-footed shot in the top corner of the net. Unstoppable!
20 min - Better from the visitors. A smart passing move sees Noble cut the ball back to Dyer and the No7 attempts to curl one into the top corner. Sadly the ball only finds the top corner of the stand.
18 min - A half-chance for the Hammers as a long ball into the box finds Dyer in some space. The winger does his best to nod the ball back to Jimenez but cannot quite get enough power on his header.
17 min - Another shot on goal from Wolves as Keogh creates half a yard of space for himself on the edge of the area before curling his shot over Robert Green's bar. The home side have started the stronger here.
15 min - No goals here yet but there have been elsewehere. Sunderland are a goal up at Bolton Wanderers, Fulham have scored away at Portsmouth and Manchester City lead Blackburn Rovers 1-0.
13 min - Great chance for the home team as a deep cross from the left is headed back across goal. The ball falls to Andy Keogh but he totally misses the ball. Moments later, Ebanks-Blake has an even better chance with a free header but he puts it well over the bar.
11 min - West Ham look to have lined up in a 4-3-2-1 with Dyer and Jimenez providing the width from midfield. Noble has the Hammers' second effort on goal with 25 yard shot that skids well wide of Wayne Hennessey's right-hand post.
8 min - Wolves' first corner is won after Matthew Upson is forced to head behind and the set piece is met a massive roar from the fans packed into the Steve Bull Stand. Nanad Milijas takes the flag kick but it is far too long to cause any danger.
6 min - Another great ball in by Faubert from the right touchline, which just evades Cole's outstretched leg. The French international has had a promising start at right-back.
5 min - First corner to the Hammers. Craddock tried to head the ball back to his keeper but mis-judged it. Jimenez takes it but Wolves clear the danger.
3 min - Zola had talked before the game about this being like a cup final for Wolves and the home support are certainly treating it like that, making a huge noise to try to drive their team on.
2 min - Carlton Cole tees up Jack Collison on the edge of the penalty area, but his low shot is easily gathered by Wales team-mate diving low to his right.
1 min - New signing Luis Jimenez gets the new season underway.
2.58pm - The two teams emerge into the Wolverhampton sunshine, met by a deafening roar from the home supporters. A minute's applause is held in memory of SIr Bobby Robson before the two teams break for kick-off.
2.45pm Good afternoon and welcome to Molineux.
After 90 days of living without football in your life, the waiting is finally over. West Ham United kick-off the 2009/10 at Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking for a repeat of last season's 2-1 opening day win against Wigan Athletic.
Gianfranco Zola has named a strong team with only James Tomkins missing from the line-up that started the Bobby Moore Cup game with SCC Napoli. The England Under-21 international has a minor foot injury so James Collins comes in to partner Matthew Upson in the heart of defence. Luis Jimenez makes his Premier League debut, while 17-year-old forward Frank Nouble makes the bench. Danny Gabbidon is also included in a Premier League squad for the first time in 18 months.
Wolves name Michael Mancienne in their starting line-up following his arrival on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea. Record signing Kevin Doyle misses out through injury.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Upson, Collins, Ilunga (Spector 65), Parker, Noble, Collison, Dyer (Stanislas 73), Jimenez, Cole (Nouble 90)
Subs: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Spector, Payne, Hines
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hennessey, Foley (Vokes 75), Mancienne (Stearman 67), Craddock, Ward, Halford, Henry, Milijas (Edwards 80), Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh
Subs: Hahnemann, Elokobi, Surman, Jones