WEST HAM UNITED v BLACKPOOL
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2010
KICK-OFF: 3PM
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Final score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackpool
93 mins - West Ham have four men forward and Barrera has the ball wide right. He cuts inside and shoots left-footed, but it's high and wide and goes behind for a goal kick. Kingson belts the ball upfield and the final whistle goes.
92 mins - Green clears long and Cole flicks on, but McCarthy can't get on the end of it.
91 mins - We're going to have at least three more minutes... Obinna crosses from the left and McCarthy heads the ball over.
90 mins - Obinna crosses from the left, Cole heads it up into the air and McCarthy just can't keep the ball in play. Goal kick. The soldiers have voted Mark Noble as West Ham's man of the match.
87 mins - Obinna takes a pass from Barrera and runs at the Blackpool defence, but his cross is cut out. Blackpool break and Taylor-Fletcher hooks the ball goalwards but Green is there. West Ham spring back on to the attack and Barrera wins a free-kick from Crainey a yard outside the box.
85 mins - Better from Green. He wins the initial corner, but can only help the ball on to Cathcart's right foot. The defender volleys goalwards and the ball flicks off Harewood, but Green is again there to save.
83 mins - How has Harewood missed that? Varney beats Gabbidon and pulls the ball back. When Crainey shoots, Harewood can divert it into the net from about six yards, but his shot flies wide.
82 mins - McCarthy is getting ready to come on for Piquionne.
81 mins - Blackpool have a corner as Vaughan goes down the left and smashes his cross against Noble. Adam crosses and the ball is headed back to him. He then tries to beat Obinna and is fouled about a foot outside the penalty area. Varney's free-kick is too high.
79 mins - Barrera gets forward again down the left and crosses into the box, but Evatt clears. The throw is taken to Noble, who turns and curls one towards the top corner. Kingson springs to his left to push the ball around the post.
78 mins - Ilunga tugs back Phillips and Blackpool have a free-kick right on the edge of the D. This, I don't need to tell you, is dangerous. Adam shoots low and it hits the wall.
76 mins - This really could go either way as Blackpool come forward again and Varney's cross eludes everyone, allowing Green to claim at the back post.
74 mins - After two more minutes of heavy West Ham pressure, Blackpool break and they've men over again. Phillips picks out Taylor-Fletcher, who is unmarked, but somehow screws his shot over the top from ten yards.
72 mins - This is unbelievable. Barrera receives a pass from Obinna wide on the left and cuts inside before stabbing the ball into the six-yard box. Cole is there, but he is challenged and the ball spins and hits the post before being cleared.
71 mins - Cole is on for Boa Morte.
70 mins - Parker does superbly, playing a one-two and getting to the byline before pulling the ball into the path of Barrera. The Mexican's shot is blocked on the line. A follow-up is deflected wide.
68 mins - Blackpool have an attacking free-kick as Boa Morte brings down Phillips wide on the right touchline. The ball flies over and is half-cleared by Piquionne. The follow-up shot hits a defender and falls to Harewood who finishes. The flag is up for offside.
67 mins - Harewood is on. Campbell hobbles off.
66 mins - Blackpool are going to introduce Harewood shortly. Campbell is injured and sitting on the turf, so it's going to be him who is replaced.
64 mins - Old mates Cole and Harewood are enjoying a chat as they stretch on the touchline. On the pitch, Noble forces Crainey to head behind for a corner. Obinna will take it from the right side. First, referee Friend wants a word with Evatt and Upson for some penalty area argy-bargy.
62 mins - West Ham have McCarthy and Cole warming up. Will Grant be tempted to make an attacking change?
59 mins - Holloway replaces Grandin with Matt Phillips. There are 31,194 fans here today.
58 mins - The Hammers are getting up a head of steam but it just won't happen. First, Obinna sends Boa Morte forward, but his cross is cut out, then Barrera is offside from Piquionne's pass. The Mexican puts the ball in the net, but it won't count.
56 mins - West Ham are getting closer. Piquionne does really well against Eardley before squaring for Obinna, but the Nigerian's first-time shot is too high.
54 mins - Piquionne and Varney go up for a high ball and the Blackpool player goes to ground. Piquionne belts the ball into the stand so the No16 can have some treatment.
51 mins - This is such an open game. First Varney gets past Jacobsen and flashes the ball across the face of goal, then Adam shoots from 45 yards and the ball nearly catches out Green. The ball lands on the top of the net, having cleared the bar by no more than a yard.
49 mins - Another chance for the home side to get the ball into the box as Barrera is fouled by Crainey. Upson heads down, but Piquionne is forced out of the penalty area and when Noble helps the ball back on, Barrera is well offside.
48 mins - Great chance for the hosts. Parker runs forward and slips in Boa Morte and he is in on goal. He stabs the ball past Kingson, but it rolls agonisingly wide of the far post.
46 mins - We're back underway...
Blackpool are indeed going to change goalkeepers, with Gilks being replaced by Kingson for the second 45 minutes. West Ham are not making any changes. The Hammers will kick-off through Obinna and Parker.
I wonder if we'll see any changes at the break. Blackpool have been warming up Ghana international goalkeeper Richard Kingson, while Carlton Cole has also been out doing some work. Blackpool are first out of the tunnel for the second half, closely followed by their hosts.
Half-time score - West Ham United 0-0 Blackpool
46 mins - We're going to have at least one added minute. Barrera finds Jacobsen and his cross is headed out to Obinna, whose shot is deflected wide for a corner. We're not going to have time for the set piece, though, as referee Friend blows for half-time. How is this game still goalless?
44 mins - This is so open it's not funny. Campbell gets goal-side of Ilunga and Green does brilliantly to save at the striker's feet. The ball spins away and Ilunga gets back to clear wide left to Boa Morte.
43 mins - Blackpool are just going for this. They have four men in the box for one cross and West Ham scramble the ball clear to Obinna. He turns and it's two-on-two. Piquionne is offside. Blackpool come again and win a corner. Parker clears and again the visitors are again short at the back. Parker finds Barrera, who cuts inside and shoots, but the ball lands on top of the net instead of in it.
40 mins - A corner is conceded by Parker. Again it is dangerous and a bit of head tennis is ended by Upson nodding the ball clear. Blackpool keep the pressure on and Adam finds Evatt, whose cross goes behind for another corner. Adam crosses from the left and Eardley can only glance the ball behind.
38 mins - Blackpool come close again. Adam has space to run at the back four and only a back-tracking Upson is there to concede another corner. Boa Morte and Parker clear and it's three-on-three. Noble's pass to Barrera is a little short of pace, but the No12 steadies himself and drives a shot a few yards wide of the far post. Close.
37 mins - Vaughan wins a corner off Jacobsen and again Piquionne heads clear. He is a more than useful defender.
35 mins - There is a short hiatus while Obinna picks himself up off the floor. He's going to be OK after a quick breather. Upson brings down Taylor-Fletcher and Blackpool have a dangerous free-kick wide on the left about 35 yards out. Piquionne heads clear for a throw.
33 mins - Blackpool are confident. They pop the ball around at the back before springing forward. Eventually, the ball is laid into the path of right-back Evatt, but he smashes his first-time shot well wide of the near post.
32 mins - Great one-touch stuff from Ilunga, Obinna and Piquionne ends with the No30 winning a left-wing corner. Obinna's delivery is to the far post and is hacked clear after a short melee.
31 mins - It's certainly exciting, this. Blackpool come again and Adam drives a daisy-cutter wide of the post from 25 yards.
28 mins - Adam brings down Parker in midfield and is booked. West Ham lose possession in midfield and Blackpool have men over. Thankfully, Grandin is forced wide and Gabbidon can head clear. The ball drops to Crainey, but his half-volley is wild.
27 mins - Obinna is caught in possession near the left touchline. Blackpool break at pace and Vaughan flashes a drive wide. West Ham break and the ball falls to Obinna, whose volley is flying into the top corner before hitting the arm of Cathcart. Referee Friend gives a corner. Hmmm...
26 mins - Piquionne fights to get on the end of Obinna's corner, but his powerful header bounces wide of the far post.
25 mins - Blackpool's goalkeeper hurt his knee making a clearance a few moments back. Time to test Mr Gilks. Some fine football involving Noble, Barrera, Parker and Boa Morte ends with Obinna seeing his shot deflect two yards wide.
22 mins - Close again. Noble lofts the ball over the top for Piquionne, but he's just a yard offside.
21 mins - So close for Boa Morte, who makes a fantastic run to get on the end of Upson's through ball, but it's just too strong and Gilks claims on the very edge of his penalty area. Unlucky.
20 mins - Barrera maybe should have a penalty, there. He gets around one Blackpool player before going down under a challenge from a second. Referee Friend gives a goal kick, but replays suggest the defender didn't touch the ball at all...
19 mins - Good chance for Blackpool, who are not afraid to throw men forward. Midfielder Grandin gets involved and shoots straight at Green from 20 yards.
18 mins - Dyer is replaced by Barrera.
17 mins - Pablo Barrera is going to be on in a short while. I'm not sure who for, though. It's going to be Dyer.
16 mins - Obinna is crowded out on but the ball flies out left to Ilunga. He takes a couple of touches and comes forward 20 yards before floating a cross beyond the far post and out for a goal kick.
14 mins - Obinna crosses from the right and Gabbidon heads over the top from about eight yards out. That was a difficult chance for the centre-back, as the ball was a little high.
13 mins - Parker wins the ball back in midfield and Dyer picks out Piquionne with a fine pass. The Frenchman cuts inside but his shot is blocked. Moments later, Obinna releases Jacobsen, but his cross is also charged down. Finally, Obinna wins a corner.
11 mins - Great football from Blackpool, who move the ball from side to side looking for an opening. They must keep possession for more than a minute before Upson gets a challenge in.
9 mins - Blackpool come forward again through Campbell, who shoots left-footed from about 20 yards. Green dives to his right and falls on the ball. Easy save.
8 mins - A shooting chance for Noble as Cathcart hits a clearance straight to Obinna. The ball spins to Noble, who pokes a shot forward with his right foot, but it goes about five yards wide.
7 mins - That could have been a penalty. Noble goes for the ball but Adam slips it past him and could go down, but he stays on his feet. Blackpool keep the ball and when it is crossed, Campbell flicks it well wide of the post.
6 mins - Charlie Adam has a bit of space on the edge of the Hammers box, but it's quickly closed down and the home side clear.
4 mins - West Ham have started fast here. Obinna and Ilunga combine and the latter crosses, Boa Morte gets his head to the ball and it flies across the face of goal. Dyer retrieves possession and keeps it well before rolling the ball to Noble, whose shot is blocked.
3 mins - Harewood is out already to warm up. Strange. He gets a good cheer, though. Holloway is also out barking orders at his players. I don't think this is going to be a dull afternoon!
2 mins - Obinna finds Parker, who crosses, but it's cut out by Cathcart. Seconds later, Dyer and Piquionne combine and Crainey concedes a throw level with the Blackpool box, but it comes to nothing.
1 min - Jacobsen launches the ball towards Piquionne and Cathcart concedes a throw. West Ham on top early...
3.01pm - We're underway...
3pm - The minute of silence was impeccably received as always here. Hauntingly, the bells of a nearby church rang three times as the time reached three o'clock. Blackpool will kick-off...
2.57pm - Mark Noble gets a proper welcome on his return from his appendix operation. Amazing comeback! The Guard of Honour head out to the centre circle, including West Ham Chairman David Gold and Blackpool President Valeri Belokon, then we shall have a minute's silence...
2.55pm - 'Bubbles' starts to play and the players will soon be with us. The massed ranks in tangerine are gathered away to my left and let a few balloons go as the two teams come out of the tunnel. The home fans are in good form, too, singing with some real gusto. Let's hope the Hammers can give them plenty to cheer about this afternoon.
2.50pm - Soldiers from the 1st Bat. Royal Anglian Regiment are introduced to the crowd as they march around the pitch. They received a round of applause, as you might expect. Among them are two West Ham fans, Cpl Ben Lake and Cpl Scott Turner. The soldiers take their places around the edge of the pitch. They are followed out by representatives from the other Armed Forces and the Royal British Legion. All are welcomed with a stirring round of applause before taking their place at the mouth of the tunnel. The soldiers on parade today have recently returned from a six-month tour to Afghanistan and will be heading back out there in 2012.
2.45pm - Mark Noble receives his SBOBET Player of the Month award for October. The No16 stops on the touchline to collect his award from SBOBET Executive Director Bill Mummery. After a handshake and a smile, Noble heads for the Home dressing room.
2.40pm - It has clouded over here in east London and the floodlights are on ahead of what could be a real humdinger of a game. Both sets of players are out going through their final preparations on the pitch. Among the men in tangerine is a certain Marlon Harewood, whose goal took West Ham to the 2006 FA Cup final. The big forward has already been exchanging pleasantries with his old team-mates, including fellow cup finalist Danny Gabbidon.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be an entertaining maiden Barclays Premier League meeting with Blackpool.
Before kick-off, however, everybody in the stadium will stand for a minute's silence in memory of all those who have suffered or lost their lives in conflict. Tomorrow, of course, is Remembrance Sunday.
The 50th meeting between will see West Ham United go for a victory that could see them climb off the bottom of the table. Today's visitors have not tasted victory in east London on any of their previous 16 visits - a run dating back to April 1934.
The Hammers have not met the Tangerines since February 1971, when the two sides drew 1-1 at Bloomfield Road. The last meeting here, in October 1970, ended in a 4-1 home win.
Last season's Championship play-off winners will be no soft touch, though, as Ian Holloway's squad have won three of their seven away league matches this term. On the plus side, today's visitors have lost the other four and have conceded a Premier League-high 16 goals on their travels.
Team news-wise, Mark Noble makes a record-breaking return to the starting XI just 12 days after having his appendix removed. Noble has been in full training this week and is desperate to help the club he supports return to winning ways.
Manager Avram Grant has made two changes in total from Wednesday's 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion, with Noble joining Scott Parker in central midfield. Carlton Cole and Pablo Barrera drop to the bench, with Victor Obinna also returning to the starting XI.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte (Cole 71), Dyer (Barrera 18), Obinna, Piquionne (McCarthy 82)
Subs: Stech, Spector, Tomkins, Kovac
Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Grandin (Phillips 59), Adam, Varney, Campbell (Harewood 67)
Subs: Kingson, Carney, Edwards, Sylvestre, Euell