WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST I PREVIEWFull time - West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United
90 mins - That's it. Lee Mason blows for full time. Grant's men were outclassed in that second half, with the leaders turning the screw with the second-half introduction of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov. The Hammers will hope for better at Bolton Wanderers a week today.
90 mins - We are deep into four minutes of added time.
87 mins - It really has gone very quiet in the Boleyn Ground. Manchester United are playing out time inside the West Ham half.
84 mins - GOAL! That'll be game over. Da Costa needlessly gifts possession to Rooney on halfway. He runs the defender before finding Berbatov, who nonchalantly feeds Giggs. His low shot is wayward, but goes through the legs of Upson and Hernandez is there to score from six yards.
83 mins - Keane and Obinna have seven minutes to help the Hammers to salvage a point. O'Neil and Noble are the duo replaced.
81 mins - Robbie Keane and Victor Obinna are going to come on shortly. West Ham need a hero.
79 mins - GOAL! Rooney completes his hat-trick by rolling the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. West Ham have it ALL to do.
78 mins - Now Manchester United have a penalty. Fabio tricks his way past Ba before making it to the byline. Upson slides in and when he gets up, Fabio plays the ball against his arm. Referee Mason points to the spot.
77 mins - The Hammers clear through Piquionne and Ba controls well by the touchline. He brings Parker into play before Piquionne gets forward down the right and crosses. Kuszczak fumbles but gathers at the second attempt.
76 mins - West Ham will do well to hang on to a point here. Smalling is allowed to bring the ball forward 30 yards before finding Berbatov, whose low shot is blocked by Green. The ball falls back to Giggs, whose cross is blocked behind. Corner.
73 mins - GOAL! Manchester United pass and pass and pass before Rooney collects 20 yards out, takes a touch and slams a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
71 mins - Berbatov loses Da Costa with a superb flick and makes his way into the box before shooting from an acute angle. Green is there and blocks the ball behind. The corner is worked along the box to Rooney, who shoots high and wide from 25 yards.
69 mins - Cole is replaced by Frederic Piquionne. The Frenchman is superb at holding the ball up and bringing his team-mates into the game. He'll need those skills now.
68 mins - Half a chance as Vidic lets the ball bounce. Cole is up against two defenders but he swings his foot at fresh air and the Red Devils clear their lines.
66 mins - It's all gone rather quiet in the home seats. Gibson fires a shot goalwards that hits a defender and flies wide. The corner comes over and Carrick glances his header over the top. The pressure is on.
65 mins - GOAL! Rooney curls the ball around the wall and into the net. That was a good free-kick and gave Green no chance.
64 mins - Noble brings down Carrick about 22 yards from goal. This is dangerous. Before the set piece, Berbatov is on for Park.
63 mins - Rooney leads the charge again and finds Hernandez. The ball is crossed by Park and Da Costa heads clear from inside the six-yard box.
62 mins - Parker makes a crunching tackle on Hernandez. He's been superb today, has the Hammer of the Year. West Ham counter-attack and Cole tries to run onto Ba's through ball, but Smalling is there.
59 mins - Rooney is involved again as Da Costa brings him down from behind. Yellow card for the centre-back. Giggs takes the free-kick and it is threatening until Da Costa smashes it out for a goal kick off Smalling.
58 mins - The game is getting a bit stretched. Rooney is trying to get on the ball more often, but as yet his team-mates aren't making the runs demanded by the No10.
56 mins - Manchester United haven't had a corner for a while, so Park gets them back in action by crossing into the shins of Da Costa. Valencia takes and the ball is allowed to bounce through the six-yard box before the alert Jacobsen hooks it clear.
53 mins - That's a bit better. Hitzlsperger releases O'Neil inside and he draws a defender before feeding Ba. The striker cuts inside and shoots. The ball hits a defender and Giggs clears from in front of Cole.
53 mins - Manchester United have picked up where they left off in terms of controlling the bulk of possession, but as yet they've not found a direct path through to trouble Green. West Ham need to have a spell on the ball and take the pressure off themselves if they can.
50 mins - Ba collects a pass from Noble on halfway and spins away from Vidic, who brings him down. Free-kick, but no second yellow card for the Manchester United skipper. The free-kick is headed clear to Parker, who tries a 40-yard volley that is not very close to Kuszczak's goal.
48 mins - Hernandez again, this time wide on the left. He cuts inside and finds Valencia. The ball is worked back to Carrick and then Gibson, but West Ham stand firm and HItzlsperger intercepts.
46 mins - The second half starts and it takes Hernandez precisely 37 seconds to have his first shot on goal, nipping in between Upson and Da Costa to flick Giggs' cross over the top from ten yards. He is a lively player, is the man they call the 'Little Pea'.
Sir Alex Ferguson has gambled at half-time, taking off left-back Patrice Evra and bringing on Mexico striker Javier Hernandez. The visitors will get the second 45 minutes underway with Giggs playing at left-back.
Half-time score - West Ham United 2-0 Manchester United
48 mins - Valencia gets in a cross from the right, Hitzlsperger heads clear from the edge of the box and referee Mason blows for half-time. That was a pretty breathless 45 mintues. Join us again in about a quarter-of-an-hour for more thrills and spills.
47 mins - Giggs taps to Rooney who taps to Gibson, whose shot is blocked by Parker. Giggs picks up the loose ball and crosses but Rooney can't control and it's a goal kick.
46 mins - We will have at least two minutes of added time. It begins with Da Costa felling Rooney about 30 yards from goal. That hurt the England man. Giggs stands over the set piece.
43 mins - Hitzlsperger bends his free-kick over the wall and it curls a yard wide. I think the goalkeeper would probably have had that covered, but it was good technique from the No11.
42 mins - Well, well, well. That is a big decision. Vidic makes a mess of a bouncing ball and Ba is goalside and clear. Vidic hauls him back and is booked. Should it be red? Would Ba have reached the ball before Kuszczak? Anyway, it's a free-kick about 25 yards out and in Hitz range!
41 mins - Da Costa makes a couple of important headed clearances but the visitors are definitely bossing the game in terms of possession. Fabio gets in but Parker makes a fine challenge.
37 mins - Hmmm.... Controversial if they score from this corner, but they don't. Jacobsen shepherds Giggs into the corner and the winger appears to stab the ball out for a goal kick. It's taken short to Park, who lays the ball back to Valencia, who smashes a 25-yarder miles over the top.
36 mins - Quality stuff. Da Costa intercepts inside the box and finds Hitzlsperger, who immediately spreads play wide right to O'Neil. He looks up and Cole makes a superb run to take Smalling and Fabio away and leave space for the German. O'Neil picks him out, but the No11 screws a difficult half-volley wide of the target from 22 yards. Good play.
33 mins - That might be frustration as Gibson kicks out at Noble. The Irishman is booked by referee Lee Mason.
31 mins - How did Green keep that one out? Rooney crosses, Da Costa dives to head and it lands at the feet of Park about 12 yards out. He controls and shoots powerfully, but Green thrusts out a right hand and diverts the ball over the crossbar. Giggs takes the corner, Smalling heads down and the ball bounces harmlessly wide.
29 mins - The ball is flicked on at the near post and Green is fouled as he tries to claim the high ball. Free-kick.
27 mins - As you might expect, the home fans are absolutely loving this. It's far from over, though, as Manchester United are looking threatening every time they attack. Valencia runs at Bridge and crosses, but Upson is there to clear for a corner. It's taken short and Giggs receives the ball back from Fabio, then wins another corner.
25 mins - GOAL! What a penalty! Noble runs up and literally leathers the ball into the top right-hand corner. Kuszczak had gone the right way, so the power and elevation were needed. That was a fantastic penalty, it really was.
24 mins - ANOTHER PENALTY TO WEST HAM! Cole runs at Vidic before beating the Serb with a couple of step-overs. Vidic tugs him back and it's a definite spot-kick.
23 mins - The Hammers appear to have weathered the storm to some extent. Da Costa brings the ball out from the back confidently before O'Neil wins a throw off Evra. A bit of respite following a difficult opening quarter.
22 mins - Better from West Ham as O'Neil loops a ball over Vidic for Ba. The striker tries to control on his chest, but handles. Free-kick to the visitors.
21 mins - Hitzlsperger feeds Ba this time and he turns and tries to play in Cole, but the No9 is offside. Smalling makes the challenge anyway.
20 mins - Noble wins the ball in midfield and finds Bridge. Ba comes short and receives possession before turning and shooting from about 25 yards. It's a curler and easy for Kuszczak.
18 mins - Guess what? Manchester United have another corner. It is headed clear by Da Costa, but the visitors keep the pressure on and win another corner when Giggs' shot is blocked behind by Green. Giggs takes it short and Valencia works the ball to Gibson, who wastefully fires over from 30-odd yards.
17 mins - Another corner for the Red Devils. Valencia stands up Bridge and crosses for Rooney, but Da Costa is there to slide the ball behind. Smalling wins another header, but the ball is cleared by Cole and then O'Neil.
14 mins - It would be fair to say that the goal was against the run of play and Manchester United have gone back on the front foot again. Valencia controls before crossing beyond Bridge and forcing Upson to stab the ball behind for another corner. Giggs takes again but his inswinger flies over the top of everybody and out for a goal kick.
11 mins - GOAL! Mark Noble runs up and sends Kuszczak the wrong way from 12 yards. The Pole dived to his left and Noble tucked the ball inside the other post. The Hammers lead. Last time West Ham beat Manchester United at home, Noble set two goals up, and now he's scored one.
11 mins - PENALTY! Hitzlsperger sends Cole clear and Evra handles as the striker tries to beat him inside the box.
10 mins - Manchester United have started the better of the two teams. Evra runs O'Neil to the byline before crossing, forcing Jacobsen to head behind.
8 mins - The visitors are looking menacing. Their movement is good and they are threatening to get in behind the full-backs. Carrick shoots from long-range but the ball flies a mile over the top.
6 mins - Cole is felled in midfield but play continues before Fabio catches Hitzlsperger wide on the left. Free-kick about halfway inside the Manchester United half. Hitzlsperger sends the ball over and Kuszczak makes a good catch high above his head.
4 mins - Giggs sends the ball deep and Smalling wins it unchallenged. The ball is heading towards the top corner before Green tips it over. Giggs takes from the left this side and Smalling wins it again, but his header flies well wide of the target. Goal kick.
3 mins - Upson slices his clearance and Manchester United pick up possession. Park wins a corner off Bridge. Giggs trots across to take after a short delay returning the ball from the stand.
1 min - The ball bounces over Smalling and Hitzlsperger beats Fabio to it before crossing on the volley, but the centre-back recovers to clear. Bridge picks up the loose ball and finds the No11 again, but his pass for Cole is over-hit. Goal kick.
12.46pm - We're underway. The noise level is good inside the stadium.
12.45pm - West Ham will kick-off shooting towards the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
12.42pm - Robert Green, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Gary O'Neil all find the net with their long-range shots after the handshakes. A good omen, hopefully! The fans have spotted Paolo Di Canio in the West Stand and give the Italian a proper East End welcome. Paolo joins in the singing. Top man!
12.41pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains Matthew Upson and Nemanja Vidic.
12.40pm - Jack Collison appears on the big screen. He is confident of a home win today, too. The midfielder made a successful comeback from 13 months out with a knee injury in Friday's reserve-team meeting with Manchester United. The two teams are in the tunnel and 'Bubbles' has started to play...
12.35pm - Demba Ba gets a massive clap as he is announced as SBOBET.com Player of the Month for March. The big striker fancies another goal today, and I don't blame him. The sun is out again and the sprinklers are on. The pitch looks lovely and green, no doubt happy with the recent good weather.
12.30pm - And Jonathan Spector to score first in a 4-0 West Ham victory is 850/1...
12.25pm - The starting XI are having a game of keep-ball. It's five-a-side with Robbie Keane acting as the 'man in the white bib' who plays for both teams. Thomas Hitzlsperger and his 'orange bibs' look to be having the better of it. Watching the Germany midfielder, his passing range is something special. He can thread a ball through the eye of a needle. By the way, if you fancy having a flutter and following Sir Trevor Brooking's prediction, Demba Ba to score the first goal and the final score to be 2-2 is 80/1 at SBOBET.com
12.20pm - The two teams are out warming up on the pitch, but unfortunately it has clouded over. On the big screens, highlights of the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Manchester United are playing. I could watch them again and again, couldn't you?! To my left, broadcasting great John Motson is taking his seat in the Press Box, while to my right Ray Parlour has joined programme columnist Ian 'Moose' Abrahams on talkSPORT. Chris Kamara is also here, as are West Ham greats Paul Allen, Phil Parkes and Geoff Pike.
12pm - Full team news and substitutes at the bottom of the page. The sun is shining brightly outside the Boleyn Ground and Sir Trevor Brooking is predicting a 2-2 draw with Demba Ba scoring the first goal!
11.57am - Manchester United starting XI - Kuszczak, Fabio, Evra, Smalling, Vidic, Carrick, Park, Gibson, Valencia, Giggs, Rooney
11.55am - West Ham United starting XI is unchanged from the visit to Tottenham Hotspur - Green, Jacobsen, Bridge, Da Costa, Upson, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, O'Neil, Ba, Cole
Good morning and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be a mouth-watering Barclays Premier League fixture between West Ham United and leaders Manchester United.
The Hammers are in fine form at present, having won three and drawn three of their previous seven league matches and climbed out of the relegation zone. Manchester United, meanwhile, have won just four of their 15 away top-flight matches this term. Three points for the home side would lift them to 13th ahead of the 3pm kick-offs, while a draw would take Avram Grant's side up to 14th.
Factor in West Ham's 4-0 Carling Cup quarter-final victory over Sir Alex Ferguson's men in east London on 30 November and there is much cause for optimism ahead of the visit of the leaders. Hammers legend Paolo Di Canio is also in attendance this afternoon and will hope to inspire his old club to emulate the 1-0 victories he helped West Ham gain at Old Trafford in January and December 2001.
Ferguson himself will be watching from the West Stand this afternoon as he continues to serve a five-match touchline ban. The visitors will also be without the suspended Jonny Evans and Paul Scholes. Injury-wise, Manchester United are without England defenders Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand (both calf), midfielder Owen Hargreaves (shoulder), back-up goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard (knee), Republic of Ireland defender John O'Shea and full-back Rafael (both hamstring).
West Ham welcomed back Jack Collison to reserve-team duty on Friday, but today's game comes too soon for the Wales midfielder. Junior Stanislas (hernia) and goalkeeper Peter Kurucz (knee) are also definitely out.
However, Frederic Piquionne is back after recovering from the toe injury he suffered in the FA Cup sixth-round defeat at Stoke City, while Pablo Barrera is also in the matchday squad after impressing on international duty with Mexico.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Bridge, Da Costa, Upson, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, O'Neil, Ba, Cole
Subs: Boffin, Reid, Tomkins, Spector, Piquionne, Obinna, Keane
Manchester United: Kuszczak, Fabio, Evra, Smalling, Vidic, Carrick, Park, Gibson, Valencia, Giggs, Rooney
Subs: Amos, Gill, Anderson, Nani, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen