WEST HAM UNITED v LEEDS UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SUNDAY 21 AUGUST 2011
KICK-OFF: 1.15PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
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Final score - West Ham United 2-2 Leeds United
94 mins - Ilunga hurls the ball over and Carew flicks on. O'Dea smacks it into the stand and that's it. So, a point for the Hammers. We shall be back here again on Wednesday evening for the Carling Cup first-round visit of Aldershot Town. Before then, whufc.com and West Ham TV will have exclusive post-match reaction from today's draw and build-up ahead of Wednesday's tie.
93 mins - After having a chat with his assistant referee, the man in blue and black books Tomkins and O'Dea.
92 mins - Into the second of three added minutes and Leeds could nick a winner as O'Brien concedes a corner. Thankfully, it comes to nothing. Before we re-start with a goal kick, though, there is some handbags for Mr Oliver to sort out inside the penalty area.
90 mins - GOAL! For the second home game in succession, West Ham concede a late goal. The cross comes over from the left and drops to Howson, whose shot hits the underside of the bar and the inside of the post before falling to Clayton, who finishes well from 12 yards.
89 mins - Nolan should score there! Faubert's corner is helped on and Nolan seems to have a chance from two yards, but the ball squirts through his legs.
89 mins - Carew and Ilunga combine deep inside the Leeds half before the left-back wins a corner. Good stuff from the DR Congo man. Meanwhile, the PA announcer tells us that Scott Parker is man of the match.
88 mins - Leeds replace Gradel with Lloyd Sam.
87 mins - West Ham clear a Leeds free-kick. Nolan lumps the ball long and Carew nods down for Parker. He would be clean through if he can get there ahead of Clayton, but the Leeds No15 makes a superb challenge. Seconds later, the same player shoots over from 35 yards.
85 mins - Gradel is now up front with Keogh, while Nunez has gone to the left wing. Piquionne is on the left for West Ham, with Taylor now back in midfield.
83 mins - Tomkins brings down Gradel 35 yards out. Nunez takes the free-kick and Keogh volleys over, but he was offside.
82 mins - Big Sam replaces Noble with Piquionne.
81 mins - West Ham win another corner. Faubert crosses and Tomkins again wins it, but his header goes wide.
80 mins - O'Brien pumps the ball down the line and Carew controls before Faubert picks up possession. He beats Gradel and finds Carew inside the box. The ball is poked out for a corner by O'Dea. Tomkins is again the target, but Leeds clear.
78 mins - Parker has one, but not two as his long-range shot flies well wide.
77 mins - Leeds make their first change, with Nunez on for McCormack. The Honduras international has three goals already this season.
77 mins - Taylor delivers and Tomkins is penalised for a push.
76 mins - Argh! Brilliant play involving Carew, Taylor and Faubert before Parker shoots and the ball flicks off a defender and off the outside of the post for a corner.
75 mins - Noble concedes a free-kick about 35 yards from goal. Snodgrass has quality with his left foot. Not this time, though, as the ball thuds into the wall. Faubert and Parker combine to clear.
73 mins - West Ham win a third corner but Nolan loses possession and Leeds break. It ends with Ilunga conceding a corner. It drops to a Leeds player, but the ball ricochets high off Parker and into Green's hands.
72 mins - Taylor delivers and Tomkins wins it AGAIN! Reid shoots from about three yards and Lonergan somehow saves. The ball dribbles wide.
71 mins - The changes have made a difference for the Hammers. Parker feeds Faubert and the No18 delivers low again. Kisnorbo nearly nets his second, but it goes wide. Taylor takes the corner and Tomkins wins it again. Lonergan tips over.
69 mins - Carew is involved straight away, outmuscling O'Dea before losing control. Then, moments later, Faubert crosses and Carew tries a scissor-kick that flashes wide.
67 mins - Cole is replaced by debutant John Carew. The Norwegian gets a high-ten from Cole and a loud welcome from the home faithful. He's scored goals wherever he has been - at the highest level. Can Big John notch for Big Sam today?
66 mins - Tomkins fouls the dangerous Gradel. McCormack bends the free-kick well over.
65 mins - This is a cracking match. Leeds have a free-kick as Gradel is fouled, but O'Brien heads clear. A wayward clearance from O'Dea means Lonergan can only concede a throw. It's taken to Ilunga, whose cross is decent. Cole wins it, but his header hits a defender on the back and dribbles through to the goalkeeper.
61 mins - GOAL! Julien Faubert wins a throw down the right. Seconds later, he is crossing low and Kisnorbo hammers the ball into his own net from eight yards. That was a good ball in, matched by the Australian's clinical volley.
59 mins - GOAL! It's been coming. Leeds equalise through McCormack. Snodgrass and Keogh combine on the edge of the box before the Scot rolls the ball to his fellow countryman, who sweeps home from eight yards.
58 mins - Collison is replaced by Faubert.
57 mins - Keogh gets away from Reid and Ilunga. He crosses, but Tomkins does just enough against McCormack and Green saves the ball low down.
56 mins - So close to a second for the Hammers. Taylor forces a throw deep in Leeds territory. Ilunga hurls it over, Cole flicks on and Collison beats White in the air, but the ball is close enough for Lonergan to save on his line. Leeds break and McCormack's shot is too hot for Green to handle, but the goalkeeper claims the loose ball.
55 mins - Julien Faubert is being readied on the bench.
53 mins - Leeds are playing some good football. Gradel gets space to run at O'Brien and crosses left-footed. Reid heads behind. The corner is headed clear.
52 mins - West Ham need to get themselves sorted out here. Noble passes the ball straight to Keogh and he's through on goal. Green makes the save, McCormack follows up and volleys the ball a yard over the top.
48 mins - Leeds want another penalty as Parker slides in left-back White inside the box. Referee Oliver points for a corner. The ball comes over and Cole heads clear. Leeds have started well here. Replays show Parker got a toe to the ball.
46 mins - Inside the first minute of the second 45 and West Ham win a corner. Taylor takes and Cole wins it, but his header flashes well wide. Half-decent chance, that was.
The crowd here today is 28,252, which is not a band turnout at all. Of them, just over 3,000 are supporting Leeds. The two teams are out for the second half.
Half-time score - West Ham United 1-0 Leeds United
48 mins - Gradel is fouled on halfway, but the whistle for half-time goes before the free-kick can be taken.
47 mins - Collison receives a pass wide on the right. He crosses to the edge of the box for Nolan, whose low shot is blocked and cleared.
46 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes.
45 mins - Gradel, who played for West Ham as a youngster, is fouled by Ilunga. Snodgrass curls over a dangerous free-kick and O'Brien does well to head out for a corner. It's a deep one and Gradel collects. His cross hits Taylor and loops high into the arms of Green at his near post.
44 mins - Some encouraging play down the left involving Noble and Taylor, but Cole's cross is short and curls into the hands of Lonergan.
42 mins - Leeds have given a good account of themselves here, but West Ham still hold the ascendancy as we approach half-time. I would think Big Sam will want to sort a few things out at the break as the Hammers haven't quite found the fluency they had at Watford.
37 mins - O'Dea needs the physio on as he gets a knock on the head from Cole's backside. The Irishman looks as if he'll be OK to continue. After a break in play, he is back on.
36 mins - Hmmm... Gradel beats Ilunga and crosses. The ball skims off McCormack's head and out for a...corner! Snodgrass crosses and the ball drops inside the six-yard box, where Green collects.
35 mins - Cole is still a bit frustrated and has a word with the assistant referee. Mr Oliver calls him and Nolan over for a chat to calm things down.
33 mins - This is a good game. Leeds come forward and Gradel shoots from 25 yards. Green pushes the ball out for a corner. Snodgrass takes it and Reid heads clear.
32 mins - He's given one penalty, and referee Oliver could give another there as Cole is brought down by White. Having said that, it took three replays before I could be sure if it was the striker or defender who got a foot to the ball.
32 mins - Sorry, I should have been clearer. Taylor was penalised for handball for the Leeds penalty. He leant to his right and the ball clearly struck his right arm.
31 mins - Clayton goes in hard and catches Parker on halfway. Referee Oliver calls the midfielder over for a chat. No booking, though.
28 mins - Gradel puts the spot-kick wide! The winger steps up and slams a low shot wide of the left-hand upright. Green went the right way and might have saved it, but it matters not!
27 mins - Leeds have a penalty! The long throw comes over and Taylor is penalised. I think that's a fair decision, looking at the replay.
27 mins - Reid's back-header bounces behind for another Leeds corner. Snodgrass delivers and again the ball drops inside the penalty area. Cole thumps the ball into the Alpari Stand.
26 mins - Good again from Cole and Ilunga. The latter plays the ball into Nolan, who controls and shoots on the turn from 20 yards, but again it's too weak to trouble Lonergan unduly.
25 mins - Gradel gets free down the left but Collison tracks the Ivorian's run and blocks his cross. Good work. West Ham need a decent spell of possession, but Taylor's ambitious shot from 35 yards ends this latest attack. It rolls a long way wide.
21 mins - Better. Ilunga canters down the left flank before poking the ball inside for Taylor. Nolan finds Noble, who cuts inside and shoots right-footed, but Lonergan is there to make the save low down to his left.
19 mins - Leeds have another corner as McCormack's volley hits Tomkins and spins behind. Nolan volleys the ball away.
18 mins - Replays show Kisnorbo did have a chunk of Tomkins' shirt. Hmmm...
17 mins - A hopeful ball forward from Noble is headed behind for a corner by O'Dea under pressure from Nolan. Taylor swings the ball over and Tomkins looks he's having his shirt torn off. Nothing given. Leeds break and Parker sprints back 70 yards to challenge Gradel. Good work.
16 mins - The two substitutes warming up - Barrera and Piquionne - are told to put on vests by the referee. Their black shirts are clashing with Leeds' kit.
15 mins - Big Sam is out on the edge of his technical area, as is Leeds boss Simon Grayson - for different reasons at present.
13 mins - Oooh! The ball bounces around and one Leeds player mis-kicks before it drops to Snodgrass near the corner of the area. He shoots left-footed and the ball clips the corner of post and crossbar on its way over the top.
12 mins - Leeds have come into things. Keogh gets free inside the box and his volleyed cross hits a defender and flashes wide of the far post. I'm not sure Green would have got there. The corner drops to Keogh, who volleys wide, but referee Michael Oliver gives another corner.
10 mins - A loose header sets up a Leeds attack. Gradel gets in behind Tomkins and shoots from an acute angle. Green does well to tip the ball over. Snodgrass takes the corner and Green comes a long way to punch the ball out of the danger zone for a throw. It comes to nothing.
10 mins - Kisnorbo is having boot issues. A couple of minutes ago, he was actually carrying one around in his hand while play continued! Now he is adjusting his footwear again before launching a free-kick from halfway straight out of play.
8 mins - That's three games running that West Ham have scored in the opening six minutes. Can they go on and build on a fast start, as they did at Watford in midweek? Let's hope so.
6 mins - GOAL! Cole scores! Taylor's right-wing corner is vicious and Cole gets in front of Lees to volley in from about six yards. That goal really shows the worth of good delivery from set pieces. Taylor's free-kicks and corners are a constant threat. Good hunger from Cole to get to the ball first, too.
5 mins - Nolan bulldozes through a challenge before winning a throw near the corner flag. Ilunga hurls the ball over and Cole's flicked header is is well saved by Lonergan. Taylor takes the corner and Tomkins wins it, but again the goalkeeper makes a good stop to tip the ball over.
4 mins - Tomkins gets his first chance to show his outstanding form, forcing Keogh wide before nicking the ball off the Irishman.
2 mins - Kisnorbo launches a free-kick forward from halfway. Snodgrass attacks it, but the ball skims off his head and behind for a goal kick.
1 min - It takes 26 seconds for West Ham to have their first shot on target. Well, it's a header actually, as Taylor gets in front of Lees and heads O'Brien's cross goalwards, but it's straight at Lonergan.
1.16pm - We're off and running...
1.14pm - This is the first time West Ham have named an unchanged starting XI since April, when the same players started the 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur and the 4-2 home defeat by Manchester United. 'Bubbles' starts to play and we're nearly ready to kick-off. Taylor and Parker will get us underway...
1.13pm - Leeds' players have no excuse for not seeing each other. Their kit is a fetching blend of black and luminous yellow!
1.12pm - Here come the two teams. This promises to be a proper, old-fashioned game of football. Two big clubs eager to regain their place among the elite. The Boleyn Ground is pretty full. Let's do this thing...
1.08pm - The atmosphere is really building here, with both sets of fans singing their hearts out in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Leeds have brought about 3,000 fans down the M1 to London.
1.05pm - If you haven't made it down to the Boleyn Ground this afternoon, why not come to Wednesday's Carling Cup first-round tie against Aldershot Town? Tickets are priced at just £10 for Adults and £5 for Under-16s. To book your seat, click here or call 0871 222 2700.
1pm - West Ham's players have split into smaller groups to work on individual aspects of the game - the centre-backs on heading with Neil McDonald, the forwards with the goalkeepers to work on finishing. As the players leave the pitch, John Carew stops to sign some autographs for some lucky youngsters.
12.50pm - Manager Sam Allardyce is conducting a pre-match interview with Sky Sports ahead of the game. The tunnel is also full of familiar faces from days gone by, with ex-Hammers goalkeeper and assistant manager Mervyn Day and former coach Keith Peacock now among the backroom staff at Leeds.
12.30pm - Carew had been training by himself before joining West Ham United eight days ago. The big Norway striker looks lean and mean and showed no signs of rustiness during a 60-minute run out against Colchester United last Wednesday afternoon.
12.20pm - West Ham United are unchanged from the 4-0 victory at Watford on Tuesday evening. However, new signing John Carew is among the substitutes.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Nolan, Collison, Taylor, Cole
Subs: Boffin, Faubert, Barrera, Piquionne, Carew
Leeds United: Lonergan, O'Dea, Kisnorbo, Lees, Gradel, Howson, Clayton, Snodgrass, White, Keogh, McCormack
Subs: Rachubka, Connolly, O'Brien, Sam, Nunez
Good afternoon and welcome to a sunny Boleyn Ground for this afternoon's mouth-watering npower Championship meeting between West Ham United and Leeds United.
The Hammers are going for three league victories in a row for the first time since winning their final four matches of the 2006/07 season, when they dramatically staved off relegation from the Premier League.
West Ham come into the game in confident mood, having won away at Doncaster Rovers (1-0) and Watford (4-0) in the past eight days. Leeds won last time out too, beating Hull City 4-1 at Elland Road on Tuesday evening after losing their opening two league fixtures.
West Ham's best home win against Leeds was a memorable 7-0 success in the League Cup on 1 January 1967. Leeds have twice won 3-1 at the Boleyn, on New Year's Day in 1992 and on 6 October 1976.
Leeds have won 14 of the last 19 meetings between the clubs, with the Hammers only tasting victory in two of 26 matches played over the last 29 years. However, a third straight win would be the Hammers best start to a league campaign in 12 seasons.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga, Noble (Piquionne 82), Parker, Nolan, Collison (Faubert 58), Taylor, Cole (Carew 67)
Subs: Boffin, Barrera
Leeds United: Lonergan, O'Dea, Kisnorbo, Lees, Gradel, Howson, Clayton, Snodgrass, White, Keogh, McCormack (Nunez 77)
Subs: Rachubka, Connolly, O'Brien, Sam