Derby 2-1 West Ham United FT

DERBY COUNTY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 1PM

FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV

Final score - Derby County 2-1 West Ham United

94 mins - I'm afraid this one is over. Tomkins can only head Fielding's free-kick out for a throw inside the West Ham half. The final whistle is blown. West Ham end 2011 on a losing note. The opening ten minutes of this match has cost them dear, because for at least the final 70 they were the better team. West Ham TV will have extended highlights and exclusive post-match reaction.

93 mins - Less than 90 seconds remain. Derby are sitting back... Tomkins crosses and Baldock shields Shackell, who is about a foot taller than him. The centre-back goes to ground. Cole is incensed by the decision and hurls the ball into the turf. Yellow card for the No9.

92 mins - Lansbury tries to get on to the end of Cole's flick-on, but he is penalised for fouling Shackell. The midfielder is not impressed with the decision, to say the least.

91 mins - Ball is replaced by Jake Buxton for added time. Apparently the No25 is the man of the match. We shall have at least four added minutes.

90 mins - Into the final minute and West Ham have improved in the second half, but have not found a way past Fielding. Hall challenges Roberts and the ball loops behind for a goal kick.

88 mins - Controversy?! Baldock flicks on and the ball drops to Noble on the penalty spot. He lashes a shot in that hits Roberts. The Hammers appeal for handball, but nothing is given.

86 mins - Cole collects on his thigh before winning a corner. Noble to take from the left-hand side. The midfielder curls the ball right in under the crossbar and Fielding can only claw it into the air. Cole heads the dropping ball wide. Agonising.

84 mins - Derby are definitely not home and hosed yet, but the Hammers are leaving gaps at the back with so many forward players on the pitch. Robinson has been a handful since he came on, but O'Brien gets the better of him before Hall is fouled.

81 mins - Brilliant from Hall. He turns and plays a fine ball to O'Brien, then collects a return ball before shooting low left-footed. It's blocked and Derby scramble the ball clear.

79 mins - Hall replaces Diop for the final eleven minutes or so. The England Under-19 forward is making his debut and is wearning No46.

78 mins - Rob Hall and Freddie Sears have both been out warming up. Will Big Sam throw one of them on?

76 mins - Take a bow Robert Green! The striker makes an outstanding save to deny Davies before stopping the follow-up from Robinson. He wasn't to know that Robinson was offside. Both quality saves, those.

75 mins - Nouble has put in a shift this afternoon. He's worked the channels well and been available to collect the ball. He's got one goal, but can he conjure another? Or perhaps turn provider?

73 mins - Ward is off and Ben Davies is on in his place. The attendance is announced as 28,067.

71 mins - Nouble does well again from O'Brien's knock down, holding off his marker and crossing on the volley. The ball bounces out to Cole on the edge of the box and he has a chance to strike it. He does, but screws his shot well wide.

69 mins - That is a good chance. Potts crosses and the ball is headed into the air by either Nouble or his marker Shackell. The ball drops to Noble, but his volley bounces wide from 16 yards.

69 mins - Derby threaten on the break, but Noble works back well and holds off Bryson to win a goal kick.

67 mins - Nouble does well to hold up Cole's flick-on from a Potts cross. He lays off to Baldock, but the No7's low shot is blocked.

65 mins - Reid is now booked for the same offence. Derby have a throw wide on their right inside the West Ham half.

64 mins - Tomkins goes to ground on halfway and he wants a free-kick, as does Big Sam, but nothing is given. Ward races away and Reid has to make his mind up. He does enough to force Ward to shoot wide. Tomkins is then booked for dissent.

62 mins - Diop's loose pass allows Derby to attack out of nothing. Bailey crosses and the header hits O'Brien and spins behind. Potts heads the corner clear and Nouble is fouled near halfway.

61 mins - Piquionne and O'Neil go off, with Baldock and Cole replacing them. Nouble has gone to the right wing.

60 mins - So frustrating. Piquionne runs at Bryson and pokes the ball past the centre-back. He just cannot get any power on the finish, though.

59 mins - The West Ham fans want Carlton Cole on and they will get their wish. The leading scorer is getting ready, as is Sam Baldock.

58 mins - There could be a goal at either end in this game. First, Bailey shoots into the side netting. Then, seconds later, Ball gets through two challenges before sliding his shot wide with only Green to beat. He should have hit the target, at least.

56 mins - Derby are rocking. Lansbury finds Piquionne, who wins a corner. Noble's kick is cleared and Robinson wins the header ahead of O'Brien and goes to ground. He is then booked. 

55 mins - The initial corner is cleared but O'Brien keeps it alive and the ball drops to Tomkins, whose volley is blocked. Derby break and Robinson gets away from O'Brien, but not before fouling the Irishman. The referee had not given the foul as Robinson raced away and lobbed over the top, but the assistant waved his flag for the offence.

54 mins - Another set piece chance as Diop is fouled 35 yards out. Noble to take. It's slightly left of centre. Noble shoots, I think, and Fielding has to get across to his left to tip the ball over. Corner.

52 mins - Ward's free-kick is won by Shackell but Robinson's shot is blocked. West Ham break through Noble. He finds Nouble wide on the right, who looks up and curls over a cross that is a yard too strong for Lansbury. Unlucky.

51 mins - Lucky, maybe. Reid brings down Green and Mr Moss waits for the play to develop before blowing for a foul...just as Robinson gets away from Tomkins. Free-kick.

50 mins - Derby come forward again and Robinson holds the ball up for Ball to strike. It hits Reid and spins wide for a corner. Green punches to the edge of the box and Lansbury hammers the ball downfield.

48 mins - Derby break but Tomkins is there again to make a vital challenge on the edge of his own box. He has been absolutely outstanding today, has West Ham's No5. He has not put a foot wrong so far.

47 mins - O'Brien hurls the ball over and Bryson heads behind. Noble's lofted corner is deep but Tomkins is penalised for a push. The Hammers have started on the offensive here.

46 mins - Diop finds Potts wide on the left but his low cross is easily cleared. West Ham win the ball back and Lansbury picks out O'Neil but he cannot get past Roberts.

46 mins - Derby get the second 45 minutes underway...

The second half will start without Tyson. He is replaced by Theo Robinson. Derby will kick-off. West Ham are attacking the end where their fans are congregated. Can that inspire them to a memorable comeback victory?

Half-time score - Derby County 2-1 West Ham United

47 mins - Reid lifts an arm to claim offside against Ball, but the flag stays down. Ball has a great chance but he sidefoots wide of the far post from a difficult angle. Green clears and the half-time whistle goes. West Ham are back in it after a horrific start, but there is still work to be done here.

46 mins - Noble crosses and Diop wins the header but the ball bounces off the turf high enough for Fielding to parry. Lansbury lobs the ball back in again but after a melee Derby clear their lines.

45 mins - West Ham don't want half-time. The away fans are singing 'Bubbles' with belief as Green punts a goal kick downfield. O'Brien and O'Neil snap into tackles before Nouble is brought down wide on the right. Two minutes of added time...

43 mins - All of a sudden the Rams and their fans have gone a bit quiet. Noble turns away neatly before finding Lansbury. O'Brien overlaps but he's offside. Come on West Ham!

42 mins - GOAL! What did I say?! O'Neil flicks on with his head before Piquionne lays the ball off for Nouble, who slots the ball low past Fielding and into the bottom left-hand corner. A first senior goal for the 20-year-old.

40 mins - Potts shows confidence by beating two Derby players on halfway before being taken down by Bailey. The teenager gets a cheer from the travelling fans. A goal before half-time could change this game...

39 mins - Noble lays the ball into Diop, who flicks on for O'Neil. He crosses low and Nouble works Fielding with a low snapshot. The keeper cannot hold it and Roberts puts the ball out for a corner. Noble takes and the ball drops to Lansbury at the far post. He drills another shot in and Fielding again saves low down.

38 mins - West Ham are keeping the ball well here but they just cannot fashion a decent shooting chance. O'Neil and Noble are the two who are going to unlock the Derby defence, I fancy.

36 mins - Potts collects a square ball from Piquionne. He takes a touch before drilling a diagonal pass into the penalty area. Diop attacks it, but his header glances well wide. The Senegal man applauds the young left-back for the delivery.

34 mins - Close! Noble gets forward well before cutting the ball into the path of O'Neil. He shoots first-time from 20 yards but the ball thumps into the post holding up the goal net. That was a yard or two wide. Decent effort.

33 mins - Ward beats Potts in the air and then gets into the box. When the ball drops to him he goes down under a challenge from Tomkins. The Rams want a penalty but referee Jon Moss waves the appeals away.

32 mins - Tyson is a decent player on his day and he shows why by turning and leaving Reid on the turf. He shoots low and the ball clips Potts' ankle and spins wide for a corner. Ward takes and Tomkins heads clear.

29 mins - Reid picks out Noble with a decent pass. He then finds Potts wide on the left and the overlapping full-back crosses first-time. Unfortunately, the ball flicks off a Derby head and between Nouble and Lansbury. The Rams clear.

27 mins - This has not been a happy final day of the old year, to be honest. Ward nearly benefits again when Tomkins flicks on Bailey's cross. The little man shoots first-time but the ball dribbles a few yards wide of the far post.

25 mins - The free-kick is dealt with but Potts' clearance is worked to Ward. He takes a touch and shoots from 25 yards, but it's well off-target.

24 mins - Lansbury is shown the yellow card for bringing down Brayford. The right-back was bursting on to a flick from Bailey and would have been in the box had the midfielder not fouled him.

23 mins - It looks like Big Sam has changed tactics. Nouble appears to have gone up front to partner Piquionne, with Lansbury coming to the left wing. Lansbury gets involved, turning away and running forward at the Derby defence. He tries to pick out Piquionne, but the pass is intercepted.

21 mins - O'Brien and Piquionne this time. The Frenchman collects a pass and wins a corner. Noble takes from wide on the right and Piquionne heads over the crossbar. That was a good chance.

20 mins - Ward is a dangerous customer and he comes inside from the left this time. The Rams No10 shoots low, but the ball skips wide of the near post.

19 mins - Better. O'Brien and O'Neil combine again down the right before Noble lays the ball back to the Irishman. He crosses but it's slightly behind Piquionne. The No30 heads well over.

18 mins - West Ham have improved a bit and are now having some possession, but Derby are working really hard to close down the space, especially when Reid and Tomkins are in possession.

15 mins - O'Brien and O'Neil combine but the latter's lofted ball into the box for Piquionne is high and too close to Fielding. The goalkeeper catches.

13 mins - Noble takes a free-kick near halfway and the ball is headed out by Shackell before falling back to the midfielder 30 yards out. He cuts inside and shoots, but it's well wide of the near post. Sarcastic cheers from the home fans.

12 mins - West Ham come forward and Diop controls Brayford's clearance before trying to pick out the run of Nouble. The pass is too strong and Fielding collects.

10 mins - GOAL! Mountain to climb... Ward curls over a cross from the left and Green powers in front of Potts and dives to head the ball into the bottom corner. No chance for Green from that range.

9 mins - Diop does well to find O'Neil wide on the right. He curls the ball into the path of Piquionne, but the No30 is offside. That's the second time the flag has gone up against Piquionne.

8 mins - Green's long clearance is won by Piquionne. The ball is headed clear and Nouble fouls Brayford near the touchline.

7 mins - Derby come forward confidently again. The ball is worked to Ward wide on the left and he wins a corner off O'Brien. Ward himself takes the kick but Green makes a confident catch.

5 mins - To be fair to the away fans, they are making plenty of noise despite the uncertain start made by their team. West Ham have yet to mount an attack of any note.

4 mins - West Ham fell a goal down to Derby at home and came back to win 3-1. It won't be easy, but the Hammers can do the same again today.

2 mins - GOAL! Or maybe not... Potts can only flick a throw into the path of Tyson. He cuts inside before the ball breaks to Ball. He takes a touch and curls his shot high into the far corner past Green's dive.

2 mins - Well, not the perfect start, but West Ham can settle now they have withstood that early Derby pressure.

1 min - The kick-off doesn't go to plan as Potts' loose touch concedes a throw within five seconds. Derby work the throw to Brayford, who crosses dangerously and forces O'Brien to head behind. The corner is headed out for a throw by Reid at the near post. When the cross comes in again from the Derby left, Green punches powerfully clear to halfway.

12.58pm - Gary O'Neil is making his first appearance since 16 April, when he suffered a serious ankle injury against Aston Villa. He's looked very sharp in action for the Development Squad in recent weeks. Let's hope he can take that form into the npower Championship. O'Neil and Noble will kick-off...

12.57pm - Here are the two teams. Mark Noble proudly leads out the Hammers in the absence of the suspended Kevin Nolan. West Ham are in claret and blue shirts, white shorts and sky blue socks today.

12.52pm - There is a fairly decent turnout on what is a bright, sunny and unseasonably warm day in the East Midlands. I'd estimate there are between 1,500 and 2,000 Hammers supporters here this afternoon.

12.45pm - There is a near full programme of fixtures in the npower Championship this afternoon. Third-placed Middlesbrough host Peterborough United, fourth-placed Cardiff City are at Nottingham Forest and fifth-placed Hull City are at Burnley.

12.30pm - I'm told West Ham will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Gary O'Neil wide right and Frank Nouble wide left of Freddie Piquionne. Nouble has filled the same position with some success at Gillingham. Remember his first start at Aston Villa back in January 2010? He ran James Collins and Richard Dunne ragged that afternoon. Let's hope for more of the same today.

12.20pm - No substitute goalkeeper on the bench for West Ham, but Henri Lansbury kept goal for England's Under-21s against Germany in November 2010. Lansbury did well, letting in just a penalty in 77 minutes between the sticks. A report from that game is online here.

12.15pm - Frank Nouble makes his first league appearance for West Ham this season. The 20-year-old made his only previous appearance in the Carling Cup defeat by Aldershot Town in August. Since then, he has netted five goals in 14 appearances on loan at League Two club Gillingham. Nouble, of course, scored Big Sam's first West Ham goal against BSC Young Boys in Switzerland back in July.

12.05pm - The starting lineups are as follows. Mark Noble will captain the Hammers today.