SUNDERLAND v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
THE ACADEMY OF LIGHT
TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2011
KICK-OFF: 2.30PM
Final score - Sunderland reserves 1-1 West Ham United reserves
94 mins - Vose wins a later corner, but it is headed clear. Abdulla kicks the ball back into the penalty area but Craig's flick-on is easy for goalkeeper Wilson. He clears and seconds later the final whistle is blown. That was a hard-earned point, but it could have been all three had Nouble been awarded a late, late penalty. Some good performances from the Hammers in difficult, blustery conditions. New manager Lomas remains unbeaten. West Ham return to action next Tuesday evening when Newcastle United are the visitors to the Boleyn Ground. Before then, keep an eye on whufc.com and West Ham TV for exclusive highlights and post-match reaction.
93 mins - I'd say that's a talking point! Abdulla curves a fine ball into the Sunderland half that has defender Egan in two minds. Nouble gambles and gets goal-side of his defender before going down. He wants a penalty, but neither the referee or his assistant are moved.
92 mins - Nouble works hard to win the ball and feeds Modelski, who wins a throw deep in Sunderland territory. The Hammers need to keep concentrating here.
91 mins - We're into the first of four added minutes.
90 mins - West Ham will finish the game with ten men as Driver limps to the sideline. The Hammers go 4-4-1 for the final few moments.
87 mins - A chance to deliver something into the Sunderland box as Bagnall dives over Vose. Those two have had a right battle, despite Vose only being on the pitch for a few moments. Driver needs the physio on again, but for a third time I think he'll be OK to continue. The free-kick comes to nothing.
86 mins - Lletget releases Montano in behind left-back Adams. He sits the No3 on his backside before crossing into the middle. Egan's header falls to Lee, but he cannot quite fashion a shooting chance and the home side clear their lines.
84 mins - Bagnall is booked for going through the back of Vose. To be fair to the defender, it looked like he slipped.
82 mins - Vose is involved straight away as Lee leads an attack. Modelski crosses towards Lletget, but Sunderland hold firm and clear their lines. The pressure is released when Nouble is harshly penalised for an infringement.
80 mins - A third and final change from manager Lomas sees Edgar replaced by Dominic Vose.
78 mins - The Hammers have some welcome pressure. First, Nouble's low shot is blocked, then Edgar wins a corner off Bagnall. Edgar's initial delivery holds up on the wind, but the ball is worked back to him and he beats his marker before pulling the ball back. Craig gets his toe to the ball, but it rolls harmlessly through to goalkeeper Wilson.
76 mins - Sunderland have another shooting chance courtesy of a free-kick about 25 yards out. Colback curls a low shot around the wall and Larkins shows fine handling to fall on the ball surrounded by home players.
75 mins - Edgar is booked as he slips and grabs the ball with his hand. That was pretty blatant, to be honest.
73 mins - GOAL! Egan powers a header past Larkins from Knott's left-wing corner. We're level again.
72 mins - Really brave goalkeeping from Larkins as Campbell gets some space inside the penalty area and shoots left-footed, but the goalkeeper dives in bravely with Modelski and the pair repel the effort. The ball squirms behind for a corner and Modelski has some treatment.
70 mins - West Ham make a second change, replacing Moncur with Sebastian Lletget.
69 mins - Campbell's touch is good and he makes space for a cross that loops over Fletcher on the wind before Lee stabs the ball clear.
67 mins - I'm not sure he has touched the ball yet, but Craig is booked for blocking the run of Fletcher about 30 yards from goal. Colback takes the free-kick and Larkins holds on well.
65 mins - Lee does well against Knott and finds Edgar, who then slips over and presents the ball to a Sunderland player. It's left-back Adams again, but his cross eludes everybody.
63 mins - Campell is on for Nathan Wilson. He joins Fletcher up front.
62 mins - Paco Craig is also coming on for West Ham, as is No14 Billy Knott for Sunderland. Campbell isn't quite ready yet. Eyjolfsson and Luscombe are the two players replaced.
61 mins - Bruce is here because Fraizer Campbell is about to come on. The forward will wear the No15 shirt. That means, I think, that the mystery No16 was Matthew Fletcher.
60 mins - That's better from Nouble on two occasions. First, he holds the ball up well as West Ham attack, then he nicks in and wins it again after Lee's pass for Modelski had been cut out. Good hustling from the big forward.
57 mins - Nouble has his defender beaten down the left but decides to check. He then runs at the defence again before losing control as he attempts a step-over.
55 mins - All four West Ham subs are warming up to my right. I would think manager Lomas might give a couple of his youngsters a run out as the game wears on, but we shall see.
53 mins - Colback beats Lee to the ball in midfield before running at Eyjolfsson and trying to place his shot inside the left-hand post. Larkins dives, but the ball flies a yard or so wide.
52 mins - Driver will be OK to continue. Nouble does well on the edge of the box to hold off two defenders and find the left-back, but his low cross is blocked.
51 mins - Driver needs the physio on again. He's had quite an eventful game so far! Dominic Vose and Paco Craig are sent out to warm-up as a precaution by manager Lomas.
50 mins - The Hammers are playing into the wind in the second half. It's really blowing in off the North Sea. Thank goodness the sun is out!
48 mins - Left-back Adams tries to emulate Driver by running at the Hammers defence and shooting right-footed, but he drags his shot well wide of the left-hand post.
46 mins - After a short half-time break, West Ham get the game back underway...
Sunderland make a half-time change, with Welbeck being replaced by No16. On the teamsheet, No16 is Fraizer Campbell, but this lad is not Fraizer Campbell.
Half-time score - Sunderland reserves 0-1 West Ham United reserves
47 mins - A good strong half from the Hammers ends with another welcome spell of possession. Driver's goal was a real highlight of what has been a very decent performance so far. The seagulls are making plenty of noise, so I presume they are also impressed by what they have seen so far!
45 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes.
44 mins - The visitors keep up the pressure and Edgar collects before curling in a delicious ball that is inches too strong for Lee. The midfielder applauds his team-mate's efforts. That was so close to a second goal.
43 mins - The Hammers break and Edgar gets to the by-line and wins a corner. Montano to take. His left-footed delivery catches on the wind and swings in past the head of Nouble. The ball hits a defender and goes behind again. Edgar delivers but McNaughton's header is cleared.
42 mins - Nathan Wilson almost negates all West Ham's good work by letting fly from all of 30 yards. Larkins watches the ball closely and pats the ball down before holding on. Good goalkeeping in the conditions.
41 mins - McNaughton does well to hold off Welbeck. The centre-backs have grown in stature as the game has gone on and looked increasingly solid.
39 mins - Having gone ahead, Lomas encourages his players to maintain their shape and concentration. The manager also switches Edgar and Montano, with the former coming over to the left wing.
37 mins - GOAL! A hopeful Eyjolfsson clearance initially flies over Driver and Nouble gets a flick on. The left-back gambles and controls the loose ball before driving into the penalty area, dropping his shoulder to lose one defender and slotting a confident right-foot finish past Wilson from about 12 yards. A cracking finish!
36 mins - Luscombe's left-footed corner is headed over at the near post by Welbeck. The striker was closely marked by Eyjolfsson there. Moments later, the Icelander does well again, forcing goalkeeper Wilson to hack the ball out for a throw as he tries to pick out the run of Nouble.
35 mins - You can see that Edgar wants to get more involved in the game as he has drifted infield on a number of occasions in recent minutes. Sunderland have the ball though, and Luscombe crosses to the far post where Noble wins a corner.
33 mins - Sloppy play from Edgar, who gives the ball to Noble. The striker sizes up his options before shooting. Eyjolfsson makes a lunging block and the ball spins behind. The corner comes in and Montano clears at the near post.
33 mins - Good patient possession from West Ham as they probe for an opening. The ball is worked finally to McNaughton, who drives into space and reaches the halfway line before trying to play in Montano, but the left winger is offside. That must have been close.
30 mins - Abdulla gives the ball away inside the Sunderland half and suddenly the hosts have two-on-two. Welbeck finds the rampaging left-back Adams, who crosses into the centre where McNaughton hacks the ball clear with his right foot.
28 mins - That's a lovely touch from Montano to control Larkins' swirling clearance. The ball is worked well from Moncur through Abdulla, Lee and Edgar to Modelski wide on the other flank, but his cross is too strong for Nouble. Wilson collects the bouncing ball.
27 mins -It's been a very even game so far. Modelski finds Edgar and the winger tries to pick out Moncur's run into the box, but the goalkeeper is again out and dives on the ball before the No10 can get his foot to it.
25 mins - A long clearance catches on the wind and Nouble runs and tries to latch on to the ball, but goalkeeper Ben Wilson is out quickly to clear the danger.
23 mins - There is not a huge amount happening in terms of goalmouth action. Lee just went on a driving run through the Sunderland midfield, but the move petered out. Luscombe runs at Modelski but his cross flies well behind Larkins' goal.
18 mins - Midfielder Nathan Wilson shoots from about 25 yards but there is no power in his shot. Larkins watches the ball closely as it bounces safely into his arms. Sunderland are probably edging this at the moment but they're not creating much as West Ham are working hard to close down their space at every opportunity.
14 mins - Big penalty shout as Colback releases Welbeck inside the penalty area. The striker tests Larkins with a strong shot that the goalkeeper can only parry to the edge of the area. Colback wins the loose ball before going down under a challenge from Driver. Referee Mr England waves his arms and gives nothing. The home bench don't like the decision. There was contact.
12 mins - Left-back Adams gets forward well for the home side before hacking in a left-footed cross that hits Modelski and goes behind. The corner is caught on the wind and flies outside the penalty area. McNaughton is able to clear.
11 mins - Eyjolfsson does well again before Abdulla and Moncur combine to release Nouble down the left. He runs at his marker and cuts inside before the ball is switched wide right for Edgar. He crosses but Nouble is offside before he heads wide of the near post.
9 mins - Modelski halts Noble's run and Eyjolfsson brings the ball away. Noble brings the Iceland Under-21 defender down from behind and a bit of handbags ensues. The referee blows his whistle a couple of times before it calms down. Noble is given a talking to, but no cards are shown.
8 mins - The game re-starts with Nouble firing the ball back to the Sunderland goalkeeper. Good sportsmanship there. Driver is back on a short time later.
7 mins - Midfielder Lynch goes in hard and wins the ball from Driver, but the left-back is hurt in the tackle. He needs the physio on for what looks like a left ankle problem. After a short while he is back on his feet and should be OK to continue.
5 mins - This is going to be a good test for Eyjolfsson and McNaughton today, as he is up against Welbeck. The on-loan Manchester United man has six goals in 20 Barclays Premier League appearances so far this season.
4 mins - West Ham are employing a 4-4-1-1 formation. Nouble is up front on his own with Moncur in the hole. Abdulla and Lee are sitting deeper, with Edgar and Montano on the wings. It's working well so far.
2 mins - Right-back Bagnall fouls Montano on halfway. Abdulla lifts a free-kick over the Sunderland defence and Nouble brushes aside Egan before lifting a cross over goalkeeper Wilson. Unfortunately, nobody was following in and Sunderland smuggle the ball clear.
1 min - A long ball out from the back aimed for Welbeck catches on the strong wind and flies about 50 yards away from the pitch. With these gusts, we could be in for some lengthy stoppages.
2.29pm - We're underway, with Sunderland kicking from left to right as I look at it.
2.27pm - Referee Darren England calls the two captains together for the coin toss. Frank Nouble is wearing the armband for the Hammers, while Sunderland are skippered by Jack Colback. The two teams swap ends and Sunderland will kick-off.
2.25pm - Steve Lomas is determined that his players are organised and committed this afternoon. He spent a period with his back four during the pre-match warm-up discussing the need to retain shape and keep each other aware of what is going on around them.
2.20pm - It's a lovely sunny day here in the North East of England. A breeze is blowing across the Academy of Light training complex ahead of what should be a keenly-contested match. To my right, the North Sea is visible just a couple of miles or so away. Sunderland's players are going through a few last-minute warm-ups, while West Ham have returned to their changing room for some last-minute preparation.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Academy of Light for today's Barclays Premier Reserve League meeting with Sunderland.
Steve Lomas will be eager to make it two wins from two after recording a 3-2 home victory over Arsenal in his first game in charge last Tuesday evening.
However, the new reserve-team boss has a much younger, less-experienced squad at his disposal this time around, with only Anthony Edgar and Frank Nouble (pictured) - back from a loan spell at Championship side Barnsley - having first-team action under their belts.
With the first-team squad in Portugal for a warm-weather training camp, the Hammers will be captained by Nouble, while fellow young professionals Olly Lee, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, Ahmed Abdulla, Cristian Montano and Callum McNaughton will be keen to make their mark.
Scholars Jake Larkins, Filip Modelski, Callum Driver and George Moncur have also been handed starts as West Ham continue their quest to close in on the Southern Division's leading two sides, Arsenal and Aston Villa. Victory would take West Ham level on points with second-placed Villa, albeit with an inferior goal difference.
Sunderland go into today's game top of Northern B Division, but have won five and lost six of their 14 league matches.
Black Cats' boss Stephen Clemence has also named a largely youthful side, but first-team striker Danny Welbeck is included, while midfielder Jack Colback has also been involved for Steve Bruce's side this season. Forward Fraizer Campbell is on the substitutes' bench as he continues his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury that has kept him on the sidelines since August 2010.
Sunderland reserves: B.Wilson, Bagnall, Adams, N.Wilson, Egan, Laing, Lynch, Colback, Noble, Welbeck, Luscombe
Subs: Watson, King, Knott, Fletcher, Campbell
West Ham United reserves: Larkins, Modelski, McNaughton, Eyjolfsson, Driver, Lee, Moncur, Abdulla, Edgar, Montano, Nouble
Subs: Wootton, Craig, Vose, Lletget, McCallum