Fulham v West Ham United: half-time report

Two good saves by Roy Carroll ensured West Ham went in level at half-time against Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Carroll made great stops from Claus Jensen (after just 90 seconds) and Brian McBride (29 mins) to ensure a clean sheet for the first period, in a free-flowing game which produced chances for both teams.

At the other end the Hammers had a Marlon Harewood 'goal' (rightly) ruled out for offside after 25 minutes whilst Bobby Zamora also went close, forcing a good save from Warner with a rasping low drive from the edge of the box.

But Nigel Reo-Coker spurned West Ham's best chance of the half on 31 minutes when he nodded wide of an open goal after Marlon Harewood had initially hit the crossbar from a Yossi Benayoun throw.

Despite that miss, the Hammers captain has been the pick of the bunch for Pardew's side thus far, although he picked up a yellow card late on in the half for a late challenge on Fulham's Diop. Carlos Bocanegra also picked up a caution after hacking down Marlon Harewood as the Hammers striker burst down the right-hand flank.

West Ham went into the game playing five across the middle; Zamora playing the lone striker role with Monday's hat-trick hero Harewood wide on the right. But the former Nottingham Forest striker ended the game in a central position with the Hammers adopting a more familiar 4-4-2 shape.

Overall Alan Pardew will be well pleased with the performance of his side in a half in which they have more than held their own.

More to follow at the end of the game.