Sunderland v West Ham Utd: half time report

  • by Staff Writer
  • Sunday, 5th December 2010

Was Tuesday night a mere blip? The first half at the Stadium of Light would certainly appear to suggest so...

Having destroyed Manchester United 4-0 in the Carling Cup earlier in the week - and having recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over Wigan last weekend - Hammers fans might be forgiven for expecting a little more than they've seen during the opening 45 minutes today.

With Avram Grant - presuming he's still dictating tactics - reverting to a more traditional (for Grant, not West Ham) defensive outlook, the Hammers have spent the opening half virtually camped in their own half, looking to catch the in-form hosts on the break.

Pretty it is not, nor was it effective - for the Hammers go into the break a goal behind after Asamoah Gyan sprung West Ham's offside trap before delivering a centre that Henderson finished smartly from eight yards on 34 minutes.

Despite spending the majority of the half in West Ham territory Sunderland have rarely seriously threatened Rob Green's goal - although the England 'keeper can consider himself a touch fortuiotous not to have been embarrased by a 30-yard Gyan lob that clipped the West Ham stopper's crossbar.

At the other end chances have been extremely few and far between, although Tuesday night's hero Jonathan Spector almost matched his exploits with a surging run and shot that rolled inches wide of Craig Gordon's upright in the closing seconds of the half.

We'll have more for you at the final whistle...

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