West Ham Utd v Fulham: half time report

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 30th November 2013

It's been a nervy opening 45 minutes in this afternoon's battle at the bottom between West Ham and fellow strugglers Fulham.

Unsurprisingly perhaps given that they've scored just 20 goals between them in the Premier League this season, neither side have managed to break the deadlock in the opening half. However West Ham have been very much the better of the two sides, even if they have lacked a cutting edge.

United could have been ahead as early as the ninth minute but Mobido Maiga's point-blank header cannoned back off the post, much to Fulham's relief. Six minutes later Mo Diame volleyed over from a good position when a James Collins free kick was nodded into the mix by James Tomkins.

Collins himself should have done better three minutes later when his header from a corner missed the target entirely (although in fairness to the Welshman he was under pressure at the time). Then, Stewart Downing - who has terrorised Kieran Richardson on the right flank - produced a smart stop from Stekelenburg.

Fulham had a great chance to open the scoring when George McCartney tripped Darren Bent on the perimeter of the penalty box, but Richardson's resulting free kick was wild. The final chance of the half fell to Kevin Nolan, but his volley was easy for the Fulham 'keeper.

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


West Ham Utd vs Fulham: Line Ups

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins, Jarvis, Maiga, Noble, Collins, Demel, Diame, Downing.

Subs: Adrian, Collison, Taylor, Morrison, O'Brien, C.Cole, J.Cole.

Fulham: Stekelenburg, Sidwell, Kasami, Richardson, Duff, Hughes, Taarabt, Zverotic, Parker, Amorebieta, Bent.

Subs: Stockdale, Senderos, Ruiz, Kacaliniklic, Karagounis, Boateng, Dembele.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.

Referee's Assistants: P Kirkup, H Lennard.

Fourth Official: M Oliver.

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