Championship
West Ham United 4-3 Portsmouth 

Saturday, 10th September 2011
by Gordon Thrower

It’s never dull around here, is it!



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
One decent save, no chance with the goals, not really tested otherwise.


Joey O'Brien
Solid again. Showed exactly how you should play if you?EUR(TM)ve picked up an early booking.


George McCartney
Another decent if unspectacular ninety. Beginning to look a bit fitter.


James Tomkins
Looking good. Even the late introduction of another beanpole striker didn?EUR(TM)t seem to disrupt his afternoon.


Winston Reid
Already looking at picking up 'most improved player' plaudits. A little less assured this week but stuck at it well.


Mark Noble
MOTM for me. Showed Nolan how to ignore being constantly fouled. Tigerish but fair in the tackle and the penalty was well taken. It was almost as if the departure of a certain person had freed his mind.


Henri Lansbury
A fine debut. Deserved the goal and impressed throughout. Much better off with us than sticking around Arsenal?EUR(TM)s relegation battle.


Kevin Nolan
Not quite as influential as he can be, he was a yellow waiting to happen as he was rather cynically targeted from the opening seconds. Calmed down after the card eventually came.


Matthew Taylor
Always a threat from dead balls, well-taken (albeit deflected) free-kick and it was his cross that led to the fourth (or fifth if you were operating the video scoreboard.


Julien Faubert
When you look at it this is probably the first time that Faubert has had a proper run in his usual position in the side. The benefits are there for all to see.


Carlton Cole
A fine example of the target man?EUR(TM)s art. Held the ball up well throughout and took the goal well.



Substitutes

David Bentley
(Replaced Cole, 68) Nice cameo, better is to come.


Frederic Piquionne
(Replaced Cole, 85) A couple of good touches but was desperately unlucky to see red after Halford?EUR(TM)s antics.


Ruud Boffin
Did not play.


Abdoulaye Faye
Did not play.


Sam Baldock
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Joey O'Brien, George McCartney, James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Mark Noble, Henri Lansbury, Kevin Nolan, Matthew Taylor, Julien Faubert, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Matthew Taylor 9 Henri Lansbury 53 Mark Noble 72 Carlton Cole 76            .

Booked: Joey O'Brien 14 Kevin Nolan 48        .

Sent Off: Frederic Piquionne 90    .

Portsmouth: Jamie Ashdown, Aaron Mokoena, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Tal Ben-Haim, Liam Lawrence, Hayden Mullins, David Norris, Luke Varney, Erik Huseklepp, Benjani Mwaruwari..

Subs not used: Stephen Henderson, Ricardo Rocha, Nwankwo Kanu.

Goals: Luke Varney (8), David Norris (60), Greg Halford (90+6).

Booked: Aaron Mokoena (20), Liam Lawrence (27), Luke Varney (40), Hayden Mullins (57).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Roger East.

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: Mark Noble.