Championship
Portsmouth 0-1 West Ham United 

Saturday, 14th January 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have made this one. Not that I expect much sympathy from you lot but, having managed to pick up Preview Percy’s heavy cold during the week, I felt about as much like travelling to an away match as Paolo Di Canio often did.



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Two important saves in the first half. Fewer tests in the second half. If he?EUR(TM)s going at the end of the season SuGo will need to ensure funds are available for a decent replacement.


Joey O Brien
Ok ish defensively but his lack of forward ambition was occasionally both alarming and annoying.


George McCartney
Had a bit more about him going forward than O?EUR(TM)Brien did ?EUR" but one shot over the bar was embarrassing.


Winston Reid
Beginning to get back to the sort of display we saw before his injury.


James Tomkins
Another fine performance ?EUR" though had Benjani been brought on earlier he might have been tested more. MOTM from a pretty average selection really.


Mark Noble
Pick of the midfield. Glad to see him taking the spot-kicks again ?EUR" even if the ?EUR~keeper did get something on this one.


Papa Bouba Diop
Got through a lot of the engine room work and put some good blocks in.


Kevin Nolan
Ok so the back-heel into the box that led to the penalty was fine. He got in a few good blocks late on in the first half as well. But has anyone actually worked out what he is for?


Jack Collison
Not bad. Came closest to scoring in the second half.


Julien Faubert
Not a bad first half in which many of his runs ended with an opponent upending him. Largely anonymous in the second half.


Carlton Cole
Failed to cause Portsmouth too many problems, largely as a consequence of his isolation up front ?EUR" with nobody close at hand to bring into play the ball usually ended up coming straight back.



Substitutes

Henri Lansbury
(Replaced Faubert, 84) One good run but only given a few minutes to impress.


Abdoulaye Faye
Did not play.


Gary O Neil
Did not play.


Sam Baldock
Did not play.


John Carew
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Joey O Brien, George McCartney, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Mark Noble, Papa Bouba Diop, Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison, Julien Faubert, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Mark Noble 24                  .

Booked: Kevin Nolan 74          .

Sent off: None.

Portsmouth: Stephen Henderson, Aaron Mokoena, Tal Ben-Haim, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Joel Ward, Hayden Mullins, David Norris, Liam Lawrence, Dave Kitson, Marko Futacs.

Subs not used: Jamie Ashdown, Ryan Williams.

Goals: None.

Booked: Dave Kitson (22), Jason Pearce (43), Hayden Mullins (73).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Kevin Friend.

Attendance: 18,492.

Man of the Match: James Tomkins.