West Ham are down - but definitely not out - at the half-way mark in their UEFA Cup first round tie against Palermo.
West Ham will go into the second leg a goal behind thanks to a goal on the stroke of half-time by Caracciolo.But the Italians - who were typically physical, and lucky to escape with just two players booked - can count themselves somewhat fortunate at taking the slender lead into the return leg after being up against it for much of the night.
Despite all the hustle and bustle of West Ham's approach play the visitors stood firm - although they had to rely on the post to keep Marlon Harewood's snapshot from securing the equaliser late on in the second half.
Once again however it was a goal late on in the first half that led to West Ham's undoing. Palermo took advantage after one or two of West Ham's players paused briefly to wait for a throw in that never came, and a fine cross across the face of Roy Carroll's goal left Caracciolo with the simplest of touches to give the Italians a slender lead that they certainly didn't deserve.
West Ham's best chance of the first half fell to Carlos Tevez who was denied by an excellent save from Palermo's veteran goalkeeper. Tevez had met Bobby Zamora's inch-perfect cross and looked odds-on to score as he prodded the ball goalwards from no more than six yards out. However the 39-year-old stopper had other ideas and his foot sent the ball spinning inches wide of the post.
All in all the Hammers can be relatively pleased with their overall performance, and tonight proved that they have little to fear in the return fixture. But Alan Pardew's charges know they will have to be more efficient in front of goal if they are to stand a fighting chance in a fortnight's time.
Meanwhile Hammers fans will be praying for a repeat of the 2000 Intertoto Final win against Metz, in which West Ham lost the first leg in a similar fashion before going to France and winning 3-1 in the return fixture.
West Ham United: Carroll; Mears, Konchesky, Ferdinand, Gabbidon; Mascherano, Bowyer (Etherington), Reo-Coker, Benayoun; Tevez (Cole), Zamora (Harewood).
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