Norwich City v West Ham Utd: half time report

It's been an action-packed opening 45 minutes at Carrow Road despite neither team managing to break the deadlock.

Both sides have enjoyed plenty of chances to open the scoring but with both goalkeepers on form - and referee Chris Foy being absolutely spot on in one particular instance - the score remains goalless at the break.

For West Ham's part, both Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan were inches away from scoring for Sam Allardyce's side whilst at the other end, City also created a number of chances - the most controversial of which arrived five minutes ahead of the half time whistle.

A desperate lunge from James Collins on Andrew Surman on the edge of the box looked to be a penalty as the Norwich player fell into the area. But as TV replays confirmed, Foy called it absolutely right when he awarded a free kick, with the point of contact being inches outside the box.

That was the third time Norwich had asked for a spot kick following appeals in the first and 17th minutes - the first for hand ball and the second for a foul. Once again, Foy was spot on to award neither.

Although Norwich perhaps had the slight edge, West Ham - who also survived 30 crazy seconds in which Norwich had four shots in succession - could have scored at least twice ahead of the break.

With 13 minutes on the clock Ricardo Vaz Te forced a good save out of John Ruddy after some good work on the right flank and Carlton Cole's resulting header, from the loose ball, was cleared off the line.

And just six minutes later Kevin Nolan, fed by Joey O'Brien who had worked his way around three Norwich players saw his shot from just six yards well saved by Ruddy.

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


West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Vaz Te, Taylor, Cole.

Subs: Henderson, McCartney, Tomkins, Benayoun, Diarra, Jarvis, Maiga.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Martin, Barnett, Bassong, Garrido, Johnson, Surman, Snodgrass, Howson, Holt, Jackson.

Subs: Rudd, Turner, Hoolahan, Morison, Tierney, Kane, Fox.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Assistants: R Ganfield, H Lennard.

Fourth Official: J Moss.