Championship
West Ham United 2-4 Reading 

Saturday, 31st March 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Seeing as I’m currently laid low with a dose of some sort of flu this is going to be something of a back to basics report. I feel lousy enough without having to put together thousands of words to describe how rough I was feeling at the time anyway so, with very little ceremony here we go:



* Want to submit your match reports to KUMB.com? More details here ...

 Click to view all West Ham United vs Reading match reports

 Click to view all match reports by Gordon Thrower

Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.





Player Ratings

Robert Green
Might have done a bit better with the 4th but it was offside anyway. A bit of fielding practice aside little else to do.


Julien Faubert
I prefer him to play further forward ?EUR" this game showed why. Culpable for the second and his miss might have led to an earlier equaliser when Tomkins saved the day.


George McCartney
By and large he kept the loathsome Kebe reasonably quiet ?EUR" he was reduced to falling over at every opportunity.


James Tomkins
Difficult one to mark this. Outstanding first 45 but he?EUR(TM)s a fish out of water in midfield and it showed. Even if, as is rumoured, the boss doesn?EUR(TM)t rate Lansbury surely he?EUR(TM)d have been a better bet when Noble left?


Abdoulaye Faye
Given a hard time by Foy who offered little protection from Roberts?EUR(TM) elbows. If his first touch had been better his leg wouldn?EUR(TM)t have been out there for Hunt to fall over.


Mark Noble
Had a fine first half but sadly his injury was to prove our downfall ?EUR" either directly or indirectly.


Kevin Nolan
Some good work in the first half and his fine header led to the goal. Less involved in the second half.


Gary O Neil
With Noble he bossed the first half. Found it a bit more difficult to do so in the second half when having to do it on his own.


Matt Taylor
Some decent corners but was denied the chance to supply chances to Baldock by his being replaced by Baldock.


Ricardo Vaz Te
Came into the game more and more as the game wore on. Splendid header for the goal that gave us some brief hope. MOTM ?EUR" just.


Carlton Cole
Decent run out before being taken off. Worked incredibly hard and should have had a second half penalty when having the shirt pulled off his back at a corner. Took the goal well which seemed to give him a confidence boost.



Substitutes

Danny Collins
(Replaced Noble, 46)
Struggled to get the pace of the game. Strangely preferred to Lansbury when Noble pulled up lame.


Sam Baldock
(Replaced Taylor)
Ran around a lot to little effect.


Nicky Maynard
(Replaced Cole)
Ran around a lot to similar effect to Baldock.


Stephen Henderson
Did not play.


Sam Baldock
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, George McCartney, James Tomkins, Abdoulaye Faye, Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan, Gary O Neil, Matt Taylor, Ricardo Vaz Te, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Carlton Cole 8 Ricardo Vaz Te 78                .

Booked: n/a           .

Sent off: None.

Reading: .

Subs not used: .

Goals: .

Booked: .

Sent off: None.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: Ricardo Vaz Te.