Upson with a horrendous error lets Martins in and he rounds Green but somehow he manages to miss the target with his right foot.

Newcastle look happy with their day's work now and West Ham appear to have given up the ghost as we enter the last few minutes.

A dangerous corner whipped in by Noble that was missed by everyone is almost turned in acrobatically by Camara but it only hits the side netting.

N'Zogbia having only just been moved forward immediately causes problems for Neill and fires the ball across goal and Upson does well to head away.

It's chaos in the Toon defence as they fail to clear on three occasions and eventually Bowyer storms in to volley it superbly and Harper makes a great save low ot his right to deny him and palm it out of danger.

Without creating too much West Ham are definitely looking on top at the moment and Camara has already shown the different dimension he will bring to the team now.

Good ball in from Noble and Ashton flicks it goalwards at the near post and it only just drifts past the post.

Dangerous free-kick position for West Ham and Ashton has claimed it and he hits it well but it is straight at Harper, who in this form will not drop it and doesn't

Martins has pace to burn and he shows it here as he looks to stretch the defence and he almost manages to find room for a shot but Noble gets back well to deny him.

But here is a chance as Bowyer meets McCartney's cross at the back post but he can't get enough power or direction on what was a difficult ooportunity to beat Harper.

West Ham have not looked quite as lively in this second period so far and Newcastle are certainly enjoying the better of it at the moment.

Mark Noble is not happy as he thinks Butt has gone in with his studs showing on him but the referee has decided there was nothing malicious in it and it does appear on the replay that both players just went in in committed fashion.

Mark Viduka is in the mood to be unplayable and he just can't be knocked off the ball as he beats at least five players before finding Butt on the edge of the box whose shot is struck well but Green holds.

Rozehnal with a snap shot from all of 35yards with his weaker left foot that skids narrowly wide of Green's post although he always seemed comfortable it was going wide.

Worrying signs for all concerned as Owen has started signalling to the bench that he is having a few problems and Martins is being readied.

Michael Owen with more good footwork beats three before being brought down to win a free-kick in a dangerous position that N'Zogbia wastes.

Alan Smith - unvelievably - is already on four bookings this season and he almos picks up a suspension for dissent as he vents his fury at the officials.

Viduka again on the corner of the box turns and hits a speculative shot left footed that Green is forced to tip wide of the post but somehow the referee has failed to give a corner despite his linesman's advice.

Newcastle come again through Viduka who runs at the defence with Owen and Milner either side but he can't find a gap to feed either in and eventually West Ham get back to tackle him.

Owen bends his run brilliantly to stay onside and then tries to chip the ball towards the six-yard box for Viduka but this time Anton Ferdinand does enough to stop him getting proper purchase on the header.

Another well organised move from West Ham as Etherington plays a one-two with Noble and then Ashton before trying it again with Cole who slips at the vital moment but West Ham look very dangerous.

The Hammers thoroughly deserved that goal as they have been the better side and Big Sam will be worried with how easily Cole and Ashton are dominating in the air.

Now though the ball is lofted in and more problems in the Toon defence as the ball eventually drops for Cole in the six-yard box but Harper is again out smartly to block the shot.

Noble has come alive in the last few minutes and he feeds a superb pass down the line for Cole who tries to find Bowyer and Ashton in the middle but only finds Cacapa.

Finally Harper is tested as Noble bursts from midfield and fires the ball goalwards from the edge of the box and the keeper is forced to make a good save down low to his right.

There is good news for Newcastle and England fans because Michael Owen seems - as Allardyce suggested - to be having no problems with a troublesome groin problem and looks very sharp this afternoon.

Rozehnal and Cacapa are having all sorts of problems with Ashton and Cole and Ashton is almost in on Harper again but the in-form keeper is out quickly to smother the ball.

Smith - clearly riled and wound up - charges into McCartney and wins the ball and now he is away down the line but he only has Viduka to aim for and Ferdinand and Upson split the Australian and clear easily in the end.

Alan Smith is not happy with Mike Riley having been on the end of a number of late crunching tackles already and the latest from Hayden Mullins was not a pretty one to say the least.

Cole and Ashton are causing problems in the air and Cole this time feeds Ashton and only a sliding block from Cacapa stops him testing Harper.

The playing surface is in great condition as ever and has plenty of skip and zip in it which is making for quick one-touch passing.

Carlton Cole has a chance to get in behind here as Ashton flicks it on but N'Zogbia is coming back and they both go down, Cole wants a penalty but the referee gives a free-kick against the former Chelsea man.

Viduka wins an aerial battle with Upson and chests the ball onto Owen who can't find a yard to get a shot off and finds Beye whose cross is charged down Etherington.

After a frantic opening five minutes the game has almost died in the last couple of minutes with petty fouls and offences the main reason.

The game has started at a frenetic pace and if this continues then we could be in for goals galore this afternoon.

Great start for West Ham as Ahston flciks the ball on and Harper comes racing out of goal but scuffs his clearance to Bowyer who can't get a shot away and eventually Carlton Cole tries to bend one into the top corner and its over the bar.