Date:02 Jan 2012
Kick-off:15:00
Venue:Upton Park
Attendance:34,936

Nolan (65)

Goal!

Live Commentary

92mins Joey O'Brien is brought on as a substitute for Carlton Cole.

91mins Gary Deegan takes a shot. James Tomkins gets a block in.

90mins Corner from the right by-line taken by Gary McSheffrey, clearance by Papa Bouba Diop.

90mins Corner from left by-line taken by Gary McSheffrey.

88mins Carl Baker takes a shot. James Tomkins gets a block in. Corner taken by Gary McSheffrey from the right by-line.

86mins Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Shaun Jeffers misses to the right of the target.

83mins George McCartney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gael Bigirimana. Free kick taken by Conor Thomas.

82mins Outswinging corner taken by Gary McSheffrey from the left by-line, comfortable save by Robert Green.

82mins Carlton Cole is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

82mins The referee blows for offside against Shaun Jeffers. Robert Green takes the indirect free kick.

81mins Frank Nouble takes a shot. Save by Joe Murphy. Effort from the edge of the area by Mark Noble goes wide of the left-hand upright.

78mins Carlton Cole is ruled offside. Martin Cranie takes the free kick.

77mins Frank Nouble takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble, Richard Wood makes a clearance.

76mins Gary McSheffrey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Julien Faubert. Mark Noble crosses the ball in from the free kick, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.

72mins Sam Baldock leaves the field to be replaced by Frank Nouble.

71mins Unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Carlton Cole results in a free kick. Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

70mins Gary Deegan challenges Mark Noble unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Deegan shown a yellow card. George McCartney takes the direct free kick.

68mins Shaun Jeffers comes on in place of Lukas Jutkiewicz.

67mins Unfair challenge on Gary Deegan by Carlton Cole results in a free kick. Richard Keogh takes the free kick.

66mins Gael Bigirimana is brought on as a substitute for David Bell.

65mins Kevin Nolan finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. West Ham 1-0 Coventry.

64mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Bell by Carlton Cole. Martin Cranie takes the direct free kick.

60mins Kevin Nolan concedes a free kick for a foul on David Bell. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

59mins Julien Faubert produces a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

59mins Jack Collison takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

58mins Outswinging corner taken by Jack Collison from the right by-line, Sam Baldock takes a shot. Save by Joe Murphy.

57mins Sam Baldock produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

56mins David Bell takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a comfortable save.

55mins Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble, Close range headed effort by James Tomkins misses to the right of the goal.

52mins Foul by Winston Reid on Lukas Jutkiewicz, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Gary McSheffrey.

51mins Outswinging corner taken by Gary McSheffrey from the left by-line, Kevin Nolan makes a clearance.

49mins Lukas Jutkiewicz has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.

47mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Winston Reid. Richard Keogh takes the direct free kick.

45mins The referee blows for offside against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Robert Green takes the free kick.

45mins Corner taken by Jack Collison.

44mins Gary McSheffrey challenges Julien Faubert unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Green takes the direct free kick.

43mins Carl Baker fouled by Jack Collison, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

42mins Papa Bouba Diop takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Deegan. Short corner taken by George McCartney from the left by-line.

41mins Mark Noble is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Richard Keogh takes the free kick.

40mins Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the left by-line, Conor Thomas makes a clearance. Julien Faubert has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.

39mins Gary McSheffrey is caught offside. Free kick taken by Robert Green.

38mins Sam Baldock takes a shot. Blocked by Chris Hussey. Jack Collison takes the outswinging corner, James Tomkins produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

38mins Header by Lukas Jutkiewicz from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

36mins Conor Thomas concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Noble. Direct free kick taken by Mark Noble. Sam Baldock takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Wood.

35mins Gary McSheffrey challenges Julien Faubert unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James Tomkins.

34mins Sam Baldock is caught offside. Joe Murphy takes the indirect free kick.

33mins Carl Baker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Noble. Direct free kick taken by Julien Faubert.

30mins Drilled left-footed shot by George McCartney. Joe Murphy makes a save. Outswinging corner taken by Jack Collison from the right by-line.

29mins Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey, Foul by Richard Wood on Winston Reid, free kick awarded. Robert Green takes the direct free kick.

24mins The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Richard Keogh.

23mins Unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Carlton Cole results in a free kick. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.

22mins Lukas Jutkiewicz is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Robert Green.

22mins The assistant referee flags for offside against Kevin Nolan. Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

20mins Papa Bouba Diop challenges Gary McSheffrey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Hussey takes the free kick.

19mins Effort on goal by Kevin Nolan from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

15mins Mark Noble takes a inswinging corner.

15mins James Tomkins challenges Gary McSheffrey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary McSheffrey crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Carlton Cole manages to make a clearance.

14mins Kevin Nolan has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

13mins Sam Baldock takes a shot. Martin Cranie gets a block in.

11mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary McSheffrey by Julien Faubert. Chris Hussey takes the direct free kick.

10mins Inswinging corner taken by Mark Noble from the left by-line, Jack Collison takes a shot. Save made by Joe Murphy.

10mins Kevin Nolan takes a shot. Save by Joe Murphy.

9mins Jack Collison takes a shot. Chris Hussey gets a block in.

8mins Effort from the edge of the box by Chris Hussey goes wide of the right-hand upright.

7mins Lukas Jutkiewicz concedes a free kick for a foul on Winston Reid. Robert Green restarts play with the free kick.

6mins Kevin Nolan challenges Gary Deegan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Murphy takes the direct free kick.

5mins Martin Cranie challenges George McCartney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Noble delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Lukas Jutkiewicz makes a clearance.

3mins Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the left by-line, Richard Wood manages to make a clearance.

2mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Wood by Sam Baldock. Martin Cranie restarts play with the free kick.

Match Preview

Nolan among those returning Skipper Kevin Nolan is one of four West Ham players back from suspension for the visit of Coventry. Nolan, fellow midfielder Jack Collison, defender George McCartney and winger Julien Faubert all return to the squad after they were ruled out of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Derby. Centre-half Winston Reid came through unscathed after eight weeks out with a dislocated shoulder and is set to keep his place, while striker Sam Baldock returned from a hamstring injury as a substitute and could be in the starting line-up. Right-back Joey O'Brien will continue despite an ear infection but centre-back Abdoulaye Faye remains doubtful with a thigh injury. Guy Demel (thigh), Matt Taylor (calf) and David Bentley (knee) are still missing. Coventry manager Andy Thorn is expected to have the same squad of players at his disposal as those who rounded off 2011 with a 2-0 victory over Brighton - clinching back-to-back wins for only the second time in the calendar year. Thorn, dealing with the usual bumps and bruises when faced with two games in three days, may well be tempted to keep faith with an unchanged XI and a successful new-look 4-3-3 formation as the Sky Blues won by two goals for the first time since September. Much of that may well depend on whether fit-again Martin Cranie can handle two games in quick succession after making his return from a rib injury against the Seagulls, while fellow defender Cyrus Christie also shook off a knock to start. Left-back Chris Hussey overcame an ankle problem but was only named on the bench and provides an option should change be needed, although Thorn, while wary of the daunting trip to the high-flying Hammers and the possible need to tighten up, will be reluctant to tinker with his side too much. Skipper Sammy Clingan (fractured toe), strikers Cody McDonald and Clive Platt (back) and defender Nathan Cameron (knee) are likely to miss out again.

Formation:433Manager: Sam Allardyce

West Ham

Formation: 451Manager: Andy Thorn

Coventry

Robert Green
Julien Faubert
Winston Reid
James Tomkins
George McCartney
Papa Bouba Diop
Kevin Nolan
Mark Noble
Jack Collison
Carlton Cole
Sam Baldock
SUBS
Ruud Boffin
John Carew
Joey O'Brien
Henri Lansbury
Frank Nouble

Home

Away

Joe Murphy
Martin Cranie
Richard Keogh
Richard Wood
Chris Hussey
David Bell
Gary Deegan
Gary McSheffrey
Conor Thomas
Carl Baker
Lukas Jutkiewicz
SUBS
Chris Dunn
James McPake
Shaun Jeffers
Gael Bigirimana
Jordan Willis

Match Report

Nolan puts Hammers back on track Kevin Nolan got West Ham's npower Championship promotion bid back on track with the only goal in a 1-0 win over lowly Coventry. The #4million midfielder, who was suspended for the defeat at Derby on Saturday, struck midway through the second half as the Hammers moved level on points with leaders Southampton. Sam Allardyce's side had been frustrated by in-form Coventry goalkeeper Joe Murphy for 65 minutes, but he was finally beaten when skipper Nolan headed his seventh goal of the season. It was only the Hammers' second win in six attempts but they are now only being kept off top spot on goal difference by Saints, who have been wobbling themselves of late. The Sky Blues had their chances, though, but top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz could not add to his tally of nine goals. The visitors created the first opportunity when Gary McSheffrey raided down the right and crossed towards Chris Hussey, whose first-time shot flew narrowly wide. West Ham were denied by Murphy twice in quick succession, saving from Nolan with his feet and from the ensuing corner keeping out Jack Collison's snap-shot. The hosts were dominating possession but City were dangerous on the break and Jutkiewicz should have done better with a free header from Gary Deegan's cross which he nodded wide. At the other end Julien Faubert's volley flew wide and Papa Bouba Diop's header was deflected clear before the interval. Early in the second half Jutkiewicz squandered another good chance after Faubert made a hash of his clearance. Jutkiewicz had more time than he realised in the penalty area and headed the ball meekly over the top when he could have allowed the ball to drop and taken a shot. But the City goal was at times leading a charmed life with James Tomkins heading Mark Noble's corner wide and Sam Baldock also off target from Carlton Cole's cross. Murphy then produced two stunning saves to deny the Hammers, first pushing Baldock's shot onto the underside of the crossbar and then palming away a powerful header from Collison. The loose ball fell to Tomkins but the defender skewed his shot into the ground and it bounced over the top. But the breakthrough eventually came when Tomkins beat Hussey in the air to head George McCartney's cross back across goal where Nolan was on hand to nod it past Murphy and into the net. It should have been two minutes before the end after Richard Wood under-hit a backpass but Murphy saved well from Frank Nouble and Noble put the rebound wide with the goal gaping. And Hammers hearts were in their mouths when Carl Baker's shot was deflected onto the crossbar as the hosts survived a nervy ending.

Form Guide

WLLWDL West Ham VS Coventry LLLLWW

Last Meetings

Coventry 1 - 2 West Ham 19/11/2011 West Ham 3 - 0 Coventry 09/04/2005 Coventry 2 - 1 West Ham 30/08/2004 West Ham 2 - 0 Coventry 17/04/2004 Coventry 1 - 1 West Ham 01/11/2003 Coventry 1 - 2 West Ham 09/02/1952

Top Scorers

West Ham C Cole 8 K Nolan 6 S Baldock 5 JA Carew 2 F Piquionne 2 J Collison 2 M Taylor 1 P Diop 1 J Faubert 1 J O'Brien 1 J Tomkins 1 W Reid 1 H Lansbury 1 F Nouble 1 Coventry L Jutkiewicz 8 C Platt 2 G McSheffrey 2 G Deegan 2 C Baker 1 S Clingan 1 R Wood 1 C McDonald 1

Goals

West Ham Total goals 62 Goals per game 39 7 (For) 4 (Against) Period 0-10 mins 4 (For) Period 11-20 mins 4 (For) Period 21-30 mins 1 (For) 2 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 5 (For) 1 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 5 (For) 5 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 3 (For) 2 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 8 (For) 3 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 2 (For) 6 (Against) Period 81-90 mins Coventry Total goals 43 Goals per game 20 2 (For) 3 (Against) Period 0-10 mins (For) 3 (Against) Period 11-20 mins (For) 2 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 3 (For) 3 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 2 (For) 2 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 5 (For) 6 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 2 (For) 4 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 4 (For) 4 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 2 (For) 6 (Against) Period 81-90 mins