Source: Daily_Mail
Doncaster 0 West Ham 1: Kevin Nolan gives Sam Allardyce his first win
[LNB]Sam Allardyce won as West Ham manager for the first time after masterminding a typically battling success at npower Championship rivals Doncaster. [LNB] Summer signing Kevin Nolan's fifth-minute strike, his first for the Hammers, was enough to ensure the promotion favourites bounced back from their 1-0 opening-day defeat to Cardiff.[LNB] Leading the way: West Ham captain Kevin Nolan opens his account for the club with the only goal of the game[LNB]MATCH FACTS DONCASTER: Woods, Spurr, Oster, Friend, Bennett (Baxendale, 76), Brown, Coppinger, Gillett (Hird 82), Naylor, Dumbuya, Barnes (Keegan, 76). Subs not used: Sullivan, Radford[LNB]Yellow cards: Brown[LNB]WEST HAM: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga (Stanislas 86), Nolan, Parker, Noble, Collison (Sears, 72), Taylor, Piquionne (Cole, 63) Subs not used: Boffin, Faye[LNB]Yellow cards: Cole [LNB]Referee: Scott Mathieson [LNB]Attendance: 11,344[LNB][LNB]How they stand: Championship table But, after a dominant first half, Allardyce's side had to withstand several nervous moments after the interval as they dug in for victory against a Rovers side beset by injury. [LNB]Allardyce started transfer target Scott Parker, whose industry will be sorely missed if, as expected, he departs, at the heart of a 4-5-1 formation that served to control the opening 45 minutes. [LNB]The cautious approach was aided by their early goal as Nolan opened his Hammers scoring account in style. [LNB] Jack Collison, the only change from last weekend in place of Freddie Sears, perfectly weighted a lofted diagonal pass to find Nolan's run to the back post where he prodded homeon the volley.[LNB]The former Newcastle midfielder then came close to doubling his tally after 17 minutes when his first-time shot from 30 yards almost caught out home goalkeeper Gary Woods, who recovered quickly enough to touch it onto the crossbar. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] On a high: The Hammers celebrated their first win under new manager Sam Allardyce[LNB] [LNB] It was evident early on Allardyce's formation, with Frederic Piquionne the lone striker, was swamping Doncaster's preferred passing game. [LNB]Parker's industry ensured he continually picked up loose balls and with his fellow midfielders offering willing support for Piquionne, West Ham posed a measured, if not constant, attacking threat. [LNB]Collison had an effort blocked while James Tomkinson and Matt Taylor both headed over. [LNB]To Doncaster's credit they patiently maintained their passing approach but with the midfield suffocated they did not fashion a single shot on target in the first half.[LNB] Jack the lad: West Ham midfielder Collison glides past Doncaster's Tommy Spurr[LNB] [LNB] After the interval the hosts found more joy attacking down the wings and after winning a free-kick out wideGiles Barnes headed John Oster's delivery wide.[LNB] A James Coppinger cross then neededa timely clearing header from Joey O'Brien, while Parker's awareness ofthe growing danger was required when he charged down a Chris Brown shot. [LNB]Doncaster's improvement forced Allardyce to discard his half-time coffee and get off his bench for the first time as he barked instructions to his under-fire side. [LNB] Now agitated Allardyce brought on Carlton Cole for the ineffectual Piquionne and the striker immediately forced a save with a header before crashing another shot into the side-netting. [LNB] Doncaster were, however, the more likely scorers and broke down the right only for Coppinger to cut the ball back into a vacant six-yard box. Coppinger then headed agonisinglywide of the far post from another cross, this time from the impressive Mustapha Dumbuya, before Robert Green denied Simon Gillett at close quarters.[LNB] With time ticking down the visitors thought they had won a penalty when George Friend challenged Cole in the air.[LNB] Allardyce was clearly unhappy as heraised his arms in dispute on the touchline, but the 56-year-old was soon a relieved man as referee Scott Mathieson blew full-time on his first win. [LNB] Click here to read our brilliant Football League blogBarnsley 0 Southampton 1: Connolly keeps up Saints' terrific return to the ChampionshipBirmingham 1 Coventry 0: Fahey lifts the gloom around St Andrew'sCrystal Palace 2 Burnley 0: Parr and Garvan get Eagles flyingIpswich 0 v Hull 1: Matt's late finish has Tigers biting back [LNB]
