Doesn't look good from what I'm getting from the matchtracker. West Ham have been dominating towards the end of the half with us resorting to fouling and constantly having to clear the area.
I watched a lot of Eredivisie before, and seen a lot of Kuyt. I have to say that I am astonished at how badly he has coped in England. In the Netherlands, he interchanged with every forward and wing position readily, put in great crosses, struck good shots, and got off powerful headers. Maybe the English game is too fast and too physical for his soccer intelligence to work for him - like Morientes. It seems like he spends 95% of his energy keeping pace and holding shape - instead of trying to create/finish chances. It's a shame, really.
Terrible first half to say the least. West Ham probably should be up a minimum 1-0 if not more. Torres hasn't done much, nobody really has and we are giving the ball away far too easily. Carragher is playing great and is the only one doing so. Aurelio is the worst on the pitch by miles.
WH with 56% of possession lfctv: "The Hammers have had the better chances in what has been a first-half of limited opportunities." and as for replacing Fabio (carrying a card as well), what options are there -- Carra?
Kewell should have put one away. 49' and we've done more in these 4 minutes than the entire first half.
I wouldn't mind comms. I HATE trying to pull these games up on the internet, its not working (as others have mentioned).
A handful of good balls into the box by West Ham, decent defending and one absolute mis-hit by Ljunberg. Counter and Torres is just offside. 53' in.
Ashton and Etherington to come on (according to Hunter) a WH win would place them only 4 points behind us
Our turn to attack, Stevie puts a good ball in, no one at the end of it. Torres cuts inside and finds Kuyt at the penalty spot, and either a poor touch or a good tackle. West Ham get a chance forward, free kick, about 5 yards outside the box. Knocked around and falls right to Boa Morte who misses a complete sitter! 57' Asthon and Etherington on, Boa Morte and Bowyer off.
"GOAL Derby 1-0 Man City? Could someone at the BBC sort out all these misprints please?" cantonabeachsoccer on 606
Good build up play and Stevies shot/pass hits Kuyt, standing in an offside position. Lucas with a good ball wide, moves off the ball like the rest of our players should be doing, and almost finishes off the cross put in the box. Really proving that he should be playing more often. 63'
Lucas really linking things up well, good ball to open up space for Gerrard, plays it back to Lucas just outside the box, but a bit of a wild shot. Torres hasn't been playing well at all, constant fouls and is giving the ball away rather easily. Slight pushes forward from both teams, but nothing significant. 69'
2119: It may have been going wide, but Robert Green saves well from Fernando Torres' first shot on goal from six yards. Should have done better, there, the Spaniard. -- bbc
Good save by Green, Babel puts a low ball in and Torres gets it on goal, but a bit too close to Green. A goal almost seems inevitable.