Barclays Premier League

HAPPY HAMMERS

West Ham came into this game needing three points, and they have duly delivered. After their early penalty, the home side were always in charge until the final few moments when Norwich fought back. Mark Noble put the hosts ahead when Winston Reid was fouled in the area and Mark Clattenburg awarded them a penalty. Norwich should have had a penalty themselves when Reid handled in his own box, but the referee didn't give it. West Ham furthered their lead when Joey O'Brien finished following some good team play, but Norwich were unhappy that Alexander Tettey was down with a head injury in the lead-up. The game got more tired and fraught as time went on, but Norwich grabbed a consolation through Russell Martin at the death. West Ham will be happy to have grabbed the points, whilst Norwich won't want this poor run they are on to continue. Final Score West Ham 2 - 1 Norwich.

FULL TIME

The referee ends the game. Final score West Ham 2, Norwich 1.

CLOSE!

Norwich get the ball into the box and it appears that the only man not there is Mark Bunn. The Canaries are desperate for an equaliser here.

ADDED TIME

Three minutes were signalled as additional time.

GREAT FINISH

Russell Martin gets one back for the visitors here. Elliott Bennett gets down the right flank well and sends in a cross, which falls just behind Martin. However the captain stretches and manages to volley home with the touch of a centre-forward. Game on? West Ham 2 - 1 Norwich.

GOOOOAAAAALLLL

NORWICH GRAB ONE BACK!!!

NEARLY OVER

Norwich have tried harder in this second period but have not offered anything. West Ham will be happy to have got the three points today.

WEST HAM CHANGE

Jordan Spence comes on for Matthew Jarvis, who has had a good game today.

NORWICH CHANGE

David Fox comes on for the injured Jonathan Howson, and his first touch is to blast the ball wide.

WEST HAM CHANGE

Ricardo Vaz Te looks exhausted as he leaves the field, with Modibo Maiga taking his place.

INJURY

Jonathan Howson has picked up a knock here and that could be his afternoon over. The midfielder has been involved in a couple of full-bodied challenges in the last few minutes and his ankle seems to have taken a blow.

TRYING HARD

Norwich are trying pot-shots from long range in a desperate attempt to get back into this, but none of them have troubled Jussi Jaaskelainen so far.

UNHAPPY

Sam Allardyce wants his side to keep up the pressure and score more goals. Big Sam isn't known for letting his sides sit back and protect their lead.

SLOW

The pace of the game has dropped off and Norwich have nothing left to offer. West Ham will take the three points today, I'm sure.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Simeon Jackson and Elliott Bennett come on for Harry Kane and Wesley Hoolahan, neither of whom seem happy. Gary O'Neil comes on for Joey O'Brien for the hosts.

WELL WIDE

Norwich have a corner but Michael Turner heads well wide. Good pressure from the West Ham defence.

WASTE

West Ham win a free kick in a dangerous position and after a lot of time wasting, Matthew Taylor steps up. Unfortunately his effort cannons into the wall and Norwich clear.

OFF THE POST!

West Ham should be further ahead here. Matthew Taylor sends in a cross from deep on the left and Ricardo Vaz Te hangs in the air before heading it goalwards, only to see it hit the post and bounce back into play.

CLOSE!

Matthew Taylor swings in a corner from the right and Carlton Cole gets up to meet it, but he flicks it just wide of the post. A warning shot from the Hammers striker.

SUBS COMING

Their are some tired legs out on the pitch, unsurprising really considered the busy festive schedule, and both managers are considering changes.

ALL WEST HAM

The Hammers are in charge here. They work their way down the right once again and the cross comes towards Ricardo Vaz Te, but his final touch is poor and Norwich clear.

FEISTY

The challenges are flying in thick and fast here, and the pace of the game has slowed. Norwich have every right to feel hard done by, as the decisions have all gone against them today.

ANOTHER POOR DECISION

Norwich are being hard done by this afternoon. Anthony Pilkington is played through on goal and is at least a yard onside, but the flag goes up against him. Replays show he was clearly on.

WRONG DECISION

Harry Kane is furious here. He goes down in the box under a challenge from James Tomkins, but the referee waves it away. For my money, that was a penalty, but the letter of the law states that Kane should have been booked for diving if not.

MORE OF THE SAME

Norwich still look toothless in attack. West Ham are composed and comfortable and will want to add to their lead soon.

OUCH

Robert Snodgrass is bundled over and lands awkwardly on his shoulder. He seems to be in some pain but should continue.

KICK OFF

West Ham get the second period underway.

ALL HAMMERS

West Ham have dominated this half from start to finish. The home side went ahead after three minutes when Ryan Bennett was penalised for tugging a shirt, and Mark Noble slotted home the penalty. Norwich tried to come back into it but their own penalty appeal was turned down, despite Winston Reid handballing. West Ham doubled their lead when Joey O'Brien slotted home after some good team play. Norwich were not happy as Alexander Tettey was down with a head injury when the goal went in. The home side have continued to dominate and Norwich have no answer. At half time, it's West Ham 2, Norwich 0.

HALF TIME

The referee ends the half, with West Ham two goals to the good and in complete control.

LINING UP FOR IT

West Ham win yet another corner and the ball pings around the box, with Hammers players taking it in turns to shoot at goal. Ricardo Vaz Te's effort is the final one, with his volley rolling wide of the post.

NOT HAPPY

One or two of the more attacking players for Norwich look decidely unhappy. Harry Kane has had no service whatsoever, and is having to drop deeper and deeper to get involved in the game.

PRESSURE

Norwich really have nothing to offer here. West Ham are in control of this game and it seems to be a case of when, and not if, they will score another.

HOW DID HE MISS?

Wow. If you saw Ricardo Vaz Te's miss against Reading at the weekend, then this miss is possibly worse. Mark Noble plays a superb pass through the Norwich defence to Guy Demel, who fires in a low cross. All Carlton Cole has to do is turn it home, but he gets his foot under it and sends it over the bar. A terrible miss.

WIDE PLAY

All of West Ham's good play today has come from the wings. Russell Martin and Ryan Bennett just can't handle the pace and trickery of both the West Ham wingers and the overlapping full-backs.

ALL WEST HAM

This is a dominant performance from the hosts. The Hammers work a corner from the left and play it out to Matthew Taylor, whose rising shot from 30 yards is tipped over by Mark Bunn.

RECOVERED

Alexander Tettey is back on the field, but Norwich are not happy at all. On second viewing, that goal should not have come about as play should have halted.

CONTROVERSY

There is some worry around Upton Park, as Alexander Tettey picked up a head injury in the build-up to that goal. The midfielder lost out in the air to Carlton Cole, but hit the ground hard and was not moving for at least a minute. Mark Clattenburg allowed play to go on, but the game really should have stopped for a somewhat worrying head injury.

GOOD TEAM GOAL

The Hammers come down the left-hand side and work the ball to Mark Noble, who cuts the ball across the face of goal. Sebastien Bassong clears but only into the path of Joey O'Brien, who tucks the ball home. West Ham 2 - 0 Norwich.

GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL

WEST HAM DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!!!

TOP SAVE

West Ham work their way down the right flank and Guy Demel sends in a looping cross, which Jack Collison meets on the volley. Mark Bunn tips it away with a strong right hand before pouncing on it. Great 'keeping.

PENALTY APPEAL

Norwich are furious here and rightly so - they themselves should have had a penalty. A corner is swung in from the right and in the resulting melee, Winston Reid clears with his arm. A clear penalty but Mark Clattenburg missed it.

OFF THE POST!

Norwich win a free kick on the edge of the area and Robert Snodgrass steps up to hit it, only to see the ball bounce back off the inside of the post. A let-off for the hosts.

GOOD FOOTBALL

West Ham are showing some good skill here, using a combination of long balls and smooth passing. Sam Allardyce has got his team playing some good stuff.

PRESSURE

West Ham are looking to build upon their lead, pressing the Norwich defence at every opportunity. Carlton Cole is using his size and strength to make a nuisance of himself.

SETTLED DOWN

After the early excitement, the game has slowed to a more settled rhythm. Norwich are trying patiently to work an opening for themselves, whilst West Ham are looking for the long balls to challenge the Norwich defence.

BACK ON

Cole is back on the pitch and is moving uncomfortably, but he should be ok to continue.

OUCH

Carlton Cole and Alexander Tettey jump for the ball, and the West Ham man comes off worse as he lands awkwardly. He is requiring some extensive treatment here.

MIX-UP

Harry Kane nearly benefits from some confusion between Winston Reid and James Tomkins, but Jussi Jaaskelainen comes out smartly to gather.

NOT HAPPY

Chris Hughton is still raging on the touchline, adamant that the penalty never should have been given. The West Ham fans are delighted with that start and are in full voice.

NO DOUBT

Mark Noble was completely confident there, a strong run-up leading to him powering the penalty into the top left-hand corner, West Ham 1 - 0 Norwich.

GOOOOAAAALLLL

MARK NOBLE TUCKS THE PENALTY AWAY!

POOR DEFENDING

West Ham win a corner, which Mark Bunn clears. The ball is played back into the box and Ryan Bennett is penalised for tugging the shirt of Winston Reid.

PENALTY!

WEST HAM HAVE A PENALTY!

KICK OFF

Norwich start the period, kicking from left to right in their traditional yellow kit.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS

West Ham make three changes to the side that lost to Reading. With Kevin Nolan and James Collins suspended, Guy Demel and Jack Collison come into the side. Sam Allardyce has gone for a change in formation, with Ricardo Vaz Te coming in up front to take Gary O'Neil's midfield place. Norwich also make a number of changes, with Ryan Bennett taking Javier Garrido's place in defence. Jonathan Howson replaces Bradley Johnson, whilst Harry Kane starts up front in the absence of Steve Morison.

FACTS AND STATS

Norwich have not been victorious over West Ham since 1994, when Mark Robins scored the only goal of the game. The Canaries recorded a club record 10-game unbeaten streak earlier in the season, but have lost their last three games. West Ham, on the other hand, have only been victorious once in their last eight fixtures. Both sides have struggled for goals from their forwards, with six of Norwich's 20 league goals and six of West Ham's 22 goals coming from their recognised forwards. Finally, West Ham have lost six of their last eight Premier League fixtures on New Year's Day, whilst Norwich have not won a top-flight match on a Tuesday since 1988.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Mark Clattenburg takes charge of today's fixture. The Tyne & Wear referee has officiated 15 games this season, showing 53 yellow and five red cards. He has been in the middle for two Norwich games, 1-1 draws with QPR and Southampton, as well as West Ham's bad tempered win over QPR in which 10 yellow cards were shown.

NORWICH TEAM NEWS

The Canaries are facing something of an injury crisis up front, with both Grant Holt and Steve Morison struggling with knocks. Holt's hamstring blow and Morison's groin niggle, coupled with Simeon Jackson's lack of match fitness, could mean that Tottenham loanee Harry Kane gets a start. Steven Whittaker has missed the last two games with a hip injury and will not be ready to return, whilst John Ruddy is still a long-term absentee meaning Mark Bunn will continue in goal.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

The Hammers will be without captain Kevin Nolan and influential centre-back James Collins through suspension after both picked up a fifth yellow card of the season against Reading. Ricardo Vaz Te made his comeback from injury against Reading and could make a start, whilst James Tomkins could also shift to centre-back. Andy Carroll and George McCartney are both missing with long-term knee injuries, whilst Mohamed Diame has a damaged hamstring and is not yet available.

FORM GUIDE

West Ham have picked up four points from their last possible fifteen, with their last three results ending in defeat. However, an earlier draw with West Brom and a victory over Chelsea started their month well, and they will want to return to winning ways against a Norwich side who are themselves in stuttering form. The Canaries themselves have not picked up a point in three games, but can take heart from their recent fightback against Manchester City.

PREVIEW

Hello and welcome to today's game between West Ham and Norwich. Two points and one place seperates these teams in 11th and 12th, and both will be hoping for a win today to halt some stuttering form.