The team is in and is the strongest we have seen on the tour so far.
And they have kicked off
2/ Karlsruher curling free kick collected by Randolph
Hammers have started at a much better termp and launch early attack – four passes – saved by keeper and cleared
7/Fehouli wins free kick – good ball in. Cleared
9/ GOAL: HAMMERS ONE UP Free flowing move – lifted in by Valencia after released by Feghouli – lovely Carroll header across keeper
13/ Free kick to Karlsruher 20 yards out Valentini fires just wide
17/ GOAL – HAMMERS TWO UP. Feghouli grabs his first Hammers goal. Given time to turn and control from 20 yards beats keeper with low skidding shot
20/ Tore – tricky run at pace – onto Feghouli and desperate tackle averts the danger. That looked a bit special
Irons look 200 per cent fitter – launching some very tasty tackles
34/Feghouli down after being caught but he’s fine.
36/ Valencia runs onto through ball but caught offside
38/ Well struck low free kick from Karlsruher – well held by Randolph
Half Time Irons 2 Karlsruher 0
Second half has kicked off
52/ Irons corner taken by Feghouli, headed wide by Nordveidt
54/ Carroll throws a wobbler over a studs up high tackle, shoves the player in chest but it’s all a bit of handbags
59/ Valencia gets round the back lobs keeper but inches wide – nice move
62/ More handbags – this time between Valencia who gets a yellow for words at Valentini
Byram and Obiang on for Carroll and Tore
70/ It’s all pretty 50/50 and Slav emerges from the dug out loking ready to make more changes but situation remans same for now
72/ Yep hre they come – Ashley Fletcher and young Quina are introduced
82/ GOAL: 3-0 to the Hammers: Young Fletcher makes a near immediate impact with hs second goal in a week stabbing home a decent cross from Cressie.
83/ Wicked wild studs up two footed tackle on Cresswell – he’s still down. Hammers make furious rush at the offender
Cressie is on his feet and moving gingerly but looks okay
Final whistle at the end of a very good work out with the Irons running out convincing winners against a team for hom Slaven Bilic once played.
Irons 3 Karlsruher 0
COYI
Enner Valencia we love you, please please stay with us !!
Valencia and Carroll up front doesn’t look to bad to be honest.
Phew.
Awful tackle on Cresswell. Looks nasty
I thought we played pretty well, Fletcher scored a goal scorers goal, Nordveidt looks good as do Feghouli and Tore, Antonio much more of a threat on the wing than at RB and Byram looked better at RB difficult to tell anything from a friendly but at least some sharpness starting to come to the play and a positive result, hopefully no lasting damage to Cresswell.
Another classic Andy Carroll headed goal. The kid fletcher looked promising when he came on. Good poachers goal from a great cresswell cross in behind. Feghouli looks good and showed he can hit them also. A calm and assured defensive performance from nortdveidt and Reid. Noble his usual reliable self. Antonio swapped for Bryam late on and Antonio played left wing but neither of them had much time left in the game to create too much or be judged in those positions. Don’t think Antonio got a touch of the ball when he was moved to the wing. Tore didn’t really produce too much in that game. Kouyate was his usual industrious self. Valencia tried hard but came up short unfortunately.