Listen to the BBC audio commentary LIVE
Kick off at 7.45 Come on you Irons
Ok, the teams have been announced and here they are!
West Ham United: Adrian, Cresswell, Kouyate, Zarate, Noble (c), O’Brien, Collins, Ogbonna, Payet, Valencia, Oxford
Subs: Spiegel, Nolan, Jarvis, Maiga, Poyet, Burke, Samuelsen
Astra: Lung, Alves, Seto, Enache, Budescu, Morais, Boldrin, Gaman, Teixeira, Quieros, De Amorim
Subs: Gavrilas, Florea, Oros, Lovin, Dandea, Alves, Stan
We were one out with our predicted team, Joey O’Brien getting the shout at right back rather than Reece Burke.
The teams are out and go through the picture posing routine!
As the teams are read out a certain Dimitri Payet’s name gets a huge roar such is the excitement and anticipation surrounding the player.
We are playing a diamond formation with Reece Oxford holding, Noble and Kouyate right and left with Payet at the tip behind Valencia and Zarate.
5: It’s been a quiet start but the Irons enjoying plenty of possession, Cresswell’s ball up the line finds Valencia just offside
12: Corner to the Hammers after a quick break by Zarate – cleared.
14: Quick break into the box but Valencia’s back header finds nobody
16: Valencia breaks tries to dig out a delivery but bundled out for corner – Zarate drives in a shot from Payet’s flag kick and deflected for another corner, comes to nothing.
21: First serious Astra attack sees De Amorim put in Teixeira whose shot hits side netting.
GOAL: 23 Payet delivers and Valenica’s downward header is unstoppable.
HAMMERS 1 ASTRA O
29: O’Brien picks up a yellow for foul on Seto
31: Astra corner – comfortable catch for Adrian
35: O’Brien injury and Reece Burke finally makes it into right back spot 🙂
35: Valencia down injured and set to be stretchered off – Maiga coming on
There’s some very serious looks around Valencia and medical team out there – looks a little worrying.
39: Collins heads wide from well delivered free kick from Payet
42: Keeper palms away an Ogbonna effort for a corner from another near post ball from Payet – great save from Lung
45. Ogbonna and Zarate prominent as Irons win another corner. Astra hanging on – Payet corner brings stunning save from Lung off Zarate.
Half Time Irons 1-0.
SUMMARY: We have been in total control but the Valencia injury has thrown a shadow over things. This is a very different West Ham and Payet is the main man. Most of our good stuff is coming off him and Zarate looks a major beneficiary. Lung in the Astra goal has kept his team alive but there has to be more goals for us surely.
47: Zarate tries to get Payet in but Frenchman can’t get a shot away as defenders crowd in
49: Long range rising shot from Zarate clears bar
50: IRONS GOAL Zarate – always enterprising keeps going and going into the box and slides past keeper. Well deserved. Fine individual goal.
IRONS 2 ASTRA 0
62: Budescu shocking tackle on Payet but a minute later Collins gets a second yellow for a challenge on the Romanian and and sees RED – our third sending off in five games.
63: Astra corner low and flat and Noble clears at near post off the line
68: Ogbonna gets forward to slam in an effort which the impressive Lung holds onto
71: ASTRA GOAL: Boldrin crashes in shot from 25 yards which finds the net via the crossbar
76: Matt Jarvis is on for Zarate and the Romanians bring on Florea replaces De Amorim.
77: Maiga bounds forward and fires in an effort which is well wide
78: Romanian tails are up since the sending off and they are pouring forward but Ogbonna defends well from Bolderin to concede a corner
82: ASTRA GOAL: Ogbonna own goal as ball comes in from the left – DISASTROUS little touch which carries ball beyond Adrian.
84: We’re at the other end for a corner after Reece Oxford shot deflected wide
All the Hammers problems go back to the 62nd minute and Collins sending off. Astra have been after them sinceand one of the team’s most experienced players the villain of the piece.
88: Dimitri Payet named man of the match
90: Payet goes down on edge of box – perhaps too easily and picks up a yellow
90: Slaven says something out of turn and over comes the Swiss ref and the boss is sent to the stands – our fourth sending off in five games!