Manchester City against West Ham United

SUB: Musampa is replaces by Sun Jihai.

Musampa is sent free through the middle, though the Dutch winger appeared to be a little confused as to what to do next - and so simply fell over.

Mullins chips a good ball out to Benayoun, who was cutting in from the right wing. As the City defenders appeal for off-side, the West Ham midfielder controls the ball on his chest and takes it in to the area, though James flies out of his goal and saves with his feet.

City win a corner when a cross is deflected behind. The crowd stand to applaud Barton as he jogs over to take the set-piece.

Zamora is caught off-side when in a promising position. Replays suggest it was perhaps a harsh decision by the linesman.

Oooh! Barton and Croft combine down the right. Barton swings over a deep cross to the far post, but Vassell's attempted volley back across goal towards Cole is intercepted.

SUB: Newton replaces Etherington for West Ham.

SUB: Croft replaces Ireland. Barton will move inside to the centre, with Croft taking up his normal position on the right of midfield.

Vassell wins his side a free-kick when he tempts Gabbidon in to a challenge from behind.

City are getting plenty of chances to break and put in Vassell and Cole, but their final ball is just letting them down at the moment.

Zamora blasts a shot well wide of the near post from a tight angle; he would surely have been better served putting a cross in towards Harewood or Etherington.

Zamora gets the chance to run at Onouha, but the young City defender stays on his feet well and the home side clear the danger.

Etherington is booked for a crude challenge on Barton, 40 yards out. No real complaints from the West Ham winger.

Bellion is seen stripping off his tracksuit on the West Ham bench.

Cole almost wraps up a hat-trick when he gets on the end of Barton's cut-back inside the penalty area and curls a shot just wide of the post.

West Ham are having a lot more of the ball now, but they are struggling to create any real chances.

James blasts a long kick forward, the ball bouncing high inside the West Ham penalty area, almost drifting over Carroll's head.

Jordan is then booked for a late challenge on Ferdinand as the West Ham defender attempted to clear inside the penalty area.

Jordan shows great determination to get on the end of his own attempted pass towards Musampa. He sprints on to the loose ball and hoists a cross in to the middle, though Ferdinand clears.

James does well to slide out and get a hand to the ball after Benayoun had slipped a cute little pass in to the path of Etherington inside the penalty area.

Benayoun releases Zamora down the right wing, but City have remained organised throughout at the back and they manage to see off the danger.

SUB: Zamora replaces Sheringham for West Ham. It hasn't been the former Manchester United star's day, and he is replaced by the powerful Zamora.

Oooh! Great chance for Musampa. Barton's header sends Vassell through down the right, and the striker shows good vision to cut the ball inside to Musampa. But, with just Carroll to beat, he curls his left-foot shot well wide of the post.

Neither side has managed to take hold of the game since City scored their second goal; the tempo has slowed considerably as the teams work out how best to see out the final half-hour.

West Ham win a corner. Benayoun curls it in from the left-hand side, but James comes through a crowd of players to punch clear.

Musampa attempts to release Barton down the right-hand side, but Vassell's touch - from an off-side position - means the linesman has no option but to raise his flag.

Pearce has asked Reyna to sit a little deeper in midfield to try and protect his back four as West Ham attempt to press forward in search of a goal.

Bobby Zamora is seen warming up on the sidelines as Pardew ponders the changes needed to get his side back in to the match.

James has to be alert and quick off his line to clear with his left foot after Jordan's back-pass looked like it might be intercepted by Benayoun.

Oooh! Benayoun flashes a right-foot volley in to the side-netting after being found at the far post by Etherington's lofted cross.

There has certainly been a goal coming in this second half; both sides have been pressing, and the defending hasn't looked all-that solid.

GOAL! Carroll saves Musampa's drive, but the ball rolls tamely to the feet of Cole who smashes home the rebound from a couple of yards out.

Vassell and Musampa again combine, but their attempts shots from inside the penalty are blocked by West Ham defenders.

Barton does well down the right wing. He finds Cole on the edge of the area, but his attempted prod back to Barton isn't read by the midfielder and the ball runs out of play.

Musampa is playing a big part in this second half. Again, he releases Vassell - this time down the right channel - but his shot is weak and straight at Carroll.

Reyna tries to break in to the area after robbing Reo-Coker inside his own half, but the ball gets trapped under his feet and West Ham are able to clear.

So, both goalkeepers have needed to be at their best to prevent goals at the start of this second half. James and Carroll both stood up well and blocked the danger with their bodies.

Oooh! Moments later, Musampa puts Vassell through on goal, but Carroll stays on his feet and blocks his shot with his chest. A frantic 60 seconds.

Oooh! Etherington sprints through on goal after City had been caught defending far too high up the pitch, but James saves well.

Oooh! Cole latches on to a loose ball inside the penalty area after good work by Musampa, but the veteran striker can only place his right-foot shot straight at Carroll.

Musampa is blocked by Dailly after the City man had robbed the full-back on the half-way line. Free-kick, but no booking.

Musampa is caught off-side as he tried to get on the end of Cole's through-ball. The Dutch winger looks disappointed in himself.

Dailly has slotted in to right-back. Repka wasn't suffering from an injury, so it would appear to have been a tactical change by Pardew.

West Ham kick off the second half. Nine of West Ham's eleven goals this second have come after the break...

SUB: Dailly replaces Repka for West Ham.

HALF-TIME: City deservedly in front. Cole's quality finish puts the home side a goal to the good at the interval. Good half.

Oooh! Musampa delivers another great corner in to the middle. Onouha stoops and heads goalwards from around six yards, but Konchesky heads clear on the near post.

Ireland has played well in this first half; his distribution and vision have been excellent. He finds Barton with a good ball out to the right wing, and City win a corner when his cross is deflected behind.

West Ham break well down the left; Etherington slides the ball across and almost in to the path of Harewood, but Distin does just enough to put the striker off and James slides out to gather.

The game has slowed a little as we approach the interval.

West Ham take the corner short, but when Benayoun does finally loft the ball in to the middle, it's too high and James collects.

Etherington's cross drifts over the top of Distin, but Jordan is aware of the danger and comes across to put the ball out for a corner.

Ireland aims a lofted ball over the top towards Cole, but the former England striker is penalised by the referee for tugging on the shirt of his marker, Ferdinand.

Musampa curls the ball in to the middle, but Harewood shows good defensive strength and awareness to hack clear, under pressure from Barton.

Ferdinand is forced to put the ball out for a City corner as Vassell looked to get on the end of Cole's header.

Both sides have become a little sloppy in the last couple of minutes, with passes going astray in all areas of the pitch.

Etherington wastes a great chance to set Konchesky in to some space down the left channel when he woefully over-hits his pass.

Musampa is booked when he deliberately trips Etherington as the West Ham winger looked to mount a break down the left wing.

City maintain the pressure on the visiting defence. Jordan clips a cross over to the far post, aimed towards Barton who ahd drifted in unseen, but Gabbidon gets over in time to put the ball out for a corner.

Barton manages to prod a ball in to Mills on the right edge of the penalty area, but his fierce shot is well parried by Carroll.

Mills has to be alert to cut out Reo-Coker's pass in between the two City centre-backs, aimed towards Harewood. West Ham have certainly come back in to the game since City scored.

Oooh! Ireland intercepts a loose pass in midfield. He has runners left and right, but opts instead to shoot. Although his effort is well-struck, Carroll claims above his head.

Mills chips a great cross in to the far post, but Barton's header drifts a yard wide. The off-side flag means it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Carroll is being booed at every touch by the home crowd, who haven't forgotten the goalkeeper's past with rivals Manchester United.

Etherington sends over a dangerous cross towards Harewood after being released by Sheringham's pass; the striker gets in front of Distin, but he can't quite get enough on the ball and James collects.

Sheringham is beginning to come in to the game a little more; he is having to drop deep to collect the ball, but when he gets on it, his distribution is starting some more promising moves.

Oooh! Musampa deceives Repka out on the left wing, begins to cut in to the box, but Vassell can't quite direct his back-heel goalwards from the winger's low cross. Great chance for a second.

Etherington is caught offside from Ferdinand's lofted pass out to the left wing. The City defence have held their line well so far this afternoon.

City are working very hard to close down the West Ham midfielders and defenders when they are in possession in their own half.

Cole is currently off the field receiving treatment on a knock he took to his ankle. He doesn't look too concerned as the phyiso administers the 'magic spray'.

Mullins escapes a booking for a challenge on Barton; the Manchester City midfielder did his opponent a favour by having a quiet word with the official and indicating it wasn't as bad a challenge as it looked.

The crowd really enjoyed Cole's goal; they have raised the volume level since the strike and are really getting behind the home side.

City are probably rightly in-front; they have made the better start this afternoon and have had the Londonders under a fair amount of pressure. And it was a superb goal from Cole; a really clever finish.

GOAL! Cole rounds off a sensational City move when he gets on the end of Vassell's back-heel and chips Carroll with a lofted shot in to the far corner.

Sheringham has struggled to get in to the game in the opening stages; most of West Ham's attacking balls seem to be going over his head, aimed towards Harewood's runs in to the channels.

Harewood almost breaks in to tears when the linesman fails to agree with his assessment that Distin had got the final touch on a long through ball which drifted out of play. Goal-kick.

Reyna is penalised for blocking off Reo-Coker as the England U-21 captain attempted to break away down the right wing.

West Ham haven't lost away from home so far this season, a run they will be rightly proud of.

Jordan again causes problems when he fires another left-footed cross in to the middle. City win a corner, though West Ham deal with this set-piece with a little more confidence.

City have made the better start to the game; they have enjoyed most of the possession, and are beginning to create a bit of pressure on the visitors.

The set-piece is brilliantly curled in to the box by Musampa, but Mills' header is cleared off the line. Reyna fires in a shot from distance following the clearance, but it is blocked inside the crowded penalty area.

Vassell pressurises Gabbiddon in to giving away a corner.

Jordan fires in a good cross from the left wing, but Gabbidon does well to flick clear with his head; a vital clearance, as Cole was lurking just behind him.

Pearce is already out in his 'technical area,' issuing what look like very confusing instructions to his team via a baffling array of hand gestures and finger-pointing.

Marlon Harewood is caught off-side. Harewood has a peculiarly-shaped head; it is shaped a little like a cycle helmet; very aerodynamic.

Barton fires shot in from just outside the penalty area, though Carroll collects comfortably in the centre of his goal.

This game has a promising feel about it; both sides seem to have come out with some genuine attacking intent.

Vassell fires the game's first shot in on goal, a left-footed effort that he rather slices well wide of Carroll's near post.

Mills and Etherington tussle for a loose ball on the touchline, with the City full-back winning the referee's decision. Free-kick.

Benayoun wins his side the first corner of the game when his cross is deflected behind by Jordon. City deal with the set-piece well.

Both sides are playing with a traditional 4-4-2 formation, although Sheringham does seem to have been given license to roam.

We're off. It's a uncommonly nice afternoon in Manchester. City kick-off.

Team news: West Ham are unchanged for the third successive game. City name Onuoha in place of the injured Dunne, with youngster Stephen Ireland playing in the centre of midfield.

Hi, I'm Alex. Welcome to coverage of Manchester City v West Ham United, from The City of Manchester Stadium, situated, handily, in Manchester.

West Ham are having a lot more of the ball now, but they are struggling to create any real chances.

James blasts a long kick forward, the ball bouncing high inside the West Ham penalty area, almost drifting over Carroll's head.

Jordan is then booked for a late challenge on Ferdinand as the West Ham defender attempted to clear inside the penalty area.

Jordan shows great determination to get on the end of his own attempted pass towards Musampa. He sprints on to the loose ball and hoists a cross in to the middle, though Ferdinand clears.

James does well to slide out and get a hand to the ball after Benayoun had slipped a cute little pass in to the path of Etherington inside the penalty area.

Benayoun releases Zamora down the right wing, but City have remained organised throughout at the back and they manage to see off the danger.

SUB: Zamora replaces Sheringham for West Ham. It hasn't been the former Manchester United star's day, and he is replaced by the powerful Zamora.

Oooh! Great chance for Musampa. Barton's header sends Vassell through down the right, and the striker shows good vision to cut the ball inside to Musampa. But, with just Carroll to beat, he curls his left-foot shot well wide of the post.

Neither side has managed to take hold of the game since City scored their second goal; the tempo has slowed considerably as the teams work out how best to see out the final half-hour.

West Ham win a corner. Benayoun curls it in from the left-hand side, but James comes through a crowd of players to punch clear.

Musampa attempts to release Barton down the right-hand side, but Vassell's touch - from an off-side position - means the linesman has no option but to raise his flag.

Pearce has asked Reyna to sit a little deeper in midfield to try and protect his back four as West Ham attempt to press forward in search of a goal.

Bobby Zamora is seen warming up on the sidelines as Pardew ponders the changes needed to get his side back in to the match.

James has to be alert and quick off his line to clear with his left foot after Jordan's back-pass looked like it might be intercepted by Benayoun.

Oooh! Benayoun flashes a right-foot volley in to the side-netting after being found at the far post by Etherington's lofted cross.

There has certainly been a goal coming in this second half; both sides have been pressing, and the defending hasn't looked all-that solid.

GOAL! Carroll saves Musampa's drive, but the ball rolls tamely to the feet of Cole who smashes home the rebound from a couple of yards out.

Vassell and Musampa again combine, but their attempts shots from inside the penalty are blocked by West Ham defenders.

Barton does well down the right wing. He finds Cole on the edge of the area, but his attempted prod back to Barton isn't read by the midfielder and the ball runs out of play.

Musampa is playing a big part in this second half. Again, he releases Vassell - this time down the right channel - but his shot is weak and straight at Carroll.

Reyna tries to break in to the area after robbing Reo-Coker inside his own half, but the ball gets trapped under his feet and West Ham are able to clear.

So, both goalkeepers have needed to be at their best to prevent goals at the start of this second half. James and Carroll both stood up well and blocked the danger with their bodies.

Oooh! Moments later, Musampa puts Vassell through on goal, but Carroll stays on his feet and blocks his shot with his chest. A frantic 60 seconds.

Oooh! Etherington sprints through on goal after City had been caught defending far too high up the pitch, but James saves well.

Oooh! Cole latches on to a loose ball inside the penalty area after good work by Musampa, but the veteran striker can only place his right-foot shot straight at Carroll.

Musampa is blocked by Dailly after the City man had robbed the full-back on the half-way line. Free-kick, but no booking.

Musampa is caught off-side as he tried to get on the end of Cole's through-ball. The Dutch winger looks disappointed in himself.

Dailly has slotted in to right-back. Repka wasn't suffering from an injury, so it would appear to have been a tactical change by Pardew.

West Ham kick off the second half. Nine of West Ham's eleven goals this second have come after the break...

SUB: Dailly replaces Repka for West Ham.

HALF-TIME: City deservedly in front. Cole's quality finish puts the home side a goal to the good at the interval. Good half.

Oooh! Musampa delivers another great corner in to the middle. Onouha stoops and heads goalwards from around six yards, but Konchesky heads clear on the near post.

Ireland has played well in this first half; his distribution and vision have been excellent. He finds Barton with a good ball out to the right wing, and City win a corner when his cross is deflected behind.

West Ham break well down the left; Etherington slides the ball across and almost in to the path of Harewood, but Distin does just enough to put the striker off and James slides out to gather.

The game has slowed a little as we approach the interval.

West Ham take the corner short, but when Benayoun does finally loft the ball in to the middle, it's too high and James collects.

Etherington's cross drifts over the top of Distin, but Jordan is aware of the danger and comes across to put the ball out for a corner.

Ireland aims a lofted ball over the top towards Cole, but the former England striker is penalised by the referee for tugging on the shirt of his marker, Ferdinand.

Musampa curls the ball in to the middle, but Harewood shows good defensive strength and awareness to hack clear, under pressure from Barton.

Ferdinand is forced to put the ball out for a City corner as Vassell looked to get on the end of Cole's header.

Both sides have become a little sloppy in the last couple of minutes, with passes going astray in all areas of the pitch.

Etherington wastes a great chance to set Konchesky in to some space down the left channel when he woefully over-hits his pass.

Musampa is booked when he deliberately trips Etherington as the West Ham winger looked to mount a break down the left wing.

City maintain the pressure on the visiting defence. Jordan clips a cross over to the far post, aimed towards Barton who ahd drifted in unseen, but Gabbidon gets over in time to put the ball out for a corner.

Barton manages to prod a ball in to Mills on the right edge of the penalty area, but his fierce shot is well parried by Carroll.

Mills has to be alert to cut out Reo-Coker's pass in between the two City centre-backs, aimed towards Harewood. West Ham have certainly come back in to the game since City scored.

Oooh! Ireland intercepts a loose pass in midfield. He has runners left and right, but opts instead to shoot. Although his effort is well-struck, Carroll claims above his head.

Mills chips a great cross in to the far post, but Barton's header drifts a yard wide. The off-side flag means it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Carroll is being booed at every touch by the home crowd, who haven't forgotten the goalkeeper's past with rivals Manchester United.

Etherington sends over a dangerous cross towards Harewood after being released by Sheringham's pass; the striker gets in front of Distin, but he can't quite get enough on the ball and James collects.

Sheringham is beginning to come in to the game a little more; he is having to drop deep to collect the ball, but when he gets on it, his distribution is starting some more promising moves.

Oooh! Musampa deceives Repka out on the left wing, begins to cut in to the box, but Vassell can't quite direct his back-heel goalwards from the winger's low cross. Great chance for a second.

Etherington is caught offside from Ferdinand's lofted pass out to the left wing. The City defence have held their line well so far this afternoon.

City are working very hard to close down the West Ham midfielders and defenders when they are in possession in their own half.

Cole is currently off the field receiving treatment on a knock he took to his ankle. He doesn't look too concerned as the phyiso administers the 'magic spray'.

Mullins escapes a booking for a challenge on Barton; the Manchester City midfielder did his opponent a favour by having a quiet word with the official and indicating it wasn't as bad a challenge as it looked.

The crowd really enjoyed Cole's goal; they have raised the volume level since the strike and are really getting behind the home side.

City are probably rightly in-front; they have made the better start this afternoon and have had the Londonders under a fair amount of pressure. And it was a superb goal from Cole; a really clever finish.

GOAL! Cole rounds off a sensational City move when he gets on the end of Vassell's back-heel and chips Carroll with a lofted shot in to the far corner.

Sheringham has struggled to get in to the game in the opening stages; most of West Ham's attacking balls seem to be going over his head, aimed towards Harewood's runs in to the channels.

Harewood almost breaks in to tears when the linesman fails to agree with his assessment that Distin had got the final touch on a long through ball which drifted out of play. Goal-kick.

Reyna is penalised for blocking off Reo-Coker as the England U-21 captain attempted to break away down the right wing.

West Ham haven't lost away from home so far this season, a run they will be rightly proud of.

Jordan again causes problems when he fires another left-footed cross in to the middle. City win a corner, though West Ham deal with this set-piece with a little more confidence.

City have made the better start to the game; they have enjoyed most of the possession, and are beginning to create a bit of pressure on the visitors.

The set-piece is brilliantly curled in to the box by Musampa, but Mills' header is cleared off the line. Reyna fires in a shot from distance following the clearance, but it is blocked inside the crowded penalty area.

Vassell pressurises Gabbiddon in to giving away a corner.

Jordan fires in a good cross from the left wing, but Gabbidon does well to flick clear with his head; a vital clearance, as Cole was lurking just behind him.

Pearce is already out in his 'technical area,' issuing what look like very confusing instructions to his team via a baffling array of hand gestures and finger-pointing.

Marlon Harewood is caught off-side. Harewood has a peculiarly-shaped head; it is shaped a little like a cycle helmet; very aerodynamic.

Barton fires shot in from just outside the penalty area, though Carroll collects comfortably in the centre of his goal.

This game has a promising feel about it; both sides seem to have come out with some genuine attacking intent.

Vassell fires the game's first shot in on goal, a left-footed effort that he rather slices well wide of Carroll's near post.

Mills and Etherington tussle for a loose ball on the touchline, with the City full-back winning the referee's decision. Free-kick.

Benayoun wins his side the first corner of the game when his cross is deflected behind by Jordon. City deal with the set-piece well.

Both sides are playing with a traditional 4-4-2 formation, although Sheringham does seem to have been given license to roam.

We're off. It's a uncommonly nice afternoon in Manchester. City kick-off.

Team news: West Ham are unchanged for the third successive game. City name Onuoha in place of the injured Dunne, with youngster Stephen Ireland playing in the centre of midfield.

Hi, I'm Alex. Welcome to coverage of Manchester City v West Ham United, from The City of Manchester Stadium, situated, handily, in Manchester.