West Ham 0 Reading 1

Alan Pardew again changed the team around for this game. He started with Tevez and Cole up front, Etherington on the right and Mullins in for Mascherano.

West Ham's run of bad luck continued from the kick off as Reading scored in the first two minutes. From a short free kick 30 yards out Seol jinked past Benayoun and scored a screamer from 25 yards.

That was Reading's last real chance of the half as they then sat deep and let West Ham monopolise possession. West Ham created a number of chances and Tevez in particular looked good on the ball, however the Hammers failed to convert any of their chances.

In the tenth minute Tevez and then Spector both had shots from outside of the area but both were drilled straight at the keeper. In the 32nd minute Etherington sent Konchesky almost clear but the Reading defence just mangaged to recover in time and block his shot.

Just before half-time Benayoun scooped a shot wide right from outside the area and Reo-Coker had a shot deflected wide.

West Ham started the second half a little flat. Mullins had a long shot saved and Tevez shot well wide. In the 78th minute Sheringham came on for Tevez and Zamora replaced Cole. The substitutions almost had an immediate effect as within a minute of coming on Teddy nutmegged a defender, passed to Zamora and Zamora rolled the ball on to Etherington, whose shot was well saved. A minute later Sheringham knocked a lovely reverse pass to Etherington, who pulled his shot across the goal and Zamora rushing in just failed to connect.

In the 84th minute Harewood came on for Reo-Coker. In the closing couple of minutes West Ham created some pressure on the Reading penalty area but the final ball into the box again let West Ham down. Benayoun almost got the goal right at the end when he lobbed the keeper but Sidwell managed to clear the ball off the line.

West Ham have not kept a clean sheet this season and have not scored since September 10th. Desparate times.