West Ham 1 Villareal 1

West Ham started the game very well. Within the first minute Upson sent Etherington free of the defence just inside the left side of the Villareal penalty area. Etherington crossed the ball low from the byline back into the five yard box, where Cole arrived and shot home.

After the goal West Ham showed that they were taking this goal seriously with a series of hard tackles (OK fouls). In the 27th minute Cole was booked for a diving lunge from behind on Rodriguez.

For most of the first half the game was fairly even. However after about half an hour Villareal started to look more threatening and in the 35th minute they worked an impressive equaliser. Santi Cazorla put the ball past an out-rushing Green from eight yards, after playing a neat one-two from just outside the box.

After the equaliser it was all Villareal for the rest of the half, with West Ham desperately trying not to concede a second.

In the second half West Ham replaced Ashton and Thatcher with Faubert and Lee Bowyer. West Ham again started the stronger of the two teams. In the 53rd minute Cole made a good run on the left wing, beating a couple of players to work his way into the area before having his path blocked. The ball worked its way out to Noble on the edge of the area, who was then taken out by the defence. From the free-kick Faubert bent the ball around the wall low down but the ball was saved by Lopez in goal.

In the 57th minute a long ball forward from Neill was met by Cole wide left in the area. Cole tried a half-volley but his effort was well wide. In the 62nd minute Reid came on for Etherington. Two minutes after coming on Reid crossed from the left and found Cole wide left in the six yard box. Cole shot across the goal with Faubert just a yard off reaching the ball.

In the 80th minute Hines replaced Noble. In the 81st minute a move straight out of the academy almost led to a goal opportunity. Davenport played a long ball forward to Reid. Reid crossed from the left wing. Hines in the six yard box laid it back to Sears. Sears shot first time from seven yards and Lopez did well to save. A minute later and Sears actually put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled offside.

In the end it was a good effort from West Ham. Behrami looks a good buy on the right. Etherington is looking good again on the left and Reid did well when he replaced Etherington. Also it looks like Noble and Parker might be the first choice in central midfield now (nothing against Mullins I just think he and Parker don't work as a partnership in the centre).

I'm optimistic again!