West Ham 5 Burnley 1

Hitzlsperger started the game in midfield with Parker and Noble. Reid partnered Tomkins in defence and Ba started up front with Cole.

West Ham started the game slowly and Burnley looked the better team for the first twenty minutes. Green was forced into a couple of good saves early on. In the 14th minute Rodriguez brushed Reid aside in the penalty area and his poked shot from 9 yards forced Green to tip the ball over the bar. A minute later and Green was forced into a diving save when Wallace cut in from the right wing and shot from distance.

In the 23rd minute Hitzlsperger got his debut goal. The Hammer dropped his shoulder 30 yards out, making room for the shot before firing home. After the goal West Ham came into the game and controlled possession for patches. However Burnely still managed to create another good chance when Eagles forced Green into a save with a 20 yard effort.


In the opening 5 minutes of the second half we saw the best and the worst of Carlton Cole, amazingly both the best and the worst led to goals for the striker. For his first goal Cole was played clear by Noble. The striker looked suspiciously offside but he continued anyway, well continued to miscontrol the ball before falling over. However from a prone position Cole still managed to get his shot away and score.

Two minutes later Noble played Cole through again. This time Cole's first touch was beautiful and his second touch sent the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards. In the 59th minute Reid made it 4-0 by heading home a Hitz corner from 6 yards. A minute after that Ba was unlucky when his shot from 12 yards was just tipped wide.

In the 67th minute Hitzlsperger was replaced by Barrera. In the 70th minute Rodriguez was left unmarked on the edge of the area but he fired his shot over. A minute later however and Bridge played a short ball back to Green. Green's clearance rebounded off Mears two yards away and fell to Rodriguez who headed in from 4 yards.

In extra time a Reid goal-line clearance saved West Ham conceding a second. West Ham then broke up field and Sears scored from 12 yards.


This was a great win for West Ham. Hitzlesperger got some much needed first team action under his belt and scored on his début. Noble played two defence splitting passes and Cole got on the score sheet twice. It was also a great game from Grant who must take some credit for the second half goals. Grant clearly told the players to play the ball in behind the Burnley defence and the tactic worked a dream.

Now bring on Liverpool.