Referee Mike Jones had two big decisions to make in this game. He got the first one right, sending off Nolan in the 9th minute for a dangerous two footed challenge. Luckily for West Ham, however, he got the second one wrong when Faubert clearly fouled the Millwall keeper in the build up to West Ham's second goal.
A high ball into the area in the 68th minute forced Forde to jump and punch the ball clear. Whilst in the air Faubert ran into the keeper and sent him sprawling. The ref allowed play to continue and Reid pounced on Forde's clearance and blasted the ball into the back of the net from just outside the area.
In the first ten minutes Millwall looked the better of the two teams, however, after Nolan's dismissal, West Ham actually began to have the better of the play. Noble and Faubert, in particular were immense. Noble seemed to be everywhere, picking up the ball in midfield and invariably finding his team mates with his distribution.
On the right wing Faubert's pace caused the Millwall defence no end of trouble. With seconds to go in the first half West Ham's drive was rewarded when Carlton Cole showed impressive strength to beat the Millwall defence to a flicked on Noble freekick and head home from close range. Cole looked second best to get to the ball but he shrugged off his marker and managed to loop the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net.
Millwall did well to get back into the game when in the 66th minute Faye seemed to have won the ball in his own area, only for Henderson to nick it off his toes on the byline and hook the ball back into play. The knocked back ball sat up nicely for Trotter who fired in from about ten yards out.
Millwall's parity didn't last long as in less than a minute Reid managed to grab his controversial winning goal. West Ham won't be complaining though and this result was exactly what the club needed to bounce straight back after a heavy midweek defeat.
