Norwich 0 West Ham 0

An enterprising display, by both sides, fails to break the deadlock so it is a point each in Delia`s kitchen.

Sam Allardyce was forced to make one change with Carlton Cole coming in for the injured Andy Carroll with Cole making his 150th appearance for the Hammers.

Norwich got the action underway in what was West Ham`s third early kick-off, on a Saturday lunch-time, since the season began. The early action saw a good run from Diame which earned a corner, from the resulting corner Taylor saw his shot deflect off the head of Nolan but go wide.

Surman, for Norwich, saw an effort flash across the goal and just miss the far post before Taylor fired wide after good work from Vaz Te and Cole had seen Martin clear an effort off of the line.

Noble fouled Johnson, in a dangerous central position just outside the area but Snodgrass hit the resulting free kick against the defensive wall. Ruddy, in the Norwich goal; was forced to claw away an effort from Nolan after some good attacking work from O`Brien.

Vaz Te, as West Ham looked for that crucial opening, saw his shot deflected for a corner before a fierce spell of Norwich pressure saw Jaaskelainen make excellent saves from Snodgrass and Holt in the space of seconds. Holt, as Norwich started to get on top, screwed a weak shot wide before, in a foray up field, Diame saw his low shot saved by Rudy.

As half time approached Collins felled Surman right on the edge of the area but Chris Foy, the referee, decided it was just outside the area. From the resulting free kick, Johnson saw his shot strike the wall and Garrido sent the rebound high, wide and handsome.

Half Time - Norwich 0 West Ham 0

West Ham got the second half underway but it was Norwich that were to start the better. A strong run from Howson set up a chance for Jackson that deflected off Demel for a corner before Jaaskelainen tipped a long range shot from Jackson over the bar as Collins gave him far too much space.

With 56 minutes gone Big Sam made two changes, taking off a limping Cole and replacing him with Maiga and also replacing Taylor with Jarvis.

The Hammers tried to get things moving in the final third but Vaz Te, when well placed saw his cross land on the roof of the net whereas when Jarvis did get a cross right it eluded everyone.

Norwich, still pushing forward, saw a shot from Morison clear the bar before two West Ham corners, in quick succession, failed to trouble Ruddy in the home goal.

As the clock began to run down, Kane saw a shot go just wide before the ineffective Vaz Te made way for Benayoun, making his second West Ham debut.

Almost on the ninety minute mark, West Ham almost snatched a winner. Noble swung a corner in and a header, from Collins, drifted wide of the back post.

Still there was time for more drama when a free kick from West Ham saw Norwich break but young Kane didn`t really test Jaaskelainen who saved low down.

A point on the road but it is now 39 years since West Ham won a league game at Carrow Road.



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