Report - West Ham United 1-0 Swansea City

Swansea City fell to their seventh league defeat as they lost 1-0 at West Ham. Andy Carroll scored the winning goal from a set piece as the visitors continue to wait for their first win at Upton Park since 1956.

Swansea made three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Sunderland in midweek. Angel Rangel returned to the starting line up for Dwight Tiendalli. Itay Shechter replaced by Ki Sung-Yeung. Nathan Dyer dropped to the bench and replaced by Wayne Routledge.

Michel Vorm missed out after attracting some fluid in his knee so Gerhard Tremmel remained in goal and Michu moved back into the striker`s role.

West Ham were the first to threaten inside five minutes as Andy Carroll knocked down a cross and Kevin Nolan shot wide from about eighteen yards out.

The hosts had shouts for a penalty on fourteen minutes when Ben Davies blocked Diame`s shot and the West Ham players screamed for a handball that Lee Probert ignored.

Another chance for West Ham came just two minutes later as Tremmel spilled a shot from Diame but leaped on the rebound before Kevin Nolan could pounce.

And the German goalkeeper was called into action again as he had to save well from Kevin Nolan who had ghosted in behind Ashley Williams.

Swansea were struggling to keep possession and West Ham were overrunning the Swans defence as Williams had to clear after a small scramble in the box.

Despite the home side being on top Pablo Hernandez nearly provided the opener as he skipped past Winston Reid his first cross was charged down but he got to the rebound which was eventually cleared.

West Ham`s aerial threat is always evident and James Tomkins got on the end of a Mark Noble corner but headed harmlessly over the bar.

Tremmel was yet again to the rescue as Carroll and Nolan linked up again and the Swansea goalkeeper produced a great save to keep the latter from opening the scoring.

The Swans had one more half chance as Ben Davies robbed the ball to feed Hernandez whose chipped cross was gathered by Jaaskelainen before it found its way to Michu.

With just a minute of the first half to go Tremmel was yet again called to keep West Ham out as he palmed Diame`s stinging effort away for a corner. Thankfully for Swansea that was the last threatening move as the half ended goalless.

The hosts were straight on the front foot as Ricardo Vaz Te broke past Leon Britton and Ashley Williams but his shot was gathered by Tremmel.

The game was stopped temporarily as Britton had to receive treatment following his attempt to stop Vaz Te`s run. Another chance presented itself to West Ham as Matt Jarvis` cross was blasted over by Carroll.

Luke Moore replaced a limping Leon Britton to play up top with Michu dropping back into midfield.

Pablo Hernandez again had best opportunity for Swansea as his free-kick was well kept out by Jaaskelainen.

Matt Jarvis continued to cause Angel Rangel problems and his cross was headed wide by Carroll. Joe Cole replaced the former Wolves winger with thirty minutes to go.

A dinking run from Wayne Routledge helped him beat two West Ham defenders to feed Michu who blazed over from a tight angle. The Spaniard was in a good position again seconds later as Pablo Hernandez`s cross was headed fractions over.

The game started to open up as Nolan put through Vaz Te but Ben Davies was across brilliantly to clear the ball with the winger bearing down on Tremmel.

Carroll`s power in air was a constant threat and another knock down from the on loan Liverpool striker set up Diame who blasted well over from fourteen yards out. The striker was yet again denied by a terrific save by Tremmel and Diame couldn`t find the target from Vaz Te`s clip back into the box.

With seventy-seven minutes on the clock the big front man finally got his break as he headed in Joe Cole`s corner leaving Tremmel no chance this time for what could be seen as a deserved lead for West Ham.

Having not scored for Swansea City Ki Sung-Yeung struck a stinging shot from 20 yards out that Jasskelainen spilled, but the Finnish goalkeeper gathered Ben Davies` follow up. And the Swans had a great chance to snatch a point at the death as Nathan Dyer`s shot was cleared only to substitute Luke Moore whose shot was blocked by Carroll from seven yards out.

Even a with a flurry of Swansea pressure West Ham managed to hold on meaning the Swans remain eighth in the league table.

Thanks to Matthew Thomas for his match report. You can access his blog at http://matththomas66.wordpress.com/ and follow him on Twitter @mcthomas2905

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