HT West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa: Late Noble penalty boosts Hammers' hopes

An injury-time penalty by Mark Noble gave West Ham a half-time advantage against Aston Villa at Upton Park.

Noble scored from the spot after Habib Beye had brought down Zavon Hines.

England goalkeeper Robert Green had earlier kept West Ham in the game with a string of fine saves but the home side lost Herita Ilunga and England striker Carlton Cole with hamstring problems.

West Ham made a number of changes, with Scott Parker back in midfield for the struggling side.

Jonathan Spector, James Tomkins and Radoslav Kovac were all out but Julien Faubert and Manuel Da Costa were given a place in the starting line-up.

Aston Villa made two changes from the side that drew with Everton.

With Carlos Cuellar suspended and James Milner injured they were replaced by John Carew and Habib Beye.

West Ham suffered an early injury blow when Herita Ilunga was forced out of the action in the sixth minute to be replaced by Jonathan Spector.

The Hammers started brighter than their visitors but despite their early possession, failed to take advantage.

Scott Parker tested Brad Friedel in the 11th minute with a 25-yard drive but the American goalkeeper was equal to the task and gathered safely.

Villa showed they were a danger from corners when Richard Dunne rose unmarked to head the ball goalwards in the 15th minute.

Luckily for the home side, Dunne's downward header did not have the power to reach the goal and was easily cleared.

Friedel however needed two attempts to save an 12-yard effort from West Ham midfielder Mark Noble moments later.

England goalkeeper Robert Green was alert enough to deal with a header from John Carew in the 17th minute but Villa were now beginning to exert some real pressure on the home defence.

Green pulled off a magnificent save seconds later when West Ham half cleared a corner and Stiliyan Petrov volleyed the ball towards goal from fully 30 yards.

The ball took a deflection on its way towards the top corner but somehow Green manage to get his fingertips in the way.

In the 22nd minute Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor brought another fine save from Green when he let fly with an angled drive from the left-side of the penalty area.

Villa were now in the ascendancy and a cross from the lively Ashley Young was headed over the bar at the near post by Agbonlahor.

It got worse for the Hammers in the 31st minute when England international Carlton Cole collected an injury and had to be replaced by Zavon Hines.

In the 38th minute Green had to be at his best again to keep out Carew.

Villa's build-up was incisive as Emile Heskey dropped the ball on to Carew's feet on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Villa striker turned to get his shot away but found Green alert to the danger at the near post.

Villa wasted a fine chance to open the scoring when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Full-back Stephen Warnock elected to take it but his left-footed effort was far too high to trouble Green.

But West Ham were given a penalty in first-half injury time when Habib Beye brought down Hines.

Beye was booked and Noble sent his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give the home side the lead against the run of play.