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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 28, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Toffolo (82' og.)

Live Commentary: Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United - as it happened

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the pre-season friendly between West Ham United and Norwich City at Carrow Road.
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A late goal has given West Ham United a 1-0 win in their pre-season friendly against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The match was taking place to mark the Canaries' 80th year in the stadium with a repeat of the first competitive match to take place there.

Dimitri Payet and Reece Oxford both got a head to the ball in the final five minutes before it deflected in off Harry Toffolo to hand the visitors the victory.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good evening! Norwich City hosted West Ham United in their first ever match at Carrow Road in 1935. The Canaries continue to prepare for their return to the top flight with a friendly against their Premier League rivals tonight. Let's start with a look at the teams.

NORWICH STARTING XI: Ruddy, E Bennett, R Bennett, Turner, Toffolo, Tettey, O'Neil, Odjidja Ofoe, Hooper, Andreu, Van Wolfswinkel

WEST HAM STARTING XI: Adrian, Burke, Tomkins, Henry, Page, Poyet, Nolan, Amalfitano, Maiga, Jarvis, Sakho

NORWICH SUBSTITUTES: Rudd, Howson, Loza, Josh Murphy, Redmond, Jacob Murphy, Hall-Johnson, McGrandles

WEST HAM SUBSTITUTES: Spiegel, Noble, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Jenkinson, Kouyate, Payet, Valencia, Oxford, Zarate, Samuelsen

So, Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper lead the attack for the home side, who are captained by former West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil.

Slaven Bilic has kept his new signings on the bench for the visitors tonight, with Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson among those who will be looking to feature in the second half. Diafra Sakho, who was frustrated in a goalless draw with Charlton at the weekend, continues up front.

When West Ham became the first ever visitors to Carrow Road on August 31 1935, they were on the wrong side of a 4-3 scoreline as Norwich made a winning start to life at their home ground. It will be a good test for Alex Neil's side so close to the start of the new season, as they are due to go to Upton Park in September to face the Hammers again.

Here are the visitors going through their warmup a few minutes ago:


This is Norwich's penultimate pre-season friendly, with only a clash with Brentford still to come after tonight. Ahead of the final two friendlies, manager Alex Neil told reporters: "What am I looking for from those two games? To win them. I think it is really important to get that winning mentality. That was why it was important we beat Augsburg. I want us to get that winning feeling back because we are used to winning games. We need to take that back home and give good performances. I don't think the West Ham game will be a true reflection of how the Premier League games might go, because they still have the Europa League so I imagine it will be a squad team from them and ours will be mixed and matched as well."

16-year-old Reece Oxford has been a regular in pre-season for West Ham, and is included among the substitutes this evening. The midfielder told the club's website: "It's going well, I'm getting a lot of games in. Hopefully I could [get back in the squad], but hopefully the team can just progress in the Europa League and get to the group stages. It was a good game [at Charlton] and a good experience for me playing in midfield. The team did well."

In just over two weeks the Premier League season gets underway. West Ham start the season with a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal, while Norwich will be at home again, hosting Crystal Palace.

The teams have just made their way out ready for kickoff at the 80-year-old ground.

KICKOFF! The home side get the action underway!

CHANCE! The visitors come close to opening the scoring just moments after kickoff as Morgan Amalfitano tries his luck from the edge of the box after a quick break by the Hammers, but his finish slips just wide.

CHANCE! West Ham are really turning the screw early on as they find themselves in the Norwich box again with Jarvis firing a cross in towards Amalfitano and Sakho, but it's deflected behind for a corner.

There's an early injury concern for the visitors as Diafra Sakho is hacked down by O'Neil on the edge of the box, giving the Hammers a free kick in a dangerous position, but also leaving the striker doubled over in pain. After a couple of minutes of treatment he manages to hobble over to the sideline, before Amalfitano curls the free kick well wide.

The visitors have a corner, which Jarvis curls in. It takes Norwich a few attempts to get the ball clear, but they finally manage to get it away, and go on the counter-attack, forcing their first corner of the match as Adrian punches an O'Neil cross behind.

CHANCE! After watching the majority of the opening 10 minutes take place in the opposite box, Adrian is suddenly finding himself under pressure in the West Ham goal as O'Neil delivers the ball back in from the corner, resulting in a header for Ryan Bennett, but the keeper is able to keep hold of the ball.



West Ham are applying the pressure back down the other end as another dangerous looking cross from Jarvis is turned behind for a corner, but there's no-one there to turn it in as the ball comes back in from the set piece.

CHANCE! Norwich quickly try to get involved down the other end again, with Gary Hooper taking the ball to the edge of the box before looking for a teammate to play in, but there's no-one there. He takes the shot on himself, but it's deflected over.

Van Wolfswinkel tangles with a defender around 25 yards out, giving the Canaries a free kick in a promoising position. The chance is wasted though as Elliott Bennett drifts offside while awaiting Hooper's delivery.

Jarvis really has been excellent down the left flank so far for the visitors, but another excellent cross from him goes begging, allowing Tettey to break down the other end on the counter. Van Wolfswinkel attempts to head it in, but some close marking ensures that it goes out for a throw in instead.

Neither side really look like they're settled yet. West Ham made an excellent start as they tried to find a goal inside the opening 10 minutes, but Norwich have gradually fought their way back into the match, and have looked the more likely in the last few minutes. West Ham have the ball again now though.

CHANCE! West Ham force another corner, which falls kindly for Maiga, but his header is straight at Ruddy, giving the Norwich keeper an easy save.

CHANCE! No sooner has Ruddy made a save in the Norwich goal than Adrian is called into action down the other end, but the keeper gets down low to stop Odjidja's low drive from just outside the box.

CHANCE! Norwich continue to create chances on the counter-attack as Adrian makes another save, denying Andreu with a diving stop after a quick break down the left from the hosts. The Canaries have a corner as a result, but O'Neil's delivery is quickly dealt with by the visitors.

Elliott Bennett tries to carve his way towards the box from the right flank, but tangles with Collins, giving away a free kick. The winger has been busy in the opening half hour for Alex Neil's side.

Norwich are starting to dominate possession as the final 10 minutes of the first half approaches. The hosts have mainly relied on quick breaks to give them chances so far, but they look comfortable dictating the match too. However, an ambitious volley from Odjidja from a long-ball forward is blasted well high.

West Ham are having to defend hard as Norwich pursue an opener. Van Wolfswinkel appears to be clear through on goal before Henry pulls off a superbly-timed tackle just outside the box to take the ball away. The Canaries quickly get the ball back and are in again with Hooper trying to turn just inside the penalty area, but there's a defender in the right place at the right time to make the block.

O'Neil forces a corner, but his delivery is soon cleared, allowing Amalfitano to charge back towards the Norwich goal. It's chipped in towards Sakho, who flicks it into the back of Jarvis, but his first touch is lacking, allowing Bennett to get it clear, although it looks like the midfielder has injured himself in the process.

Bennett is eventually alright to continue, but is soon needed back in defence again as West Ham win the ball back in the middle, but Maiga is greedy and tries his luck from 35 yards out, despite having teammates ahead of him, skewing the ball well wide, much to the amusement of the crowd.

CHANCE! Hooper delivers an excellent cross right to Andreu, but he scuffs his finish, sending the ball behind for a goal kick. Adrian's clearance is quickly won back by Van Wolfswinkel, who has only the keeper to beat as he races back towards the West Ham goal, but he fires the ball straight at the keeper. That was probably the best chance of the match so far.

West Ham force a corner right on the stroke of half time, and there's just time to take it before the interval, but the ball goes straight out from the set piece.

HALF TIME: Norwich City 0-0 West Ham United

After 45 minutes, it's still all square at Carrow Road, with neither Norwich nor West Ham able to open the scoring in the first half. Ricky van Wolfswinkel came close just before the break for the hosts, but the Canaries had to survive an impressive start from Slaven Bilic's side.

Here's a shot of Matt Jarvis and Elliott Bennett both going for the same ball in the first half. They have been two of the busiest players on the pitch so far this evening:


Norwich have named just eight players on their bench this evening, while West Ham have a full team on the sidelines, so expect a host of changes from the Hammers early in the second half, while Norwich will likely be more sparing with their changes.

Gary Hooper both created chances and tried to convert a couple of openings in the first half. It would be a surprise to see him not continuing after the break:


Both sides are making changes before the second half gets underway. We'll bring you full details shortly.

RESTART! West Ham get the action back underway.

SUBS! In fact, it was just Norwich making changes, with West Ham continuing unchanged for now. Jonny Howson replaces Tettey while Nathan Redmond is on in place of Andreu.

CHANCE! Van Wolfswinkel came close just before the break, and is involved against moments after the restart as he flings himself desperately at a cross in from Hooper, but he can't quite get enough on the ball to turn it past Adrian.

CHANCE! Van Wolfswinkel gets anther shot away as Redmond fires a low cross in from the left for the striker, but he drags the finish wide. Van Wolfswinkel has got himself in some promising positions this evening, but just hasn't tested Adrian often enough.

CHANCE! Redmond has only been on a couple of minutes, but having already set one shot up for Van Wolfswinkel, he goes for goal himself, unleashing a powerful finish from just outside the box, but it rises just high.

CHANCE! Matt Jarvis breaks down the other end, forcing a diving save from Ruddy before slicing the rebound well high. It was a decent save from the Norwich keeper, but he would have had no chance had the second effort been on target.

CHANCE! West Ham are on the attack again, with a high ball over the top falling for Sakho, who attempts a rather optimistic overhead bicycle kick. It doesn't come off, but he does manage to scuff it into the path of Nolan, but he thumps his finish high.

It looks like a number of West Ham players are getting ready to come on, with four or five players removing their training jackets on the sidelines. West Ham have had a couple of chances since the restart, but it's been Norwich who have dominated, so it probably is time for a change for the visitors.

SUBS! Here come the changes for West Ham, with nine new faces coming on for Bilic's side. Only Adrian and Tomkins stay on from the original lineup, with Carl Jenkinson making his first appearance since rejoining on loan from Arsenal. Cresswell, Kouyate, Zarate, Valencia, Noble, Ogbonna, Payet and Oxford also come on.

All the changes for the visitors have meant a bit of a slow down in the tempo of the match as both sides adjust to all the substitutions. Norwich are still seeing the majority of the ball at the moment though.

Jenkinson wins the ball back on the right flank for the visitors and charges towards the Norwich goal before crossing in towards Zarate, but his finish is deflected behind for a corner. Dimitri Payet curls it in for Enner Valencia, but he can't find a gap.

Valencia keeps the ball alive with a one-two with Oxford, eventually forcing Van Wolfswinkel to give away another corner. Payet is on set-piece duty again, but this time Norwich get it away quickly.

Now that the new-look West Ham have had a couple of minutes to get up to speed, they're starting to look much more dangerous than their opponents. They almost come unstuck when Elliott Bennett unleashes a dipping effort from range though, just missing the top corner from 25 yards.

Mauro Zarate battles hard in the penalty area to try to get a shot away on the turn, but he's crowded out. He managed to get it to Noble though, who uses his power to close in on the Norwich goal, but he can't stop the ball going behind for a goal kick.

CHANCE! West Ham can't believe they're not in front as Payet lifts the ball over the top for Jenkinson, who delivers a cross, but Ruddy palms it away. The clearance drops to Valencia, but the Norwich keeper is quickly back in position to make another block.

Zarate is involved again, sprinting forward from midfield to battle his way into the box, but some rather physical defending keeps him out. Payet picks it up and tries to curl the ball in from a tight angle, but the physics just wasn't on his side as it misses the post.

CHANCE! Norwich are battling to keep themselves in this match at the moment as Zarate uses his pace to get the better of the home side's defenders yet again, forcing a save from Ruddy at the near post which gives the Hammers another corner.

CHANCE! Payet gets a chance from the resulting corner after the ball comes back in, but he slices the ball too wide.

SUB! Norwich make another change, replacing Gary Hooper with Josh Murphy.

Norwich finally manage to put West Ham under some pressure after surviving a dangerous spell from the visitors. Bennett crosses the ball in towards Van Wolfswinkel, but his header is tipped over by Adrian.

GOAL! Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United (Harry Toffolo OG)

It's a moment to forget for Norwich youngster Harry Toffolo as he turns the ball past his own keeper to hand the visitors the lead. West Ham have a corner, and it looks like the initial danger is cleared, but Payet hooks it back in looking for Kouyate, but Toffolo is slow to react and deflects it past Ruddy at the near post.

Zarate has been just superb since coming on for West Ham, and he's looking to double their lead as he shows off his fantastic footwork skills down the left before cutting inside looking for Valencia, but Norwich do just enough to halt his progress.

There a little bit of confusion over the goalscorer as it was initially awarded as an own goal, but West Ham themselves have given it to Dimitri Payet. Harry Toffolo certainly wouldn't mind if the French international went on to claim that one.

CHANCE! Redmond tries to get the home side back on level terms with just a couple of minutes left to play, attempting to drive the ball in from 25 yards out, but it's right down the middle to leave Adrian with a comfortable save. It will need to be better than that to beat the West Ham keeper.

SUB! Norwich make another substitution, replacing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel with Jamar Loza.

FULL TIME: Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United

FULL TIME: Norwich City 0-1 West Ham United

So, there's still confusion over the goalscorer, but either way West Ham come away from Carrow Road with a win thanks to either Dimitri Payet, Reece Oxford or a Harry Toffolo own goal. Norwich had the better of the chances early in the second half, but once the Hammers made their changes they always looked the more likely.

That's all from this match, but stick around to read results from a number of this evening's pre-season friendlies and Champions League qualifiers, and join us again tomorrow for more pre-season action. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye!

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