West Ham 1 Hull City 0: Mark Noble saves Hammers blushes after Tigers hit woodwork three times at the London Stadium
Slaven Bilic's side fail to shine at home yet again but captain bails them out with late penalty
MARK NOBLE's late penalty gave West Ham a second straight victory - but Hull were left to curse their luck after hitting the woodwork three times.
Slaven Bilic named an unchanged side but his team were outfought for much of the game, with captain Noble slotting the only goal from the spot with just fifteen minutes to play.
The Hammers crowd were incensed as the Tigers ran the show in the first half and they should've been ahead at the break.
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Hull were guilty of missing a host of chances in the goalless first 45, with Harry Maguire unlucky with a fantastic opportunity right on half time.
Bilic brought on Edimilson Fernandes and Andre Ayew in a bid to spark the home side into life but it was Hull who almost opened the scoring as they smashed the woodwork through Andrew Robertson - and he did the same again two minutes later.
Against the run of play, Tom Huddlestone gave away a clumsy penalty and Noble made no mistake from the spot.
Maguire had another late chance but could only find the side netting as Hull slumped to a seventh straight away defeat.
Facts, stats, goals & lols
- West Ham name an unchanged side from Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Burnley looking for back-to-back wins.
- West Ham dominated early possession but amazing let off when horrendous back pass from Lanzini puts Mbokani clean through only for him to hit the post.
- Darren Randolph makes third superb save in as many games with one handed stop from Harry Maguire point blank header.
- Sam Clucas guilty of terrible miss when through in the box on the half hour mark.
- West Ham booed by their own fans as they struggle to get into gear and Jake Livermore gets another shot on goal in the 44th minute.
- Loud jeers from deflated home fans when ref Lee Mason blows for half time after insipid performance from West Ham.
- There were ironic cheers from the crowd when the PA announcer points them towards the ‘highlights’ of the first half.
- Mark Noble hit his own post with a diving header trying to clear a cross from Andrew Robertson.
- Robertson made it three times against the woodwork for Hull with 25 yard thunderbolt.
- Noble then scores from the penalty spot with 14 minutes togo. At the same end where he had one saved then put away the rebound against Burnley on Wednesday.
Big picture
Next five fixtures
West Ham
Swansea (a) - Dec 26
Leicester (a) - Dec 31
Man United (h) - Jan 2
Man City (h) - Jan 6
Palace (h) - Jan 14
Hull
Man City (h) - Dec 26
Everton (h) - Dec 30
West Brom (a) - Jan 2
Swansea (h) - Jan 7
Man United (a) - Jan 10
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Dream team ratings
West Ham: Randolph 7, Reid 8, Payet 8, Carroll 7, Antonio 7, Kouyate 7, Noble 7, Ogbonna 7, Cresswell 6, Ayew 6
Hull: Marshall 7, Maguire 7, Davies 7, Robertson 7, Snodgrass 7, Elmohamady 6, Dawson 6, Livermore 6, Huddlestone 6, Henrikson 5
Star man: Winston Reid 8