Birmingham City 1, West Ham 0: Colin Tattum's match stats and player ratings
HART 7
Sound and assured, showed sharp concentration and reaction levels to deny Franco at key time.
CARR 7
Alert, lively, incessant, aggressive; a warrior of a full-back.
RIDGEWELL 7
Up against best opposition player again and gave as good as he got.
JOHNSON 7
By his standards had a couple of rash moments yet overall strong and firm.
MAN OF THE MATCH: DANN 7
Growing in stature, decisive and determined, yet calm too.
LARSSON 7
Up and down park energetically, perky and probing in final third.
FERGUSON 7
Competed and scrapped away, brought measure of cool when needed too.
BOWYER 7
Intelligent and measured presence in thick of it, another trademark run and goal.
McFADDEN 7
Sparky and adventurous on the dribble, also put shift in.
JEROME 7
Deserved goal for relentless manner and menace carried to West Ham defence.
BENITEZ 7
Busy, involved and clever before running out of steam a little.
SUBSTITUTES:
Fahey (for Bowyer, 90+2)
Phillips (for McFadden, 90+2)
Not used: Carsley, McSheffrey, Vignal, O’Shea, Maik Taylor.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Green, Faubert, Ilunga (Nouble, 83), Parker, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Stanislas (Collison, 68), Noble, Kovac (Dyer, 68), Franco, Diamanti. Not used: Spector, Da Costa, Payne, Kurucz.
SENDING-OFF: Noble (foul, second bookable offence, 78) – West Ham.
BOOKINGS: Ferguson (kicking ball away, 16), Ridgewell (foul, 59), Johnson (foul, 78) – Blues. Kovac (foul, 11), Diamanti (foul, 45+1), Noble (73, dissent) – West Ham.
CROWD WATCH 8
Patient and supportive, mood remains good. Attendance: 28,203.
REF WATCH 6
L Mason (Lancs): Average, sending-off harsh.
THE MANAGER 7
Alex McLeish kept cool and faith in team, advising from sideline.
GAME RATING 7
Enough action, incident and tension to keep you glued.
INJURY WATCH
None reported.
WHO’S NEXT UP FOR BLUES?
Blackburn (h) tomorrow, 8pm.
