Mark Noble's penalty earned West Ham victory over 10-man Portsmouth to keep the Hammers level with league leaders Southampton.

Noble converted after Winston Reid was upended by Tal Ben-Haim.

Referee Kevin Friend further angered Pompey when he sent David Norris off just after the break for a foul on Reid.

Kevin Nolan had a great chance to add a second for West Ham late on but he struck over with four minutes to go.

The win for Sam Allardyce's West Ham means they remain level on points with leaders Southampton at the top of the Championship.

However, the visitors should have been behind early on but Greg Halford lifted his header from Liam Lawrence's free-kick over the bar.

Noble's penalty found the net despite the best attempts of Portsmouth keeper Stephen Henderson who managed to get a hand to the ball.

did you know?

  • West Ham have the best defensive away record in the Championship having conceded just 11 goals on their travels this season

Dave Kitson sprayed a pass to Lawrence just before the break and the midfielder burst through before hitting a fierce strike that West Ham keeper managed to palm away.

However, any chance the hosts had of getting back in the game diminished when Norris was given his marching orders for a foul on Reid.

West Ham were in control but a second goal eluded them as Jack Collison struck the bar before Nolan missed his late chance.

Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton:

"It was not a sending off, it was harsh. I do not think it was a two-footed challenge and it was not a tackle from behind.

"The biggest disappointment was I have never seen a red card pulled out of a pocket so quickly in my life. We were put on the back foot after that.

"It was not a penalty. It was harsh. I think there was two or three West Ham players refereeing the game. We should have had a handball at the end as well.

"You need the referee to be strong and I do not think he was. I felt some of the West Ham players were having an influence on his decisions."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce:

"Even with all the chances we created we have only won the game by a penalty so it was very important it was put away.

"I am looking for another striker because from the chances we created we have not been clinical enough and that has been a problem.

"The good thing is we have one of the best defensive records in the league and that is a positive for us and means we will always be up where we want to be.

"Apart from the last 10 minutes of the first half we were solid defensively. We took control of a game against a side who are brilliant at home.

"We could have won more convincingly after the sending off. We are delighted with the performance and the result."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (4)

Portsmouth

  • 13 Henderson
  • 02 Ward
  • 05 Pearce Booked
  • 15 Halford (Webster - 75' )
  • 26 Ben-Haim
  • 04 Mokoena (Huseklepp - 33' )
  • 07 Lawrence
  • 08 Mullins Booked (Mwaruwari - 83' )
  • 19 Norris Dismissed
  • 09 Futacs
  • 18 Kitson Booked

Substitutes

  • 01 Ashdown
  • 31 Webster
  • 10 Huseklepp
  • 17 Williams
  • 25 Mwaruwari

West Ham

  • 01 Green
  • 02 Reid
  • 03 McCartney
  • 05 Tomkins
  • 17 O'Brien
  • 18 Faubert (Lansbury - 84' )
  • 04 Nolan Booked
  • 10 Collison
  • 16 Noble
  • 21 Diop
  • 09 Cole

Substitutes

  • 15 Faye
  • 22 Lansbury
  • 32 O'Neil
  • 07 Baldock
  • 11 Carew
Ref: Friend
Att: 18,492

Match Stats

Shots

13 10

On target

9 2

Corners

7 3

Fouls

12 9

Live Text Commentary

94:24 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:20

Marko Futacs fouled by Papa Bouba Diop, the ref awards a free kick. Erik Huseklepp shoots direct from the free kick, blocked by Carlton Cole.

90:00 +2:00

Erik Huseklepp concedes a free kick for a foul on Henri Lansbury. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.

90:00 +0:08

Kevin Nolan challenges Benjani Mwaruwari unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Liam Lawrence from the free kick, blocked by Jack Collison. Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Carlton Cole gets a block in.

89:34

The assistant referee flags for offside against Henri Lansbury. Stephen Henderson takes the free kick.

88:50

The ball is swung over by Adam Webster, Robert Green makes a save.

87:05

Effort on goal by Marko Futacs from just inside the area clears the bar.

86:22

Liam Lawrence sends in a cross, Robert Green makes a save.

85:40

Shot on goal by Kevin Nolan from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

84:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Benjani Mwaruwari on Kevin Nolan. Free kick taken by Robert Green.

84:46

Dave Kitson sends in a cross, James Tomkins makes a clearance.

84:12

Henri Lansbury gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joel Ward. Jason Pearce restarts play with the free kick.

83:04

Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.

83:04 Substitution

Substitution Julien Faubert goes off and Henri Lansbury comes on.

83:04

The referee blows for offside.

81:58

Direct free kick taken by Stephen Henderson.

81:58 Substitution

Substitution (Portsmouth) makes a substitution, with Benjani Mwaruwari coming on for Hayden Mullins.

81:58

The referee blows for offside against Carlton Cole.

78:40

Hayden Mullins takes a shot. Save made by Robert Green.

74:24 Substitution

Substitution Adam Webster is brought on as a substitute for Greg Halford.

73:47

Joey O'Brien challenges Liam Lawrence unfairly and gives away a free kick. Liam Lawrence takes the direct free kick.

73:06 Booking

Booking Booking for Kevin Nolan.

72:43 Booking

Booking The referee shows Hayden Mullins a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

72:09

Shot from outside the box by Julien Faubert misses to the left of the target.

69:20

Corner from the left by-line taken by Mark Noble, Stephen Henderson makes a save.

69:14

A cross is delivered by Carlton Cole, blocked by Greg Halford.

67:47

Tal Ben-Haim gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlton Cole. Direct free kick taken by Winston Reid.

67:08

Effort from the edge of the box by Kevin Nolan goes wide of the left-hand upright.

65:14

Shot from just outside the box by George McCartney misses to the left of the target.

65:04

Jack Collison crosses the ball, clearance by Greg Halford.

64:49

The ball is sent over by Joey O'Brien, clearance by Tal Ben-Haim.

63:20

Tal Ben-Haim fouled by Julien Faubert, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Henderson.

62:48

Shot from inside the area by Julien Faubert clears the bar.

62:25

Corner taken right-footed by Jack Collison, clearance made by Dave Kitson.

60:47

Jack Collison produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

59:30

Julien Faubert is ruled offside. Stephen Henderson takes the direct free kick.

58:23

Carlton Cole takes a shot. Save by Stephen Henderson.

57:32

Header by Carlton Cole from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

56:22

James Tomkins restarts play with the free kick.

56:22 Dismissal

Dismissal David Norris sent from the field by the ref for serious foul play.

56:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Winston Reid by David Norris.

55:39

Carlton Cole gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tal Ben-Haim. Stephen Henderson takes the direct free kick.

54:44

Jason Pearce takes a shot from 35 yards and went wide right of the goal.

53:31

Erik Huseklepp delivers the ball, Kevin Nolan manages to make a clearance.

51:05

Centre by Liam Lawrence, James Tomkins makes a clearance.

49:53

The ball is swung over by Mark Noble, clearance by Greg Halford.

48:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Lawrence on Kevin Nolan. Direct free kick taken by James Tomkins.

47:17

Erik Huseklepp produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

46:46

Centre by David Norris, save by Robert Green.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:39

The ball is delivered by Erik Huseklepp.

45:00 +0:58

Centre by Julien Faubert, save by Stephen Henderson.

44:07

Greg Halford gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlton Cole. Direct free kick taken by George McCartney.

42:20

Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.

42:20 Booking

Booking Booking for Jason Pearce.

42:14

Jason Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Papa Bouba Diop.

41:49

Hayden Mullins takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

41:00

Short corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line.

40:54

Liam Lawrence produces a cross, clearance by Papa Bouba Diop.

40:24

Corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line.

40:04

Corner taken by Liam Lawrence,

39:47

Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Robert Green makes a save.

38:04

Marko Futacs takes a shot. Mark Noble gets a block in.

37:01

Liam Lawrence fouled by Kevin Nolan, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Liam Lawrence.

35:20

Short corner taken by Liam Lawrence, David Norris crosses the ball, clearance by Papa Bouba Diop.

34:16

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence, Jason Pearce takes a shot. James Tomkins makes a clearance.

34:01

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence, clearance made by Winston Reid.

33:44

David Norris takes a shot. Joey O'Brien makes a clearance.

32:36 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Mokoena goes off and Erik Huseklepp comes on.

29:57

Liam Lawrence takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Carlton Cole.

26:52

Mark Noble has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

26:43

Julien Faubert crosses the ball, Jason Pearce manages to make a clearance.

24:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Carlton Cole on Jason Pearce. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Henderson.

23:12 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Noble - Portsmouth 0 - 1 West Ham Placed penalty scored by Mark Noble. Portsmouth 0-1 West Ham.

22:21

Tal Ben-Haim concedes a Penalty for a foul on Winston Reid.

21:51

Mark Noble restarts play with the free kick.

21:51 Booking

Booking Dave Kitson booked for unsporting behaviour.

21:39

Dave Kitson challenges Joey O'Brien unfairly and gives away a free kick.

18:03

Hayden Mullins challenges Julien Faubert unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Mark Noble from the free kick, Marko Futacs gets a block in.

16:55

Hayden Mullins concedes a free kick for a foul on Papa Bouba Diop. George McCartney takes the direct free kick.

16:10

The assistant referee signals for offside against Carlton Cole. Stephen Henderson restarts play with the free kick.

14:01

George McCartney sends in a cross.

12:41

Handball by Mark Noble. Jason Pearce takes the direct free kick.

11:37

Unfair challenge on Joey O'Brien by Dave Kitson results in a free kick. James Tomkins takes the free kick.

10:08

The official flags Jack Collison offside. Free kick taken by Stephen Henderson.

8:27

Corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Stephen Henderson.

8:20

The ball is crossed by Jack Collison, Aaron Mokoena gets a block in.

5:38

Greg Halford produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

5:19

Liam Lawrence fouled by Papa Bouba Diop, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Lawrence takes the free kick.

4:30

The ball is crossed by George McCartney, Stephen Henderson manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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