HALF-TIME: Burnley FC 2 West Ham o

Sam Allardyce's side struggled to adapt with the Burnley's high tempo display as they limited their opponents to little time on the ball, pressing the London side high up the field.

The visitors started the better of the two teams and, after Paterson's early header flashed wide of Robert Green's post, Hammers striker Carlton Cole had two chances to open the scoring.

Matt Taylor intercepted Michael Duff's underhit pass and as Noble claimed possession the midfielder threaded a pass through to Cole who calmly rounded Grant but fired wide off balance. Moments later Cole lashed goalwards from the penalty spot but failed to get around the ball from Joey O'Brien's low cross and his effort landed in the David Fishwick Stand.

Eddie Howe's side failed to find a flow before the deadlock was broken, bullied by a physical Hammers outfit. And their inability to string passes together was more than likely helped by the frustration that grew from referee Mark Haywood's reluctancy to use his whistle.

However, the goal finally came and it was the first time the Clarets really found their stride, proving too slick and intricate for the Hammers to deal with. Ross Wallace's pass from the right was cleverly flicked in to the path of marauding midfielder Marvin Bartley by Martin Paterson and he cooly stepped past James Tomkins before firing beneath Green.

But the hosts were lucky to retain their lead just minutes later when United had a goal ruled out. Jack Collison's cross was powered home via the underside of the bar by skipper Kevin Nolan; Haywood spotting an infringement though to wipe the goal out.

The Clarets energy and desire continued to cause problems and their next push resulted in a second. Danny Ings, Dean Marney and Paterson were all involved in a slick exhibition of pass and move football and as the ball worked its way out to Mee, the full-back's inswinging cross was guided past Green off the knee of Paterson.

Collison tested Grant from distance, though the Clarets stepper did well to palm the ball over the bar, and from the resulting corner Tomkins, who had been caught for both goals, missed the target with a header. Ings was denied his first Clarets goal by the post as his glancing header from Wallace's teasing cross had Green rooted to the spot and as the half came to a close Grant denied Taylor from close range.

At half-time at Turf Moor it's Clarets 2 West Ham United 0.