FULL TIME: Hammers held by ten-man Royals (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

FULL TIME: Hammers held by ten-man Royals

2:54pm Wednesday 26th December 2007 in West Ham By Guardian-series

West Ham 1
Reading 1
(Barclays Premier League) WEST Ham were held to a frustrating draw at home to ten-man Reading this afternoon.

The visitors were well worth a point, even after Brynjar Gunnarsson was given his marching orders after only 28 minutes for a two-footed lunge in a tackle with Hayden Mullins.

The Irons looked to have captialised when Nobby Solano swooped in with a classy 42nd minute opener - the Peruvian burst into the box and clipped the ball expertly over Royals keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

But Dave Kitson equalised on the hour mark, turning on Nicky Shorey's pass to lob into the top corner.

The Hammers spurned a few decent opportunities for a winner - Solano went close with a free kick and Jonathan Spector flicked a header onto the crossbar.

Scott Parker did well to fashion an opener on two separate occassions, but both his efforts were well saved by Hahnemann.

Then, in the dying moments, Dean Ashton headed Mark Noble's corner onto a post.

West Ham: Green, Neill, McCartney, Upson, Spector, Solano (Noble 77), Mullins, Parker, Cole (Camara 72), Ashton. Unused subs: Wright, Pantsil, Ferdinand.