As the news broke of West Ham United's potential signing of the Thurrock born 22 year old right back Sam Byram from Leeds United, senior members of the Everton hierarchy will have been reaching for their hip flasks in order to numb the reality that they are facing since the departure of main scout Tony Henry to West Ham United. The Byram Leeds to Everton deal was all done and dusted, but local influence AND Tony Henry put an end to all that!

Newcastle: Elliot, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Shelvey, Colback, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Lascelles, Gouffran, Saivet, Aarons, Toney, Riviere.
West Ham : Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang, Noble, Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Valencia.
Subs: Randolph, Jenkinson, Reid, Song, Cullen, Moses, Jelavic.

Mark Lawrenson, despite his recent 'moment of clarity' got it wrong again, maybe he should be renamed Mark Got It Wrong Son! Despite Liverpool's ex -finest's prediction, a Dimitri Payet inspired West Ham United survived a rocky first half which saw Andy Carroll trouping off in an all too familiar fashion, and the conceding of a goal that Adrian will just have to put down as one of life's errors.

Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis (c), Cook, Daniels, Smith, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Stanislas, Ritchie, Afobe
Subs: Federici, Distin, Pugh, O'Kane, Iturbe, Murray, Grabban
West Ham : Adrian; Ogbonna, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell; Obiang, Noble, Antonio; Payet, Valencia, Carroll
Subs: Randolph, Reid, Song, Jenkinson, Jelavic, Oxford, Cullen

West Ham United have been drawn away to either Exeter or Liverpool, who have of course already been beaten twice by the Irons this season, in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

West Ham United:
01 Randolph 02 Reid 03 Cresswell 04 Song 10 Zárate 12 Jenkinson 14 Obiang 16 Noble 19 Collins 26 Jelavic 30 Antonio Substitutes: 05 Tomkins 09 Carroll 13 Adrián 21 Ogbonna 27 Payet 35 Oxford 39 Cullen
Wolverhampton Wanderers:
01 Ikeme 02 Doherty 04 Edwards 06 Batth 11 McDonald 16 Coady 17 van La Parra 18 Iorfa 22 Sigurdarson 23 Ebanks-Landell 23 Ebanks-Landell 27 Zyro Substitutes: 03 Golbourne 07 Henry 08 Saville 24 Graham 25 Byrne 26 Martinez 29 Le Fondre

West Ham United co-owner and majority share holder, David Sullivan, recently re-confirmed that the club had been two hours away from agreeing a deal to bring Rafa Benitez to the Boleyn as manager when the spaniard was offered the chance of a life time to go and manage Real Madrid in his homeland in what was supposed to be a match made in heaven.

The only bubble that burst at the Boleyn during the two nil trouncing of Liverpool by West Ham United was Manuel Lanzini getting injured. Was the diminutive Argentine rushed back too soon? In the 38 minutes he was on the pitch he stroked the ball around with aplomb and hit the post with a wonderful swirling shot that had Minolet left for dead in the visitors goal.

The Org is back fitter and leaner!
West Ham :Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Lanzini, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Carroll Subs: Randolph, Jenkinson, Obiang, Song, Payet, Zarate, Jelavic
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Firmino, Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke Subs: Bogdan, Toure, Lallana, Allen, Brannagan, Smith, Randall

Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll combined to create a 'come from behind' you 2-1 victory for Hammers against a Southampton visiting team that had recently tonked Premier League aspirants Arsenal. In the season of the pantomime Andy Carroll has been cast as the Villain, but when called from the bench following a pretty disastrous first half against the Saints, he put himself about with some level of aplomb, as did Antonio, who had been on the receiving end of some very negative fan comments! Full match review to follow, that is assuming that the bow fly over finally gets liberated! - Ed