Half-Time Report: Carlton Cole puts West Ham United ahead

Carlton Cole has given West Ham a half-time lead against Everton in their Premier League clash this afternoon.

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The visitors enjoyed the first good chance of the match as a Leighton Baines cross found an unmarked Sylvain Distin, but the Frenchman headed the ball into the ground and it bounced back up over the crossbar.

Everton thought that they had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Baines put another cross in. Leon Osman headed it into the back of the net, but the linesman flagged for a foul.

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The Hammers broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Mark Noble found Cole, who got the better of Johnny Heitinga before firing a shot across the keeper.

Darron Gibson almost got a goal back in fortuitous circumstances five minutes before the break, but Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to tip his effort over the crossbar.