Sky Sports: The Hammers kept on battling though and were given a spot-kick 20 minutes from full-time when Illunga's shirt was pulled back by Kalou in the box. Noble's penalty was struck well but Cech leapt to his left and tipped away the effort to the great disappointment of the home fans and the West Ham players.
BBC Sport: As a reward more for their defensive application than their adventurous spirit West Ham took the lead just before half-time. Noble ran 30 yards and fed Boa Morte, who replays later revealed to be offside, and the Portuguese in turn found Tristan in the box. The Spaniard's subsequent lay-off was curled expertly into the far bottom corner by the outside of Noble's right foot. (Phil Dawkes)
Sky Sports: Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to secure a deserved share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against West Ham. The Hammers deservedly led at half-time courtesy of Mark Noble's expert finish, but it was a game of two halves as Blackburn dominated after the break.
Daily Mirror: West Ham went ahead in the 34th minute, midfielder Mark Noble - making his 100th appearance for Hammers - executing a sublime finish with the outside of his right foot. Allardyce was angry the goal was allowed to stand because he claimed West Ham's Luis Boa Morte was marginally offside in the build-up. (David Mcdonnell)
Sky Sports: But Konchesky - who left West Ham for Fulham in 2007 - then went from hero to villain on the hour mark as he brought down Carlton Cole inside the 18-yard area to allow Mark Noble to convert from the penalty spot.
The Times: Scolari will have to earn his money in the next few weeks, as a lack of penetration has been exacerbated by defensive frailties that were shown up when West Ham took the lead, Mark Noble controlling Herita Ilunga’s bouncing throw-in with his shoulder before crossing for Bellamy to score. Scolari’s complaints about a handball were groundless. (Matt Hughes)
Hammers Mad: The defining moment of the game arrived after 37 minutes when West Ham's Mark Noble was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence when he scythed down Michael Johnson in front of referee Howard Webb just three minutes after an earlier booking.
Hammer's Diary: I hope Mark Noble takes a cold hard look at himself on the ride home from Manchester tonight. Until he stupidly got himself sent off West Ham had looked in with a chance of getting something from this game.
Iain Dale's Diary : Faubert and Ljungberg ran Newcastle ragged down the wings for the first twenty minutes. What a shame Freddie was stretchered off with a cracked rib (and may miss the Euros) mid way through the first half to be replaced the Boa Morte. Scott Parker was absolutely immense, especially in the first half, while Mark Noble took his goal brilliantly and combined superbly with Parker both defensively and in attack.
The Guardian: Here both teams proved they have the attacking potential to land decisive blows in the title fight but also that their defences constitute jaws of the thinnest glass. West Ham put their better foot forward first, dominating the opening period. Julien Faubert and Freddie Ljungberg hurtled down the wings at will and the drive and nimbleness of Scott Parker and Mark Noble provided a perfect contrast with Newcastle's static midfield... When Noble swept a George McCartney cross into the net from 15 yards in the 10th minute, he was unhindered by any visiting defenders.
The Guardian: As exhaustion set in, West Ham's reserves of energy - indeed, their reserves with energy - prevailed. And it was the men from mid-table, their weekly injury bulletin notwithstanding, who boasted options, the most intriguing of them lending a futuristic look to their side. While Everton's focus on the short term is undiluted, West Ham can take a broader view. "I've got to have one hand on trying to win Premier League matches and another on the future of the club," said the manager, Alan Curbishley. That entailed the introduction of the 18-year-old James Tomkins for his debut. The central defender soon struck the bar and then erred for Everton's goal - "Yakubu rolled him," said Curbishley - before the Nigerian finished forcefully. Yet after an eventful but chastening opening, Tomkins recovered admirably. He forms part of a youthful collective in an East End union that finds favour with its customers. "I came down to breakfast and three of them were sitting round the table, [Jack] Collison, Freddie Sears and James Tomkins," Curbishley said. "Then [Mark] Noble came down and he was like the shop steward because he's a year older than them; I thought he was taking their subs." The apprentices are being schooled in the way of things at Upton Park and one has already shown a propensity to strike. Sears, their match-winner against Blackburn nine days ago, rolled a shot against a post during a sparkling cameo. There is an endearingly old-fashioned element to West Ham's faith in youth, mirrored in their support. "Mark Noble's is the biggest-selling shirt in the club shop because he's home-grown," said Curbishley. "It's as simple as that." Given Noble's intelligent repertoire of an inside-forward's skills, sheer locality should not be the sole reason for the midfielder's popularity with the fans. In the company of such ingenus, Dean Ashton approaches veteran status. The 24-year-old's equaliser, headed in emphatically from Lucas Neill's cross, was almost overshadowed as Sears displayed pace and promise in equal measure. Noble, seemingly inspired, whistled a late long-range shot over the bar. Adventurousness can be infectious but, as Everton know, anxiety is equally contagious. (Richard Jolly, 24th March 2008)
Sunday Mirror: With Fabio Capello watching, West Ham's young England wannabes did enough to merit victory - albeit a cruel one. Freddie Ljungberg played the ball back to Lucas Neill, whose chip was chested down by Luis Boa Morte. Solano, who had replaced Julien Faubert, slid in to Niemi as the ball span away from him - and it rebounded off him into the net. West Ham manager Alan Curbishley said: "From where I was looking it looked a clean connection. Sometimes when you are at the bottom of the table these things go against you. "But I thought our players were fantastic. Mark Noble did well in a three-man midfield. And I can't forget Robert Green's great save near the end. Given all our injury problems the players are doing really well." Noble virtually ran the game in the second half, playing with a maturity and composure beyond his years. Some of the East End youngster's touches were reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle. Green, also watched by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence, produced the save of the match just before Solano's winner. (Anthony Clavane, 24th February, 2008)
Sunday Mirror: West Ham appeared set to pay the price for a glaring miss by the magnificent Mark Noble who blazed the rebound over an open goal after Hayden Mullins had hit the post after just eight minutes. But Noble made amends with a personal performance that epitomised the West Ham spirit.... West Ham were given new belief and Noble provided the ammunition that brought the equaliser and the winner. In the 77th minute, his corner was headed home by Anton Ferdinand who for once was able to grab the right sort of headlines. Then eight minutes from time, Noble's free-kick was floated into the United area. Matthew Upson was first to the ball to head past Kuszczak. "No complaints, the best team won," said Sir Alex. And he was right. (Steve Stammers, 30th December, 2007)
KUMB: Noble was having a quiet half in comparison with the midfield dynamo of Solano, Parker and Mullins, but he found space on the edge of the box with four minutes left and chipped a great ball forward to find the unmarked Cole but he completely misdirected his header, the one error in a fantastic performance by the striker. (East End Martin, 30th December, 2007)
The Times: West Ham toiled. “Mark Noble had pie and mash before the game,” Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said, referring to an interview last week that focused on the midfield player’s East End roots. “Perhaps he had two or three pies. He looked a bit leggy.”
KUMB: Noble then came up with the creative move of the game on 51 minutes as he made a teasing Di Canio-like run into the left side of the box. He foxed two defenders, and passed to Bellamy who only got half a boot on it, hitting Dyer on the back. Zamora had a snap at the loose ball but it went spinning across the face of goal... Three minutes later, the mounting pressure from West Ham resulted in a goal after Bellamy went haring after a ball sent into the right side of the box by Dyer. Doyle came steaming out and Bellamy nicked the ball away from him. Although the ball was heading for a goal kick, the keeper didn’t make it and caught the Welshman. Birmingham protested to the linesman, but ref Mike Halsey was clear about the penalty decision. Up stood an unfamiliar penalty taker in the shape of Mark Noble, who’d showed that he could deal with the pressure of spot kicks at this year’s U21 European Championship. The opposition tried to put him off, but he was exceptionally unfazed, coolly sending Doyle the wrong way. (East End Martin, 20th August, 2007)
The Guardian: There can have been few brighter points during Curbishley's time in east London than the progression of his young charge. The arrival of an entire midfield over the summer - Freddie Ljungberg, Scott Parker, Dyer, who made an impressive debut at St Andrew's, and Julien Faubert - could threaten Noble's place but, on this evidence, he will be tough to leave out, with one superb swerving run from the touchline of particular note. "Mark seemed to lose his way last week and he had a flat and laboured performance," said Curbishley. "But we sat down with him in the week and pointed a few things out, and he's got back to basics and started doing what he's good at." The home side, in contrast, struggled to cope with the wet, windy conditions and with West Ham's superior movement. (John Ashdown, 20th August)
The Independent: Suddenly, West Ham United's supposedly troubled world looks a whole lot sunnier. All it took to start lifting the latest East End storm-clouds was a contested but justified Mark Noble penalty 22 minutes from time, an enterprising, committed performance actually warranting a considerably bigger victory. In the week Steve Bruce bemoaned the lack of English talent produced by an Academy system he says is failing, it was perhaps inevitable his struggling Birmingham City team should be beaten by the archetypal local boy made good. Noble was outstanding in a midfield populated by bigger names – the subdued Kieron Dyer for one – and did much to inspire this fifth victory in six away League games either side of the club's remarkable relegation escape. (David Instone, 19th August)
Sky Sports: A Mark Noble penalty was enough to separate the teams as West Ham claimed their first points of the season with a 1-0 victory at Birmingham. The Hammers produced a much better performance in the second half and took the lead in the 70th minute when Noble tucked away his spot-kick after Craig Bellamy had been brought down by goalkeeper Colin Doyle... Noble impressed in the centre of the park - the only survivor in that department from the side which faced Manchester City - and the margin of victory would have been greater had Bobby Zamora showed more clinical finishing. (Lewis Rutledge , 18th August, 2007)
WestHamOnline: Found it very difficult today up against a good Manchester City midfield. The battle of the midfields was won by City as Noble and Bowyer in the first half failed to get to grips with the game with both players giving the ball away far too much. When in possession you could see that Noble was looking for that killer pass but the lack of movement did not help his cause. I think Noble plays much better with a more defensive midfielder alongside him as it gives him licence to get forward. Today he was trying to do too much with Bowyer only acting as a passenger.
(Vinny, 11th August)
Romford Recorder: West Ham midfielder Mark Noble is enhancing his reputation with every game he plays after another excellent performance for England in the European under-21 Championships. The 20-year-old Canning Town-born Hammer replaced Spurs Tom Huddlestone as a starter in England's second game of the championship and put in a fine display against tournament favourites Italy. (20th June, 2007)
