There’s still no place for Sergio Aguero in Manchester City’s starting line-up, but Mario Balotelli does start up front with Carlos Tevez and the in-form Edin Dzeko.

For the Hammers, Andy Carroll will try to score his first goal for his new side at the sixth attempt.

Here are the teams for this evening’s game…

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Reid, Collins, McCartney, Jarvis, Noble, Diame, Benayoun, Nolan, Carroll
Subs: Spiegel, Cole, Maiga, Spence, O’Neil, Chambers, Hall

Man City: Hart, Nastasic, Kompany, K Toure, Clichy, Barry, Y Toure, Nasri, Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Sinclair, Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Aguero, Razak

Referee: Howard Webb

Goal for West Ham!!!

Hang on, it’s ruled out for off-side.

The ball is hooked in from a Hammers free-kick and Kevin Nolan volleys in superbly. The replay shows he was at least level – bad call, and Sam Allardyce is giving daggers to the officials.

Edin Dzeko was playing Nolan on-side there. Anyway, no matter, it wasn’t given. Mark Noble goes down and receives treatment.

There’s another questionable decision as Samir Nasri’s shot is palmed into the path of Dzeko by Jaaskelainen. The Bosnian heads wide anyway, but he was on-side there.

Mohamed Diame almost scores after fine work from Matt Jarvis, dribbling through before blasting over Joe Hart’s bar. West Ham have started well.

Chance for West Ham!

Jarvis collects the ball on the left and doesn’t try to beat Kolo Toure. Instead, he sends over a cross and Yossi Benayoun is at the far post. The Israeli ghosts in to volley towards goal, but Joe Hart saves.

At the other end, Carlos Tevez skies his free-kick.

Chance for Carroll!

The striker exchanges passes with Benayoun but drags his shot wide of Hart’s post. The England ‘keeper was rooted to his spot, and would not have had a chance of saving that.

Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli are having a nice little bicker for themselves throughout the match. Why can’t those two just get on?

Balotelli’s having a lazy game, which is something you could say quite a lot about the Italian.

It’s time to call this game what it is – a bit of a dud. As long as they’re only playing Carroll up front, West Ham will rely on long balls that won’t ever trouble Kompany and Nastasic.

City, meanwhile, have not really troubled Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Hammers goal. Balotelli has had a couple of efforts but he just does not look interested.

Kolo Toure finds his brother finds the side netting. Wasteful by Yaya. We’re nearly at half-time.

A disappointing half, which Balotelli rounds off with a scissors kick wide of Jaaskelainen’s left-hand post. It won’t be long before the young striker is stroppily flouncing down the tunnel.

No changes for either side at the break, which hopefully won’t mean more of the same. That first half was very dull after a bright opening.

James Collins pulls up and has to receive some treatment.

Meanwhile, Joseph has been mouthing off again…

It’s just been this kind of game…

Benayoun crosses on to the shoulder, rather than the head, of Nolan and it goes wide of Hart’s post.

In the next wave, George McCartney crosses and Andy Carroll’s overhead kick is deflected wide.

City keep playing it in front of the West Ham defence. The home side are playing impressively at the back and look dangerous on the break.

That being said, Tevez finally breaks through but is off balance when he shoots and the chance is wasted. Sergio Aguero about to come on, hopefully for the non existent Dzeko.

Chance for City!

Tevez bounds down the left and his cross eludes the Hammers defence on the counter attack. Gareth Barry runs on to it but shoots just wide from inside the six-yard box.

Aguero is on for Balotelli, who takes his place on the bench despite looking less than pleased.

Momo Diame is replaced by Gary O’Neil. A good game from the former Wigan man.

Backs to the wall stuff from West Ham, but they hold firm and hit City on the break. Jarvis sets up Carroll, who sees his effort blocked by Nastasic.

Carroll appeals for a penalty, which he doesn’t have a chance of getting, before he is taken off and replaced by Carlton Cole.

A free-kick is taken short after Gary O’Neil is penalised. City play it short and Aguero’s snapshot is batted away by Jaaskelainen.

Javi Garcia is about to come on for the champions.

James Collins comes off after a great game for the Hammers. Tevez is replaced and applauded off by the West Ham fans. He applauds them back.

As an aside, Mario Balotelli is officially the Premier League’s most wasteful striker.

From Opta: Mario Balotelli has hit more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season (26, inc. blocked).

Mancini brings Scott Sinclair on for Nasri – can’t hurt, as the Frenchman did nothing.

And that is that – the match peters out in the end and Sam Allardyce punches the air. It’s a fine result for the home side, while the real winners on the day are Manchester United after City and Chelsea both dropped points.

The Hammers will point to Nolan’s perfectly legitimate ‘goal’ in the opening minutes, but holding the champions is still a fine result (if not the makings of a great game).

Thanks for keeping up…