West Ham secured a vital away win for beleagured boss Sam Allardyce as the Hammers move out of the relegation zone with a 0-2 win in Wales following a horrific cup week. A torrid week had seen the East London side lose 5-0 to Championship outfit Nottingham Forest in last weekend's FA Cup, followed by a 6-0 midweek hammering by Man City in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the Wembley decider. However, a well-taken goal from Carlton Cole, and an late insurance from reliable midfielder Mark Noble secured a first league win since November, and moved the Hammers out of the relegation-zone on goal difference. Cole latched on to a Matt Jarvis volley on 42 minutes to give West Ham the lead going into the break. Cardiff dominated much of the proceedings, with over 60% of possession and 19 attempts at goal, but they couldn't convert, and Mark Noble wrapped up the points on 90 minutes with a low finish, after being set-up by substitute Andy Carroll. However, Carroll's return will surely give West Ham confidence as they gear up for what is sure to be an enthralling relegation battle as the second half of the season begins in earnest. It wasn't all plain sailing for West Ham; Demel sustained a serious head injury, causing the game to be halted for 10 minutes, and his absence will add to Allardyce's injury woes. James Tompkins' red card will also be a headache, he'll replace Kevin Nolan in the ranks of the suspended, and join Winston Reid and James Collins on the defensive absentee listings. Cardiff's loss means they now fall below West Ham into the drop-zone, with both teams tied on 18 points from 21 matches. New manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had his first game on the touchline today; he's sure to be feeling the heat as the Bluebirds attempt to beat the drop on their debut season in the English Premier League. Cardiff: Marshall, Theophile-Catherine, Hudson, Caulker, John, Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Noone, Campbell, Odemwingie. Subs: Cornelius for Hudson (78), Eikrem for Medel (65), Bellamy for Odemwingie (45) West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Jarvis, Rat, Collison, Taylor, Noble, Demel, Downing, C Cole, Johnson. Subs: McCartney for Demel (17), Carroll for Cole (72), Diarra for Collison (75)
Diarmuid is a freelance student and studious sports journalist operating out of the wilds of Dublin, Ireland. His specialist subjects include the English Premier League, the GAA, and track and field athletics.
