Carlton Cole scored on his return to the West Ham team as Sam Allardyce's side picked up a priceless win over Fulham at Upton Park. The striker scored from close range with 8 minutes to go to seal a 3-0 win, adding to Senegalese midfielder Mohamed Diame's 20 yard deflected strike on 47 minutes and Joe Cole's goal in the 88th minute. West Ham started the match brightly with both Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis whipping dangerous balls into the box minutes after kick-off. Downing was causing Fulham all sorts of problems from out on the right winger, skipping past Kieran Richardson, forcing the left back to scythe him down and earn a yellow card. From the resulting free kick West Ham struck the post, striker Modibo Maiga unluckily seeing his header denied by the woodwork. More good work down the right came on 18 minutes earned West Ham a corner, Downing stepped up to deliver the ball and from his delivery James Collins headed just wide. With time running out in the first half Guy Demel burst forward from right back and chipped a delightful ball through to Diame but the midfielder was unable to connect with the volley. In the final moments of the half Downing and Jarvis combined once again, with a beautiful reverse pass by the former allowing Jarvis to find Nolan, but his volley was saved. Minutes after the restart and West Ham took the lead, with Diame winning the ball in midfield and firing a deflected shot from 20 yards past a motionless Maarten Stekelenburg. And come the 65th minute, the Hammers threatened again as another excellent Downing corner saw James Tomkins' header cleared off the line. West Ham continued to impress, substitute Joe Cole forced another smart save from Stekelenburg after a long range effort in the 75th minute. However with eight minutes to go substitute Carlton Cole, making his first appearance of the season, scored from close range to wrap up the result after good work from Downing on the right, the ball was squared to the striker who made no mistake from five yards out. Jole Cole rounded off the victory with a goal in the 88th minute, firing home on the edge of the box after Ravel Morrison had weaved his way through the Fulham defence. The victory means that Fulham remain in the relegation zone, only increasing the growing pressure on Jol, who claimed that his own job might be in peril if his side lost this vital game.