West Ham 3-3 West Brom: Thrilling Six-Pointer Ends Even
Premier League strugglers West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion played on an enthralling rollercoaster 3-3 draw at Upton Park that left neutrals satisified, but neither side any better off.
Joe Cole opened the scoring for the hosts inside five minutes before a late first half brace from Nicolas Anelka put the Baggies ahead. Modibo Maiga and Hammers captain Kevin Nolan struck in quick succession to complete the turnaround after the break.
Saido Berahino rescued a point for West Brom, however, and it could have been more but for the goal frame. His late free kick rattled the woodwork, so both sides shared the spoils.
West Ham survived an early scare when Chris Brunt fired into the side-netting for Albion, and then went ahead in the fourth minute. Joe Cole profited from Diego Lugano's defensive error after Carlton Cole won an aerial ball. Passes were exchanged with Nolan before the ex-England winger sidefooted home.
Big Sam lost another defender as James Tomkins limped off with a groin problem inside ten minutes. Guy Demel replaced him, so Joey O'Brien moved infield to centre back. Other Hammers half chances were then spurned and the Baggies equalized.
Anelka held off O'Brien as Albion quickly went back to front through Youssouf Mulumbu and Brunt. Veteran Frenchman Anelka then slotted under Jussi Jaaseklainen six minutes before half time.
The Baggies completed the turnaround in stoppage time as Carlton Cole cleared Jonas Olsson's header from a controversially awarded corner to Anelka. He smuggled in a second from close range, profiting from poor West Ham marking.
Jaaskelainen denied Anelka his hat-trick a minute into the second half as he kept out an improvised finish from Billy Jones's low cross. Hammers sub Maiga brought the best out of Ben Foster on the hour when the Baggies number one tipped over his strong strike.
Moments later Maiga levelled with a low, curling effort when Nolan slipped it into him with Foster unsighted. There was a hint of handball here. A topsy-truvy contest then saw West Ham go back into the lead with a quarter of the game to go.
Nolan hooked home when Maiga knocked down Mark Noble's stood up centre to the Hammers captain. That advantage for the hosts lasted just a couple of minutes, however, as Berahino rifled in an equalizer from a tight angle off the post.
Brunt won a free kick with ten minutes later after a terrible Mohamed Diame tackle on a torrid day for the West Ham midfielder. Only the upright denied Albion a winner as Berahino curled beautifully against the post.
This fantastic advert for Premier League football finished level after a grandstand finish. Neither side gains any real ground in the relegation dogfight as the Hammers remain in the bottom three. West Brom edge a further point clear though.