Cole inspires Hammers to Boxing Day win

WEST HAM’S quest to become only the second team in Premier League history to survive relegation after being bottom at Christmas got off to the perfect start as a Carlton Cole-inspired side boosted the team to their first league win on the road for a season and a half.

Cole, back in the side after only managing a place on the bench against Blackburn last week, hit two instinctive goals either side of half-time, sandwiched by a Freddie Piquionne header, to lift the Hammers off the bottom of the table after Fulham had taken an early lead.

The hosts were in control throughout the first period of this Boxing Day clash at Craven Cottage and they took the lead on 12 minutes when Aaron Hughes was afforded time and space in the six-yard box to convert Simon Davies’ cross from the left.

West Ham offered very little down the other end, but they were handed a Christmas gift by midfielder Dickson Etuhu and Cole gratefully received it.

Freddie Sears, making his first start for West Ham for over 18 months, foraged down the right but his miscued low cross was intercepted by Etuhu. However, he could only prod the ball back towards his own goal, and Cole was lurking to stab the ball past the outstretched hand of Mark Schwarzer.

It was a bolt from the blue that arrived against the run of play, but there was to be another body blow for the Cottagers before the break.

A smart link-up between Junior Stanislas and Scott Parker on the left flank saw the Fulham backline sucked towards the action, leaving Piquionne free at the back post, where Parker was able to find him on the stroke of half-time, the Frenchman burying a close-range volley.

West Ham were a different outfit after the break, the rare away lead obviously spurring them on, and they came close to putting the game out of Fulham’s reach through Sears, who fired just wide of the upright.

Robert Green rushed out to meet Andy Johnson as the visitors sought to protect their lead, although they ended up extending it through the excellent Cole.

Danny Gabbidon’s long ball was inadvertently flicked on by Hughes and Cole swivelled to steer a first-time left-foot shot into the far corner.

Green was at it again just two minutes later, flying out and deflecting substitute Eddie Johnson’s shot wide of the target with a magnificent one-handed stop.

The victory moves West Ham up to 18th in the table, level on points with Fulham, and provides manager Avram Grant with the win he was reportedly told he needed over the festive period by the club’s owners.