Hard work and good luck gave West Ham a crowd pleasing victory at the Ricoh Arena after an appalling first half performance.
Clive Platt gave City a deserved lead mid-way through the first half after a neat turn and shot on the edge of the six yard box, leaving Rob Green helpless in the Hammers goal. After struggling to make any impact on the game in the first half West Ham made changes to personnel and formation at the break and Carlton Cole’s introduction turned the game in West Ham’s favour. A determined run and shot from Cole brought the visitors level as a deflection lifted the ball over the stranded Murphy in the City goal to send the travelling fans into raptures.
Ten minutes later and with just 15 minutes to go, another substitute Freddie Piquionne went in for a diving header at the back post and after three deflections the ball somehow found it’s way into the back of the net to allow the 6,400 Hammers behind that goal to enter party mode.
West Ham sat back for the last 10 minutes but managed to hold on to a vital away win and allowed the players and fans to celebrate after the final whistle.
The Hammers remain second in the table behind Southampton who beat Brighton at St Marys.
