Source: Team_Talk
Diamanti and Cole secure Irons win
A goal in each half from Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Cole earned the Hammers their first victory under their new regime and one that sees them rise to 14th.[LNB]It was made all the more sweeter for new owners David Gold and David Sullivan by the fact it was achieved at the expense of the club they used to own.[LNB]Zola's future as manager had been the subject of much speculation leading up to the game and it sparked a vote of confidence from Sullivan only hours before the kick-off.[LNB]The co-owner's remarks that the wage bill would have to be slashed was deemed unhelpful by Zola as he prepared his squad for this vital home game.[LNB]But the spirit of unity among the players and their support for Zola was personified by Diamanti's 50-yard run to hug the Italian coach after the striker had put the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time.[LNB]West Ham were in a determined mood from the start with striker Mido showing some nice touches on his full debut.[LNB]In the seventh minute, he sent a header flashing wide of the far post when a cross from Julien Faubert found him unmarked.[LNB]Five minutes later, James Tomkins forced Joe Hart into a fine save when the West Ham midfielder sent a 20-yard drive towards the bottom corner.[LNB]City hit back but a cross from Craig Gardner went straight into the arms of the waiting West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.[LNB]In the 23rd minute, Mido supplied a low cross which Hart managed to scoop into his arms before Cole pounced.[LNB]But West Ham had Green to thank in the 24th minute when he punched away a cross from Carr.[LNB]However, Hart had to be at his best seconds later to tip a powerful drive from Diamanti over the crossbar as the game began to open-up.[LNB]City should have taken the lead in the 28th minute but Cameron Jerome shot wide of Green's right-hand upright from eight yards after Lee Bowyer had cleverly set him up with a short pass.[LNB]Yet West Ham continued to press and Cole did well to turn his marker before firing just a yard wide of the far post in the 32nd minute.[LNB]Kevin Phillips tested Green in the 37th minute but found the England goalkeeper in top form when he tipped the veteran striker's 25-yard shot over the crossbar.[LNB]But West Ham went in front in the second minute of first-half injury time.[LNB]Scott Dann was booked for a foul on Scott Parker on the edge of the penalty area and Diamanti made Blues pay with a brilliant curling free-kick over the wall and into the top corner from 22 yards.[LNB]Diamanti, buoyed by his goal, then tried his luck with a volley in the 54th minute but there was little power behind the shot and Hart dealt with it comfortably.[LNB]West Ham, looking to bounce back from defeat at Burnley at the weekend, continued to dominate.[LNB]Diamanti was presented with another chance when Cole set him up in the 60th minute but shot high over the bar.[LNB]A rare City excursion into the West Ham half brought them a free-kick on the angle of the penalty area when Matthew Upson felled Gardner.[LNB]The West Ham defender was yellow carded for his misdemeanour but City failed to take advantage of the resultant free-kick.[LNB]West Ham made a further change in the 65th minute when Ilan replaced Mido. City responded by removing Keith Fahey and introducing James McFadden.[LNB]But the home side went 2-0 in front in the 67th minute when Faubert's right-wing cross was met by a diving header from Cole that went in off the far post.[LNB]Birmingham should have reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining but Phillips shot high over the bar with just Green to beat.[LNB]It was their last chance as the home side held on to ease the pressure, temporarily at least, on Zola.[LNB][LNB]
