Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham 3 Hull City 0: Quick-fire Hammers put Tigers in deep trouble
David Sullivan will not be able to question Gianfranco Zola's friendly disposition following this.[LNB]Two games after the joint-chairman loudly derided his manager's 'nice' approach, West Ham have their first back-to-back Premier League wins in almost a year.[LNB]If it was designed to provoke a positive reaction, it worked. Goals from Valon Behrami, Carlton Cole's second in three starts since injury and Julien Faubert's first in his 50th league game for West Ham took them four points clear of the relegation zone.[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Sealing the deal: Carlton Cole beats Boaz Myhill to make it 2-0[LNB] [LNB]It also left fellow strugglers Hull with plenty to worry about afterCraig Fagan's second-half dismissal, and Anthony Gardner's suspectedbroken leg, with all their substitutions used, meant they finished thegame with nine men.[LNB]'The owners were pleased with victory against Birmingham and will beeven more pleased with this,' said Zola, who believes 10 more pointscould ensure West Ham's survival.[LNB]'These results are big not only in terms of points and position, but for the whole team's confidence.'[LNB] [LNB] Vital opener: Valon Behrami fired the first as West Ham secured a vital victory in the battle against relegation[LNB] [LNB]West Ham started quickly and Alessandro Diamanti brought a smartsave from Boaz Myhill before they took the lead in the third minute.[LNB]Hull's 19-year-old midfielder Tom Cairney was put in trouble on theedge of his penalty area by his team-mates and Behrami combined withGuillermo Franco before stroking the ball home.[LNB] [LNB] Making matters worse: Craig Fagan is given his second yellow card[LNB]TODAY'S TEAMSWest Ham (4-4-2): Green; Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Spector; Behrami,Parker, Kovac, Diamanti (Collison, 85min); Franco (Ilan, 63), Cole(Mido, 79). [LNB]Subs (not used): Stech, Noble, Da Costa, Stanislas. [LNB]Booked:Parker.Hull (4-4-2): Myhill; McShane, Mouyokolo,Gardner, Dawson; Fagan, Boateng, Carney (Altidore, 64), Hunt (Barmby, 65); Zaki (Olofinjana, 65), Vennegoor of Hesselink. [LNB]Subs (not used): Duke, Garcia, Kilbane, Zayatte.[LNB]Booked: Fagan. Sent-off: Fagan, 53min.[LNB]Referee: M Atkinson (Leeds).[LNB]The energetic goalscorer then had two more efforts well saved byMyhill, who produced amazing acrobatics to claw out a headed effort.[LNB]West Ham's Robert Green then produced an outstanding stop, pushing George Boateng's drive over the bar at the end of the half.[LNB]Fagan was sent off for his second silly booking in the 53rd minute,and his abuse of referee Martin Atkinson could bring more than aone-match ban.[LNB]Cole doubled West Ham's lead five minutes later, finishing calmly after timing his run on to Faubert's through-ball.[LNB]Gardner fell awkwardly and had to be carried off on a stretcher andFaubert thumped a third goal into the top corner in added time.[LNB]Phil Brown, whose Hull team now have just one league win 13 matches, said: 'That was self-inflicted from minute one.'[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Andy Townsend's boot room: The best guide to this weekend's actionGold: West Ham want debt-ridden Pompey relegated on the pitch not offWEST HAM UNITED FC
