Source: Telegraph
West Ham United 2 Birmingham City 0: match report
In a week when the internecine war at West Ham United has made events at the club look more like something from The Godfather rather than Eastenders, it was perhaps fitting than an Italian should strike the killer blow that set them on their way to a much-needed victory over Birmingham City. [LNB]Allessandro Diamanti was the hitman who struck in first-half stoppage time to send the Hammers on their way to a first win in six league games. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesTelegraph player raterZola hits out at Sullivan over pay threatSport on televisionA second goal, from Carlton Cole midway through the second half, confirmed West Ham's first victory since Boxing Day and took them out of the relegation zone. [LNB]In a game brimming with acrimony on and off the pitch, the Italian midfielder scored with a trademark curling free-kick from the edge of the penalty area in first-half stoppage time, to light up a game that simmered but struggled to come to the boil. [LNB]Off the field there were plenty of talking points, not least the public spat between West Ham's manager Gianfranco Zola and the club's new owners David Gold and Sullivan, who are hardly flavour of the month with supporters of Birmingham, their previous club. [LNB]It got off to a quiet start, though. Mido, making his home debut after being signed from Middlesbrough, put in a couple of tame headers in the opening minutes without really threatening, as West Ham started in determined mood. [LNB]The Egyptian was then involved in an exchange of passes with Scott Parker as the midfielder drove into the Birmingham penalty area before shooting wide of the far post. [LNB]Moments later, Joe Hart was called into serious action for the first time. A flurry of passes pinged between West Ham players on the edge of the penalty area before James Tomkins fired in a low shot from 20 yards that forced Hart to dive full length and save. [LNB]It was all West Ham at this stage, and Mido was given a run on goal in the 18th minute when Valon Behrami's neat pass sliced through the Birmingham defence.But the Egyptian striker hesitated when he could have gone for goal, and his final shot required nothing more of Hart than a straightforward save. [LNB]But the young England goalkeeper made a more substantial save midway through the first half when he tipped over a rising 25-yard drive from Diamanti after Carlton Cole laid the ball off to the Italian. [LNB]That came shortly after two moments of panic in the West Ham defence, initially when hesitation from the back line allowed Cameron Jerome to nip in and take the ball past Rob Green. But the Birmingham striker took the ball out to the left and his cross was cleared by Matthew Upson, with his keeper stranded. [LNB]Then Steve Carr drove in from the right past opposing full-back Herita Ilunga and fired in a low cross that Green could only palm out, and although two of his defenders failed to clear, Parker tidied up eventually. [LNB]Cole was always a threat with his physical presence, and shortly after curling a shot wide of the far post from the left, had a fierce drive blocked in front of goal. [LNB]Kevin Philips, restored to Birmingham's starting line-up after scoring twice as a substitute at the weekend, cut in from the left and hit a rising shot that Green tipped over the bar. [LNB]And when a jinking run from Parker ended abruptly when he was tripped on the edge of the penalty area, Diamanti stepped up to curl a beauty of a free-kick into the top corner of goal. [LNB]Diamanti carried on in similar vein at the start of the second half. [LNB]First he burst through from midfield but his bobbling shot from the edge of the area did not have the power to trouble Hart. [LNB]Then he was given a good opening by Cole's neat lay-off, but blazed his shot high over the bar. Mido was also disappointing in front of goal, at one stage stealing the ball off Scott Dann to give himself a clear sight of goal but hit a tame shot at Hart. [LNB]But West Ham were playing with more urgency and attacking intent, and got their reward when Cole made it 2-0 in the 67th minute. [LNB]Radoslav Kovac fed Julien Faubet on the right, the overlapping full-back delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Cole got to the ball first with a diving header from close range. [LNB]That was pretty well that. Phillips volleyed high over the West Ham bar in the closing minutes, but Zola's men held on to celebrate what may turn out to be a valuable victory. [LNB] [LNB]
