West Ham manager Alan Pardew kept faith with the starting line-up which lost the Nationwide Division One play-off semi-final first leg 1-0 at Ipswich last weekend.

Arsenal’s attempt to rewrite English football’s history books failed in a pulsating 2-2 draw with West Ham at a stunned Upton Park today.

Joe Cole’s magnificent strike on the stroke of half-time gave West Ham a surprise 1-0 interval lead against Arsenal at Upton Park today.