Hammers win proves costly for Pardew

WEST HAM boss Alan Pardew was faced with a mounting FA Cup final headache after injuries to two star men tarnished his side’s win at doomed West Brom.

Matthew Etherington failed to make it past the warm-up with a groin problem while Dean Ashton limped off with a hamstring strain with the Cardiff showpiece just 12 days away.

Captain Nigel Reo-Coker struck a 41st-minute winner for the Hammers but the injury problems were the least Pardew needed with Hayden Mullins’ suspension appeal having failed.