Jewell: Hammers fine sets dangerous precedent

THE contrast in fortunes between Wigan and West Ham went far beyond the scoreline as Alan Curbishley’s extraordinary attempt to escape relegation gathered pace and, in the eyes of his opposite number Paul Jewell at least, events of the weekend undermined a basic injustice in the Premier League.

Goals from Luis Boa Morte, Yossi Benayoun and Marlon Harewood capped a superb performance by the winners, aided by one that was every bit as pitiful by the home team, and secured a fifth victory in the last seven Premiership games for a resurgent Hammers.

But West Ham’s greatest victory of the season, arguably in their recent history, came at the Premier League hearing in London on Friday when a panel gave them a £5.5m fine, rather than deducting points, for breaking rules over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.