Hammers relish gift from poor Pompey

ON the second day of Christmas, Portsmouth gave to West Ham three vital points, for the second year in succession.

Last year’s 4-1 St Stephen’s Day victory at Fratton Park was the first in an eight-game unbeaten run that was only ended by Manchester United in February. How Gianfranco Zola could use a little bit of history repeating itself.

Goals in either half from Alessandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac may have dragged the Londoners out of the relegation zone, at least until the third day of Christmas, but the manner of victory did not hint at an unbeaten January. In fact, against better appointed opponents, a callow second half performance could have ended an unbeaten run that only started with last Sunday’s draw here against Chelsea.