Nolan proves his worth as Hammers nail Cardiff

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hailed the impact made by the returning Kevin Nolan as the Hammers won 2-0 at Cardiff yesterday to move within a point of npower Championship leaders Southampton.

Nolan, who returned from a three-match ban at the Cardiff City Stadium, produced a superb finish to give the visitors the lead two minutes before the break.

The after-effects of the Carling Cup final defeat on penalties to Liverpool at Wembley seemed to tell in the Bluebirds’ display, and they were finished off in the 77th minute when George McCartney beat David Marshall from a tight angle.