Birmingham defeat Hammers

West Ham 1, Birmingham 2 (full-time)

Stern John fired Steve Bruce’s men to their first away win in the Premiership this season and left West Ham glued to the bottom of the table.

The 26-year-old striker grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign after only three minutes when he cut inside Gary Breen and beat David James at his near post – much to the goalkeeper’s embarrassment in front of the watching England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

Joe Cole did his England hopes the power of good when he equalised after 16 minutes. He ran on to a lovely pass from Paolo di Canio down the left and steered the ball inside the far post – the Hammers’ first goal at Upton Park for five hours and 23 minutes.

But John tormented the home defence again two minutes before the break.

Stan Lazaridis crossed from the left and as Tomas Repka hesitated on the edge of the box, John brought the ball under control, turned in one swift movement and slotted the ball past James in the bottom right corner – leaving West Ham yet to win at Upton Park this season.

Roeder amazed and angered the home fans after 72 minutes when he made a double substitution which included bringing off Cole.

The influential midfielder and Sebastian Schemmel were replaced by Titi Camara and Ian Pearce, and the fans chanted: “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

A minute later Camara was in the action with a shot from the edge of the box which looped just over the bar.

Another golden chance for John to complete his hat-trick came with eight minutes remaining when he was unmarked to meet Lazaridis’ cross from the left but headed wide from six yards.

That was his last contribution as he was replaced by Geoff Horsfield seconds later, but by then he had more than played his part in Birmingham’s first away win in the league this season.