Bruce's charges grab first away win

West Ham 1, Birmingham 2

Stern John fired Steve Bruce’s men to their first away win in the Premiership this season – and left West Ham rooted 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.

The result meant West Ham have yet to win at Upton Park this season, and it was no surprise to hear the home fans booing at the end.

The Hammers suffered the worst possible start when they fell behind after only three minutes, and it was James – being watched by Eriksson ahead of tomorrow’s England squad announcement – who was at fault.

John beat former City defender Breen as he cut in from the right and from a tight angle the nippy striker fired the ball inside James’ near post.

But West Ham found themselves level after 16 minutes thanks to a ball supplied by di Canio and finished superbly by Cole.

It was a quick break which found di Canio in space down the middle and as Cole made the overlapping run on his left, the Italian played a perfect ball into his path.

Cole waited for goalkeeper Nico Vaesen to come off his line before guiding the ball inside the far post – a finish which must surely have impressed Eriksson.

Having scored one excellent goal, John did even better when he put Birmingham ahead two minutes before the break.

Lazaridis crossed from the left and as Repka hesitated on the edge of the box, John brought the ball under control, turned in one movement and slotted the ball past James in the bottom right corner.

Birmingham should have increased their lead just two minutes after the break. John shielded the ball in the six yard box and laid it off for Clinton Morrison, but the Republic of Ireland striker sliced his shot wide of James’ left hand post.

West Ham tried to get level again with a cheeky free kick from 25 yards after 53 minutes. Cole chipped the ball into the air and Di Canio tried his luck with a volley which flashed wide.

John might have had a hat-trick in the 59th minute when he was unmarked from a left-wing corner. He tried to meet the cross with a side-foot volley from 10 yards but missed his kick.

Vaesen then came to Birmingham’s rescue a minute later. The ball fell kindly for Sinclair on the right edge of the six-yard box and his low shot was blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs for a corner. When the ball was delivered deep, Repka sent a low shot just wide.

Hammer boss Glenn 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.