Hammers survive in classic Cup match

West Ham 3 Nottingham Forest 2

Jermain Defoe gave West Ham their first home victory of the season with two goals in a tense and dramatic FA Cup tie which had the East End nerves jangling.

He might just have saved manager Glenn Roeder’s job into the bargain.

And if that s the case then Roeder should thank the lucky black cat and the rabbit’s foot which must have been in his corner for a match which the Hammers could so easily have lost.

Twice they went behind, once after goalkeeper David James, who had a nightmare afternoon, dropped a clanger of comic proportions – though it had the Hammers faithful jeering rather than laughing.

The Hammers then saw Forest striker David Johnson miss a penalty and denied a last-ditch equaliser when referee Paul Durkin ruled out Marlon Harewood’s header for an earlier offence.

The huge cheer which greeted the final whistle told everything about the depth of relief among the West Ham faithful who have endured a nightmare season so far and face a desperate fight against relegation from rock-bottom in the Premiership.

But if it was an afternoon when West Ham used up their fortune in buckets, then there was no denying the quality of Defoe, nor the industry, resolve and loyalty of captain Joe Cole.

Just in case anyone had any doubts, however, Cole ripped off his shirt on a freezing afternoon, threw it to the ground and blew a kiss to the Hammers faithful after scoring the second equaliser.

And Roeder will see this result as something on which to build as he attempts to reinforce his fragile squad in the January transfer window.

With Paolo Di Canio undergoing a cartilage operation and Freddie Kanoute still struggling with a long-standing injury, Roeder has admitted he would have signed two or three players in the last two months if it had not been for the transfer ban.

As it is he is desperate to bring in new blood before next Saturday’s home game against Newcastle and for much if this afternoon you could see why.

The last time the teams had met in the FA Cup was in the infamous semi-final of 1991. That day Forest romped to a 4-0 victory after West Ham defender Tony Gale had been sent off.

There was no such controversy this afternoon, unless you count the inexplicable clanger which undid all West Ham’s early work in the 18th minute.

Forest midfielder Andy Reid stepped into space down the left and hit a tame left-foot cross across the face of James’ goal.

It appeared to be an easy gather for West Ham’s England goalkeeper but inexplicably he fumbled the bobbling ball, only succeeding in parrying it into the path of Harewood who tapped into the net from little more than a yard.

It was another example of the Hammers shakes and the crowd were quick to single out James for blame, jeering sarcastically whenever he touched the ball.

Luckily for James, however, West Ham were not behind for long, Defoe equalising in the 24th minute with a spectacular solo goal.

The little Hammers striker picked up the ball 15 yards outside the penalty area, before jinking past a Forest defender and hitting a superb right-foot shot in the same motion to leave Forest goalkeeper Ward floundering.

But despite all West Ham’s entertainment, Forest should have enjoyed their interval cuppa with the lead – full-back Mathieu Louis-Jean squandering a gilt-edged opportunity when the ball fell to him unmarked six yards out from a corner on the stroke of half-time.

Forest might have taken the lead within three minutes of the restart when a long throw from Johnson was met by the head of defender Michael Dawson, but luckily for West Ham it flew just wide.

But after 51 minutes Forest took the lead.

Harewood raced down the right, jinked inside and out leaving defenders in his wake before putting over a precise cross which was volleyed home from 10 yards by the left foot of Andy Reid.

The goal clearly gave Forest confidence and they continued to push forward as West Ham looked more and more edgy.

Forest were quicker to the ball as they sensed a famous victory to match their 4-0 semi-final triumph over the Hammers back in 1991.

Just when it seemed it was slipping away from the home side, however, they equalised – and how fitting that it came via captain Cole who received the pass from Defoe before storming into the penalty area and sending a right-foot shot past Ward.

In the 63rd minute, the Hammers got the stroke of fortune which can turn seasons.

Michael Carrick was adjudged to have fouled Harewood after the ball had spun crazily back off James’ crossbar in a six-yard box melee and referee Durkin pointed to the penalty spot.

Johnson, the Forest striker who had scored 21 goals this season, as many as the entire Hammers team before this match, stepped up and promptly slid his left-foot shot wide – and West Ham breathed again.

Then came that thunderous finale with Defoe picking up the ball in the penalty area, jinking past a couple of defenders and sending a 12-yard shot which deflected off defender Jim Brennan and past the Forest goalkeeper.

West Ham barely deserved it, but no-one at Upton park cared. They had won at home and were in the fourth round of the FA Cup.