Sheringham goal steers Hammers to win

West Ham 1 West Brom 0

Teddy Sheringham proved he can still handle the pace of Premiership football by scoring the goal that saw West Ham deservedly overcome West Brom.

The 39-year-old justified boss Alan Pardew’s decision to restore him to the starting XI with his second-half strike that sealed the Hammers’ fourth home league win of the campaign – and plunged West Brom into more relegation trouble.

The Baggies had matched their hosts in a first half where Marlon Harewood and Yossi Benayoun wasted chances for the home side and Diomansy Kamara was equally profligate for Bryan Robson’s men.

But West Brom – who came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 here two years ago – were poor after the break and the Hammers merited their triumph.

Albion boss Bryan Robson tore into his players after their 3-0 home defeat by Newcastle last Sunday, and three of the men who started that match were left out.

Riccardo Scimeca, Darren Moore and Darren Carter were omitted as striker Kamara and defender Martin Albrechtsen returned from injury and midfielder Ronnie Wallwork was also brought back.

Last time West Brom played at Upton Park in the old Division One two years ago, they were 3-0 down after 18 minutes but recovered to win 4-3. Albion began the game looking for their first away win in the Premiership this season – and it was no surprise to see West Ham claim the initiative early on.

In the fourth minute, Albrechtsen’s slip allowed Sheringham’s lay-off to reach Marlon Harewood eight yards from goal, but the full-back recovered superbly to block Harewood’s goalbound effort.

And from Benayoun’s resulting corner from the left, Danny Gabbidon headed just wide after Sheringham had flicked the ball on at the near post.

West Brom’s first chance came when Kamara cut inside Hammers right-back Tomas Repka and drove into the area, but he could only blast a shot into the side-netting.

West Brom were frustrated once more six minutes later, when Steve Watson headed Kamara’s free-kick from the left past Shaka Hislop only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

Two minutes later, Kamara surged forward from halfway but blasted high and wide from 20 yards instead of feeding Robert Earnshaw.

Luckily for West Brom, the Hammers were also in wasteful mood. Benayoun seized the ball after an error by Albrechtsen but goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak saved the Israeli’s close-range effort with his legs.

And following another Benayoun corner in the 22nd minute, Hayden Mullins fired well over from eight yards after the ball had bounced favourably for him.

Chances continued to arrive for both sides, and Kamara headed straight at Hislop shortly afterwards following excellent work by Earnshaw.

In the 31st minute, Benayoun capitalised on a mix-up between Wallwork and Junichi Inamoto in midfield to play an intelligent ball into the path of Harewood, but Neil Clement read the danger well and was able to intercept.

Only West Ham will know how they failed to take the lead in the 36th minute. After Kuszczak had parried Harewood’s powerful angled drive from right to left, Sheringham reacted quickest to turn the ball back to Benayoun.

With Kuszczak stranded, the winger seemed certain to score from 10 yards, but impressive defender Curtis Davies – positioned on the line – threw himself in the path of Benayoun’s effort to keep Albion level.

West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker had been limping heavily in the closing stages of the first half, and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Christian Dailly for the second period.

The home side could not repeat their bracing start to the opening 45 minutes, and it was West Brom who created the first chance after the break.

Following some neat build-up play involving Kamara and Earnshaw in the 50th minute, Kamara allowed Albrechtsen’s low left-wing cross to run past him to Steve Watson, whose mis-hit 12-yard shot was gathered only at the second attempt by Hislop, who sustained an injury when Kanu attempted to follow up and was replaced by Stephen Bywater 10 minutes later.

Before Hislop’s departure, West Ham had regained their stride and should have gone in front in the 52nd minute when West Brom’s poor defending allowed Paul Konchesky’s hopeful ball forward to reach Harewood, but the former Nottingham Forest forward could only drill the ball wide of the left post.

The Hammers did take the lead five minutes later, however. Repka’s ball into the area from the right was headed back across goal by Dailly to the unmarked Sheringham, who stabbed the ball past Kuszczak from seven yards.

The goal filled Alan Pardew’s men with confidence, and they began to stretch their opponents, Clement having to make a timely clearance for a Hammers corner after a delightful move involving Benayoun, Etherington and Konchesky.

Kuszczak was almost embarrassed by Harewood when the striker charged down the goalkeeper’s clearance, but luckily for Kuszczak the ball rebounded away from Harewood and he was able to claim it.

West Brom brought on Geoff Horsfield for Earnshaw as they sought an equaliser, which the impressive Anton Ferdinand did well to prevent when he turned Albrechtsen’s dangerous low cross behind for a corner with 13 minutes left.

Six minutes from time, Davies swung over a cross from the right that Watson could only volley weakly into the arms of Bywater.

But it was Kamara who wasted another wonderful opportunity to score, slicing wide of the left post two minutes later after Wallwork’s clever header had set him up.