Late brace gives Hammers half-time Cup lead

Hartlepool 0 West Ham 2

West Ham hit Hartlepool with a late first-half double to ease their way towards the FA Cup fifth round.

Swiss international Valon Behrami fired the Hammers in front with 44 minutes gone and then Mark Noble converted an injury time penalty awarded for handball against Michael Nelson, although the incident clearly took place outside the box.

It was hard luck on the League One side, who had created the better chances up to that point with Scott Parker having to hack Michael Mackay’s ninth-minute header off the line