WEST Ham United have gone down 2-1 against Preston North End at Deepdale. Alan Pardew's side were 2-0 down at half-time after two super strikes from Eddie Lewis and Brian O'Neil, and despite Nigel Reo-Coker's second-half strike they could not find an equaliser.
Alan Pardew made one change to the team that drew against Leeds, Teddy Sheringham coming in to replace Sergei Rebrov in attack.
The Hammers looked lively in the opening exchanges, and Luke Chadwick very nearly stole in behind the Preston defence but Claude Davis got back to tackle. Teddy Sheringham fired over the bar soon after, but with just eight minutes gone Preston stunned Alan Pardew's men by taking the lead.
Richard Cresswell broke free on the left and his thumping shot was beaten away by Stephen Bywater. West Ham should have cleared their lines, but instead the ball fell to Eddie Lewis 25-yards-out, who let fly with a stunning shot that beat the diving Bywater to his right.
Alan Pardew's team responded well to going behind. Five minutes later Teddy Sheringham's pass released Marlon Harewood, but his shot was well blocked by Preston 'keeper Andy Lonegran.
West Ham continued to fashion some good football on the edge of the Preston box. A slick passing move made space for Carl Fletcher to attack down the right, but his cut back was scooped up by Lonegran.
Preston remained a threat, though, and Lewis' firecracker right foot in particular. On 25 minutes the American midfielder unleashed another dipping drive that Bywater did well to tip wide.
Fired up by their goal Preston began to mount a sustained period of pressure. Chris Sedgwick's toe-poked shot drifted well over the Hammers bar and Cresswell's downward header was easily gathered by Bywater.
With half-time fast approaching Bywater had to race from his penalty area to meet the onrushing Patrick Agyemang and did well to clear under pressure from the big Preston striker.
Then, on the stroke of the interval, Preston added a second to seal a miserable first-half for the Hammers. Tomas Repka's poor clearance fell to Brian O'Neil 20-yards-out and he unleashed a super drive that rocketed past Bywater to send the Hammers in 2-0 down at the break.
HT: 0-2
Alan Pardew began the second-half by replacing Luke Chadwick with Nigel Reo-Coker. As substitutions go it proved something of a masterstroke. Seven minutes after the interval the Hammers were back in it. Marlon Harewood worked the ball out to Tomas Repka on the right and his low cross found Reo-Coker sliding in to score his second goal of the season.
Suddenly the game erupted into life, but it was Preston rather than the Hammers who began to push forward. O'Neil shot straight at Bywater from the edge of the area, before Lewis' cracking drive thundered back off the crossbar. The danger was not over though, as the ball dropped to Chris Sedgwick whose thumping effort stung the hands of Bywater as the Hammers 'keeper beat it away.
Teddy Sheringham was guilty of squandering a good chance to equalise on 65 minutes, miscuing his shot on the turn from the edge of the six-yard box.
But suddenly the momentum was with the Hammers. Alan Pardew's men pressed forward in search of an equaliser and unmet crosses began to rain down on the Preston penalty area.
With 76 minutes gone the bubbly Reo-Coker burst through the hosts defence and cut the ball back to Marlon Harewood, but the striker fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
Still Alan Pardew's men probed for an equaliser, Sergei Rebrov replacing Darren Powell on 82 minutes to add some more bite to the Hammers forward line.
Chris Powell just failed to take Matty Etherington's clever flick in his stride and Teddy Sheringham's goal-bound effort was blocked by Chris Lucketti. There were appeals for a penalty from the West Ham fans behind the goal, but the referee was unmoved.
Hammers were encouraged by five minutes of added time. But despite some late pressure Preston held firm for a 2-1 win, avenging West Ham's victory at Deepdale on the opening day of last season.
WHU: Bywater; Repka, D Powell (Rebrov 82), Ferdinand, C Powell, Chadwick (Reo-Coker 46), Lomas, Fletcher, Etherington, Harewood, Sheringham. Subs unused: Burch (GK), Zamora, Mullins.