A double strike from Marlon Harewood and one from Dean
Ashton secured a 3-0 win over Birmingham City on Monday night and
sent Hammers soaring into the dizzy heights of sixth place in the
Premiership.
The result marked our seventh successive victory in the league and FA Cup, and equalled our Premiership record of five straight wins. It also took us to 41 points - our best-ever tally at this stage of the season in the Premiership - and just four points away from fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Alan Pardew made just one change following last week's 2-0 win over Sunderland, as Marlon Harewood returned in place of Bobby Zamora up front, with the Hammers boss continuing his policy of naming three strikers on the subs bench - Zamora joined by Sheringham and Katan.
It was the kind of attacking approach that would have been looked upon kindly by Ron Greenwood, the greatest manager in West Ham United's history, who sadly died at the age of 84 on Thursday after a long illness.
In a moving tribute prior to kick-off, former Hammers Sir Trevor Brooking, Peter Brabrook, Roger Cross, Tony Carr, Brian Dear, Jimmy Barrett Jr, Alan Stephenson, Billy Jennings and Martin Peters - who all worked under Ron at some stage of their Upton Park careers - were introduced to the Boleyn Ground faithful.
Sir Trevor then said a few words in typically classy style, acknowledging the contribution made by the man who led Hammers to a first-ever domestic cup triumph and our one and only European triumph to date in the mid-60s, and nurtured a style and footballing philosophy that is still associated with the claret and blue to this day.
An impeccable minute's silence then followed, before Hammers got on with the job of taking on a Birmingham side struggling in the Premiership relegation zone. Just 10 minutes were on the clock when the deadlock was broken - Nigel Reo-Coker's fierce shot was blocked by a defender but dropped kindly for Harewood, who fired the ball home left-footed from 12 yards out.
Three minutes later, Hammers came close to doubling their lead, as a defensive mix-up sent Hayden Mullins clear, but the midfielder was thwarted by Stephen Clemence, who tracked back well to intercept at the vital moment.
The visitors clearly weren't going to lie down without a fight, and enjoyed their fair share of possession as the first half wore on but, without the creativity of David Dunn or the power of Emile Heskey, they lacked a killer punch, and the in-form pairing of Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon were rarely troubled.
At half-time, Hammers were forced into a change as Mullins had failed to shake off a back injury sustained early on, and Christian Dailly came on to fill the defensive midfield position. Despite the change, the hosts began the second half with fresh enthusiasm and immediately piled the pressure on the Birmingham goal.
Etherington went close with a low shot that flew just inches wide of the post, then Ashton headed straight at Maik Taylor and Yossi Benayoun fired a half-volley just over the bar, before the all-important second goal finally arrived just after the hour mark.
A deep cross from Paul Konchesky appeared to possess no danger as it dropped near the edge of the penalty area, until Czech defender Martin Latka inexplicably raised a hand and patted the ball away from the head of Ashton. Referee Dermot Gallagher immediately pointed to the spot, and Latka was shown a yellow card.
Harewood then opted for his usual one-step routine from 12 yards out, only for Taylor to block the effort. However, fortune was shining on the Hammers striker, who gratefully slotted home the rebound from six yards out for his 12th Premiership goal of the season.
The second goal clearly knocked the wind out of Birmingham's sails and, just three minutes later, Hammers grabbed the decisive third goal. The impressive Lionel Scaloni whipped in a superb cross from the right that was missed by Benayoun at the near post, but ran through to Ashton, who headed home his second goal in two games to round off another stylish all-round performance.
With 13 minutes remaining, Pards made use of his attacking options by bringing on Zamora and Katan for Ashton and Etherington, who both left the field to a standing ovation. The final stages were played out at almost testimonial pace as Birmingham offered virtually no attacking threat, and Hammers were able to celebrate another stylish, determined, winning display that keeps this tremendous run bubbling along.
Ron Greenwood would have been proud…
The result marked our seventh successive victory in the league and FA Cup, and equalled our Premiership record of five straight wins. It also took us to 41 points - our best-ever tally at this stage of the season in the Premiership - and just four points away from fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Alan Pardew made just one change following last week's 2-0 win over Sunderland, as Marlon Harewood returned in place of Bobby Zamora up front, with the Hammers boss continuing his policy of naming three strikers on the subs bench - Zamora joined by Sheringham and Katan.
It was the kind of attacking approach that would have been looked upon kindly by Ron Greenwood, the greatest manager in West Ham United's history, who sadly died at the age of 84 on Thursday after a long illness.
In a moving tribute prior to kick-off, former Hammers Sir Trevor Brooking, Peter Brabrook, Roger Cross, Tony Carr, Brian Dear, Jimmy Barrett Jr, Alan Stephenson, Billy Jennings and Martin Peters - who all worked under Ron at some stage of their Upton Park careers - were introduced to the Boleyn Ground faithful.
Sir Trevor then said a few words in typically classy style, acknowledging the contribution made by the man who led Hammers to a first-ever domestic cup triumph and our one and only European triumph to date in the mid-60s, and nurtured a style and footballing philosophy that is still associated with the claret and blue to this day.
An impeccable minute's silence then followed, before Hammers got on with the job of taking on a Birmingham side struggling in the Premiership relegation zone. Just 10 minutes were on the clock when the deadlock was broken - Nigel Reo-Coker's fierce shot was blocked by a defender but dropped kindly for Harewood, who fired the ball home left-footed from 12 yards out.
Three minutes later, Hammers came close to doubling their lead, as a defensive mix-up sent Hayden Mullins clear, but the midfielder was thwarted by Stephen Clemence, who tracked back well to intercept at the vital moment.
The visitors clearly weren't going to lie down without a fight, and enjoyed their fair share of possession as the first half wore on but, without the creativity of David Dunn or the power of Emile Heskey, they lacked a killer punch, and the in-form pairing of Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon were rarely troubled.
At half-time, Hammers were forced into a change as Mullins had failed to shake off a back injury sustained early on, and Christian Dailly came on to fill the defensive midfield position. Despite the change, the hosts began the second half with fresh enthusiasm and immediately piled the pressure on the Birmingham goal.
Etherington went close with a low shot that flew just inches wide of the post, then Ashton headed straight at Maik Taylor and Yossi Benayoun fired a half-volley just over the bar, before the all-important second goal finally arrived just after the hour mark.
A deep cross from Paul Konchesky appeared to possess no danger as it dropped near the edge of the penalty area, until Czech defender Martin Latka inexplicably raised a hand and patted the ball away from the head of Ashton. Referee Dermot Gallagher immediately pointed to the spot, and Latka was shown a yellow card.
Harewood then opted for his usual one-step routine from 12 yards out, only for Taylor to block the effort. However, fortune was shining on the Hammers striker, who gratefully slotted home the rebound from six yards out for his 12th Premiership goal of the season.
The second goal clearly knocked the wind out of Birmingham's sails and, just three minutes later, Hammers grabbed the decisive third goal. The impressive Lionel Scaloni whipped in a superb cross from the right that was missed by Benayoun at the near post, but ran through to Ashton, who headed home his second goal in two games to round off another stylish all-round performance.
With 13 minutes remaining, Pards made use of his attacking options by bringing on Zamora and Katan for Ashton and Etherington, who both left the field to a standing ovation. The final stages were played out at almost testimonial pace as Birmingham offered virtually no attacking threat, and Hammers were able to celebrate another stylish, determined, winning display that keeps this tremendous run bubbling along.
Ron Greenwood would have been proud…