Etherington wins it at Fulham

West Ham United secured their first away win of the season as they saw off ten-man Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

In an action-packed end to the first half, Carlton Cole gave West Ham United the lead on 43 minutes after good work from Matthew Etherington. The No11 doubled the tally moments later after latching on to a Mark Noble through-ball before the hosts had Andy Johnson sent off in stoppage time for a second booking. Fulham got back into the game with a 58th-minute penalty from Danny Murphy but it was the visitors that left with the points.

Gianfranco Zola recalled several players after resting them in the Carling Cup against Watford. Robert Green, Herita Ilunga, Parker, Valon Behrami and Cole all returned and there was the welcome sight of Craig Bellamy on the bench after overcoming a hamstring injury. The home side had former Hammers players Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil, Jimmy Bullard and Paul Konchesky in their starting XI.

The visitors were looking for their first away of the season but were enjoying a purple patch against their hosts, having not lost in the last six meetings. In fact, the last time the team from west London triumphed over the team from the east at home, England had just lifted the World Cup.

It was the second consecutive Saturday that United had played in glorious London sunshine and they looked to carry on from their excellent win against Newcastle United seven days ago as Cole had the first effort on goal - firing over from 25 yards. Simon Davies then went close at the other end as he connected well with a volley that flashed past Green's far post. A few minutes later Zamora had a good chance six yards out but his header flew safely wide.

Fulham striker Johnson received his first caution as his name was taken by referee Andre Marriner after catching Ilunga late. His strike partner Zamora was applying himself in a more constructive fashion and had a great chance to put his new side in front a minute later. After escaping from Lucas Neill's attention on the edge of the area, he found himself with a clear view on Green's goal but his shot with the outside of the boot spun wide. Brede Hangeland then headed over as the home side looked the more likely to score midway through the first half.

Just after the half-hour mark, Bullard had two dangerous-looking free-kicks on the edge of the area, the second of which Green had to save superbly by diving to his left. The England international got a boot in the face for his efforts from former colleague Pantsil and needed treatment on the pitch.

Konchesky then followed Johnson into the book for a late tackle on Etherington as the temperature on the pitch threatened to match that off it. However, the winger was back on his feet soon after and was instrumental in giving United the lead in the 43th minute. Cole bravely flicked a header to send Etherington steaming down the right and when he reached the goalline he looked up and drove the ball across the six-yard box. Mark Schwarzer could only palm it out to leave Cole with a simple finish.

Etherington was having a glorious spell as just over a minute later he won the race to get to a Noble through-ball and calmly beat Schwarzer from the left-hand corner of the area. Murphy then became the third Fulham player booked in the first half for a foul on Noble. It was not the last time the referee's book was to came out as Johnson left a foot in on Neill and was duly shown a second yellow card followed by the inevitable red.

The second half began as the first had ended as Noble's drive was turned round the post by Schwarzer. Faubert then tried his luck from 25 yards but saw his shot skim the crossbar. It was all West Ham pressure as Ilunga was next to force the Australian goalkeeper into a save. The United players were beginning to enjoy themselves as they indulged a bit of keep-ball much to the pleasure of the sell-out away end amongst the 23,946 crowd.

The home side had different ideas though and won a penalty just before the hour mark when Neill was adjudged to have blocked a shot with his arm. Murphy stepped up to send Green the wrong way and the ten men were back in the game. Ten minutes later Parker was the first visiting player to be carded for a late tackle and from the resulting free-kick Zamora headed just wide.

Bellamy made his welcome return to action in the 74th minute when he came on for David Di Michele. The Welshman was involved straight away - putting Cole in to fire just over. In the second change of the afternoon Hayden Mullins came on for the impressive Etherington with ten minutes to go. A minute later Bellamy could have wrapped the victory up but, after his initial shot was saved, he somehow put the rebound over the bar.

Behrami had one last chance saved as the visitors, who by now had introduced Luis Boa Morte for Parker, looked for a third but in the end they had to settle for just the two as the supporters from of the east side of London went home happy. Zola's men were up to fifth.