A Mark Noble double added to Cheikhou Kouyate's header gave the Hammers victory at West Brom
West Bromwich Albion 0-3 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United kept their bid for European qualification on track with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
A second double in successive games from Mark Noble added to Cheikhou Kouyate’s header and ensured the Hammers would break a Club record for most Premier League points gained in a season.
They had to weather a spell of early West Brom pressure, but once Kouyate converted Dimitri Payet’s cross with 34 minutes played, there was only one winner.
Noble soon doubled the advantage, and then sealed the three points with a fine volley near the end.
The Hammers were unchanged from their victory over Watford elven days previously, but it was the Baggies who had the first chance to strike when 17-year-old full debutant Jonathan Leko got in down the right hand side.
He cut back to Craig Gardner, whose shot towards the far post was blocked on the line by Michail Antonio. The ball rebounded to Gardner, and his second effort found the foot of Adrian.
It was a huge let-off for the Hammers, and with 12 minutes on the clock Gardner went desperately close again when his curler towards the left-hand corner was flicked behind by Antonio's outstretched boot.
All the early chances were falling to Gardner, and midway through the opening period he directed a header wide of the near post after Adrian was forced to beat a dangerous Leko cross away.
West Ham’s threat in the opening exchanges was sporadic, but Diafra Sakho was only inches away from connecting with Aaron Cresswell’s low cross when any touch would surely have resulted in a goal.
With 34 minutes on the clock there was no stopping Kouyate, however, as the Hammers moved into the lead.
West Brom managed to get a Payet corner clear, but the danger was not over as Winston Reid won possession back, sending the ball spinning to the Frenchman, who took a touch, looked up and crossed for Kouyate to guide a header home.
It got even better for the visitors on the stroke of half time as Kouyate turned provider, streaking clear down the left to knock square for Noble, who rolled past a helpless Ben Foster.
At 2-0 the Hammers were in a commanding position at the break, and it remained that way when, just two minutes after entering the fray as a substiture, Saido Berahino fired just wide of Adrian’s right hand post from 15 yards.
A goal at that point, just after the hour, would have given the Baggies real hope, but that hope was looking even more forlorn when Sandro also shot off target.
Then, with eleven minutes left to play, the Hammmers sealed victory with a goal of the highest quality.
Payet got the move started, running from midfield before feeding Andy Carroll in the left channel. His cross was directed to the far post, when Noble was waiting to thump a volley home.
West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Yacob (Sandro 61), Fletcher; Leko, Gardner (Sessegnon 77), McClean (Berahino 61); Rondon
Subs: Myhill (GK), Chester, Lambert, Roberts
West Ham United: Adrian; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Lanzini (Oxford 87), Noble, Kouyate, Payet (Moses 81); Carroll, Sakho (Emenike 66)
Subs: Randolph (GK), Tomkins, Collins, Moses, Byram
Goals: Kouyate 34, Noble 45+2, 79
Referee: Lee Mason
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United kept their bid for European qualification on track with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
A second double in successive games from Mark Noble added to Cheikhou Kouyate’s header and ensured the Hammers would break a Club record for most Premier League points gained in a season.
They had to weather a spell of early West Brom pressure, but once Kouyate converted Dimitri Payet’s cross with 34 minutes played, there was only one winner.
Noble soon doubled the advantage, and then sealed the three points with a fine volley near the end.
The Hammers were unchanged from their victory over Watford elven days previously, but it was the Baggies who had the first chance to strike when 17-year-old full debutant Jonathan Leko got in down the right hand side.
He cut back to Craig Gardner, whose shot towards the far post was blocked on the line by Michail Antonio. The ball rebounded to Gardner, and his second effort found the foot of Adrian.
It was a huge let-off for the Hammers, and with 12 minutes on the clock Gardner went desperately close again when his curler towards the left-hand corner was flicked behind by Antonio's outstretched boot.
All the early chances were falling to Gardner, and midway through the opening period he directed a header wide of the near post after Adrian was forced to beat a dangerous Leko cross away.
West Ham’s threat in the opening exchanges was sporadic, but Diafra Sakho was only inches away from connecting with Aaron Cresswell’s low cross when any touch would surely have resulted in a goal.
With 34 minutes on the clock there was no stopping Kouyate, however, as the Hammers moved into the lead.
West Brom managed to get a Payet corner clear, but the danger was not over as Winston Reid won possession back, sending the ball spinning to the Frenchman, who took a touch, looked up and crossed for Kouyate to guide a header home.
It got even better for the visitors on the stroke of half time as Kouyate turned provider, streaking clear down the left to knock square for Noble, who rolled past a helpless Ben Foster.
At 2-0 the Hammers were in a commanding position at the break, and it remained that way when, just two minutes after entering the fray as a substiture, Saido Berahino fired just wide of Adrian’s right hand post from 15 yards.
A goal at that point, just after the hour, would have given the Baggies real hope, but that hope was looking even more forlorn when Sandro also shot off target.
Then, with eleven minutes left to play, the Hammmers sealed victory with a goal of the highest quality.
Payet got the move started, running from midfield before feeding Andy Carroll in the left channel. His cross was directed to the far post, when Noble was waiting to thump a volley home.
West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Yacob (Sandro 61), Fletcher; Leko, Gardner (Sessegnon 77), McClean (Berahino 61); Rondon
Subs: Myhill (GK), Chester, Lambert, Roberts
West Ham United: Adrian; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Lanzini (Oxford 87), Noble, Kouyate, Payet (Moses 81); Carroll, Sakho (Emenike 66)
Subs: Randolph (GK), Tomkins, Collins, Moses, Byram
Goals: Kouyate 34, Noble 45+2, 79
Referee: Lee Mason