West Ham United welcomed Fulham in their Premier League meeting at Upton Park this afternoon.
After a goalless first half, West Ham took the lead two minutes after the break through Mohamed Diame's deflected strike.
Carlton Cole and Joe Cole sealed their victory late on, which gave them their first league win at home since the first day of the season.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the events that unfolded at Upton Park.
Match Statistics:
West Ham United:
Shots 23
On Target 12
Possession 49%
Corners 6
Fouls 11
Fulham:
Shots 10
On Target 0
Possession 51%
Corners 3
Fouls 8
Was the result fair?
There was only one team today that attempted to come away with a win and that was West Ham. They were positive from the start and looked to provide a threat in attack throughout. Their first goal from Diame was fortuitous, but they deserved it for the passion their players showed. Fulham had no ambition to get anything other than a draw and failed to even attempt a shot on target.
West Ham United's performance
West Ham began the game well and had plenty of the early possession, with Modibo Maiga's shot that hit the post their only noteworthy chance of the first half. They were a different proposition after the interval, as they looked to work Maarten Stekelenburg in the Fulham goal at every opportunity. Sam Allardyce made some inspired substitutions and they all combined to add goals number two and three late on, which will have gone some way to easing their recent relegation worries.
Fulham's performance
Martin Jol will have not been too disappointed by his side's first-half performance, as they were solid in possession and strong in the challenge, but they gave the ball away too cheaply to Diame, before he scored the first goal of the afternoon. He will however have been shocked at his team's lack of goal threat, as they failed to muster a single shot on target during the 90 minutes. It has been a serious concern for the Cottagers and could prove fateful to their chances of Premier League survival this season.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Stewart Downing: The winger was one of the stand out players this afternoon and posed a constant attacking threat down the right hand side. He was always looking to beat his man and gave Kieran Richardson a torrid time. West Ham's win was secured thanks in part to his well-placed cross into the middle that Cole steered home, and with performances such as today, a place in the England squad for next year's World Cup is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Biggest gaffe
Scott Parker is usually one Fulham's most reliable men in possession, but it was he who lost the ball in midfield to Diame, before the Senegal international scored his side's first. There was still a long way to go for the West Ham man before he found the back off the net, as a deflection from Fernando Amorebieta proved crucial, but it was an area of the field where you cannot afford to cheaply surrender the ball.
Referee's performance
It looked as though Martin Atkinson was losing control of the game in the first half as he handed out five yellow cards. One of those bookings should have been a red for George McCartney, as the defender brought down Darren Bent on the edge of the box, with the striker appearing to be through on goal. James Tomkins was another player lucky to escape a sending off for a poor challenge. After the break, the referee had very little to do, with West Ham's goals the main talking point.
What next?
West Ham United: The Hammers are in action on Tuesday against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Fulham: Fulham are at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Alex Meyers
