Hammers slam sad Rams

Joe Cole was on target for the Hammers

West Ham 3-1 Derby

West Ham's first-half goal blitz crafted an escape route from the danger zone for the Hammers but digs Derby deeper into trouble.

Frederic Kanoute and Frank Lampard put the home side two ahead with just seven minutes gone.

And Joe Cole sealed a much-needed victory for the Londoners with a goal just before half-time.

Derby did offer a little more resistance in the second period, and earned a consolation through Thordur Gudjonsson after 83 minutes.

But it was the Rams' first goal in nearly four hours of football, and they must regain their confidence if they are to survive the relegation dogfight.

  West Ham-Derby key incidents

5 mins: Kanoute scrambles home the Hammers opener

7: Lampard drive doubles the advantage

17: Cole put through but blasts wide

25: Eranio booked for foul on Cole

30: Powell goes close with 20-yard shot

45: Cole nets the third for West Ham

62:Hislop denies Burton

83: Gudjunsson grabs a consolation

West Ham started the game just one place and one point ahead of 16th-placed Derby, with both sides starting to look over their shoulders.

But within seven minutes of the start, there appeared to be a big gulf in class as the Hammers opened up a 2-0 advantage.

Kanoute was the fortunate claimant of the opener after four minutes.

The ball gently richocheted into the net off the Frenchman's leg after Cole's close-range shot was parried by Derby keeper Mart Poom.

As Derby reeled from one blow, they were hit by another - Lampard increased the lead with a low drive from the edge of the area.

Cole had a decent chance to make it three, but eyed a goal-of-the-month chance and blasted high and wide when clear.

Derby slowly crept into the game, with midfielders Giorgio Kinkladze and Darryl Powell proving a danger.

Powell saw one 20-yard effort go wide and another saved by Shaka Hislop diving to hs left.

Lampard celebrates his goal at Upton Park

But West Ham wrapped up the points just before half-time when Cole neatly converted Paolo Di Canio's ball back from the by-line.

A languid start to the second half was punctuated by good chances.

Winterburn headed wide a cute Di Canio free-kick, while West Ham keeper Hislop used his feet to deny Burton.

And Di Canio forced a breathtaking one-handed stop from Poom, who reacted brilliantly to thwart Kanoute from the rebound.

Both teams had decent penalty shouts turned down, when Carrick tripped West on the edge of West Ham's area and West's barge on Cole at the other end.

With several other sides in the relegation tussle enjoying a profitable weekend, Derby are now in serious trouble.

---

West Ham: Hislop, Stimac, Ian Pearce, Song, Winterburn, Moncur, Carrick, Cole, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs: Bywater, Dailly, Schemmel, Soma, Todorov.

Derby: Poom, Delap, Carbonari, West, Higginbotham, Riggott, Powell, Johnson, Eranio, Kinkladze, Burton. Subs: Grant, Morris, Christie, Gudjonsson, Murray.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville)