QPR 1 West Ham 2

That much needed vital first away win, in the Premier League this season, came at Loftus Road last night.

In front of a vociferous crowd, West Ham United took all three points by the odd goal in three.

After the shake-up of the starting eleven for the Capital One Cup defeat to Wigan, the eleven that Sam named for this fixture had a more stoic look to it, there was even a place for Andy Carroll on the bench, something that surprised those around me in the away end.

If Big Sam was looking for his side to be fast out of the blocks he wasn`t disappointed with West Ham edging ahead as early as the 3rd minute when Matt Jarvis, who had returned to the starting eleven, scored with a header at the far post after Vaz Te had provided Nolan with the perfect opportunity to cross.

The goal, we`re reliably informed, was the fastest West Ham had scored in an away Premier League derby for eleven years, and it was a goal that was to set West Ham up perfectly for that aforementioned win.

The quick opener had QPR reeling and Diame almost doubled the lead with a shot that fizzed past the post before Vaz Te did make it 2-0. The goal coming shortly after Reid had to be helped form the pitch, to be replaced by Tomkins, after a sickening clash with Jaaskelainen.

In fact it was Reid`s replacement, Tomkins, who played a crucial part in the goal having delivered a perfect cross for Vaz Te to score. But, with Mark Hughes having made a couple of changes, QPR were to get back into the game when Taarabt cut inside Demel and beat Jaaskelainen with a curling shot that would have beaten most goalkeepers.

Despite a frenetic finale West Ham, in which Jaaskelainen saved well from Granero and Faurlin and also saw Diakite dismissed for accumulating two yellow cards, West Ham held on for the three points, although they can expect a fine after accumulating eight yellow cards, something that Big Sam didn`t think spoilt the game when he commented afterwards,

"It didn`t spoil the result as far as we were concerned but some of his decisions nearly spoilt the game as a spectacle."

"I`m just a bit disappointed we didn`t score more."

And as for the opposition boss, who sees his side still propping up the Premier League and without a win this season, Hughes had this to say,

"I think I will be given time to see this through."

We`ll have to wait and see with regards to that one, but, at the moment, I`ll just quietly and celebrate our first victory at Loftus Road in almost twenty-five years.



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