Hammers ease to Fulham win

A clinical first-half display saw West Ham pick up a comfortable 3-0 win in their London derby against Fulham.

Debutant Andy Carroll was in lively form with the Liverpool loanee adding a cutting edge to the Hammers' front line before appearing to tweak a hamstring in the second half.

Captain Kevin Nolan opened the scoring for the home side inside the opening minute and they were out of sight by the break thanks to further goals from Winston Reid and Matt Taylor.

Carroll, who was flanked by Ricardo Vaz Te and Taylor with Matt Jarvis missing following a knock in training, was involved straight away. A long, clearing header from James Collins was flicked on by the England international into the path of Vaz Te who played the ball in to Nolan, with Carroll's ex-Newcastle team-mate finishing firmly past Mark Schwarzer.

With less than 10 minutes on the clock Carroll was again involved when he headed Vaz Te's cross into the on-rushing Mohamed Diame, who saw his effort tipped onto the crossbar by Schwarzer.

Fulham started to enjoy a little bit more possession as the first half progressed but were soon further behind. Taylor's 29th-minute corner found Reid on the edge of the six-yard area and he beat Mahamadou Diarra to the ball to power a header past Schwarzer to double the home side's lead.

It was not long afterwards that the third goal was scored by the Hammers as Collins' free-kick was headed clear by Fulham's Brede Hangeland. The loose ball broke free to the feet of Taylor who finished well from the edge of the penalty area.

Fulham manager Martin Jol reacted to the disastrous first half by introducing new signing Dimitar Berbatov at the interval with Mladen Petric making way.

Carroll was replaced by Carlton Cole with just under 25 minutes remaining after seeming to injure his hamstring after a heavy landing.

Jol's side continued to show signs of improvement after the break as Berbatov linked well with Hugo Rodallega, with the latter testing Jussi Jaaskelainen but they never really looked like getting back in it.