David James provided the best possible response to the taunts of the Baggies' fans as he inspired West Ham to a vital win.

He pulled off four top class one-on-one saves during a frantic second half, preserving his sides' hopes of Premiership survival in yesterday's six-pointer.

On 52 minutes he sprung into action to push away Lee Hughes' shot on the turn after Danny Dichio had won the ball in the area.

Then moments after Trevor Sinclair had made it 2-1 he denied Hughes brilliantly again after Sinclair's own weak back header let the striker volley from close range.

Substitute Scott Dobie almost made an immediate impact on 75 mintues as a defensive mix-up sent him through, but James was straight off his line to avert the danger.

And finally the Dichio-Hughes combination was thwarted one last time as Hughes saw yet another effort beaten away.

That, as much as Trevor Sinclair's two goals on his return to the side, was the difference on a day that two teams met in a relegation dance of death at The Hawthorns.

It might have been different if Albion had shown more assurance early on, when Darren Moore hit the post and Ife Udeze was denied his first goal in English football by the offside flag.

But Hammers were shading possession and Lee Bowyer and Les Ferdinand both saw half chances go begging before Sinclair missed a great opportunity.

Michael Carrick's low shot was pushed into the winger's path but his downward volley from eight yards spun on to the top of the bar when it seemed easier to score.

So, in typical West Ham fashion, Sinclair made amends by converting a much harder chance in first-half stoppage time.

The Baggies' defence appealed for offside as Steve Lomas crossed, but there was no flag as Sinclair squeezed an inch-perfect shot across the face of goal, beyond Moore and goalkeeper Russell Hoult and in at the far post.

West Brom hit back within minutes of the second half, when Jason Koumas crossed for Dichio to score at the far post.

And the former QPR and Sunderland man thought he had made it 2-1 seconds later as he side-footed home a Hughes cross, only for the offside flag to intervene again.

Amid all the pressure, though, it was Sinclair who took the points back to London, forcing the ball home from close range after Ferdinand headed against the bar with West Brom's defence in disarray.

Published Monday, February 24, 2003

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