Chesterfield 2 West Ham 1Evens were the longest odds available on Alan Pardew being the first Premiership manager to lose his job before this game kicked off. The fact his team's eighth consecutive defeat was inflicted by a team from the lower reaches of League One suggests he may be unbackable this morning.
Caleb Folan scored the winner for the delirious hosts here last night with three minutes remaining, and only the fact a takeover remains in the offing at Upton Park ensures Pardew should still be in charge for the Hammers' next game, against Blackburn on Sunday.
Having already beaten Wolves and Manchester City to reach this stage, Chesterfield clearly fancied their chances of disposing of a West Ham team already on the ropes. The home crowd, however, went quiet in the fourth minute when the ball bounced up nicely for Marlon Harewood to volley to the back of the net.
The deflation for the home fans was palpable, but momentary. They got the goal they deserved soon enough. Folan's superb chipped shot from outside the area was brilliantly tipped on to the post by Robert Green, but the rebound fell kindly for Larkin to shoot past the goalkeeper's despairing effort to recover.
CHESTERFIELD: Roche, Bailey (Lowry 58), Hazell, Downes, O'Hare, Hall, Niven, Allott, Hurst, Folan, Larkin (Allison 90). Subs Not Used: Jordan, Kovacs, Jackson. Goals: Larkin 54, Folan 87.
WEST HAM: Green, Pantsil, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, McCartney (Konchesky 69), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Dailly, Reid (Etherington 57), Harewood (Sheringham 51), Zamora. Subs not used: Carroll, Cole. Booked: Pantsil. Goals: Harewood 4.
Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire).
