Sport

West Ham take giant step to Premier

Cardiff City 0 West Ham Utd 2: JACK COLLISON’S double strike helped West Ham take a huge stride closer to the Premier League…

Fri May 04 2012 - 01:00

Cardiff City 0 West Ham Utd 2:JACK COLLISON'S double strike helped West Ham take a huge stride closer to the Premier League.

The Welshman, a product of the London club’s youth system, registered twice in the first half of his side’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium, nodding home from close range after nine minutes and then seeing his deflected volley find the back of the net five minutes before the break to give the Hammers a huge advantage going into the second leg on Monday.

The hosts struggled for any kind of rhythm for much of the match and West Ham could have taken an even more comfortable lead back to Upton Park, but for David Marshall’s superb save from Carlton Cole’s header.

Cardiff almost went ahead after two minutes, Peter Whittingham’s deflected effort dipping narrowly over the crossbar. Moments later, Robert Green had to be alert to beat away Kenny Miller’s volley as the Bluebirds started at a furious pace.

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But with their first attempt at goal, the Hammers gained the upper hand. Ricardo Vaz Te crossed from the left and, although Collison’s first attempt was brilliantly stopped by Marshall, the Welshman was on hand to nod in the rebound.

Quickly, West Ham got a stranglehold on the game. Gary O’Neil tested Marshall from range and James Tomkins headed Matt Taylor’s fizzing cross wide.

Cardiff, in part, were the architects of their own struggles, frequently gifting possession to their guests.

The Welsh side tried to rally, with Miller firing wide, but Collison soon stunted their comeback with his second.

Cole must have thought he had put the tie out of sight before half-time, but Marshall pulled off a sensational low save from the striker’s header. Cardiff showed intent to get back into the game after the interval but it was West Ham’s night.

CARDIFF CITY:Marshall, Blake, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Cowie (McPhail 74), Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Lawrence, Miller (Earnshaw 74), Mason. Subs not used: Heaton, Kiss, Gerrard.

WEST HAM UTD:Green, Reid, Tomkins, Demel (Faubert 75), Taylor, Collison (Maynard 86), Nolan, Noble, O'Neil, Vaz Te (McCartney 60), Cole. Subs not used: Henderson, Faye. Booked: Tomkins, Noble, Nolan, Faubert. Goals: Collison 9,41.

Attendance:23,029.

Referee:Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).