Andy Carroll on the mark as Hammers down Hull
Andy Carroll helped West Ham move up into seventh place in the Premier League table with a goal in their 3-0 win at home to strugglers Hull on Sunday.
Trending Photos
London: Andy Carroll helped West Ham move up into seventh place in the Premier League table with a goal in their 3-0 win at home to strugglers Hull on Sunday.
Defeat saw Hull -- punished for failing to take advantage of their early chances -- remain in the bottom three, still a point from safety.
After a goalless first half, the Hammers took the lead in the 49th minute when Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor could only tamely parry a shot from Enner Valencia and striker Carroll got in front of the covering defence to seize on the loose ball from close range.
Valencia thought he had made it 2-0 in the 57th minute after running on to a fine pass from Alex Song but his `goal` was disallowed for offside, although replays suggested he was level.
But the hosts doubled their lead through Amalfitano, who scored five minutes after being sent on as a substitute for Mark Noble by Hammers manager Sam Allardyce.
Valencia was again the provider, his pass finding Amalfitano, who then produced a sublime finish to chip McGregor in the 69th minute.
West Ham then piled on the agony for Steve Bruce`s visitors three minutes later when Song`s 45-yard pass through the middle evaded the Hull defence completely, allowing the onrushing Downing to finish with aplomb.
Five minutes from time, West Ham almost made it 4-0 but Kevin Nolan`s shot came back off the crossbar after Downing had produced an excellent through-ball over the top of the defence.
It might have been a different story had Hull turned their early opportunities into goals.
Sone Aluko had a couple of shots blocked and in the 20th minute he beat James Tomkins with ease to work his way into the box only to wastefully take too much time over a shot and be tackled.