Birmingham 1 West Ham 2: Christmas is around the corner, but gifts have been on offer here all season and nothing changed last night. Having taken an early lead through Emile Heskey, Birmingham meekly surrendered, falling to a sixth home defeat of the season that leaves them mired in relegation trouble and still seeking a first Premiership win in front of their own fans.
Steve Bruce could only look on in despair as goals from Bobby Zamora and Marlon Harewood, both of which might have been prevented through better defending, allowed West Ham to pick up three points.
Last night West Ham were out to prevent a second successive league defeat for the first time in 23 games, although the omens were not good when Heskey gave Birmingham the lead as early as the 11th minute.
Birmingham midfielder David Dunn, making only his second league start since last St Stephen's Day, robbed Yossi Benayoun close to the halfway line before aiming a superb pass behind Anton Ferdinand.
He appealed forlornly for offside, but Heskey had timed his run to perfection. His finishing touch was similarly controlled.
Roy Carroll raced off his line to narrow the angle, but Heskey steered the ball round him adroitly before sliding a left-foot shot into the empty net. It was Heskey's first league goal since August and a fitting way to cap his 350th league appearance.
The striker's relief quickly turned sour when Zamora conjured up a wonderful individual goal. Receiving a throw-in from Harewood with his back to goal Zamora cleverly lifted the ball over the head of Martin Taylor, leaving the Birmingham defender flummoxed.
Damien Johnson fared no better when Zamora evaded his challenge before prodding a shot between Nico Vaesen's legs.
If that gave Steve Bruce a headache, worse was to follow when Harewood took advantage of abject Birmingham defending to add a second West Ham goal. Matthew Etherington cut an acute ball across goal that Birmingham inexplicably failed to clear. Only Nicky Butt managed to get a touch, though it was hardly convincing, allowing Benayoun to find Harewood. And he made no mistake, crashing a shot from three yards into the roof of the net.
BIRMINGHAM: Vaesen, Melchiot (Lazaridis 8), Cunningham, Martin Taylor (Kilkenny 45), Upson, Pennant, Johnson, Izzet (Butt 23), Gray, Dunn, Heskey. Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Jarosik. Booked: Heskey. Goals: Heskey 11.
West Ham: Carroll, Repka, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Konchesky, Benayoun (Newton 90), Noble (Dailly 78), Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora (Bellion 69). Subs Not Used: Hislop, Clarke. Booked: Repka. Goals: Zamora 36, Harewood 45. Attendance: 24,010.
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
