Hartlepool 0 West Ham 2:Gianfranco Zola's side eased into the FA Cup fifth round as League One Hartlepool paid the price for a dreadful blunder by referee Lee Mason.
In a dramatic conclusion to the first half, Switzerland international Valon Behrami fired the Premier League side into a 44th-minute lead, and they were then gifted a second in injury time by Mason’s error.
The official pointed to the spot after defender Michael Nelson had handled Carlton Cole’s flick-on, although the incident clearly took place outside the penalty area.
Mark Noble calmly converted from 12 yards as the bulk of a crowd of 6,849 at Victoria Park made their feelings abundantly clear.
From then on, the Hammers never looked like letting their hosts back into the game, and dreams of a first ever trip to the fifth round in their centenary year evaporated for Chris Turner’s men.
For Zola, who won the FA Cup twice as a Chelsea player, the win extended his side’s unbeaten run to six games and suggested there is life after Craig Bellamy at Upton Park.
