The England international has been out of the country on holiday but Press Association Sport understands he will fly in for his physical assessment with the Hammers on Tuesday.

Carroll missed the national team's end-of-season friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil with a heel problem, with fears it could sideline him for up to four months.

It remains to be seen whether that has much effect on his medical but with a £15 million ($24.66 million)-plus deal agreed several weeks ago Liverpool will be keen for the move to go through as soon as possible so it can continue with manager Brendan Rodgers' squad strengthening.

Having already secured a free transfer for Manchester City defender Kolo Toure and agreed a £7.7 million ($12.66 million) deal for Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas the club has a number of targets it wishes to tie down.

Sporting defender Tiago Ilori and Sevilla midfielder Luis Alberto, both 20, are likely to be the first to be completed but negotiations are also continuing over a deal for Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with the future of Jose Reina yet to be decided.

Shakhtar Donetsk's £20 million ($32.88 million)-rated forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who scored a Ukrainian Premier League record 25 goals last season, increasingly looks like being the club's preferred attacking option with Luis Suarez so publicly courting Real Madrid.

At the back the situation is less clear as Schalke is seemingly not prepared to sell the Reds' primary centre-back target Kyriakos Papadopoulos for the Merseyside outfit's valuation of about £12 million ($19.73 million), despite the player having been sidelined by a knee injury since November.

Having also cooled its interest in Swansea City's Ashley Williams, with whom Rodgers has previously worked, after deeming the asking price not value for money other avenues are being explored.

Ajax's Toby Alderweireld has been linked with a move to Anfield but he has already had preliminary talks with German side Bayer Leverkusen.

"The proposal was interesting in sporting terms, but financially we had some questions," Vic Alderweireld, the defender's father and representative, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

"We have a counter proposal and will wait to see how Leverkusen reacts.

"We are not in a rush to sign. At worst, he plays another season in Amsterdam and leaves as a free agent after next season."

Liverpool's recruitment has continued off the pitch, however, after it brought in Andy Hughes, formerly of Guoman and Thistle Hotels, as its chief financial officer to replace Philip Nash, who stood down in February.

The 26-year-old has signed a three-year-deal with the Hammers and will link up with the English Premier League side when his current contract at Betis expires at the end of the month.

Adrian will challenge experienced goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to be Sam Allardyce's first-choice at Upton Park for next season.

Sevilla announced it had agreed a fee, reportedly worth up to £24 million ($38.13 million), with City for winger Navas, who is yet to complete the move as he is on international duty with Spain ahead of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

At a press conference, Del Nido said the Navas sale was beneficial to all parties as Sevilla looks to rebuild after a season he branded a 'failure', but insisted he wanted the in-demand Negredo to remain at the club.

"He has four years left on his contract," Del Nido said of the 27-year-old striker, who scored 31 goals in all competitions this season.

"He is at home here. He has scored a lot of goals and delighted us with his football.

"The summer will tell us in due course if he will still be with us, but if you ask my opinion I'd rather there were no bids. West Ham offered 17 million in cash with more in incentives but we do not value the offer and the player refused."

In contrast, it seems City more than met Del Nido's expectations in terms of an offer for 27-year-old winger Navas.

"I think this is a great deal for both parties," he said. "They player had said personally to us and then publicly to the media that he wanted to leave. He believed his time in Sevilla was over having contributed all that he could.

"The price at which we have sold Jesus Navas is an amount much higher than we thought they were going to offer, especially as there was only one bidder."

With that transfer fee swelling the club's coffers, only similar high bids now seem likely to persuade Del Nido to part with others.

"We do not yet know the final figure (for Navas) as there are many variables and incentives in the deal," he said.

"But we have no need to sell as this has covered our budget deficit.

"In the past we have been willing to sell a player if the market value is offered, but so far all the offers that have come in have been rejected."

Sevilla's 4-3 win over Valencia on the final day of the season saw it finish ninth, taking the final UEFA Europa League spot subject to appeals from Malaga and Rayo Vallecano against bans which will prevent them from taking up European places.

However, Del Nido was still blunt in his assessment of the campaign.

"Let us make a distinction," he said. "In the (Copa del Rey) we had a remarkable run and reached the semi-finals before being felled by the ultimate winners.

"But in the regular season, the most important competition, we went backwards. You have to consider that we finished only ninth despite having the fifth or sixth biggest budget, and this indicates the goal has not been met."

Despite Del Nido's claims of a bid from the Hammers for Negredo, Press Association Sport believes the statement of a concrete offer is wide of the mark.

It is understood there was some tentative interest from the London club earlier in the season but no bid was lodged.

The Hammers have yet to make Andy Carroll's loan deal from Liverpool permanent after he impressed last season, while a second striker in Carlton Cole has been allowed to leave.

Brooking, who scored 102 goals in 647 appearances for West Ham, also insists a greater goal-scoring threat is needed in midfield.

"Andy Carroll has done well but nobody knows what is going to happen with Andy. Carlton Cole's contract is up, so the attacking area is an issue," he told West Ham TV.

"We also need to get that support from midfield because from the goal-scoring point of view we haven't had a couple of players who have got into double figures, which gives you that opportunity to get the victories."

Brooking has urged joint chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan to give manager Sam Allardyce free rein having given him a new two-year contract earlier this month.

"The Davids have recognised the experience Sam has in this league and it's important this coming year that he does what he wants to do," he said.

"If you look at the track record the two Davids have got, they have been pretty consistent with giving opportunities to managers when they are leading a club.

"Sam led the club to bounce back with promotion and we got the win on the final day of this season to finish 10th."

West Ham's 3-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on November 25 was marred by travelling supporters mocking the stabbing of a Spurs fan in Rome.

A group of away fans was also heard hissing, mimicking the sound of Jews being gassed during the Second World War, and chanting the name of Adolf Hitler.

Millwall was investigated after TV footage showed Leeds United forward El-Hadji Diouf being racially abused during a match at The Den on November 18 as part of an expose by Sky Sports News into racism, of which 56 examples were identified at the Championship club.

Both matters were also the subject of separate police investigations concerning the use of racist and/or offensive language and/or gestures.

The FA completed its enquiries once the police investigations - which resulted in arrests being made and charges issued against supporters of both clubs - had been concluded.

In clearing West Ham, the FA acknowledged the work undertaken by the club in the immediate aftermath of the match, which included one of the individuals who was arrested - a season ticket holder - being given a lifetime ban.

A statement issued on the Hammers' official website read: "The club works extremely hard to address all forms of discriminatory behaviour, wherever they occur, and operates a strict zero tolerance policy towards anyone who behaves inappropriately when following the team."

For the incidents of racism at Millwall, the FA noted that following separate police investigations, the individuals caught on camera making offensive/racist remarks were identified, arrested and charged with the club also imposing bans.

Cole posted several messages on Twitter yesterday appearing to indicate he had no future at the club he joined in July 2006 from London rival Chelsea and the Hammers confirmed on Wednesday that his contract would not be renewed.

The 29-year-old, who has seven England caps, has been far from his best this season, scoring just twice in 25 appearances, and manager Sam Allardyce felt it was best if Cole sought a move away from Upton Park.

"Carlton's contract has come to an end and we have decided not to renew that contract," said the former Bolton and Newcastle manager.

"Carlton's need at his age is to be playing football as often as he can. From our point of view we felt it better that he found pastures new.

"We can only thank him for his outstanding commitment and service to West Ham United over the last seven years."

Cole scored 59 times in 237 appearances for the east London side and was a key part of the side that achieved promotion from the Championship a year ago with 15 goals, including the opener in the play-off final victory over Blackpool at Wembley.

"Life is filled with ups & downs today is adown but I'll be back! Carlton Cole/CFC as I have been called has left the building #UNDERCHUFFED," he wrote on Twitter yesterday.

"I want to thank the West Ham fans for their support especially the 1's who made the away games feel like a home 1 #COYI.

"I came to East London not knowing what to expect but I'm glad i did the last 7 years I've met a lot of good honest decent people #THANKYOU."

His departure will leave Allardyce, who made his first signing of the northern summer in Romania captain Razvan Rat on Tuesday, scrambling for attacking reinforcements.

The Hammers are reported to have agreed a fee with Liverpool for England striker Andy Carroll, who made an impression on Allardyce after a successful season-long loan at Upton Park, and the final decision now lies with the 24-year-old who has withdrawn from the England squad with a foot injury.

The 31-year-old will join the east London side on 1 July on a one-year deal, when his contract with his current employer Shakhtar Donetsk ends.

Rat spent 10 years with the Ukrainian side, winning 15 trophies and the club has the option to extend his deal to two or three years.

"I'm hugely happy that we've got a player of his experience and his character," manager Sam Allardyce told the club's official website.

"He's been playing Champions League football this year and at the highest level for many years. Shakhtar had offered him a very good contract, but his ambition was to come and try his abilities and skills in England.

"When you hear somebody speak so positively about that, then you know they've got the mental character that's needed to do well in this division.

"We certainly know he's got the ability and he's at an age where he's still capable of producing at 31.

"He speaks perfect English, which he taught himself, and that shows the discipline and the character of the man. Discipline, character and ability are the three big things in the Premier League, and with a little bit of adjusting, we'll see him early on in the season giving hopefully his best performances for West Ham."

One man on the way out however is Carlton Cole who indicated that his future lies away from Upton Park.

The striker's contract expires at the end of June and the former Chelsea man believes he will be playing his football elsewhere next season.

''Life is filled with ups & downs today is a down but i'll be back! Carlton Cole/CFC as i have been called has left the building #UNDERCHUFFED,'' he wrote on Twitter.

''i want to thank the West Ham fans for their support especially the 1's who made the away games feel like a home 1 #COYI

''i came to East London not knowing what to expect but i'm glad i did the last 7 years I've met a lot of good honest decent people #THANKYOU.''

Press Association Sport understands Liverpool agreed several weeks ago to accept a fee of £15 million ($23.17 million), rising with various add-ons, to get the 24-year-old striker off its wage bill.

With the Hammers willing to pay the asking price for a player that cost £35 million ($54.06 million) when joining the Reds from Newcastle United in January 2011, the only barrier to the transfer is Carroll himself, who has spoken fondly of his season-long loan at Upton Park.

A major consideration for the England international, recently recalled to Roy Hodgson's squad, will be the implications of a pay cut at Upton Park.

But with a FIFA World Cup just 12 months away, Carroll has to weigh up whether he would be better off playing regularly with little likelihood of first-team football under Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

Despite only scoring seven goals at West Ham, the 6ft 3ins striker proved a popular signing and he admits he has enjoyed his time in London.

"I have enjoyed every minute of being here," he told whufc.com

"I have just tried to play my best in every match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from the injuries I had and then push on from there.

"I have worked hard to get myself back in the England squad, trying to play my best for West Ham, so I am really pleased about that.

"I just have to make sure I keep playing well to stay in there.

"I have had a great season here at West Ham, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in the team, with the staff around us and the fans.

"Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have been over the moon to be here. This is a great club."

Another exit Liverpool has to prepare for is that of goalkeeper Jose Reina.

It has made contingency plans should Reina move on, but Stoke City's Asmir Begovic is not top of its replacements list.

Spain international Reina's future has been the subject of debate for several months and it is understood his representatives have been in dialogue with Barcelona.

Although there has yet to be any contact made between the two clubs Liverpool has identified a number of options should the Catalan side make a move for Reina, who would find difficult to turn down a return to his former club.

However, despite reports in Bosnia claiming a deal has already been agreed for Begovic to move to Anfield should Reina leave Press Association Sport understands that is not the case.

Liverpool is considering the 25-year-old - who would command a significant fee from the Potters - as a viable option but he is not top of manager Brendan Rodgers' shortlist of candidates.

Any sale of Reina would generate upwards of £10 million ($15.45 million) and would get a significant earner off the wage bill but the club is in no rush to do a deal.

The goalkeeper himself insists he is happy at Anfield despite continued speculation about his likely departure this northern summer.

"I have three more years with Liverpool. I'm satisfied, comfortable and my family are very happy," said the 30-year-old, who progressed through the youth ranks at Barcelona - for whom his father Miguel also played - before moving to Villarreal prior to joining Liverpool.

"Rumours are difficult to control but it's flattering when a club like Barca are interested in you.

"I don't know if there has been contact between the clubs or with my agent.

"At the moment I don't think there's anything serious."

He added on radio station Cadena Ser: "I would've liked to have played there (Barcelona) more, of course, but there's no need to over-dramatise things.

"I don't know how long I've got left in football, what I do know is I want to enjoy what remains and feel appreciated and at Liverpool I have that."

Rodgers is moving forward on his plans for northern summer strengthening by looking at bringing in Manchester City's out-of-contract centre-back Kolo Toure.

The Reds boss needs to fill the hole left by the retirement of Jamie Carragher and the 32-year-old Cote d'Ivoire international is seen as a potential short-term fix.

However, once again Rodgers has other options he wants to pursue in central defence and a deal for Toure is far from done.

Despite only scoring seven goals, the big striker proved a popular signing and earned a recall to the England squad for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

However, with parent club Liverpool set to be holding out for a £17million, and Newcastle and Monaco also said to be monitoring the situation, the London club is set for some tough dealings if it is to secure the striker for next season.

Carroll, 24, will also have to consider his own wage demands at any new club, as well as the likely opportunities of regular European football to further push his international career.

Nevertheless, the Gateshead-born forward had nothing but praise for the time spent at the Boleyn Ground.

Speaking on the club's official website, www.whufc.com, Carroll said: "I have enjoyed every minute of being here.

"I have just tried to play my best in every match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from the injuries I had and then push on from there.

"The West Ham fans have been brilliant - they were chanting my name all through the match (against Reading), they never stopped and I thank them for the way they have supported me here from the moment I arrived."

Carroll added: "I have worked hard to get myself back in the England squad, trying to play my best for West Ham, so I am really pleased about that. I just have to make sure I keep playing well to stay in there.

"I have had a great season here at West Ham, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in the team, with the staff around us and the fans.

"Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have been over the moon to be here. This is a great club."

Carroll believes West Ham deserves great credit for securing 10th place on its first season back in the top flight.

"As a team, we have made a good transition back up to the Premier League," the England striker said.

"It is a tough thing, but the aim from the start was to try and get in that top 10 and that is what we have done."

Mourinho is widely expected to be confirmed as interim manager Rafael Benitez's replacement at Stamford Bridge after Real Madrid announced the 50-year-old was leaving the Spanish giant at the end of the season.

Mourinho led Chelsea to five major domestic trophies, including back-to-back Premier League titles, in three seasons in charge of the London club before leaving in 2007.

Since then, Mourinho has gone on to have a hugely successful spell in charge of Inter Milan - including guiding the Italian side to an unprecedented treble in 2010 - before moving to Madrid, where he won three titles during a mixed three-year spell.

With all that experience in mind, West Ham manager Allardyce feels Mourinho should be even better than in his previous stint in the English Premier League.

He told Sky Sports News: "I suppose it depends on whether he can recapture what he did when he first moved to Chelsea. Looking at his experience since those days he should be better than what he was when he left.

"I think that with his spell in Italy and his spell in Spain he will have matured and learnt an awful lot from that time and I suppose when he comes back to Chelsea he'll use that experience and probably try to be better than he was before he left."

If Mourinho does return, Allardyce for one is looking forward to locking horns with him.

He added: "I think it will be great to have him back.

"He had a very good spell last time, I know it didn't finish so well in the end at Chelsea with Roman Abramovich but obviously they've repaired that damage and he'll come back to ply his talents in the Premier League and it sounds like he's looking forward to coming back to England.

"So we'll be glad to see him and obviously pit our wits against him again."

The 24-year-old played the final match of his season-long loan in this Sunday's 4-2 win over relegated Reading at Upton Park, where captain Kevin Nolan netted a hat-trick.

Despite only scoring seven goals, the 6ft 3ins striker proved a popular signing, and this week earned a recall to the England squad for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

Yet with Liverpool set to be holding out for £17million ($A26.4 million) and Newcastle United and Monaco also said to be monitoring the situation, West Ham is set for some tough dealings.

Allardyce, though, remains determined to land his top target.

"It is our target to make it a permanent situation," he said. "Hopefully we can get somewhere in the near future to do that.

"It's our main priority. There are negotiations between the club and Liverpool.

"We have to pursue it to the very end one way or another and we will find out as quick as we can if it is a yes or a no.

"If we can start with Andy Carroll that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better.

"Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality.

"Andy is a player that is wanting to enjoy his football. He lives for his football and wants to play every game. He wants to use his strengths and score as many as he can - but he also works very hard for the team."

The Hammers was in complete control against Reading after a mistake from a new England call-up, goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, gifted Nolan the opener on 23 minutes, with Ricardo Vaz Te sweeping home a second following more good work from Carroll.

The Royals responded with two quick goals at the start of the second half through Garath McCleary and substitute Adam Le Fondre.

The Hammers, though, made sure of a creditable top-10 finish when Nolan netted again and then completed his hat-trick with a header three minutes from time.

Allardyce said of Nolan: "He has always been top class. It's another double-figures scoring job he's done yet again. He's done many of those throughout his career and finishing the season with a hat-trick has got to be thrilling for him."

"When we needed Kevin again he was there. That's what he is good at. When he scores his goals they are always very important."

Reading's fate had long been sealed and it finished the season in 19th place.

However Royals boss Nigel Adkins maintains there is plenty of positives to take ahead of a return to life in the npower Championship.

"There is a good feelgood factor going forward for next season, which is important," said Adkins, who replaced the sacked Brian McDermott in March.

"We have changed the way the club has played football - we are looking to be more in control with keeping the football for longer periods of time and that takes time to get everyone ready to go and do that."

Adkins felt his side had given a good account of themselves on the final day of the season.

"Great credit to the players, they showed really good character and in the second half we came out and scored two good goals. We were in the ascendancy up until they scored the third," he said.

"That was a shame but it's what you do in both penalty areas."

Adkins - a former goalkeeper himself - also had words of comfort for McCarthy as the 23-year-old prepares to link up with the senior England squad for the first time.

He said: "Alex is still a young goalkeeper. It's all a good learning experience. He just needed to clear the football, didn't he? It was a poor execution and that's life.

"The big thing I've noticed with Alex is if he does make a mistake he can quickly forget it, which is important in a goalkeeper.

"It's how quickly you can move on and Alex has done that.

"He is going to develop into a really good goalkeeper."

With the title already secured by Manchester United and relegation matters settled in midweek, the settling of European issues was the main focus of the day.

A win for Arsenal at St James' Park saw Arsene Wenger continue his proud record of Champions League qualification in every season at the club, but Tottenham ensured a nailbiting finale when the irrepressible Bale fired Spurs ahead with a glorious 25-yard strike in the closing seconds.

A Newcastle equaliser in the dying seconds against Arsenal would have seen Tottenham leapfrog its rival into fourth but it never materialised.

Chelsea, which started the day with the chance of a play-off with the Gunners for third place, avoided that fate with a 2-1 home win over Everton.

And on a day where 36 goals were scored in the top flight, Sir Alex Ferguson saw 10 of them in his final game before retirement as champion Manchester United drew 5-5 in a breathless encounter with West Bromwich Albion.

Arsenal fought out a first-half stalemate against Newcastle but grabbed the all-important winning goal in the 52nd minute when Laurent Koscielny hooked home from close range after a free-kick from the right.

Tottenham saw strong penalty appeals turned down, shots cleared off the line and woodwork rattled before Bale - who had earlier been booked for diving when he looked to have been fouled in the area - curled in a sensational winner after David Vaughan's red card.

Yet it was not enough and it now goes into the UEFA Europa League.

Chelsea's confirmed third place in Rafael Benitez's last game in charge when his fellow Spaniards Juan Mata and Fernando Torres scored either side of Toffees midfielder Steven Naismith.

Ferguson, meanwhile, can rarely have seen a game in his 26 years at United like the one that unfolded at The Hawthorns.

Shinji Kagawa, Alex Buttner and a Jonas Olsson own goal put United 3-0 up after half-an-hour, while Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez also hit the target on Ferguson's big day.

But a Romelu Lukaku hat-trick teamed with efforts from James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu ensured the Baggies a share of the spoils.

Three of West Brom's goals came in a frantic last 10 minutes.

Jamie Carragher's final match for Liverpool before retirement ended in a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, which finishes bottom of the league.

Philippe Coutinho grabbed the winner with a fine 23rd-minute strike but Carragher, goalless since 2006, almost grabbed the spotlight when he hit the woodwork in the second half.

Carragher's former Liverpool and England team-mate Michael Owen also played the last match of his storied career but a 16-minute cameo in Stoke City's 1-1 draw at Southampton was not one to remember.

Peter Crouch gave the Potters the lead two minutes into the second half and Rickie Lambert levelled 10 minutes later for the Saints.

Managerless Manchester City ended a disappointing season with a 3-2 home defeat to Norwich City.

One of Roberto Mancini's much-maligned northern summer signings, Jack Rodwell, twice equalised for City but goals from Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt and Jonny Howson won it for the Canaries.

West Ham United beat the Canaries to a top-half finish with a 4-2 win over relegated Reading.

Kevin Nolan claimed a hat-trick and Ricardo Vaz Te also netted, while Garath McCleary and Adam Le Fondre ensured the Royals did not go down without a fight.

FA Cup winner Wigan Athletic is also bound for the Championship but it added one final point to its tally with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Darren Bent, on a rare start, had put Villa ahead before Emmerson Boyce's header and a Nathan Baker own goal gave the Latics a sniff of victory.

Ron Vlaar snuffed out those hopes in the 61st minute.

Fulham shook off some questionable form to inflict a 3-0 defeat on Swansea City, Alex Kacaniklic, Dimitar Berbatov and Urby Emmanuelson on the scoresheet for the Cottagers.

Carroll joined the Hammers from Liverpool on a one-year loan deal last August after struggling to establish himself at Anfield following his club-record $50 million switch from Newcastle in January 2011.

The 24-year-old has been hampered by injury during his time at Upton Park but, since returning to fitness, he has hit form over the last few months and was this week was recalled to the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

And Allardyce has also seen enough to want Carroll back at West Ham next season, believing the powerful hitman can develop into a "very good player" at the club.

"He has shown everybody what he can do and he has massive potential to grow into a very good player if he ends up back here with us," Allardyce told reporters ahead of West Ham's final Barclays Premier League match against Reading tomorrow.

"He's so willing to learn and become better that I think we could do well for each other, but there is a way to go before that might get sorted.

"It's about negotiation and both parties have to be happy that the negotiation cannot go any farther and it's a 'yes' or 'no'. We hope it's a 'yes' and we hope it is as quickly as possible."

He added: "I think that my reflection of Andy is exactly what I said from the start - as soon as we get him match-fit, the sooner you will see the goals.

"That match-fitness never came until his run after his second injury and I'm still wondering what he might have done this year had we got him off that one minute before he did his hamstring in his first game (against Fulham)."

Hammers defender James Collins has no doubts Allardyce is the man to take West Ham to the "next level".

Allardyce, 58, last week ended speculation about his future when he penned a new two-year contract extension after successfully keeping the east London club in the top flight.

West Ham - who plan to move into the Olympic Stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season - could secure a top-10 finish if it beats relegated Reading on Monday (AEST).

Wales international Collins believes everything is set up for Allardyce, the former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn manager, to continue the club's progression.

"It is great the manager has signed his new contract, we as a team are flourishing and I know he only wants us to be getting better and better," he said.

"We are all enjoying it here. He along with all of us at the club can look to the future and plan what we want to do next in trying to take our club to the next level."

Key to West Ham staying clear of the dogfight for survival - which was ended when FA Cup winners Wigan's relegation was confirmed following their 4-1 defeat at Arsenal in midweek - has been form at the Boleyn Ground.

The Irons have lost only four league games at home, in stark contrast to 12 defeats on the road.

A ninth victory at Upton Park would cement a top-10 finish and set the Irons up to press on again next term.

Collins added: "We have had a great season, to win and to finish 10th would be great.

"It is always good to finish well. In my experience if you finish one season well you normally start the next season well."

Despite their impressive return having come up via the 2012 play-offs, the Irons' tougher challenges lie ahead.

West Ham is expected to be busy over the northern summer, and have already been linked with moves for the likes of Celtic forward Gary Hooper and Vitesse Arnhem's Wilfried Bony - the top scorer in the Dutch league - as well as veteran Italian midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, who is out of contract at AC Milan.

Allardyce, though, accepts no matter how hard clubs might work to improve the squad, the additional financial outlay does not always correlate directly to more consistent results.

"For the small improvement, it is a considerable amount of millions which is needed today, that is the difficult we all face," Allardyce said on TalkSPORT.

"You buy a £10million ($15 million) player or a £12 million player today and everybody expects the team to improve by 15 or 20 per cent, but often it is only by one or two per cent.

"The size of the fees for players and wages just don't relate to how much they improve the team.

"That brings more and more pressure on you as a manager in trying to improve the side but the money needed today is astronomical."

New Financial Fair Play rules in the Premier League next season will also impact on how much of the bumper new television income can be spent on wage bills.

Allardyce admits those changes represent uncharted water for member clubs, and last month suggested it could impact on West Ham's ability to look to make a loan move for England forward Andy Carroll into a permanent transfer.

"We have got some funds available, but the financial restrictions kick in this year and those funds will be restricted," the Irons boss said.

"We have to be careful where, and how, we spend our money to try and improve the side, which is something we must do.

"It is worrying for everybody and we will have to see how it works out. It makes life that little bit more difficult.

"But we will have to learn to deal with it and, hopefully as a team we can get better despite those restrictions."

The Scot's final match at Goodison Park after 11 years in charge ended in a 2-0 win over West Ham United but he admits much has changed since he walked out onto the famous turf prior to a 2-1 win over Fulham Athletic in March 2002.

Chairman Bill Kenwright could probably not have envisaged what an inspired choice it would be bringing in Moyes from Preston, then a Championship club.

However, as Moyes prepares for a new chapter in charge of Manchester United next season he thinks Kenwright has a tougher task now finding a replacement.

"I hope people will think the chairman made a good decision then and I am sure he will make a good decision now," he said.

"The chairman took a gamble at that time, giving a young British manager an opportunity to work so he needs a lot of credit for that.

"I think the difference now is when I took over it was maybe a bit easier to bring in someone a little bit less experienced.

"Maybe now where Everton are that might not be quite the case but if he wants me help I'll help him with whatever he wants.

"I'll do everything I can to help him in what he chooses to do next."

Wigan Athletic's FA Cup-winning manager Roberto Martinez and Celtic's Neil Lennon are the favourites in the running but Cardiff City's Malky Mackay, having taken Cardiff into the Premier League, is being linked.

Moyes believes the new man, whoever Kenwright chooses, will have a better starting point than when he took over from Walter Smith.

"Whoever comes in will enjoy it because they are a great bunch of players," he added.

"I will walk away from here saying Everton have become better.

"They will never be as good as they were in the 80s when they won things but I think if you look since the Premier League started how many top-10 finishes we have had it has improved."

Forward Kevin Mirallas scored goals in the sixth and 60th minutes to ease Everton to a comfortable victory over the Hammers in what turned out to be a celebration of Moyes' reign.

"More important for me was how well Everton played," added the Toffees boss.

"I thought they played like a top team - I don't mean a team in fifth or six, I mean a top team.

"I think we would have been a match for any side: the players were terrific in showing a level of professionalism just to make sure they couldn't get caught up in anything was a credit."

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce felt his players buckled under the significance of the occasion for the home side.

"The way we played today we were lucky to get away with 2-0," he said.

"There was only one player who has been outstanding for us and that was (goalkeeper) Jussi Jaaskelainen who made some outstanding saves.

"I warned the players before the game what it was going to be like - it was exactly that and the players couldn't cope."

However, the usually stoic Scot was visibly moved by the reception he received both before, during and after the 2-0 win over West Ham United in his final appearance at the ground he has called home for 11 years.

Moyes said he was 'gobsmacked' by the whole day and from the moment he arrived at the ground and was applauded in by stewards he did not quite know how to handle things.

Misplaced fears fans would show their displeasure at the manager allowing his contract to expire in order to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson were dispelled the moment he appeared on the touchline to loud cheers.

But Moyes said he could understand if some supporters, who sang his name throughout, were not happy with his departure.

"I am a football supporter and if I had been on the terraces today I would have clapped the manager - I might not have liked what he was doing but I would have certainly applauded," said the Scot, who was given a guard of honour by his own players prior to the post-match lap of appreciation and was visibly moved.

"I think just by the reaction from most people in the last few days I thought it would be okay but if you are a football supporter you are entitled to support your team and if someone is not on your team you don't know what will be the reaction.

"It was really emotional from the moment I came in: all the stewards were standing clapping me and I didn't know what to do.

"I came here 11 years ago and it was really emotional walking out on to the pitch, a lot of people didn't know who I was I don't think.

"I got off to a great start (winning 2-1 over Fulham) so I am really fortunate I had a reception like I did today.

"I am gobsmacked, very thankful and humble for what the people of Everton have shown today.

"What I will miss is what you saw in the middle of the second half - the supporters were not cheering David Moyes, they were cheering their football club and standing up for it.

"I thought that was the toughest part for me today - it was a difficult time - because the crowd showed how big Everton are and what it means to them."

Goals from Kevin Mirallas after six - from a slick passing move - and 60 minutes wrapped up a comfortable victory.

Moyes felt his side displayed its true quality and certain passages of play would have been welcomed by his new employer down the M62.

"More important for me was how well Everton played today," added the Toffees boss, who was applauded out of his final press conference at Goodison by the assembled media.

"I thought they played like a top team today - I don't mean a team in fifth or sixth, I mean a top team.

"I think we would have been a match for any side: the players were terrific in showing a level of professionalism just to make sure they couldn't get caught up in anything."

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce felt his players buckled under the significance of the occasion for the home side.

"The way we played today we were lucky to get away with 2-0," he said.

"There was only one player who has been outstanding for us and that was (goalkeeper) Jussi Jaaskelainen who made some outstanding saves.

"I warned the players before the game what it was going to be like - it was exactly that and the players couldn't cope."

Michu had cancelled out Javier Hernandez's first-half strike, and the game, almost incidental to the day's double farewell celebrations, appeared to be heading towards a 1-1 draw before Ferdinand popped up to score his first goal in five years in the 87th minute.

The fact that Manchester United scored a late winner seemed quite fitting in Ferguson's last appearance in the Old Trafford dugout in a Red Devils career that has spanned nearly 27 years.

The result came after Ferguson was given a guard of honour by both sides before kick-off in an emotionally-charged final appearance for the Scot.

Sir Alex Ferguson addresses the Old Trafford faithful:

He will be replaced next season by David Moyes, who also enjoyed victory in his final home game as Everton manager.

Striker Kevin Mirallas ensured Moyes departed Goodison Park in perfect circumstances with a 2-0 win over West Ham United.

The victory also guaranteed Everton finished above Liverpool for the second successive season.

In the relegation fight, Norwich City confirmed its top-flight survival with an emphatic 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road.

Robert Snodgrass gave the Canaries a half-time lead before a Ben Foster howler gifted Grant Holt the second and former Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley's own goal prompted Delia Smith to dance with delight.

West Brom was woeful and Jonny Howson scored a spectacular late fourth as Chris Hughton's side claimed a third win in 20 Premier League games to make certain of its top-flight status ahead of a final-day trip to Manchester City.

In contrast, Sunderland will be anxiously watching Wigan Athletic's match at Arsenal on Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning AEST) as it was held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton.

Jason Puncheon came off the bench to grab a point for Southampton and all but secure its safety, just as it looked as though Sunderland had saved itself in its clash at the Stadium of Light.

The midfielder struck with 14 minutes remaining after fellow substitute James Ward-Prowse provided the ammunition to cancel out Phil Bardsley's opener, and in the process left the home side still looking over its shoulders.

The result leaves Sunderland on 39 points with one game to play - against UEFA Champions League-hunting Tottenham Hotspur - while Wigan, which is four points adrift of the Black Cats, also has a home match against Aston Villa on the final day of the season.

Newcastle United ensured its Premier League survival with a game to spare as it beat already-relegated Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road.

Hatem Ben Arfa's penalty and a Yoan Gouffran strike helped the Magpies come from behind to secure a victory that ensured another season in the top flight after Loic Remy's early spot-kick had put Harry Redknapp's side ahead.

Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot's late sending off did not affect the result, with the Magpies holding out for a vital three points.

Tottenham Hotspur moved back above north London rival Arsenal and into a Champions League qualifying position as it saw off 10-man Stoke City with a 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium.

Emmanuel Adebayor slid home a late winner to lift Tottenham back into fourth place after it fell behind to a Steven Nzonzi header after just three minutes, before Clint Dempsey equalised with a brilliant piece of improvisation.

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam was dismissed in the 47th minute for a second bookable offence and Tottenham was made to labour before its late winner.

Elsewhere, Daniel Sturridge fired Liverpool to an easy 3-1 win at Fulham with a superb hat-trick at Craven Cottage.

Sturridge had not scored against the Cottagers during his time at the club's local rival Chelsea or while he was at Manchester City, but he took Martin Jol's team apart with three well-taken strikes.

Hammers co-owner David Gold announced the 58-year-old would stay on at Upton Park on his personal Twitter account.

"I am delighted to announce that our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two year contract," Gold wrote.

Questions over Allardyce's future at West Ham have continued to linger despite the Hammers boss guiding the club to 10th in the Premier League after promotion last northern summer.

Allardyce insisted in March that he would be penning a new deal 'very soon' after productive talks with Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan, but the contract that he has been offered is yet to be signed.

The 58-year-old says all that will change next week though after West Ham's penultimate game of the season at Everton.

Allardyce said: "I will be signing my contract very shortly. Early next week will be the right time.

"It's Friday today and we are getting ready to travel tomorrow and we are concentrating on Everton.

"But by early or next midweek I will be looking to put pen to paper."

Paolo Di Canio's departure from Swindon Town led to speculation that he could replace Allardyce at the end of the season, but Sullivan recently maintained he could never employ the controversial Italian, who has already been snapped up by Sunderland anyway.

The two-month wait for Allardyce to take up West Ham's offer has raised eyebrows, but the former Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers manager insists the hold-up has been down to wading through vast swathes of legal jargon and the need to secure top-flight survival, rather than because of any problem with the club's owners.

"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right way, which it has now," Allardyce said.

"I never thought there would be any problem - and there hasn't.

"There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers to agree and then it gets signed.

"The size of a manager's contract is pretty substantial in terms of responsibilities."

Signing Andy Carroll, who is on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, will be Allardyce's priority once he signs his new deal.

"We would like Andy Carroll to stay and I would prefer that to be on a permanent basis," Allardyce said of the striker, who Gold and Sullivan chose as their West Ham player of the year this week.

Despite all the talk of Allardyce's future, and that of Carroll, the Hammers boss is concentrating on giving Hammers fans what would be just a fourth away win of the season this weekend.

The east London club travels to Goodison Park this weekend for what will be David Moyes' last home match in charge of the Merseyside club before he departs for Manchester United.

With emotions riding high among the Everton support, who have given Moyes their backing during his 11-year spell at the helm, Allardyce hopes the Everton players will take their eye off the ball.

Allardyce added: "He'll ask himself and all his players to be professional and not to let themselves down first and foremost and not to let the club down on what they've built over a long period of time.

"Most of the players have been there a long time now and have a lot of respect for David. Personally I hope they don't bother.

"That would be great for me if we can get three points by the fact they're playing the game not quite at full tilt, like they normally do.

"At full tilt they're an extreme force to deal with. If there's a bit of easing off there then we'll want to take advantage of that."

Carroll, whose season-long loan from Liverpool is due to expire shortly, has been in good form recently and is a key part of Sam Allardyce's side.

Cole, who rejoined West Ham from Liverpool in January, is working his way back to fitness and wants England forward Carroll to sign up in the northern summer.

"West Ham definitely want to keep Andy Carroll," Cole told talkSport.

"I don't know the ins and outs of the deal but the way he's been playing in the last couple of weeks you can understand why Liverpool paid £35 million for him a couple of years ago.

"I think all the boys want him to stay at West Ham. He's (his own) man, though, and he has his own agenda.

"I don't know what Liverpool are thinking and I'm sure there will be be other clubs in for him. West Ham would like to keep him, he's our top scorer. He's got to do what's right for him, though."

It remains to be seen if a permanent deal can be thrashed out between the two clubs and if Carroll would be interested in a full-time switch to east London.

Allardyce has been non-committal about securing Carroll's services beyond the end of the current campaign but Hammers' assistant manager Neil McDonald revealed the 24-year-old is happy at the club.

"Andy Carroll is enjoying his time in London, is enjoying playing for West Ham and is enjoying being on the training field and trying to contribute for the team," he told the club's official website.

"He's scoring goals and making goals for other people."

Carroll currently sits top of the West Ham scoring charts, level on seven goals with captain Kevin Nolan, despite missing parts of the season with hamstring and knee injuries.

Tottenham struck a potentially lethal blow race for a top-four place with Bale again the hero, in a 1-0 win over Southampton.

Tottenham was struggling to find a way past the Saints at White Hart Lane until the man of the moment, PFA Player of the Year Bale, unleashed a stinging 20-yard winner.

Arsenal went third courtesy of Theo Walcott's first-minute goal against already relegated Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in the late game.

Arsenal (36 games) is third on 67 points, ahead of Chelsea (34 games) and Tottenham (35 games) with the battle for a Champions League spot to go down to the wire.

Wigan Athletic's annual role as the escape artist was reprised again as it won 3-2 at West Brom.

Time and again Roberto Martinez's side has ended the season strongly to stay up, but going into this meeting five points shy of the rest, it looked in trouble.

That situation increased when Shane Long tucked in Markus Rosenberg's cross for the Baggies, but Arouna Kone levelled before the break.

Gareth McAuley put West Brom ahead again five minutes after the restart but never-say-die Wigan equalised through James McArthur (58) and won it when Callum McManaman scored with 10 minutes left.

Wigan now has 35 points, three less than Norwich City whose dismal 2013 continued as it was beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa.

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored both goals for the visitor, which ensured Paul Lambert enjoyed a happy return to his old club.

Grant Holt scored a penalty inbetween times, but Norwich is now in trouble, compared to Villa whose two wins in a week have pushed it out to 40 points.

A 0-0 draw at West Ham United left Newcastle United in bother on 38 points, but being already relegated played into the hands of Reading, which went goal crazy at Fulham, winning 4-2.

Hal Robson-Kanu's early penalty put Reading on its way to giving Nigel Adkins his first win in charge, with the Wales international doubling his tally (62).

Bryan Ruiz gave Fulham a lifeline eight minutes later but Adam Le Fondre replied and, even though Ruiz scored again (77), Jem Karacan wrapped things up for Reading.

There was no such drama at Swansea City, though, as the Capital One Cup winner played out a meek goalless draw with Manchester City.

Carroll, who moved from Tyneside to Liverpool for £35 million ($52.88 million) in January 2011 and has since been loaned to West Ham, has enjoyed a return to form in recent weeks.

That comes in stark contrast to the Magpies, who remain embroiled in the scrap for Premier League survival after a 6-0 mauling by Carroll's parent club last weekend.

West Ham can inflict more pain on its former boss Alan Pardew if it wins this weekend and McDonald, an ex-Newcastle player himself, reckons Carroll will be up for the reunion.

"He is a forward and wants to score goals so I imagine he will be licking his lips after their performance against Liverpool last week," McDonald said.

"He is bound to find it strange because this is the club where he grew up and came through the ranks. That won't stop him trying to do his best for the team and he is fully committed to West Ham.

"He will be desperate to score and keep up his fine run of form."

Carroll has been tipped to return to Roy Hodgson's England squad for the end-of-season friendlies, and McDonald believes he would fit into the set-up with ease.

"When you're in form, you should be considered for England," he said. "I think the perception with his size is that he is just a big target man, but he is much more than that. He has excellent control, inter-link play and is of course fantastic in the air.

"He's not just a flick-it-up-and-hoof-it man - he would give England much more options than just a big ball up top. (Emile) Heskey did that sort of role for Michael Owen.

"People have that perception - he's more than a big lump and he does work at his game and is still a young man. He has gone to the top very quickly, but he is young and still learning."

McDonald also feels the 24-year-old is benefiting from playing away from the limelight of his home town.

"I think he is enjoying life in London and is not in the goldfish bowl of Newcastle or Liverpool and he is enjoying life and that is reflected in his performances," McDonald added.

"I think he is at a club where we care for him 100 per cent off the field as well as on it and we have settled him in to where he is living and he is comfortable where he is at."

Carroll did have a reputation for causing trouble off the field during his younger days and spent time living in the home of then Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan.

The two became firm friends and were reunited in east London when West Ham struck a deal to sign Carroll on a season-long loan.

McDonald has enjoyed working with the forward and would welcome an extension to his stay at the club.

He said: "You might think he would be hard to work with, but he is a very unassuming young man who is working hard and trying to learn.

"He has done fantastically well considering he is in the spotlight all the time. It is a pleasure to work with him and, if things work out and he fancies staying and we can get him, he would be a great player to have."

The Hammers could secure its English Premier League status with a win over Newcastle on Saturday (Sunday AEST), with McDonald's hometown club still embroiled in a relegation dog-fight.

Former Newcastle boss Allardyce is well-known for his use of technology and sports science but it is the offer of a few days away from training that has worked a treat with his players.

"He has done that once already this season and we've had a fantastic response from a physical point," McDonald said.

"They've been working hard for nine months so to have a break, as long as they're not abusing their bodies and they come back fresh, is a good thing.

"It gets a fantastic response from the players and when they get that, it's good for them to go home and share some time with the family."

One player who appears to have benefited from such an approach is New Zealand international defender Winston Reid.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed his best season since joining the Hammers and penned a new two-year deal earlier this week, with McDonald delighted to keep him on board.

"It's a brilliant boost," he said. "I think he has been our most consistent defender over the season and he thoroughly deserves it.

"There has been an improvement in all aspects of his game and on the whole he has been the most consistent.

"When you play on a regular basis you do learn from your mistakes and it takes time to come to English football.

"They need time to adjust and he has done that and put himself on a new level."

With just three games remaining and a second top-flight season all but confirmed, McDonald also admitted the northern summer recruitment process is well under way.

One player heavily linked with a move to Upton Park is Ukraine captain Ravzan Rat. The Shakhtar Donetsk full-back is available as his contract is due to expire, but McDonald distanced West Ham from any potential deal.

"I think it is all hearsay and rumours," he said.

"With the position that we are in hopefully we will be linked with a few more and it's always good to show that we are on the up and people want to be here."

The 24-year-old has been impressive for much of the season, forming a strong partnership with James Collins at the heart of the Hammers' defence.

The New Zealand international, who has captained both club and country over the course of the current season, has played in 33 of West Ham's 35 Barclays Premier League fixtures this season.

Daniel Agger's third-minute header and Jordan Henderson's strike put Brendan Rodgers' side ahead at half-time before two second-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and a strike for Fabio Borini gave Liverpool control.

Newcastle's Mathieu Debuchy was sent off for his second bookable offence in the 75th minute after a clattering challenge on Philippe Coutinho before Henderson scored the Reds' sixth goal from a 25-yard free-kick.

The result leaves the Magpies firmly involved in a relegation battle, five points from safety with three games to play.

Emmerson Boyce's last minute own goal saw Tottenham Hotspur claim a late 2-2 draw against Premier League struggler Wigan Athletic to keep its UEFA Champions League qualification hopes alive.

Spurs took the early lead through PFA Player of the Year nominee Gareth Bale but his effort was soon cancelled out by Boyce, before Callum McManaman's firecracker looked to have earned Wigan a vital three points.

However, Boyce's afternoon ended on a sour note when Aaron Lennon's cross rebounded into the net off the Wigan defender's shins, as Roberto Martinez's side saw a vital two points evaporate.

The result means Tottenham missed the chance to move above Chelsea and instead remained in fifth place while Wigan remained in the relegation zone, two points behind Aston Villa, which plays Sunderland on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST).

It had all started so positively for Spurs when Bale pounced in the ninth minute after Latics goalkeeper Joel Robles and defender Maynor Figueroa were too slow in exchanging passes in the box. Robles' clearance was charged down by the Spurs man, who capitalised to give his side the advantage.

However, the lead was short-lived thanks to Boyce, who headed Wigan level two minutes later from Shaun Maloney's corner to leave the sides tied 1-1 at half-time.

McManaman then fired Wigan ahead in the 49th minute with a 25-yard strike which looked to have edged his side out of the relegation zone before Boyce's own goal.

In the early kick-off, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure lifted the gloom for deposed champion Manchester City with two outstanding goals to defeat West Ham United 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Aguero swept in a low ball from Samir Nasri for the first before Toure launched a powerful shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute.

The game looked to be done and dusted but West Ham refused to lie down as on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll popped up with a last-minute consolation.

Everton kept its chances of achieving European football next season alive as it beat Fulham 1-0 at Goodison Park. Steven Pienaar gave the Toffees the lead with a 16th-minute strike when he fired home after good work by Seamus Coleman on the byline.

West Bromwich Albion consolidated its place in the top half of the table and left Southampton one point adrift of the magical 40-point mark with a 3-0 win as both sides had players sent off at St Mary's.

The Baggies claimed an early advantage thanks to Marc-Antoine Fortune. Romelu Lukaku headed in the assist which Fortune bundled over the line in the sixth minute to give the Baggies a 1-0 half-time lead.

Lukaku then claimed a goal of his own after the break, Fortune turning provider, to double the lead, before Fortune and Southampton substitute Gaston Ramirez were both shown straight red cards for violent conduct. Ramirez caught Shane Long with his elbow and Fortune reacted by slapping the Saints midfielder around the head.

Long did not seemed to be too perturbed by the situation as he drilled West Brom's third six minutes later before Southampton ended the game with nine men when Daniel Fox was dismissed for a two-footed challenge on Steven Reid.

Elsewhere, Charlie Adam scored 49 seconds into the second half as Stoke City eased its relegation fears with a 1-0 win over Norwich City.

Adam, who had not scored in his previous 14 league appearances for the Potters, ended his drought when he lashed Peter Crouch's knock-down into Mark Bunn's net.

The result means Stoke reached the 40-point landmark, while Norwich remained two points adrift in 14th place.

Lewandowski underlined his status as one of the hottest properties in world football this week when he scored all four goals in Dortmund's Champions League semi-final thrashing of Real Madrid.

Had it not been for an Icelandic ash cloud, or the financial constraints of the board at Ewood Park - Allardyce cannot remember which - the Pole could have been fighting relegation to League One with Blackburn instead.

Blackburn was one of a number of clubs, including Tottenham and West Brom, who were offered Lewandowski by his then parent club Lech Poznan for just three million euros in 2010.

"It's true," the West Ham boss said. "He was put forward to sign very strongly by our recruitment staff and unfortunately it was one that got knocked back.

"My distant memory isn't that great but I think (former Rovers chairman) John (Williams) and the board said we are not going to commit that amount of money.

"I think they wanted three or four million euros but we were particularly strapped financially at the time at Blackburn.

"I watched him play. But I didn't get the chance to meet him.

"I think his agent said he couldn't come over because of the ash cloud, yes.

"He's probably worth 40 million euros after last night (Thursday morning AEST)."

It goes without saying that if Blackburn did have the man who ran rings around the Real defence in its team, it would not be at the wrong end of the Championship now.

And for Allardyce, who spent just under three years in charge of Blackburn, knowing that he missed out on coaching the talented 24-year-old is particularly galling.

"I think about it every time I see him play. Last night I was thinking it again," the 58-year-old said.

"He would have had a period of getting used to the level and the physical presence, but with a talent like that it wouldn't have been too long before he started to shine and score goals.

"The level he is playing at now is unbelievable, not just his scoring ability but his ability to retain possession.

"There were a lot of people looking at him at that time as well but we had the edge over every one else because of the attraction of the Premier League. He could have used us as a stepping stone but it didn't happen."

Manchester United has been linked with a big-money move for the striker, who has one year left to run on his contract, but Allardyce thinks the allure of English game is not as strong as it once was.

"I think we (English football) have had a bit of a knock-back this year," said Allardyce, referring to the lack of an English team in the last four of the Champions League.

"I am not sure if that will do anything to us just yet in terms of our status in the Champions League.

"I think that all those big (English) clubs will realise that they have to go out and invest even more again and hopefully we can grow back to where we were."

West Ham's opponent on Saturday (Sunday AEST) - Manchester City - is tipped to be the biggest spender in the market this northern summer despite the introduction of new financial fair play rules which mean clubs have to balance their books.

When asked whether the new rules will hurt last year's champions, Allardyce said: "It depends on the turnover and where they see how big the turnover is.

"How much did they get Etihad Stadium sponsored for? That has increased their revenues. They will probably find that their shirt sponsorship deal will be increased and is larger than before and that increases the turnover."

City hosts West Ham on the weekend in the first game since Roberto Mancini's men lost its status as Premier League champion.

United wrapped up its 20th title with four games to spare on Monday when it beat Aston Villa 3-0.

Despite yet more investment in the squad last summer, City has, for the majority of the season, looked a pale imitation of the side that clinched the title in such dramatic fashion last season.

Allardyce thinks the main reason behind City's failure to stop its biggest rival from bouncing back is because of the nous of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson, one of Allardyce's closest friends in management, has suffered setbacks before and the West Ham boss thinks that there is little sign of the 71-year-old's dominance of the English game ending soon.

"You're always chasing the master and he has been the master for so long – it is difficult to sustain success against him," Allardyce told a press conference.

"Whenever he has a challenge, he may lose out once, but he comes back with flying colours. He's had it with Chelsea and, before that, Arsenal."

Speculation is rife that City will dispense with Mancini this summer due to the vast gulf that has emerged between the two clubs this summer.

City trails United by 16 points, but Allardyce thinks Blues fans can take pride in the way the club has battled its way to an FA Cup final against Wigan, which takes place next month.

"If they win the FA Cup and they finish second, it's a very good season," the 58-year-old said.

"When you win the league for the first time in so many [44] years it is very difficult to win it the second time round – no matter how much money you spend.

"Man City and Roberto will learn from that."

City will, no doubt, respond to losing its crown by trying to land a number of big stars for next season.

Big-money moves for Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Gareth Bale have all been mooted while one of the most surprising names reported to be on City's radar is West Ham forward Ravel Morrison.

Morrison swapped Manchester United for Upton Park one year ago but he struggled to break in to the first team and was shipped out on loan to Championship side Birmingham.

Allardyce plans to hold talks with the 20-year-old, who was fined £7000 ($10,500) for a homophobic tweet in February last year, when he returns from his loan spell mid year.

"We will discuss it when the season is over," Allardyce said.

"All the loan players and those out of contract, we will sit down and make a judgment before we move into contracts with other players."

One of those out-of-contract players is striker Carlton Cole, who has had a poor season, scoring just two goals in 27 appearances after being ousted from the first team by Liverpool loanee Andy Carroll.

Reports claim West Ham has offered the former Chelsea man a new deal to fend off interest from the United States, but Allardyce denied that was the case today.

The West Ham manager said: "He has not been offered a contract verbally."

West Ham will finally guarantee its top-flight status if it becomes just the second visiting team to win at the Etihad Stadium in the league this season.

An unbeaten five-match run has moved West Ham up to 10th in the table, leaving Allardyce in a relaxed mood.

"We've come out of a bleak spell and are moving into the final throws in a very comfortable position," he said.

"We can enjoy and relax without detracting from performance."

Wigan Athletic was beaten 2-0 by West Ham United at Upton Park while Queens Park Rangers lost by the same margin against Stoke City and Reading was unable to overcome Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The defeat for Wigan looked to be the toughest of them all as it deserved more from its clash with the Hammers but it was unable to find a way past Sam Allardyce's side.

The defeat now leaves it three points adrift of safety and Aston Villa, which plays Manchester United on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEST).

Hammers winger Matt Jarvis did the early damage when he fired in a teasing low cross from the left which missed the swinging legs of both Kevin Nolan and Mohamed Diame to fly into the far corner of Joel Robles' net.

Nolan then scored his 100th career goal after the break after Andy Carroll helped on a long free-kick which fell into his path, allowing the midfielder to hook the ball into the net and issue a hammer blow which inched Wigan one step closer to relegation.

It was a bad day for the other two sides in the relegation zone as both QPR and Reading were unable to claim any vital points.

Stoke City beat rock-bottom Queens Park Rangers 2-0 as it eased its own relegation worries but piled even more pressure on QPR boss Harry Redknapp at Loftus Road.

Peter Crouch fired the opening goal against his former club from close range just before the half-time whistle after almost giving Stoke the lead through a 25-yard volley which was dealt with by home goalkeeper Rob Green.

Crouch then won a penalty for the Potters after the break after Clint Hill's challenge, which was duly converted by Jonathan Walters.

The result means Stoke is now six points clear of third-bottom Wigan with four games remaining.

Norwich City claimed a vital three points against struggling Reading to help ease its own relegation worries after it scored two goals in two minutes to seal a 2-1 win at Carrow Road.

Ryan Bennett scored the opener five minutes after the break after Reading keeper Alex McCarthy managed to keep out Grant Holt's volley but was unable to take the ball cleanly, with Bennett sweeping the ball home from eight yards.

Elliott Bennett then added the second moments later when the Reading keeper punched away a cross, which Elliott Bennett controlled on his chest before firing into the net.

Reading pulled one back through Garath McCleary's 25-yard strike in the 72nd minute but it was not enough to salvage any points as its top-flight future looks increasingly bleak.

Everton's hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League were dealt a major blow after it was beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Stephane Sessegnon, who was one of the star performers for Sunderland in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby win over Newcastle United, drilled home from 20 yards with Tim Howard unable to keep it out.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United drew 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Yoan Gouffran raced in to meet Papiss Cisse's floated cross to beat Ben Foster in the first half before Billy Jones equalised for the home side after the break.

Romelu Lukaku made his presence felt in the Newcastle box to outmuscle the defence and lay the ball off to Jones, who duly scored.

Fulham was beaten 1-0 at home to Champions League-chasing Arsenal after Steve Sidwell was sent off in the 12th minute.

The midfielder, in his first game back from suspension after he was sent off against QPR, was shown another straight red card after he lunged in on Mikel Arteta and caught him on the ankle.

Arsenal also finished the game with 10 men after striker Olivier Giroud was sent off in the 90th minute, but it was able to seal the win after defender Per Mertesacker gave it the advantage on the stroke of half-time.

In the other game, Swansea City and Southampton drew 0-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

Carroll has re-discovered his form since returning from injury, scoring five goals in his last eight matches to take the Hammers to the brink of safety with five games of the season remaining.

Although just 24-years-old, Carroll has had an eventful life, earning a £35 million move to Liverpool after becoming an icon at his hometown club Newcastle.

It has not all been plain sailing for him, however.

He was shipped out on loan to West Ham after flopping at Liverpool while his lifestyle off the field led to concerns the 6ft 3in marksman would not blossom into the deadly striker everyone expected him to become.

But having found his feet at West Ham, Allardyce believes Carroll is now in the most settled period of his career, and given that he will soon be entering his prime, he knows the next contract he signs will have a huge bearing on the player's future.

"The next move is a critical one for him," the West Ham manager said.

"It's about playing, improving and scoring goals. That next move has to implement all of that for the team he plays for and him."

Newcastle is reported to be considering a cut-price move for the Gateshead-born striker, but Allardyce thinks Carroll would be better off staying in east London.

The Hammers boss has seen a marked improvement in Carroll's life both on and off the pitch since he swapped St James' Park for the Boleyn Ground.

The England striker has resisted the West End party scene since moving to the capital and on the pitch he is looking lean and sharp.

"He is growing day by day and is enjoying his football," Allardyce said.

"You have to live and learn by your experiences in life. In his younger days he was picked out on several occasions.

"We have to be careful about portraying himself in the open public domain.

"I don't see any problem with him being in London. He has slipped in really well. He gets on well with Kevin (Nolan) and others. He's big buddies with Joey O'Brien.

"We would love it to work out long-term. But things need to be done and identified at the end of the season.

"In (the West Ham) team he will be successful."

One consequence of Carroll's loan to West Ham has been that the Hammers have, understandably, played more direct football.

Much has been made of Allardyce's supposed reliance on long-ball tactics this season, but the fact remains his team is on course for a mid-table finish while Saturday's (Sunday AEST) opponent Wigan, who passes the ball around more, is three points from safety with just six games left.

Allardyce admitted that Carroll's chances of playing for England could be tainted by the fact he plays for his current manager, but the West Ham boss has given up trying to persuade people his long-ball tag is unjust.

"I don't fight against it (the reputation he has gained), I accepted it many years ago," Allardyce said.

"I wouldn't encourage anyone to get tagged with that label because once you have got it, it doesn't leave you.

"The perception is totally and utterly wrong because we are where we are because we have many different tactical plans.

"I have been in management for many years now and I have been able to tactically set up against the opposition whichever way it might be.

"At some stage it might be direct. That causes the opposition problems. Manchester United played direct against us on Wednesday night, but everyone chose to ignore it.

"But they played direct better than we can because they have better passers so that's plain and simple for everyone to understand."

Allardyce was upset that assistant referee Harry Lennard has failed to spot Robin van Persie was offside when he scored United's second equaliser of the game and claimed it had cost the Hammers a "famous win".

There was a suggestion the 58-year-old may have had to explain his comments to the FA but the governing body has confirmed to Press Association Sport it will not be pursuing a disciplinary case.

The Hammers had twice taken the lead in the game courtesy of goals from Ricardo Vaz Te and Mohamed Diame.

Antonio Valencia had once levelled for United before Van Persie's goal 17 minutes from time.

The Dutchman reacted quickest to the loose ball after Shinji Kagawa's effort hit the post but he appeared offside, although assistant referee Harry Lennard failed to raise his flag.

That decision left Allardyce deflated at the fact his side was unable to record a stand-out victory over the champion elect.

"I think it is a big decision that has possibly taken the famous victory away from us," he said.

"To play as well as we did today and score the types of goals we scored - when you see it is an offside goal that is bitterly disappointing.

"At the end of the day it is a terrific performance by the players and it is fantastic in terms of how they have played at home all season.

"It is another precious point against the team who are going to be the new Barclays Premier League champions."

Allardyce admitted he would have taken a draw ahead of the match but suggested in the aftermath of the result that the level of officiating was not up to scratch.

He said: "I would have settled for a point before the start of the game and I'm very, very pleased by the performance of the players and I hope they can keep it up between now and the end of the season.

"This level of football has to be equalled by the level of the officials who are in charge of the game.

"His [Lennard's] coaches have to coach him properly and coach him into getting better (positions) - that is why they are professional these days.

"They need coaching on the good decisions, with a pat on the back, but also they need coaching on when they haven't made the right call.

"It is a major decision that has gone against us. In the end we have gained a point - this highlights again just how good we are here at Upton Park."

The salvaged draw for United means it is now four points away from claiming its 20th league title and Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with the fighting qualities of his side.

"We had to stand up to a lot, we went down twice but we kept going. We played like champions tonight," he told Sky Sports 2.

"It was magnificent in terms of determination and courage to play. It's one more game away - we're determined to win, we don't like losing and they showed that tonight again."

One area of contention for Ferguson was a challenge on goalkeeper David de Gea on the stroke of half-time.

Andy Carroll, fresh from a tangle with Wayne Rooney and a talking to from referee Lee Probert, crashed into De Gea as he launched himself towards a set-piece and Ferguson felt the on-loan Liverpool forward should have been dismissed for the challenge.

"I think it's obvious," he added. "I don't think we need to dwell on that, it's an obvious red card but the referee has seen it differently.

"We know how they play, the ball is in the air most of the time. You've got to defend those things and they're very, very aggressive so you hope there's a strong referee. I'm not so sure we got that tonight."

United twice had to come from behind and Robin van Persie's second leveller should have been ruled out for offside.

Ricardo Vaz Te poked the Hammers into a 16th-minute lead, but Antonio Valencia tapped home the equaliser just after the half-hour mark.

Mohamed Diame restored the host's lead 10 minutes after the break with a superb turn on the left edge of the area and low shot which arrowed into the far corner, but with 13 minutes to go Van Persie knocked home the rebound after Shinji Kagawa's shot came back off both posts.

The Dutchman was ahead of the last defender when Kagawa let fly, though.

The two dropped points might merely delay the inevitable, but Manchester City closed the gap at the top to 13 points with a 1-0 win at home to Wigan Athletic.

Carlos Tevez scored the winner in the 83rd minute to leave the Latics still deep in relegation trouble.

Chelsea boosted its top-four hopes with a 3-0 win at west London rival Fulham, John Terry scoring twice.

David Luiz opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range strike before Terry scored either side of half-time.

The win moved Chelsea up to third, a point above Arsenal.

Top-flight clubs last week voted through new Financial Fair Play regulations which will limit how much of revenue from broadcasting deals can be spent on wages - and there could even be points penalties for severe breaches of those guidelines.

On-loan Liverpool striker Carroll netted his fourth goal in his last five appearances for the Irons in a 1-1 draw at Southampton on the weekend but a permanent deal for a man who cost parent club Liverpool £35 million ($51.74 million) now looks further away than ever.

Allardyce believes the influx of broadcast money might improve overall standards while also making one-off, big-name captures such as Carroll's harder to achieve.

"At the end of the day, that overall (television) expenditure will probably improve everybody. I have no doubt about that, but when you need one big player, you can't do it," said Allardyce, whose side hosts Premier League leader Manchester United on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST).

"I will still point towards financial restrictions being implemented next season - they could blow the whole deal in one go.

"Financially you are restricted to be able to do it. So in one fell swoop the financial restrictions mean Andy Carroll can't sign for us from Liverpool because it's too expensive, even if he wanted to.

"Somebody will have a bigger budget than us somewhere, I tell you that is what's going to happen. I might not be able to afford Andy Carroll, full stop, even if I wanted him, even if the chairmen wanted him, even if we all wanted him, which we do, it will not be allowed to happen."

Allardyce admits he is not an expert on the finer details of FFP, but is clear about how he feels it will affect his job.

"I don't know exactly how it (FFP) is going to work because I have not read the full prospectus on it, so it is only what I am gathering on it, what is set out and how it starts off," he added.

"The first-team wage expenditure will be restricted on whatever figures have been decided, which simply means that if you want to sign somebody, you have got that (behind-the-scenes).

"At the end of the day, life in football has always been a negotiation where you have a set of financial figures done by your accountants.

"The only one that is unpredictable is your player, transfer and wages budget, and that is because of what you might run into.

"At the start of the season, you feel pretty comfortable and then suddenly, three or four of your best players go down in pre-season, they have long-term injuries, then you have to ask your board for some money to bring in some replacements, even if it is on loan.

"If you have swallowed your budget up, then that is not going to be able to happen.

"I find that makes my life extremely difficult, and it is already extremely difficult as it is.

"I understand everything about the financial restrictions, where all the owners are coming from and I understand why they have voted it in because it is sensible, yes, but in my life (as a manager) it makes it a whole lot more difficult."

Allardyce famously picked up Nigeria playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha on a free transfer during his time at Bolton Wanderers, but is dubious whether such a deal would be possible in the present market.

"There are, obviously, cases when you hunt worldwide and you try to find some bargains that come off, where you have paid a lot less for the quality you are bringing in, but that is so few and far between now.

"That market has now shriveled up and diminished.

"Rather getting Jay-Jay Okocha at 28 on a free transfer, those type of players will now cost you from £8 million, £10 million up to £14 million."

The football world was taken aback just over two years ago when Liverpool forked out a club record transfer fee of £35 million ($51.4 million) to sign the front man.

Carroll arrived as replacement for Fernando Torres but the move never quite worked out, leading to a season-long loan at West Ham in the northern summer.

The east London side has the option to make the deal permanent for an undisclosed fee, although reports this week suggest it will reduce its offer.

Carroll has also been linked with a move to former club Newcastle United and the striker is not sure what the future holds past the end of the season.

"I have just got to wait and see, really," he said. "We'll see what happens at the end of the season.

"Obviously I don't know what is happening so we will just have to wait and see.

"It has been great here and every minute has been fantastic. The lads have been great, the gaffer has been great and the fans are unbelievable."

Asked whether he would stay if West Ham put the right money on the table, he added: "We will have to wait and see. It is obviously a great club and I do not see why not."

Carroll netted his sixth West Ham goal to earn a hard-fought point at Southampton.

The England international saw his driven strike deflect in off Steven Davis, levelling just seven minutes after Gaston Ramirez had given Saints the lead.

"It was a bit windy," he said. "The ball was all over the place but we came here and got a result.

"In the first half I was getting blocked off and there was a few players around me. I was talking to the referee a bit but it was a difficult day to me.

"With my goal, I just had to hit the target. Obviously it got a little bit of a deflection and went in, which sometimes happens.

"I have had a few injuries over the years and I am just getting over them now so it is good to get on a run of games and goals.

"I had a few chances and I think we could have won the game in the end. We are disappointed not to but happy we got the point."

The 1-1 draw leaves West Ham and host Southampton in a safe midtable position in the Premier League, with seven points separating them and the drop zone.

The 58-year-old replaced Avram Grant at the Upton Park helm after the club's relegation from the top flight in the northern summer of 2011.

Allardyce confounded the critics to take West Ham up at the first attempt via the play-offs and the club now looks all but certain to remain in the top flight after a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

The next campaign is already coming into focus and Allardyce expects to extend his contract past the northern summer to remain at the Upton Park helm.

"I wouldn't be here if we weren't playing in the Premier League next season," the former Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers boss said.

"I always said if I don't keep them up, I won't stay. We're very close to being mathematically okay.

"I think it's highly unlikely with four home games in the last six that we're not going to pick more points up.

"We are going to be safe and playing in the Barclays Premier League next season so my planning will be done as quickly as possible and we'll get on to the contract, which I'm sure I'm going to sign."

While Allardyce expects to stay, the future of his players is not so certain.

High-profile Liverpool loanee Andy Carroll has admitted he is unsure as to where he will be next season, while a number of other West Ham players' deals soon come to an end.

"We have Andy and the other loan players - Marouane Chamakh, Emmanuel Pogatetz," Allardyce said.

"We have all the out-of-contract players like Gary O'Neil and Carlton Cole so we'll sit down as quickly as we can at the end of the season and make decisions like that."

Jussi Jaaskelainen is another whose deal runs out this northern summer, although an option of a further year with the Hammers is set to be activated.

"When I first came here I signed a contract that if we stay up I would stay on so there's nothing to sign," the former Bolton goalkeeper said.

"I'm happy but we're obviously not over there yet - staying up. So I don't really have to do anything about it apart form make sure we stay up.

"It was always going to be difficult when you've had 14-and-a-half years at one football club and you're wondering what's going to happen but I've really enjoyed it.

"Big Sam was the reason why I wanted to come here.

"When he gave me the phone call straight away I thought it would be fantastic to play with him again because I know what kind of stuff he does with his players."

Arteta's penalty after 85 minutes cancelled out Michael Turner's header and Giroud then turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross to put the Gunners ahead.

Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski then twice denied Norwich an equaliser before Podolski wrapped up the victory with a fierce strike from the edge of the box.

Arsenal's comeback win lifted it above Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who did not play, into third place while Everton strengthened its bid for European football with victory.

David Moyes' side cruised to a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers to move within three points of UEFA Champions League qualification.

Darron Gibson put Everton ahead with a deflected strike five minutes before the interval and Victor Anichebe wrapped up the points, sending QPR a step closer to relegation.

QPR had chances through Junior Hoilett and Loic Remy but it was punished for a lack of quality and endeavour.

Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was the hero as the bottom club snapped an eight-game losing streak with a goalless draw at home to Liverpool.

Time and again McCarthy came to the Royals' rescue by producing a succession of world-class saves to deny Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.

Coutinho also had a goal disallowed for offside and Suarez saw a chip cleared off the line by Chris Gunter.

Aston Villa missed the chance to pull clear of the relegation zone when it was held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham, with Fabien Delph's own goal cancelling out Charles N'Zogbia's curling strike.

Delph also wasted a golden chance to atone for his mistake in the 73rd minute but he blasted high and wide from the back post after a cross from Andreas Weimann.

Villa could have moved five points clear of the relegation zone but its cushion is just three points and its position remains precarious.

Villa's goal difference of minus-24 is inferior to both Sunderland and Wigan Athletic, who are immediately below it.

Southampton was also held at home after taking the lead, drawing 1-1 with West Ham United striker Andy Carroll cancelling out the Saints' opener from Gaston Ramirez.

Collins and central defensive partner James Tomkins earned plenty of praise for their efforts on Sunday, which went a long way towards earning the Hammers a goalless draw that eased them slightly further away from the dreaded relegation zone.

The key was keeping Suarez quiet.

With 29 goals for the Uruguayan this season, that has not been the easiest of tasks as so many Premier League defenders can testify.

But after analysing his game, Collins felt the best way to approach the task was to keep Suarez as far upfield as possible, even if it meant incurring the wrath of referee Anthony Taylor at times.

"I thought about how I was going to defend against him before the game," Collins told www.whufc.com.

"Suarez nutmegged me twice to be fair but I knew if you drop off, he is turning and running at you.

"I thought if I could get as tight as possible and tackle him as high up the pitch as possible, even if I fouled him there it was better than him running into the box.

"I was wary of the fact he goes over as well.

"That is why you have to stay on your feet. To win the ball, you just have to go for it sometimes.

"It was one of those games where it came off for me."

The result continues a marked improvement from the Hammers on their travels.

Prior to the win at Stoke City, Sam Allardyce's team had lost five Premier League away games on the trot, including at Reading, Aston Villa and Sunderland, the major reason why it has found themselves flirting with relegation trouble.

Although it has lost at Chelsea since that triumph in the Potteries, with more dogged defensive displays, West Ham has quickly regained its momentum.

"The gaffer got his tactics spot-on again," said Collins.

"We do look more confident away from home."

Not that Collins is expecting many plaudits.

It is just the way it seems to be for West Ham this season, with most observers ignoring the fact it only regained its top-flight status through the play-offs last May, which is never the easiest platform from which to launch a survival fight.

"Sometimes it is nice to slip under the radar and not have people talking about you too much," he said.

"We've set our sights on coming 10th and we don't want to slip up now."

The Reds' European aspirations took another blow as it was held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

Unless Chelsea finish outside the top four and win the FA Cup it now seems impossible for Liverpool to qualify for the Europa League.

A James Tomkins clearance off the line to deny Steven Gerrard and an incorrect call to disallow a Daniel Sturridge effort for offside were the nearest Rodgers' men came, which was frustrating for the Liverpool manager, who felt his side was clearly the better side.

"You have either got to score early on to open it up or need that wee bit of luck to get a goal," said Rodgers.

"Unfortunately when we did score it was deemed offside but when you see it again Daniel Sturridge was clearly onside.

"The performance of the players was very good. Their commitment and concentration was outstanding but we failed to get the goal that could have led to two or three more."

Rodgers confirmed winger Stewart Downing had to be replaced after failing to recover from the illness which had threatened his participation in the first place.

Liverpool remain three points adrift of Merseyside rivals Everton, but a massive seven behind fifth-placed Arsenal, having played a game more.

As for West Ham, it is now six points clear of the drop zone, although manager Sam Allardyce is not convinced survival is secure just yet.

He said: "I'd like another three points.

"It depends on the run of the teams below us because some are picking up two or three wins back to back. But we are looking up, not down."

James Tomkins went closest for the visitors, only for Lucas to clear his header off the line five minutes from time, denying them a landmark victory.

"To have won here would have been a massive bonus for us as it is 50 years since we last did it," said Allardyce.

"But it is still a very big point, and very well deserved. I don't think we have defended better away from home all season.

"James Collins and James Tomkins were really good when you consider how few chances Liverpool had."

Visiting manager Sam Allardyce ended a personal run of eight consecutive defeats at Anfield, and although his club failed to claim a first win there since 1963, the point represented a far better result for the Hammers than it did for Rodgers' side.

The permutations of Europa League qualification are complex, but should Chelsea win that tournament this season, sixth place in the Premier League may be enough to bring with it a place in the competition next term.

That target is still within Liverpool's grasp, although failure to win a game in which it dominated possession has to count as a missed opportunity, especially in front of its own passionate supporters.

"Our aims are simply to finish as high as we can," said Rodgers. "This was a game we wanted to win because our form here at Anfield has been getting better all the time. We love playing here.

"The supporters are right behind the players and we make sure we're full of thrust, get bodies going forward. For us, it was a case of looking for the three points to keep us moving forward.

"We didn't do that but our aim's very much the same - finish the season strong and confident, see where it takes us in the league, knowing that it will give us a good starting point for the summer and, hopefully, make a much better start to next season."

With Luis Suarez turning in a rare sub-par performance for Liverpool, at least Rodgers could point to the performance of Philippe Coutinho, the Brazil midfielder signed from Inter Milan in January, as a positive.

"The little guy is real magic," said Rodgers. "He is a wonderful technician. Everyone admires how hard he works for the team, he always wants the ball and is prepared to put his body on the line."

The Liverpool manager's frustration was compounded by his team having what looked a valid second-half goal by Daniel Sturridge ruled out for offside.

The home side also had a penalty appeal rejected after Steven Gerrard went down in a tangle with James Tomkins although, in response, West Ham was unfortunate to be denied a spot-kick after Tomkins appeared to be tripped by Jose Enrique.

"In a game like that, you've either got to score early to open it up or you need that wee bit of luck to get a goal," said Rodgers.

"Unfortunately, when we did score, it was ruled out for offside. When you see it again, it was clearly onside, and that's what we needed."

For West Ham manager Allardyce, the victory lifted his club further away from the Premier League relegation picture, although he is not yet prepared to consider his club safe.

"I'm absolutely delighted with a point and clean sheet," Allardyce said. "But disappointed not to have won this game.

"They had the most possession, I know that, but we had the better chances in this match and it would have been a massive bonus for us to have won. It's 50 years since we won here.

"But we're looking up, rather than down, after this big point. I'd like another three points, to reach the magic 40 mark, before we're absolutely safe.

"Some teams below us are picking up two and three wins back-to-back, but we've got to feel confident we can go into our next match, at Southampton, and get more points."

The build-up to Di Canio's first match as successor to Martin O'Neill was overshadowed by debate over the controversial Italian's character and he could not prevent Sunderland's winless run extending to nine games.

The Black Cats remain fourth from bottom, level on points with Wigan Athletic which scored an injury-time equaliser at Queens Park Rangers.

Chelsea trailed at half-time to Cesar Azpilicueta's own goal, but Matt Kilgallon deflected into his own net after a surging run by substitute Fernando Torres and Branislav Ivanovic directed a David Luiz shot into the Sunderland goal to put the Blues in front after 55 minutes.

It proved to be the winner as Chelsea returned above Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference and into third place.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's late strike prevented Tottenham from slipping to another defeat, but his side's reliance on Gareth Bale was laid bare as it had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Everton at White Hart Lane.

The north London side is now just two points clear of rival Arsenal - which has a game in hand.

The Toffees looked like taking all three points after Phil Jagielka and Kevin Mirallas scored after Emmanuel Adebayor's 35-second opener.

But Sigurdsson, charged with the task of playing in the hole where Bale has been so effective this season, salvaged a point for the host by scoring a crucial goal three minutes from time.

Liverpool's top-six hopes suffered another crushing blow as it failed to break down West Ham United's stubborn defences in a goalless draw at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' side once again failed to spark, skipper Steven Gerrard coming closest to a winner when his effort was cleared off the line by the outstanding James Tomkins.

But West Ham, for which James Collins was equally impressive, also had a claim on the spoils, with Lucas Leiva denying it a first Anfield win in 50 years when he turned away Jack Collison's header five minutes from time.

The contest was preceded by an impeccably observed minute's silence in honour of the Hillsborough victims.

Papiss Cisse eased Newcastle United's relegation fears with an injury-time winner against Fulham on a day when it appeared as if luck had deserted the United striker.

Alan Pardew's side - and Cisse especially - had previously spurned a catalogue of chances at St James' Park against a Fulham side which suffered its first defeat in six games.

But with frustration and anxiety growing, the Senegal forward finally beat Mark Schwarzer in the third minute of added-on time for his 11th goal of the season.

The Magpies are now 13th, five points above the relegation zone.

Wigan Athletic forward Shaun Maloney struck a free-kick four minutes into injury-time to nudge Queens Park Rangers closer to relegation.

Loic Remy appeared to have given QPR renewed hope in its survival quest with a stunning 85th-minute strike, only for Maloney to drive home a ferocious equaliser from 20 yards just seconds from the final whistle.

It was a spectacular twist to the match and agonising for QPR which had played all but 20 minutes with only 10 men after Bobby Zamora was sent off for a moment of madness.

It leaves QPR seven points from safety.

The Spaniard has struggled to hit top gear since joining the west London club in January 2011, often playing second fiddle to former Blue Didier Drogba, and now Demba Ba.

Torres bagged a brace in Chelsea's 3-1 Europa League win over Rubin Kazan in midweek, showing a glimpse of the form he showed during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield where he scored 65 league goals in 91 starts.

"I want to do the things I used to do all my life," he said.

"I did them at Atletico, I did them at Liverpool and I am not doing them at Chelsea. I am working on it.

"If I knew the reason, I would fix it in one minute. But the only way to fix these things is to work at it.

"I am training every day and I will never, ever give up."

His double against Rubin brought his tally for the season to 18 and Torres is hopeful of continuing that trend and help Chelsea to more trophies.

"I am happy here," Torres added. "I am enjoying London and happy at this club.

"I know my statistics at Chelsea have not been the same as in other years in my career. But I am fighting to get back to those statistics and I will never, ever give up.

"I will try my heart out for this club. There are too many things I have to give back to these people and I want to show my thanks to them.

"Hopefully this season we can give them two more trophies and next season we can fight again for the biggest ones, the Champions League and the Premier League.

"I am getting better but I'm still not at the level I want."

Rodgers believes that at the age of 22, the $50 million price tag hung heavy around Carroll's neck when he joined Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011 when Kenny Dalglish was in charge.

After scoring 31 goals in one and a half seasons for his hometown club, Carroll failed to recapture such form after signing for the Reds.

Upon Rodgers' arrival last summer, Carroll was farmed out on loan to tomorrow's visitor to Anfield, West Ham, for whom he has scored five goals in 17 appearances during an injury-hit campaign.

Rodgers has this week made it clear he will not make a firm decision on whether Carroll stays or goes until the end of the season, but is convinced the 24-year-old still has a big future in the game.

"It was very unfortunate for Andy when he joined this club because he had limited experience of the Premier League," said Rodgers.

"Through no fault of his own he arrived on the back of an incredible price tag for someone so young and inexperienced, and the early stages were difficult for him.

"But there's no doubt Andy has great qualities. Look at one of his two goals last week for West Ham from the corner (in a 3-1 win over Wigan).

"There are not too many better sights in football when you've the big guy going and heading the ball like that.

"Three of his five goals this season have come from set plays, one from a cross and the other a penalty.

"As to his future, there are other things involved, it's not as simple as him being here. There are other things we need to consider in it all.

"But do I think he can be a top player? Is he a top player? He certainly has that potential.

"If he gets that opportunity of playing in a team that suits his style, then there's always a chance."

The last comment is arguably the key because the way Liverpool and Rodgers like to play, with the ball on the ground, is undoubtedly not to Carroll's style.

With his Anfield days seemingly numbered, and with Liverpool understood to be happy to cut its losses if a club offers $22 million, speculation is rife as to a likely destination.

A return to Newcastle and a potential swap deal with Hatem Ben Arfa has been rumoured, although Rodgers has refused to bite.

"That's normal, that's the football world. There's always gossip and speculation," said Rodgers.

"The important thing is Andy is at a very good club with a very good manager.

"As I've said, it's one where we will see it through to the end of the season and we'll take it from there."

Rodgers will at least not have to cope with Carroll on Sunday night (AEST) as the striker is not allowed to play against his parent club.

Going into the game, Rodgers' only doubt is striker Raheem Sterling who is struggling with a thigh injury.

Carroll was a key figure for England at Euro 2012, but he was left out of Roy Hodgson's latest squad for the double header against San Marino and Montenegro.

The Three Lions struggled to hold on to the ball and wasted good chances to take all three points in Podgorica last Tuesday, leaving its World Cup qualification hopes in the balance.

On Sunday Hodgson was at Upton Park to watch Carroll tear apart a sorry West Brom in a vital 3-1 win which leaves the Hammers six points above the Barclays Premier League drop zone with eight games left.

The 6ft 3in hitman powered a header past Ben Foster before scoring a stunning volley from a long pass which he struck first time after watching the ball drop over his shoulder on to his right foot.

"Get him in," the West Ham boss answered when asked about Carroll's international hopes.

"If you want someone to hold the ball up and bring others into play and relieve the pressure, he's fantastic isn't he?

"Roy doesn't have a lot of choice with frontmen and Andy's looking better and better.

"I think it would be something that lifts him and lifts the England squad.

"People shouldn't worry that we would have to play long ball to him.

"It's not that. If it's played up to him he's a good hold-up player.

"He'll cause any defender at international level problems if you deliver balls into the box to his feet or his head. As an alternative, what more could you ask for?"

England host the Republic of Ireland on May 29 before heading to Brazil for a glamour friendly four days later.

Carroll has endured a difficult time at Upton Park since he arrived on loan from Liverpool last August, but he is now fully fit and raring to add to the five goals he has scored for the Londoners in the hope of persuading Hodgson he deserves a recall.

Carroll told West Ham TV: "I hope to play in every game for England but I've haven't been picked, so I've just got to work hard here at West Ham and hopefully I'll be involved next time.

"I was putting myself about and got two goals, so that's what I like to think I'm about.

"Obviously I like to score goals, so getting two shows that I've got it.

"I'm feeling good with the lads and everyone is coming together."

Carroll suffered a hamstring problem on his debut against Fulham and then picked up a knee injury soon after.

Since returning to action at the end of last month, he has looked sharp and yesterday he looked like the same striker whose performances at Newcastle prompted Liverpool to shell out £35million ($A51.1 million) for him.

Allardyce said for the first time on Sunday that he wants to keep Carroll at Upton Park when his loan from Liverpool expires in May, but the Hammers boss sounded a cautious note about any permanent transfer.

He said: "I can't get any deal done before the end of the season, particularly with my budgets."

A first-half save from Romelu Lukaku's free-kick aside, Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had next to nothing to do until he picked Graham Dorrans' consolation penalty out of the net in the dying minutes.

West Brom manager Clarke was annoyed at his team's lax marking for Carroll's double, and Gary O'Neil's chip, but the Scot's main frustration was with midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, who may be fined for kicking the ball at O'Neil after he trod on his ankle in injury time.

"We'll have a little chat (on Sunday)," Clarke said.

"There's always a disciplinary procedure at our club. We'll look at the incident and we'll determine the action that will be taken. "It will be internal and it will be private."

Rickie Lambert's 35th-minute free-kick proved enough to seal a 2-1 win at St Mary's after an early opener from Jay Rodriguez had been cancelled out by a header from John Terry.

Chelsea's shock loss allowed Tottenham Hotspur to leapfrog into third place with a 2-1 win at Swansea City, while Arsenal narrowed the gap behind it to just two points after crushing Reading 4-1.

Mauricio Pochettino's side gave its survival prospects a mighty boost as it clung on for the points thanks to a superb save from substitute goalkeeper Kelvin Davis to deny Victor Moses.

Former Chelsea boss Andre Vilas Boas watched another superb display by Gareth Bale inspire Tottenham Hotspur to a valuable win in Wales.

Bale set up Jan Vertonghen for his seventh-minute opener then flicked home a superb 21st-minute effort to increase his side's lead. Michu had given Swansea City hope with a 71st-minute header.

Nigel Adkins' debut as Reading boss turned out to be one to forget as his side was sunk by the resurgent Gunners and dropped to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Gervinho opened the scoring after 11 minutes and Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud increased Arsenal's lead before Hal Robson-Kanu gave the visitor a glimmer of hope in the 68th minute.

But Arsene Wenger's men sealed the win in the 77th minute when Adrian Mariappa fouled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box and Mikel Arteta stroked home the resulting penalty.

Manchester City kept up its increasingly futile chase of city rival United with a 4-0 cruise over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

Carlos Tevez and David Villa gave Roberto Mancini's men the first-half advantage before Vincent Kompany and an own goal from James Perch completed an easy win.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men had temporarily gone 18 points clear at the top after Titus Bramble's 27th-minute own goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win over sinking Sunderland in the lunchtime kick-off at the Stadium of Light.

Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a potentially priceless late strike from Aruna Kone to beat Norwich City 1-0 at the DW Stadium.

Wigan had laboured for much of the game but Kone fired his 10th goal of the season with nine minutes left to give his side a huge boost in the battle to avoid the drop.

Andy Carroll scored twice as West Ham United eased its own relegation fears with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at Upton Park.

Carroll headed a 16th-minute opener and after Gary O'Neil made it 2-0 Carroll added his second after 80 minutes.

Graeme Dorrans pulled one back for Albion from the penalty spot before Youssouf Mulumbu was sent off in injury-time for an angry reaction to a refereeing decision.

In the day's late game, forward Kevin Mirallas kept Everton's bid for Champions League football alive with the only goal of the match against out-of-form Stoke City at Goodison Park.

The 58-year-old replaced Avram Grant at the Upton Park helm after the club's relegation from the top flight in the northern summer of 2011.

Allardyce confounded the critics to take West Ham up at the first attempt via the play-offs and the club now sits 14th in the Premier League.

However, the former Bolton Wanderers manager's contract is up at the end of the season and negotiations on a new deal are not expected to get underway until survival is secure.

Cole, who re-joined the club from Liverpool in January, believes that target is not far away and hopes Allardyce is rewarded with a new deal.

"Sam has done a great job and has been fantastic with me," the 31-year-old midfielder told Press Association Sport.

"He has an unbelievable record as a manager, is an experienced manager and you see what he is about on a daily basis. What a great manager he is.

"We want to stick another two or three wins on the board and I am sure that will be much more than enough (to secure survival).

"The gaffer came in when the club was in a bad state and has done a phenomenal job.

"The owners have done a great job backing him and the lads, the players, have done a great job to come up. It is very difficult to do that.

"We can't rest on our laurels now. We've got to constantly move forward and try to win every game."

There is also forward momentum off the field, with West Ham's move to Olympic Stadium confirmed.

The Hammers have been handed the keys to the London 2012 centrepiece after completing long and tortuous negotiations with the London Legacy Development Corporation.

The agreement sees West Ham become an anchor tenant under a 99-year lease, with the stadium now to be transformed into a 54,000-seater venue in time for the 2016-2017 season.

For Cole, back at the Hammers 14 years after making his senior debut, it is an exciting time.

"It is a massive moment for the club - probably one of the most significant in the club's history," he said.

"It gives the club a chance to compete at the top. The great thing is you have owners with the club at heart and want to do the right things for the club. It is a fantastic day and gives us a right chance in a few years.

"It is up to us build now and keep building. Football is not just about the team on the pitch now, it is about the team off the pitch right from the owners all the way through to the person making cups of tea at the stadium.

"It is a business as well as a football club and it is so important to the community. I am just so pleased and I am glad it is done.

"For me, it is a no brainer. It is a long-term deal and brings money, jobs and community inspiration to the area.

"It is a win-win deal and you don't get many of them."

But while many are excited, the move has provoked criticism from some West Ham supporters.

"I understand some of the fans might by wary," Cole added. "Upton Park is home but times have to move on.

"There is enough rich history at this club that we could go and play in Timbuktu as long as the fans are there and turn up.

"People won't be forgotten and historically this is one of the biggest clubs in the country so it is going to a great start for the club."

The 80,000 capacity stadium in east London, which hosted the athletics events and ceremonies at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, will be converted to a 54,000-seat venue in time for the 2016-2017 football season.

"It's fantastic for everyone at West Ham United that at last all the club's hard work over the past three years has paid off," the club's joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said.

London Mayor Boris Johnson added at the long-awaited announcement: "This is a truly momentous milestone for London's spectacular Olympic Stadium ensuring its credible and sustainable future.

"Through this deal with West Ham United FC, we are defying the gloomsters who predicted this landmark would become a dusty relic."

The long-term future of the $628 million venue in Stratford was supposed to have been decided before last year's Games but a series of legal challenges delayed the process.

The stadium will have retractable seats around the pitch, which will allow the 2017 world athletics championships to take place there as planned.

The deal also opens the way for the stadium to be used as a venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The deal was clinched after the government agreed to put in an extra $36.6 million towards the $220 million cost of converting the venue.

West Ham has been in exclusive negotiations since December over the terms of a 99-year lease that will allow the club to move from its 35,000-capacity Upton Park ground nearby in east London.

A deal is expected to be announced on Friday.

Besides paying annual rent, West Ham owners David Gold and David Sullivan will have to give the London legacy company a share of any profit if they sell the club.

The stadium requires retractable seating to cover the running track during football games.

Although the stadium isn't due to be ready for West Ham until 2016, sports minister Hugh Robertson says it is set to stage Rugby World Cup matches in 2015.

Lampard's 200th Chelsea goal and Eden Hazard's second-half strike saw last season's Champions League winners leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur and move within four points of second-placed Manchester City.

Both Spurs and City lost at the weekend and Rafael Benitez's side will have its three remaining targets firmly in its sights when the season resumes following the international break.

"We are in good form and everyone is at it," Lampard told the BBC.

"There is a good feeling around the place and we need to carry it on until the end of the season.

"It is one of my best days. Obviously, winning the Champions League and championships are the best, but personally getting 200 goals for the club, I never thought I would touch that so I am pleased to get it.

"Everyone keeps talking about the goalscoring record, I would rather people kept quiet.

"The important thing is trying to score goals to win games."

Chelsea dominated against the Hammers, as it carried on the momentum from the second half of the FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester United, which it drew to force a replay on Easter Monday, and the Europa League defeat of Steaua Bucharest.

"The good thing is we have had three very good games, but the bad thing is we have the international break now," Benitez said.

"Hopefully, mentally, they will relax, they will change their environment and they will come back with a fresh mind and fresh legs."

West Ham, who inflicted Benitez's first defeat as Chelsea boss in December, was second best throughout, but had chances.

Manager Sam Allardyce said: "We had enough opportunities to score at least one.

"We were always in the game if we could score, but this year away from home scoring has been a massive problem for us."

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police is investigating after missiles were hurled from the away end in the direction of Chelsea's players as they celebrated Lampard's goal.

The incident could lead the Football Association to take disciplinary action.

CCTV footage will be studied to identify the offenders.

On his 595th Chelsea appearance, Lampard headed in an Eden Hazard cross after 19 minutes to move within two of Bobby Tambling's club record of 202 goals.

The impressive Hazard netted a second after 50 minutes as Chelsea moved a point above Tottenham Hotspur, with a game in hand, in the race for a UEFA Champions League qualifying place.

"It is one of my best days," Lampard told the BBC.

"Obviously, winning the Champions League and championships are the best, but personally getting 200 goals for the club, I never thought I would touch that so I am pleased to get it.

"Everyone keeps talking about the goalscoring record, I would rather people kept quiet. The important thing is trying to score goals to win games.

"We are in good form and everyone is at it. There is a good feeling around the place and we need to carry it on until the end of the season."

Lampard, who joined Chelsea from West Ham for £11 million ($16.08 million) in 2001, celebrated his 12th league goal of the season in front of the away end and with John Terry, who was warming up as a substitute, with the visiting support expressing their displeasure by hurling objects the duo's way.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed they were investigating incidents of coin throwing but that no arrests had been made.

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez absolved Lampard of blame for celebrating in front of the visiting fans and was uncertain if any of his players had been hit by objects.

"When you score 200 goals you don't think too much about where you go," Benitez said.

"You celebrate and afterwards we realised he would've been better to be in another part."

Benitez confirmed fourth official Howard Webb advised the Chelsea substitutes to warm up at the other end after the goal.

Benitez declined the opportunity to compare Lampard and Steven Gerrard, his former captain at Liverpool.

He praised the team-mates that allow Lampard to get forward into the box and expressed a wish that the England international continues to find the net in the closing stages of the season.

"We have a lot of games to play," Benitez said.

"Hopefully he can score more goals. Hopefully he can score 15, 20 goals and he will be happy and I will be happy."

Due to his prior association with Liverpool, Benitez was an unpopular appointment for Chelsea.

But the hostility at Stamford Bridge towards Benitez appears to have reduced sufficiently that the usual jeering did not take place.

"If the team is playing well, the fans will enjoy it," said Benitez, who railed against the supporters after the FA Cup win at Middlesbrough, urging them to back the team.

"I'm really pleased with the atmosphere and really pleased with the team."

The international break offers brief respite for the Blues before the season resumes in earnest with six games in 16 days, beginning at Southampton on 30 March.

Defeats this weekend for Manchester City, which is four points above the Blues in second, and Tottenham favoured Chelsea in its quest for a top-four spot.

"It's good, but you cannot influence the other results," Benitez said.

"You have to concentrate on your results, winning games. After we will see where we are in the table."

West Ham was second best throughout, but did have the ball in Chelsea's net, but Andy Carroll's strike was chalked off for a push in the back on David Luiz.

Hammers manager Sam Allardyce said: "Technically it was a foul, but I can show you about four of them outside the box he (referee Michael Oliver) didn't give.

"It was a brilliant dive by David Luiz and I think that bought him the foul.

"We were always in the game if we could score, but this year away from home scoring has been a massive problem for us.

"We had enough opportunities to score at least one today."

Allardyce praised Chelsea and Lampard.

"Sometimes you can't defend against the quality they've got," he said.

Tottenham's 1-0 loss at home to Fulham had opened the door for Chelsea and it took full advantage by recording a victory that lifted it to within four points of second-place Manchester City.

Lampard broke the deadlock against his former club in the 19th minute at Stamford Bridge, springing to head Eden Hazard's dinked cross into the top-right corner.

The England midfielder, 34, now stands only two goals behind Bobby Tambling in the list of Chelsea's all-time top goal-scorers.

Hazard added a delightful second goal five minutes into the second half, exchanging passes with Juan Mata on the right and drifting past Winston Reid before drilling a left-foot shot into the bottom-right corner.

Fulham dealt Tottenham Hotspur's challenge for a UEFA Champions League place another setback by condemning Andre Villas-Boas' side to a second consecutive Premier League defeat.

Having eliminated Inter Milan from the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Tottenham was bidding to tighten its grip on third place in the table and Gareth Bale had an early header cleared off the line by Sascha Riether.

However, the host lost Michael Dawson to injury at half-time and then saw former striker Dimitar Berbatov claim the game's only goal in the 52nd minute when he converted Riether's low right-wing cross.

Tottenham's best chance fell to Jermain Defoe in the dying stages, but his effort from Bale's cut-back met its match in a superb reflex save from Mark Schwarzer.

Coming after last weekend's 3-2 loss at Liverpool, Tottenham's defeat left it a point below Chelsea and four points above fifth-place north London rival Arsenal, both of whom have a game in hand.

At the other end of the table, Arouna Kone struck in the final minute to give Wigan Athletic a 2-1 win at home to Newcastle United that injected fresh momentum into its quest to escape relegation.

Jean Beausejour's first Wigan goal put Roberto Martinez's men ahead in the 19th minute, but Italian fullback Davide Santon drilled home an equaliser in the 72nd minute.

Then, in the 90th minute, Ivorian striker Kone lashed the ball into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble to leave Wigan three points from safety with a game in hand on fourth-bottom Aston Villa.

The game had threatened to be overshadowed by a horrendous, knee-high challenge from Wigan midfielder Callum McManaman on visiting defender Massadio Haidara in the first half.

McManaman escaped punishment for the foul, but Haidara had to be carried off on a stretcher and Newcastle coach John Carver was sent to the stands after losing his temper at the half-time whistle.

Earlier, relegation-threatened Sunderland failed to capitalise on the dismissal of Norwich City goalkeeper Mark Bunn as it was held to a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

After Wes Hoolahan headed Norwich in front in the 26th minute, the visitor lost Bunn to a straight red card when he handled the ball outside his area.

Craig Gardner levelled for Sunderland with a 40th-minute penalty after a handball by Sebastien Bassong, but Sunderland could find no way past the visitor's 10 men in the second half.

Jussi Jaaskelainen rolled back the years to keep the Hammers in the game for most of the clash, but there was nothing the 37-year-old could do to stop Bale's blistering 25-yard shot flying in to the top corner with 10 seconds remaining.

Bale put Tottenham ahead in the first half, but Andy Carroll scored a penalty after being brought down in the box by former Hammers midfielder Scott Parker, who was booed throughout.

Joe Cole thought he had grabbed the Hammers a morale-boosting win, but substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised and Bale provided the killer blow in the final minute.

Bale, like Parker, was subjected to jeers from the home fans, but he had stunned the West Ham faithful with the opener after 12 minutes.

The Welshman gained a yard on James Collins and another two Hammers defenders before firing across Jaaskelainen into the net.

Spurs were made to pay thanks to Carroll's second goal of 2013. Parker put in an two-footed challenge on Carroll in the box and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot.

The former Newcastle striker picked himself up and smashed the ball past Hugo Lloris.

West Ham still had the majority of possession and it made it count with its second just before the hour. Cole timed his run to perfection, gaining two yards on Steven Caulker before slotting past Lloris and removing his shirt in a wild celebration.

After 76 minutes, the Hammers failed to deal with Bale's free-kick, a melee ensued in the box, but Sigurdsson held his nerve to poke past Jaaskelainen from close range.

Then with 10 seconds left, Bale picked himself up after being flattened by a tackle, collected the ball off Tom Carroll and let fly with an audacious 25-yard bullet that beat Jaaskelainen.

"It was a massive victory," Bale said on Sky Sports 1. "We knew after the (Chelsea) result yesterday that we had a massive chance to get third spot. We deserved the victory. "We know what we are capable of. We have scored a lot of last minute winners. "We are confident that if we keep battling to the end we will score. "I'm just enjoying my football. The most important thing is the team playing well. It is not about me it's about the team."]]> English Premier League Europe http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/west-ham-united/news/1142090/Bale-brilliance-lifts-Spurs http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/west-ham-united/news/1142090/Bale-brilliance-lifts-Spurs Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:24:11 +1100 West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce believes Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale could be worth upwards of £50million ($A73.6 million), but is confident his side can keep the Welshman quiet when Spurs visit Upton Park on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEDT).

The pressure is on Spurs to re-establish their four-point lead over Arsenal ahead of next Monday's north London derby at White Hart Lane.

Last season Tottenham held a 10-point advantage over the Gunners in February, but they then fell away spectacularly and ended up missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification thanks to Chelsea's win in the final in Munich.

Andre Villas-Boas is determined not to let the same thing happen again this term. His team has been the personification of consistency in the league, where it is unbeaten since 9 December.

It also goes into the game on the back of a morale-boosting win over Lyon in the UEFA Europa League - and the man who secured its progression to the last 16 thinks he and his team-mates are playing at the top of their game.

"We don't have to fear any team," said Dembele, who secured a 3-2 aggregate win with a 90th minute equaliser in the Stade de Gerland.

"People have respect for us. If you're in a winning mood it's important in the league.

"We have two more very important games coming up in the league so the confidence will stay high and that's good for us."

The Irons have been away in Dubai for some warm-weather training this week as Allardyce looks to rejuvenate his squad for the closing 12 matches of the campaign, which continues with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on 25 February.

With a seven-point cushion over the bottom three, no-one at Upton Park can rest easy just yet.

As the club prepares for a new era which could see it take up tenancy at the Olympic venue in August 2015, Allardyce knows the club must continue to show the same determination which saw it secure promotion back up to the top flight at the first time of asking last May.

Speaking to United Arab Emirates-based daily sports newspaper Sport360, Allardyce said: "They (the board) gave me a two-year period to (get promoted) and I did it in the first year and that was a massive achievement.

"We are 11th with 12 games to go and only need at the very, very maximum 10 points from the last 12 games to make sure we are safe. The progress has been massive in a short period of time."

Allardyce continued: "There is this huge massive-looking Olympic Stadium which is going to be converted and if that is going to be converted into a football arena, it will be one of the biggest in the country, then West Ham needs the players to be established in the Premier League if they want to fill it."

Hammers' co-chairman David Gold confirmed any talks over a new contract for Allardyce, who took over from Avram Grant in June 2011, will have to wait until Premier League survival has been assured.

Allardyce, though, maintains he will not let that distract him from the job in hand.

He added: "We said we will deal with the contract when we are safe in the Premier League.

"It is as much my choice as it is theirs. We have come together and we are both comfortable with the decision."

Midfielder Mark Noble feels the squad will be refreshed after its short change of scene and ready to tackle Spurs.

He told the club's official website, www.whufc.com: "After the two seasons we have had, playing three games a week in the Championship, getting promoted and the start we had to the Premier League season, the manager believes a break and the sun will do us good.

"We will enjoy it but will work hard, train hard and be ready for Spurs."

West Ham will use the Tottenham fixture to mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of former defender and England captain Bobby Moore, who died aged 51 from bowel cancer.

On 24 February, a commemorative wreath will be laid at the Heroes statue, of Moore and his fellow West Ham World Cup winners, near the Boleyn Ground.

There will also be a minute's applause ahead of kick-off at the match, where the likes of former team-mates Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Trevor Brooking will attend.

Supporters in the Bobby Moore Stand will help display a special mosaic depicting his number six shirt, which was retired by the club in August 2008, 50 years after the defender's club debut.

Donations from programme sales will also be made to the Bobby Moore Fund, with supporters also able to contribute via collection buckets at the stadium.

The 58-year-old has been in charge at Upton Park since last summer and guided the Hammers back into the Barclays Premier League at the first time of asking.

Co-owner David Gold released a statement on Sunday saying contract talks with Allardyce will not open until top-flight safety has been assured, with West Ham currently seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"As David Sullivan and I have always maintained, we will sit down and discuss Sam's contract situation once our Premier League status has been confirmed and not before," Gold's statement read.

"This is purely because the three of us don't want anything to distract attention from our aim of finishing as high up the Premier League table as possible."

Allardyce saw his side slip to a 2-1 defeat at struggling Aston Villa on Sunday and was in bullish mood when asked about his contract talks.

"I know my relationship with David Sullivan and David Gold well and the conversations that we have remain confidential," he said.

"I'm more than happy to do the job that I'm doing right now and speculation regarding my contract situation has nothing to do with anybody else but the owners."

Goals from Christian Benteke and Charles N'Zogbia put Villa in control and all West Ham could manage in reply was an Ashley Westwood own goal as the home side held on for a 2-1 triumph.

It was Villa's first win in nine league games after collecting only three points from the previous 24 available.

Lambert admitted: "It's only great when you hear that whistle and you've won. It's the only good thing about it. The stress levels are ridiculous.

"It's hard to explain. You have to be in that position. Balls are going into your box. But once it's finished it's great you have won. You just have to see it through.

"It's a huge win for us. We have been in positions of being goals up in a right few games.

"If we had taken more points from those, we'd be comfortably in mid-table. But the pleasing thing is we have hopefully broken the camel's back with that."

All the goals came late in the match. Benteke scored the opener from the penalty spot after 74 minutes before a stunning free-kick from N'Zogbia put it in control four minutes later.

Lambert said: "The free-kick was world-class, an absolute world-class goal. He's got that in him. He's a really talented footballer.

"To be fair, over the last couple of months, Charles has been excellent. He was unlucky because he had a bad injury with his knee.

"That kept him out for six weeks or so. Since he's come back into the fold he's been excellent. He has been very good.

"He's got that X-Factor. These type of players are not easy to come by."

West Ham has now lost five successive away games and manager Sam Allardyce was again rueing missed chances.

It was handed a life line by Westwood's late own goal and then in the final moments Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan pulled off two fine saves to deny Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole.

Allardyce said: "I thought we had saved it but we should never have been in that position. That's the biggest disappointment.

"We should never have got ourselves in a losing position because we'd created the chances. We can't play any better than we played.

"We then created the chances to get ourselves back to 2-2 and we failed to do so and that's been our problem away from home this season.

"It was great goalkeeping in the end. Guzan pulled off some really good saves.

"I thought we sat comfortable from the chances Villa created and we gifted them a soft penalty when we should not have been in that position.

"It was a great free-kick from Charles N'Zogbia so we can't criticise that too much. The overall situation was disappointing because of the way we played.

"We dominated and need to put the ball in the back of the net when we get a chance."

Defender Joey Brien will miss West Ham's warm weather break in Dubai this week after suffering a thigh injury.

Goals from Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie sealed victory for United with just 12 games to go in the campaign.

In the week in which United commemorated the 55th anniversary of the Munich air disaster of 1958, when eight of its players died, the home side moved a step closer to a record 20th top-flight title.

Giggs put United ahead on 13 minutes after good work from Van Persie, ensuring he has now scored in all 20 seasons since the Premier League began.

And on the stroke of half-time, Van Persie broke the offside trap to round Tim Howard in the Everton goal and score United's second.

Everton threatened from set pieces but apart from a couple of half-chances, never looked likely to get back into the match.

The result moved United on to 65 points with 12 games remaining, 12 more than champion Manchester City, which slipped up with a 3-1 defeat at Southampton the previous day.

Everton remains sixth, but six points off a UEFA Champions League place.

Aston Villa moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 2-1 win over West Ham United.

A penalty from Christian Benteke and a Charles N'Zogbia free-kick were enough to lift Villa out of the relegation zone at Villa Park, one point clear of Reading.

Ashley Westwood's own goal with three minutes to go gave West Ham hope but it could not find an equaliser and remains 11th in the table.

In the wake of his side's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford on 16 January, the 58-year-old was charged for a breach of the Football Association's Rule E3, suggesting he had questioned the integrity of officials or implied that they were motivated by bias.

At the time he was unhappy that Manchester United had been awarded a penalty while his side was not, in relation to two handball incidents.

Allardyce said: "You see it time and time again at Old Trafford.

"There's no doubt about the difference between Rafael's handball and Jordan Spence's.

"Spence plays for West Ham and the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford."

The FA confirmed the details of Allardyce's fine after he had been to a personal hearing, as well as warning him about his future conduct.

The 24-year-old is currently on loan at Upton Park from Liverpool but the beginning of his West Ham career has been blighted by hamstring and knee injuries.

In between setbacks the England striker had netted just once for the Hammers, that goal coming in a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in November.

Carroll is now fit but he admits it was difficult to settle into Sam Allardyce's side due to his injuries.

"Coming into a new team and getting injured in my first game to put me out for six weeks was frustrating," he told West Ham's official website.

"Then I was back for a couple of games and was out for eight weeks. It's hard when you're injured anyway, but when it's at a new club it's even harder.

"I've kept my head up as much as possible and worked hard with the physios and fitness coaches to get back and I showed on Saturday that I am fit."

Carroll praised the club's medical team for getting him back to fitness in time to make a match-winning start against Swansea as West Ham claimed only its second Premier League win in 10 games.

He said: "I've been keeping fit in the gym and all the backroom staff have been helping me. The fitness coaches and physios have been on me, working me hard.

"When I couldn't run I was in the gym and the hard work paid off with 90 minutes on Saturday.

"I didn't find out until the day of the game that I was going to start and obviously I was over the moon with the decision. I just had to work hard, run around and keep the ball as much as I could.

"It was a tough game and I'm just happy that we got the three points."

Carroll's 77th-minute header was the first time he had scored at Upton Park and he revealed he was delighted to be off the mark in front of the Hammers' supporters.

"It's a great feeling to score anywhere, but when you've got the fans behind you like this, singing your name after you've scored, it's even better," he said.

"Coming off the pitch, man of the match and with three points, it's a great feeling. The fans are great, they got behind us and they were like the 12th man, helping us along.

"Even when Swansea put the pressure on late in the game, they gave us confidence with the singing and cheering us on. It's great."

West Ham now sits 11th in the league table and Carroll's winner took it nine points clear of the relegation zone after a slow start to 2013 saw it drifting towards the bottom three.

Rooney's 10th goal in as many games 11 minutes from time sent United 10 points clear of Manchester City, which entertains Liverpool on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEDT), and a massive 16 ahead of third-placed Chelsea.

And it all came after a whirlwind opening was halted by a break in play just before half-time when the stadium was plunged into darkness.

Prior to that, United had struck the woodwork on three occasions, and Fulham once.

But instead of a goal deluge, there was just Rooney's single strike, a cool curling finish from David de Gea's long punt downfield.

Moussa Sissoko scored twice for Newcastle United as it beat Chelsea 3-2 in a pulsating game at St James' Park.

Jonas Gutierrez opened the scoring for the Magpies after Tim Krul kept former team-mate Demba Ba at bay with some strong work in goal.

Ba was then forced to leave the field with blood pouring from his nose late in the first half when he was caught by Fabio Coloccini.

Frank Lampard equalised for the Blues after the break with a 25-yard swerving strike before Juan Mata added the second for Chelsea when Torres, on for Ba, touched the ball onto his left foot, allowing his Spanish team-mate to curl the ball past Krul.

Sissoko then scored his first goal for Newcastle to level things up before grabbing a late winner for Alan Pardew's side.

Marouane Fellaini scored a last-minute equaliser as struggling Aston Villa drew 3-3 with Everton at Goodison Park.

Villa striker Christian Benteke got the visitor off to a flying start when he beat defender Jonny Heitinga and fired the ball low past Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard in the second minute before Victor Anichebe levelled the score at 1-1 after some poor defending.

Seconds later, Paul Lambert's side was back in front though thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who fired into the bottom corner to give Villa a 2-1 lead at the break.

Villa extended its lead when Benteke added his second after the break, again beating Heitinga, as he headed past Howard in a bid to seal a much-needed win.

Everton was not done, though, with Fellaini poking the ball home from Anichebe's lay-off before he levelled the score with a header at the near post in the 90th minute.

Reading beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium to climb out of the relegation zone.

Jimmy Kebe gave Reading the lead when he fired the ball past Simon Mignolet before Pavel Pogrebnyak fouled John O'Shea to give Sunderland a penalty.

Craig Gardner stepped up to level the score at the break with a well-taken spot-kick before Kebe scored a late winner to give Reading a vital win and continue its strong run of form.

Wigan Athletic threw away its lead to draw 2-2 against Southampton at the DW Stadium.

Rickie Lambert 's close range header cancelled out Gary Caldwell's effort, before Morgan Schneiderlin's late score looked to have snatched the points for the Saints.

However, Shaun Maloney popped up with a late equaliser for the Latics but it was not enough for Wigan to climb out of the relegation zone.

Arsenal beat Stoke City 1-0 at the Emirates when Lukas Podolski's low-free-kick was deflected by Geoff Cameron and past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who had single-handedly kept the Potters in the game with a series of quality saves.

Norwich City goalkeeper Mark Bunn saved a penalty as big-spending Queens Park Rangers was held to a goalless draw at Loftus Road.

Adel Taarabt was denied by Bunn from the spot after the keeper gave away a spot-kick when he brought down Jamie Mackie.

The 0-0 draw was the fourth consecutive stalemate for Harry Redknapp's QPR, which remained at the foot of the Premier League table before the rest of the weekend's action began.

After the match, Redknapp also revealed that recent signing Loic Remy had torn a muscle in training on Friday.

West Ham United beat Swansea City 1-0 at Upton Park thanks to Andy Carroll's second goal of the season, a header past Gerhard Tremmel.

The 31-year-old arrived at Upton Park from Marseille last northern summer, but has struggled to settle in England and last week hit out at manager Sam Allardyce for a lack of first-team action.

He has made one start in the Premier League after a thigh injury and spoke to the French media about his unhappiness, saying: "I have a three-year contract. I'm not unhappy financially, but I came to play, not to take an early retirement.

"I am positively at breaking point. At all the clubs where I've been, I've always had a discussion with the coach, so I know what he expected of me, how the team plays, my positioning.

"But since my arrival at West Ham I never spoke with the manager. Every day is 'Hello, goodbye'. There is no dialogue, no explanation."

Allardyce responded by saying Diarra just had to speak to him and it appears talks have now taken place, with the 44-cap France international heading off.

The departure comes shortly after Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock revealed he had turned down the Hammers in favour of a move to Leeds United, saying that the Yorkshire club had made him feel 'wanted'.

The Cottagers have so far only managed to make one first-team addition, with Emmanuel Frimpong arriving on loan from Arsenal.

However, Jol's squad is likely to be bolstered further, with AC Milan's Urby Emanuelson one of those poised for a move to west London.

Asked if he was close to signing the Netherlands international, Jol nodded and said: "It is a loan until the end of the season. It is not easy to get players from AC Milan on a permanent basis.

"I coached him at Ajax. He is a skilful player, very agile. He is very mobile, quick.

"He can play left midfield, wide, play number 10, so I feel we need fresh legs."

PSV Eindhoven right-back Stanislav Manolev is another man Jol hopes to lure to Craven Cottage, following Stephen Kelly's move to Reading.

"How many players I want is something I will keep to myself," he said, speaking after last night's (this morning AEDT) 3-1 win against West Ham.

"I could say 12 and then there is only one or two and everyone will be disappointed.

"We would like to strengthen the squad and I still feel we are short at right-back. Stephen Kelly left us and Sascha Riether is probably the only right-back.

"We will do something in every line: midfield, at the back and maybe up front."

It is unclear whether Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone is a potential addition.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said Fulham has been allowed permission to speak to the midfielder, but Jol downplayed talk of a move.

"I think it is awful to get a permanent transfer for someone like Tom Huddlestone on the last day,'' he said.

"I started five weeks ago and that won't happen on the last day."

West Ham is also hoping to be active before the deadline, with Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson one of those on the east Londoners' radar.

"We've obviously worked with him before and know what he is about," assistant manager Neil McDonald said.

"We will see how it goes. It is just paper talk at the moment but we will see how it develops over the next 24 hours.

"Sam [Allardyce] is working very hard behind the scenes. If we can bring anyone else in, that would be great. It would be more competition for places."

After second-placed Manchester City stumbled to a draw at Queens Park Rangers the previous night, it was an evening of opportunity for United, and after the early shock of falling behind to a Jay Rodriguez strike, Rooney rose to the challenge and fired both of United's goals at Old Trafford.

Rodriguez rocked the home support when he took advantage of a poor backpass by Michael Carrick and beat David de Gea to the ball before slotting home inside three minutes.

Rooney dragged United level five minutes later though when he produced a smart finish to convert Shinji Kagawa's pass, and then tapped in his second and the eventual winner after 27 minutes when Patrice Evra headed Robin van Persie's free-kick from the left across goal.

Liverpool looked to be cruising to victory at the Emirates Stadium when it led Arsenal 2-0 after an hour, but the home side scored twice in rapid succession to force a 2-2 draw.

Luis Suarez fired Liverpool ahead in the fifth minute with a deflected strike after a messy build-up and lax defending. And the Arsenal backline was at its shambolic worst again as Liverpool extended the lead after 59 minutes, allowing Jordan Henderson to barge through from the right flank and tuck the ball beyond Wojciech Szczesny.

Olivier Giroud maintained his recent excellent form to pull the first goal back five minutes later though, heading in powerfully from Jack Wilshere's free-kick, and the French striker laid off a pass from Wilshere into the path of Theo Walcott to drive in Arsenal's second in the 67th minute.

The draw was of little help to either side's hope of breaking into the UEFA Champions League places.

By contrast, Leighton Baines scored twice, with the first a crunching 20-yard drive and the second a penalty, as Everton beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 to move a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The left-back raced forward to collect a pass from Leon Osman and fired into the top left corner as Everton went ahead in the 29th minute at Goodison Park. He then drilled in a penalty just before half-time after Victor Anichebe was brought down by Claudio Yacob.

It might have been comfortable for Everton after that but for a defensive blunder from Johnny Heitinga. The defender made a mess of attempting to block Romelu Lukaku's low shot, with the ball looping up for Shane Long to head in.

Tottenham Hotspur could only manage a 1-1 draw at Norwich City, and even that looked beyond it for a long while.

Wes Hoolahan converted Anthony Pilkington's cross to give Norwich a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute, but it could not hold it and Gareth Bale produced a superb equaliser after 80 minutes, tearing forward with the ball at his feet from the halfway line before cracking a powerful shot into the left corner.

Third-placed Chelsea was cruising at Reading until two late goals from substitute Adam Le Fondre stunned Rafael Benitez's side, earning the host a point from an improbable 2-2 draw.

Juan Mata's firm left-footed finish from Fernando Torres' pass in the 45th minute and Frank Lampard's header after 65 minutes put Chelsea in charge. Le Fondre rifled what looked like a consolation in the 87th minute, but then struck again with a close-range volley in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.

Fulham triumphed 3-1 in its London derby with West Ham United at Craven Cottage thanks to goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Hugo Rodallega, both created by Damien Duff, and a late Joey O'Brien own goal.

Kevin Nolan brought West Ham briefly level in the 48th minute, but his side switched off at the back and Rodallega headed the winner a minute later when he beat three defenders and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to Duff's cross from the left. The late third was a bonus.

The Austria international, who played for Middlesbrough between 2005 and 2010, has joined the Hammers from Wolfsburg.

"I feel very good to be here and I am very excited about playing for West Ham," he told whufc.com.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to play for the club and help it get good results. I will be doing my best to play well and hope I can play a part in the club achieving the targets for this season."

The Gunners scored four times in 10 second-half minutes to claim a Barclays Premier League victory at the Emirates Stadium, extending the Hammers' winless run to five games.

"It was totally unacceptable for us with the standards we have set ourselves," Nolan said on www.whufc.co.uk.

"The gaffer wasn't happy and rightly so - so he asked for us to come in at 7am the next morning on the Thursday.

"There were no complaints from any of us - we all need a kick up the backside every now and then and we take it all on board.

"The gaffer and all of us wanted to put this result and what happened to bed straight away, and it was good that we came in early and got into looking at what went wrong together as a group."

Mohamed Diame was late for the meeting and his team-mates wondered if they would see him again.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Irons last summer from Wigan Athletic, maintains he is happy at Upton Park, despite being linked with a move, should a club match the £3.5million ($A5.3 million) release clause in his contract.

Nolan added: "We all had to wait for him before we could start and when he arrived, we all gave him stick for not only being late and keeping us all waiting, but we said we thought he had left us without saying goodbye."

Daniel Potts suffered a head injury in the loss to Arsenal but is now recovering after being released from hospital.

Already out of the FA Cup, Nolan's side is looking ahead to making amends for the Arsenal loss at Fulham on Wednesday night.

"We have all taken it on board and on the chin," Nolan said.

"The outcome is that we are looking forward to putting it right against Fulham next week."

Teenager Potts has returned home after the blow he suffered in his side's 5-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Potts replaced Jack Collison just after the hour mark at the Emirates Stadium, but sustained nasty concussion after a heavy fall after an accidental aerial collision with Bacary Sagna.

The 18-year-old spent the night in hospital and underwent further scans and tests on Thursday, which West Ham announced had brought positive results.

Potts will undergo a period of rest before being allowed to resume light training in the gym.

He told West Ham's website: "A big thank you to everyone for their support and messages. Hopefully I am looking to feeling better over the next few days."

West Ham stated: "The club would also like to thank the London Ambulance Service, the on-site pitch rescue team and everyone at Arsenal who helped in making sure Potts was taken to hospital as quickly as possible."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had earlier expressed his backing for Potts, writing on Twitter: "Best wishes & quick recovery to @DanPotts03. Concussion in football is a big issue that FIFA is taking very seriously."

Collison believes West Ham will learn some hard lessons from the 5-1 mauling.

The Irons were torn apart by a rampant Gunners side who ran in four goals in the space of 10 minutes at the start of the second half.

The night had started well for the visitor, which weathered early Arsenal pressure to take the lead after 18 minutes when Collison crashed in a 20-yard effort after a corner.

However, Lukas Podolski's fine strike sent the sides in level at the break and Arsenal came out on fire after the restart.

Olivier Giroud clipped the ball home at the near post before Podolski set up Santi Cazorla, while Theo Walcott and Giroud again put the home side out of sight before the hour.

From then on it was a case of damage limitation for West Ham, but Collison feels the squad will use its break from FA Cup action this weekend to focus on putting things right in its next Premier League outing against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

"We defended well in the first half and created a couple of chances," Collison said. "Then we had 10 minutes of poor defending and when you do that against a team like Arsenal, they are going to cut you open.

"As a team, we know that is not good enough and it is up to us to pick ourselves up.

"The manager has not got to tell us it was not good enough, we know that. We have to get ourselves back up and go for the Fulham game."

West Ham missed the chance to secure its place in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend when it failed to see off Manchester United at Upton Park and then lost the replay at Old Trafford with a much-changed side.

Collison, though, feels having some extra time to focus on the challenges ahead over the second half of the Premier League season will see everyone refreshed as Sam Allardyce's side looks to consolidate its mid-table position.

"We have had a lot of games lately, so now it will be a chance for the players to recharge their batteries and give the manager a chance to do a bit of work with us on the training pitch," Collison said.

"When we come to take on Fulham in a week's time, we will all be ready and raring to go, looking to put right the mistakes we made at Arsenal."

The 18-year-old, who had a loan spell at Colchester earlier this season, fell to the ground after jumping in a challenge with Gunners defender Bacary Sagna with 18 minutes left.

It appeared the youngster, on as a substitute, hit his head on the pitch, and was momentarily knocked out.

Potts received lengthy treatment from medical staff, eventually being taken from the field on a stretcher, in a neck brace, receiving gas and covered in an emergency blanket before being transferred to a nearby hospital for observation.

West Ham confirmed the defender would be receiving more attention to aid his recovery.

A statement on the club's official Twitter feed read: "West Ham United can confirm that Dan Potts will undergo scans and further assessment in hospital on Thursday.

"On behalf of Dan, the club would like to thank fans for all their messages of support for the defender and join them in wishing him well."

The Gunners had slumped to successive defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea to leave them facing an uphill battle to regain a place in the top four.

Wenger knew there was no more margin for error, but must have feared another night of frustration after falling behind in a rearranged Boxing Day fixture to a fine strike from Jack Collison.

However, Lukas Podolski crashed in a 25-yard effort to equalise before the break.

Olivier Giroud then scored his first goal in six games to put the host in front just after the restart, before Germany forward Podolski tore the Irons apart, charging down the left to set up Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Giroud again as Arsenal romped out of sight before the hour.

West Ham had to play the closing stages with 10 men after what looked a serious injury to substitute Daniel Potts, who was carried off on a stretcher after a serious head injury and kept in hospital overnight for observation.

"We got a good response," said Wenger.

"I could not predict that we would score five goals, but what was vital for us was to equalise before half-time and then see if West Ham could maintain their control of us.

"In the second half from the start on we created chance after chance and played at a very high pace. From there on it was great movement, great quality in our final balls and in our combination play.

"Until Potts got injured of course, after that it was the end of the game because we played 11 against 10 and it was [already] 5-1."

The Gunners now head to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend looking to keep alive its FA Cup hopes, before next week's visit of Liverpool will again put the character of Wenger's squad to the test if it is to close back within striking distance of UEFA Champions League qualification again.

Wenger added: "I never felt that the players didn't know how important it is. I was more worried that they are a bit sometimes inhibited in the recent big games from the start on.

"But this team has a fantastic mentality and good quality, that's what we want to show until the end of the season now."

West Ham's evening was overshadowed by Potts' injury, with the player set to spend the night under observation after momentarily being knocked unconscious.

Irons boss Sam Allardyce admitted the start to the second half had been 'a horrible 12 minutes for us'.

He added: "When you concede as early [in the second half] as we did and they get into top gear, you have to give their players credit for their top spell.

"You wonder what Arsenal are going to be like when they have lost two on the trot, once we opened up they tore us apart.

"My strategy was working brilliantly until half-time, I had planned to introduce fresh legs and talent.

"But by the time I blocked it up, they were five ahead. It was the worst 45 minutes I've suffered this season."

Reported Arsenal target Mohamed Diame came off the bench for West Ham with 20 minutes left.

Allardyce, though, maintained as yet there had been no concrete offer for the combative Senegal midfielder.

"There is speculation and disruption, but we have had no bids from the type of clubs that have been speculated about," he said.

The 18-year-old, who had a loan spell at Colchester United earlier this season, fell to the ground after jumping in a challenge with Gunners defender Bacary Sagna with 18 minutes left of the Premier League game.

It appeared the defender, on as a substitute, hit his head on the pitch, and was momentarily knocked out.

Potts received lengthy treatment from medical staff, eventually being taken from the field on a stretcher, in a neck brace, receiving gas and covered in an emergency blanket.

Irons boss Sam Allardyce revealed the player will be closely monitored.

He said: "Potts has gone straight to hospital with concussion, he was unable to give the correct answers to the questions (from the doctors).

"He hit the floor as a dead weight, was out for a few seconds and was not fully conscious when he came off.

"He was able to answer questions, but not in the right way, and they have protected his neck.

"We were concerned at how long it took.

"But they have to make sure they protect the spine the right way getting them on the stretcher, that is why it took the time it did."

Allardyce added: "Hopefully, he will make a speedy recovery.

"As he lost consciousness, I think it is a minimum of two weeks before he can play again."

The Gunners had slumped to successive defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea to leave them facing an uphill battle to regain a place in the top four.

Manager Arsene Wenger knew there was no more margin for error and despite falling behind in this rearranged Boxing Day fixture to a fine strike from Jack Collison, his side found its form, equalising through Lukas Podolski's 25-yard screamer.

Olivier Giroud scored his first goal in six games to put the host in front just after the restart, before Germany forward Podolski tore the Irons apart, charging down the left to set up Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Giroud again as Arsenal romped out of sight before the hour.

West Ham had to play the closing stages with 10 men after what looked a serious injury to substitute Daniel Potts, who was carried off on a stretcher after a clash of heads.

The Gunners now head to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend looking to keep alive its FA Cup hopes, before next week's visit of Liverpool will again put the character of Wenger's squad to the test if it is to close back within striking distance of UEFA Champions League qualification again.

Arsenal signalled its intent early on as Walcott made a darting run inside West Ham fullback Joey O'Brien, but his low centre through the six-yard box was behind the onrushing Giroud.

Jack Wilshere needed treatment after he was caught on the ankle by West Ham midfielder Collison. The England man, who has just returned to full fitness this season after more than a year out, was soon able to continue.

On 15 minutes, Walcott was almost away again down the right, but Winston Reid did just enough to get across as the England forward shot into the side-netting.

At the other end, Matthew Taylor's 20-yard effort was deflected up and on to the roof of the net by Thomas Vermaelen.

Arsenal failed to clear its lines, and from a second corner on 18 minutes, the ball was headed out to the edge of the penalty area.

Collison took one touch to set himself before firing a superb strike through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

Arsenal produced the perfect response to level within four minutes.

The ball was fed out from Wilshere to Podolski on the left, some 25 yards from goal.

The German promptly stepped inside before unleashing a blistering low, left-foot strike into the far corner.

Arsenal soon settled back into its trademark passing rhythm.

A quick one-two down the left through Giroud and Kieran Gibbs played Podolski in on goal, but his snapshot was hacked clear by O'Brien.

West Ham, though, was in again as half-time approached when a long ball split the defence and fell to Cole, whose chip was only part-blocked by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Aaron Ramsey had to scramble back to boot the ball off the line.

In stoppage-time, Cazorla's curled free-kick was heading to the top corner before Irons keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen clawed it away.

Arsenal was ahead just after the restart.

The Irons had been pressed back by a series of sweeping attacks.

Walcott clipped a corner towards the near post, where Giroud arrived to drill it back past Jaaskelainen for his first goal since a late double in the 7-3 win over Newcastle United on 29 December.

Before West Ham could mount a comeback, it was 3-1 on 53 minutes.

Walcott got away down the right, before the ball was recycled back to the other flank, where Podolski played a one-two with Giroud before squaring for Cazorla, who rolled in a clever backheel.

Arsenal was flying and immediately chalked up a fourth on the break inside 60 seconds.

Podolski was set away down the left, charging clear of a stretched West Ham defence before clipping a perfectly-weighted pass across into the path of Walcott, who smashed home first time at the far post.

Arsenal, however, was not finished as Giroud added a fifth on 57 minutes, with Podolski again the provider after another surging run down the left.

After all the high drama, the tempo of the match dropped as fast as the temperature.

There was a lengthy stoppage with 18 minutes left as substitute Potts needed treatment after a clash of heads, eventually taken off on a stretcher, covered with an emergency blanket in a neck brace and receiving gas. As all had been changes used, West Ham had to continue with 10 men - through some 12 minutes of stoppage-time.

The 31-year-old Cote d'Ivoire right-back, who joined on an initial two-year deal from Hamburg in August 2011, told West Ham TV: "It's really good for me and I'm really happy to have a new deal with West Ham."

Injuries punctuated Demel's first season at Upton Park, but he has featured 17 times this term and started the last seven fixtures, including last weekend's draw with Queens Park Rangers.

He added: "I've had a good year this season, and even last year was good, despite the fact that I was injured for so long and struggled a bit.

"I'm happy to be at West Ham and in the team. The lads are really good with me as are the people working for the club. I hope I will stay that long to play in the new stadium as well.

"Last year was kind of difficult because when I signed, I had pre-season, and then unfortunately I got injured really quickly and it was hard to come back afterwards.

"But right now I feel good. I had a pre-season, we worked hard and I have to thank the medical staff for the job they have done with me. I feel good and I'm quite happy with what I'm doing right now, but I know that I can do even more."

The Hammers boss reacted angrily to referee Phil Dowd's decision to award Manchester United a penalty for handball after West Ham was denied one for a similar offence by Rafael at the other end.

Wenger's name became synonymous with success during his early years at Arsenal, but the Gunners are no longer considered realistic title challengers and they have not won a trophy of any kind in seven-and-a-half years.

The north London club welcomes West Ham United to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday (AEDT) knowing defeat will leave it seven points off fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur and some 22 points behind its former arch rival and current league leader Manchester United.

Despite its domination of the league, United has looked a pale imitation of Sir Alex Ferguson's former teams while despite its lavish spending, second-placed Manchester City has also failed to reproduce the level of form it showed last season.

And after watching Tottenham batter Manchester United on Monday and emerge with a draw, Wenger reflected on the fall in standards that he thinks Arsenal could have taken advantage of this season.

"I saw Tottenham v Manchester United and you think (about) the difference between us and Manchester United when you see them play," Wenger said.

"It was a fantastic opportunity (to win the league) this season. To catch Manchester United now is out of sight at the moment.

"We have to get closer to the people in front of us first before we can think of that. Man United is far but there is no untouchable team in the country at the moment. That is for sure.

"It should not be difficult (to get in the top four) but it will be tough"

Key to Wenger's struggles, of course, has been the departure of Robin van Persie, who has had no problem repeating his superb form last season with his new employer at Old Trafford.

Arsenal's inconsistency has also been a major problem. Gunners fans have been put through a roller coaster of a season so far. The highs of putting seven past Reading and then Newcastle United have been outweighed by the low points - home defeats to City, Swansea City and Chelsea, not to mention the embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to npower League Two side Bradford City.

Theo Walcott, who last week put an end to speculation about his future by signing a contract extension, said there is a lack of self-belief in the Arsenal camp and his manager concurs.

"I agree with him," Wenger said. "The players come out and think 'we could have done better'.

"But when you look at the first half (against Chelsea on Sunday) we lost goals we shouldn't lose, 50/50s you cannot lose in big games.

"You can say what you want but you have to go with a mentality in big games based on belief and total commitment.

"Last year we could win big games and on Sunday you come out of the game and think 'what is happening?'"

The 31-year-old was brought in from Marseille after the Hammers' promotion but has struggled with injury, making just five appearances in all competitions.

That lack of football has clearly left Diarra frustrated, leading him to tell L'Equipe he is ready to leave the east London side, saying: "I have wasted my time".

The France international claims he was sold false promises when he joined the club and that he has a non-existent relationship with manager Allardyce.

"He is obviously clear, without telling me, that he is not happy with he situation, which is understandable," the West Ham boss said.

"You get this all the time as a manager when you bring a player of his experience and calibre over from France.

"It hasn't quite worked out and he feels a little disgruntled in terms of playing more, this or that.

"It is a fact of life, whereas I look at the situation and play what I consider the best team and because of Alou's long-standing injury he has found it hard to adjust to what is needed in the Premier League.

"If he is unhappy, he just has to tell me what he wants to do and we'll see how we go from there.

"At the moment, yes, he contributed well but his frustrations he obviously wants to play more.

"We'll have that discussions and we'll make a decision after that on the future of Alou."

Luis Suarez was looking to make it a hat-trick of hat-tricks against Norwich having netted three times against the Canaries in each of his previous games against them.

He had to settle for one this time in the 36th minute, which put the Reds well in control after Jordan Henderson's fine 26th-minute opener.

Suarez and Sturridge both started and the former Chelsea man scored on his Anfield debut in the 59th minute.

It quickly became a rout as captain Steven Gerrard added a fourth seven minutes later before the unfortunate Ryan Bennett rounded off a 5-0 thrashing with an own goal in the 74th minute.

Queens Park Rangers new boy Loic Remy took only 14 minutes of his debut to find the net but it was not enough to give the basement dweller victory against West Ham United.

QPR is unbeaten in January and was on course for another victory at half-time courtesy of Remy's cool finish but Joe Cole made it 1-1 in the 68th minute.

Frenchman Remy chose Harry Redknapp's side over Newcastle United, and the Magpies' relegation worries increased as they were beaten 2-1 by Reading.

A week after its stunning comeback to beat West Bromwich Albion, Reading went behind to Yohan Cabaye's classy free-kick in the 35th minute but substitute Adam Le Fondre netted with his first touch in the 71st minute and won the game with his second goal six minutes later.

The result lifted Reading out of the bottom three but it was soon back in it after Aston Villa took a point from the west midlands derby against West Bromwich Albion.

It looked like being all three when Christian Benteke (12) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (31) put Villa two up at The Hawthorns but Chris Brunt pulled one back four minutes after half-time and Peter Odemwingie earned the Baggies a 2-2 draw seven minutes from time.

Second-placed Manchester City closed the gap on Manchester United, which plays Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEDT), to four points thanks to David Silva's first double for the club against Fulham.

The Spain midfielder opened the scoring after less than two minutes and made it 2-0 in 69th minute before missing a golden chance for a hat-trick.

Wigan Athletic was fast out of the blocks as well, a soft own goal from David Vaughan putting it in front against Sunderland in only the fourth minute at the DW Stadium.

But the Black Cats responded impressively and equalised through a penalty from Craig Gardner in the 17th minute after James McCarthy had handled a corner.

Three minutes later they were ahead through Steven Fletcher's volley and the striker added another three minutes before the break.

On-loan Manchester United teenager Angelo Henriquez scored his first goal in English football 11 minutes from time but it was not enough to prevent a 3-2 defeat.

The game between Swansea City and Stoke City was the only match that was goalless at half-time but it took teenage fullback Ben Davies only four minutes of the second half to enhance his growing reputation with his first senior goal.

Two strikes from Jonathan De Guzman in the 57th and 80th minutes secured the points, with Michael Owen's first goal for Stoke in injury-time little consolation as the Potters went down 3-1.

With James Collins, Joey O'Brien (both hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) injured and a Premier League home clash with Queens Park Rangers to come for his team this weekend, Allardyce fielded an experimental back-line in his side's FA Cup third-round replay at Manchester United.

Opting to rest Guy Demel by leaving him on the bench, the manager brought midfielder Alou Diarra into a central defensive trio alongside Winston Reid and James Tomkins, with Jordan Spence and Daniel Potts operating as wing-backs.

Allardyce was pleased with the performance those players produced in a contest United won 1-0, but made it clear he wants to bring in reinforcements swiftly.

The 58-year-old, who is interested in Blackburn Rovers fullback Martin Olsson, said: "We will try to get some defenders in as quick as we can.

"Alou Diarra did a fantastic job to help on our defensive side, because in terms of player availability, we only had Winston Reid, James Tomkins and Guy Demel who were experienced defenders.

"Alou Diarra stepped into the middle of the back three and did very well.

"Young Jordan Spence and Danny Potts were playing as wing-backs and they did well.

"But we want to improve the squad and we want to get our injured players back as soon as we possibly can."

Allardyce made six changes to his first XI for the encounter, in which Wayne Rooney's close-range finish in the ninth minute proved to be the only goal.

West Ham had a penalty appeal for handball against Rafael rejected in the second half by referee Phil Dowd, who then awarded a spot-kick at the other end with just over 10 minutes to go for a similar infringement by Spence, only for Rooney to waste the opportunity by blazing over.

Allardyce was critical of Dowd after the game, saying the difference between the two handball incidents was that 'Spence plays for West Ham and the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford', and suggesting the official 'couldn't find the courage' to give a penalty against the Brazilian.

He also looked ahead to the weekend, emphasising the importance of having rested some players for the United match with a view to the QPR fixture.

"You have to change your team accordingly depending on what is coming next," said Allardyce, who along with Demel moved Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis and Jack Collison from the line-up that started last weekend's league defeat at Sunderland to the bench at Old Trafford.

"QPR played on Tuesday night (in an FA Cup third-round replay at West Bromwich Albion), so they get an extra day ahead of it.

"The physical side of the game is massive these days and if you are down compared to the opposition on your physical attributes, it makes it tougher for you to win. So we have to change the team again on Saturday.

"A lot of the players who played against United will play again, but some have been rested, some will hopefully have recovered from injury and we will try to get the strongest side out that we can and see if we can get three points."

One player given a full breather was Joe Cole, who had set up both of West Ham's goals in the original 2-2 draw with United at Upton Park but was left out of the squad completely at Old Trafford.

Regarding the 31-year-old midfielder - back with his first club having joined the Hammers from Liverpool earlier this month - Allardyce said: "We left him out because he is not ready to be playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday.

"It would be unprofessional of me to think after he has just come from Liverpool that he could play three games in one week - it would risk him fatiguing and getting injured.

"So we left him back at West Ham to make sure he has had a full recovery and is available for Saturday."

Wayne Rooney's failed effort from the spot at Old Trafford, blazed high over the bar in the 79th minute, leaves United with a record of five penalties scored and four missed for the season so far.

Asked about that after the game, Ferguson told MUTV: "I don't think it is just one of those things.

"I think we have to improve at that.

"If you get a penalty kick, really ... there has been talk about (the good penalty record of) Rickie Lambert at Southampton. That is what taking penalty kicks is about.

"There have been several great examples over the years - (former Southampton midfielder) Matthew Le Tissier scoring 47 out of 48.

"A penalty kick is your opportunity to take advantage of a foul or a handball or whatever and score a goal."

The penalty miss made it a night of mixed fortunes for Rooney, who had scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the ninth minute.

The England striker - back in action after sitting out United's last five matches due to a knee injury - turned in Javier Hernandez's square ball from close range, and after taking the congratulations of his team-mates, then paid his respects to his late sister-in-law, kissing his hands, looking to the skies and raising his arms as he walked back towards the halfway line.

United had chances to extend its advantage but could not take them and West Ham grew into the contest, particularly after the break.

The visitor had a penalty appeal for handball against Rafael waved away by referee Phil Dowd, who then awarded a spot-kick at the other end for a similar infringement by Jordan Spence, only for Rooney to waste the opportunity.

The Red Devils had done enough, though, to secure a place in round four, where they will host Fulham.

A stand-out performer for United was veteran Ryan Giggs, who wore the captain's armband in a team showing 10 changes from the Premier League win over Liverpool.

Referring to the 39-year-old midfielder after the game, Ferguson said: "He will play for another year.

"There is no discerning signs of tiredness or weakness in his game, his quality is still there, he has fantastic balance and he has appetite for it.

"He is just an incredible human being."

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce lamented his team's inability to make the most of the chances that came its way, but also made it clear he was unhappy with Dowd's decision-making with regard to the two handball incidents, and suggested the referee lacked courage.

Allardyce - whose side had held United to a 2-2 draw in the original tie at Upton Park - said: "It was very frustrating due to the fact that we have created so many opportunities to get ourselves back in the game, and then very disappointing that we were not given a penalty at 1-0 in the second half for Rafael's handball, which was blatant and clear for the referee to see in the position he was in.

"He couldn't find the courage to give it unfortunately, and he then went down the other end and there was a very similar incident with Jordan Spence and it was given.

"That is a very big disappointment for me - the lack of consistency in that area.

"But the frustration was that we really lost the game due to our lack of finishing quality. We didn't produce that when we had a great opportunity to do it on several occasions.

"I think you have to have courage to play here and to referee here.

"But why are you a professional referee or player? To come to these places to do your job, and do it to the best of your ability.

"Phil Dowd is a hugely experienced referee and one of the top ones in this country, but today I have to say he did get it wrong."

Jack Wilshere struck a superb late winner to fire the Gunners past the Swans at the Emirates Stadium.

The England midfielder - out for more than a year with ankle and knee injuries before returning to action this season - capped a man-of-the-match display to finally beat inspired Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm with a 20-yard shot on 86 minutes to set up a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and keep alive hopes of Arsenal's first trophy since 2005.

Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, notched an early winner - and missed a penalty - as Manchester United saw off West Ham United at Old Trafford to earn a fourth-round tie against Fulham.

Rooney paid his respects to his late sister-in-law after netting the game's only goal in the ninth minute.

The England striker also blazed a second-half penalty over the bar - the fifth time United has failed from the spot this season - as the host survived a spirited second-half rally from the Hammers.

Allardyce brought defamation proceedings in London's High Court against Steve Kean, who was Blackburn manager during a summer 2011 pre-season tour of the Far East.

Allardyce's solicitor, Hanna Basha, told Mr Justice Eady that the "false and defamatory" allegation, made while Kean was drinking in a bar in Hong Kong, was filmed on a camera phone and was subsequently published to many hundreds of thousands of people over the Internet and reported in the national press.

Kean had acknowledged the allegation was completely untrue, withdrawn it, and agreed to pay a substantial sum in damages, she said.

Mr Kean's counsel, John Mehrzad, offered his apologies for the hurt and distress caused, and said he was pleased to set the record straight.

Ms Basha said that Allardyce's claim against Blackburn had been settled.

The club had published an apology on its website, hence it was not a party to the statement in court, he said.

Allardyce was speaking in response to the dismissal of Vincent Kompany, after the Manchester City captain was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean for a challenge on Jack Wilshere in his side's 2-0 win at Arsenal on Monday (AEDT).

City successfully overturned the decision on appeal and Allardyce described the challenge as "perfect".

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup third round replay at Manchester United, the Hammers boss said: "We don't coach tackling any more. That's rather sad.

"We teach stay on your feet. We teach, pinch, nick, intercept.

"If you are going to ground try and be 100 per cent sure you are going to win the ball.

"Now they are saying that even if the tackle is a perfectly good one, if it's ferocious in their eyes or is done with too much force, then that is still a booking or a sending off. Well that's ridiculous."

Allardyce refused to point the finger at referees, believing the clampdown is a result of a directive from the game's governing bodies.

He added: "Most defenders in today's football when they go to ground really go to ground for the ball. I don't see too many today trying to go for the player.

"There are occasions when players lose their heads, yes. Get the red card out, send them off, sort them out. But I just do think that the huge amount of pressure on referees and this particular area is another added pressure.

"They are all going to make mistakes but you make more mistakes the more you are put under pressure."

O'Brien played under Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers and was brought to Upton Park by the Hammers boss in 2011.

The club announced on its Twitter feed: "West Ham United are pleased to announce that Joey O'Brien has signed a new contract with the club until summer 2016."

Versatile O'Brien, who has five caps for the Republic of Ireland, has played 16 times in the Premier League this season, scoring twice.

The 26-year-old helped the Hammers win promotion from the Championship last term.

O'Brien made 70 appearances in all competitions over seven years at Bolton, including playing in the UEFA Europa League.

He also had two separate loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and was hampered by a serious knee injury in the seasons before his departure to the Hammers.

The Hammers slipped to a 3-0 Premier League defeat at the Stadium of Light with James Collins limping off in agony with a grade three hamstring tear to join George McCartney and Joey O'Brien on the sidelines.

Allardyce has clinched a six-month loan deal for Brazilian striker Wellington Paulista, but will now turn his attention to his back four after seeing his patched-up rearguard succumb alarmingly on Wearside.

He said: "The big blow for me is not having enough defenders at the moment. There are too many of my defenders injured.

"We have had too many injuries recently, but the injury situation with defenders with George McCartney not being here, Joey O'Brien not being here and James Collins getting injured today means that the defensive side of our team is particularly weak and short of numbers now.

"I am really going to have to go and try to strengthen that area in the next few days."

Sunderland went ahead after 12 minutes when Sebastian Larsson smashed home a left-foot piledriver, his first goal of the season, and it never looked back as the Hammers succumbed with barely a whimper.

Adam Johnson doubled the advantage within two minutes of the restart when he cashed in on Dan Potts' error, and James McClean made sure of the points with a third 16 minutes from time after Stephane Sessegnon, not for the first time, had terrorised the visitor's defence.

Allardyce, who saw his side only just fail to beat Manchester United last weekend, was particularly concerned about the comedy of errors which led to the second goal, which effectively killed off the game.

He said: "Just look at it, it was pathetic, wasn't it? We have a free-kick and we let the opposition score.

"[Keeper] Jussi [Jaaskelainen] gets us out of jail in the first place by making a really, really good save, and then we mess up the clearance and they score, so it probably sums us up today.

"We didn't defend correctly, we didn't have the appetite for defending correctly and nullifying the opposition's strengths, we never passed the ball as well as we know we can.

"It was really an all-round performance that makes life extremely difficult for me to accept, the performance I have seen based on how well we played just seven days ago against Manchester United.

"The level of difference in performance between that game and this is just staggering.

"All round last week, we were absolutely brilliant in all departments; this week, we were poor in all departments, hence we were beaten comprehensively by a team who deserved to beat us."

Opposite number Martin O'Neill was more than satisfied with a victory which lifted his side six points clear of the relegation zone.

He said: "There's always pressure. The win was important for us. I think anybody in the bottom half of the table still has to be looking anxiously over their shoulder.

"But it was an important win for us - I think it's our fourth in seven games in the Premier League and in the context of things, it was good to win."

Meanwhile, O'Neill confirmed that Senegal international defender Kader Mangane is heading for Wearside in the hope of clinching a loan deal until the end of the season.

He said: "I'm hoping that he's making his way over at this minute. I'm not sure that anything has been absolutely and utterly completed, but it would be a loan until the end of the season.

"Of course, we have a number of positions we would like to try to fill between now and the end of January, and I'm hoping something might materialise.

"But there's a long bit of distance to go yet."

Walters gifted Chelsea the lead in first-half injury-time when he dove to head a right-wing cross beyond his own goalkeeper.

And the striker was also in the wrong place at the wrong time on 62 minutes to nod Juan Mata's cross beyond Asmir Begovic under pressure from Frank Lampard.

Lampard himself scored the Blues' third just three minutes later, hammering home a penalty after Mata had been brought down by Robert Huth, while Eden Hazard fired in a superb fourth with a left-foot drive from 25 yards.

Walters had the chance to make some kind of amends with a late penalty, but saw his spot-kick clip the bar on the way over as Stoke surrendered the top flight's last unbeaten home record.

The three points lifted Rafael Benitez's team above London rival Tottenham Hotspur after it could only draw 0-0 against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

That point in the day's early kick-off lifted Harry Redknapp's side off the bottom for a few hours, only for Reading to then come from 2-0 down to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at the Madejski Stadium.

Romelu Lukaku was left with the simple task of converting James Morrison's cross in the 19th minute and had another goal disallowed before making it 2-0 on 69 minutes.

But Jimmy Kebe pulled one back eight minutes from time, Adam Le Fondre equalised from the penalty spot in the closing stages and Pavel Pogrebnyak grabbed a dramatic winner in the last minute.

Wigan Athletic climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw at Fulham, leaving Aston Villa to fall into the drop zone on goal difference.

Giorgos Karagounis (22) gave Fulham the lead at Craven Cottage with a well-taken shot which went in off the post, but Franco Di Santo equalised on 71 minutes when he cut in from left and curled a shot into the far corner.

Aston Villa will feel doubly aggrieved after a controversial penalty saw it lose 1-0 at home to Southampton.

Enda Stevens was penalised for a foul on Jay Rodriguez although there did not appear to be any contact, with Rickie Lambert (34) converting confidently from the spot after Villa's protests were waved away by referee Mark Halsey.

Sunderland moved further away from trouble with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham United, with Sebastian Larsson opening the scoring after 12 minutes with a stunning left-foot half-volley from long-range.

Adam Johnson (47) doubled the lead after the Hammers defence failed to clear a loose ball and James McClean (74) sealed a convincing win at the Stadium of Light.

The games between Everton and Swansea City and Norwich City and Newcastle United both finished goalless.

Gold, 76, is in hospital recovering from pneumonia after being taken ill after the FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United.

Allardyce said he had yet to speak to Gold, who also needed hospital treatment for cholangitis and septicaemia in March 2011, but wished him well and moved to assure supporters the club's recruitment drive will not falter in his absence.

"Myself and all the players will be wishing him well today. I only found out yesterday that he was poorly," Allardyce said. "We will get a message to him in the very near future and wish him a speedy recovery.

"I think that there's always a communication line to him if David needs to (be contacted). In terms of what we're doing at the moment, we're as active as everybody else.

"If there's a player there that we think can improve the squad we'll try to move on him."

One player who is certainly a target for the Hammers is Blackburn Rovers left-back Martin Olsson.

Reports earlier in the week had suggested Blackburn wanted at least £7 million ($10.67 million) for the 24-year-old Sweden international but Allardyce reckons that is wide of the mark.

"I don't think that's true, no, but we have made an enquiry," he said.

Allardyce said there were 'ongoing negotiations' and added: "I think that if I was strengthening anywhere at the moment it would be in the left-back position because of our injury problems in that area at the moment. We are only looking at that position at the minute."

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh completed a loan move to Upton Park earlier this week and Allardyce confirmed he will go straight into his squad for this weekend's Premier League clash at Sunderland.

Fellow loanee Andy Carroll remains sidelined through injury but Allardyce is hopeful to have the England forward back by the end of the month.

"It's a bit difficult to put an actual time on it but I would expect it will be no longer than a couple of weeks now," Allardyce said.

"He's doing some straight line running, has been doing that for a few days. If he doesn't feel anything then we'll progress on to interval running and change of direction, then introduce the ball, then hopefully come back with the players as soon as possible.

"It could be a few days. It could be a bit longer than that just depending on his progression day by day now."

Chamakh signed a week after Allardyce secured a deal to take Joe Cole back to West Ham, with the former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder making an impressive return in the FA Cup draw with United.

The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent years and could not break into the Liverpool side on a regular basis after spending last season on loan at French Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

Cole scored for the Reds in their 3-2 win at Upton Park last month but Allardyce is keen not to push the England international too much.

"We'll take that game by game," he said. "A part of everybody's management is about managing your players for their sake. It's not always about joining in training every day of every week for me and it hasn't been for many years now.

"Lots of players don't come together in our squad till Thursday or Friday then play on the Saturday because they need to do other things in the week to make sure they maintain their level of fitness.

"We try to have a prevention policy rather than a cure policy."

The 76-year-old and fellow former Birmingham City owner David Sullivan took over at Upton Park in January 2011.

Gold, who needed hospital treatment for cholangitis and septicaemia in March 2011, was taken ill after West Ham's FA Cup third round clash with Manchester United.

His daughter Jacqueline posted on her Twitter account, @Jacqueline_Gold: "Have taken my father into hospital. I think he's learnt a very harsh lesson - not to go to football with bronchitis, now has pneumonia!"

She took to the social media network again, revealing her father will not be at West Ham's trip to Sunderland this weekend.

"Just to update you my dad had a good night but is still on strong medication for his condition," she said.

"He is still very poorly but in good hands and obviously won't be at the game on Saturday."

Two James Collins headers, both from crosses by the returning Joe Cole who was back in Hammers colours almost 10 years after his departure to Chelsea, looked set to earn the home side a 2-1 victory.

But Ryan Giggs played a tremendous long pass into the path of his fellow substitute Robin van Persie who rifled in a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Upton Park.

United manager Ferguson always hoped there would be late drama and insisted he never thought the game had got away from his players.

"You never do that with our team," Ferguson said.

"When you're 2-1 down with a couple of minutes left you just hope you get a break, but the manner of goal - the pass from Ryan Giggs and first touch from Robin van Persie and his finish - is absolutely world class, absolutely fantastic."

Ferguson praised the influence Van Persie is having at United in his first season with the club.

His goals have been vital, but Ferguson sees more to the Dutchman's game.

"He's at a mature age now. He's brought that maturity to our front line," the Scot said, "and his performance after coming on was tremendous."

Cole, 31, returned to his boyhood club on a free transfer from Liverpool during the week and rolled back the years as he set up a double for defender James Collins with superb crosses from the left flank in each half to turn the tie around after Tom Cleverley had fired United into the lead on 23 minutes.

However, as the clocked ticked into stoppage time, Dutchman Van Persie, who had started on the bench, ghosted into the right side of the penalty area, before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner to force a replay.

The third round of the competition began with an upset as second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion eliminated Premier League side Newcastle United for the second year in succession.

A victor against Alan Pardew's side in the fourth round last season, 1983 finalist Brighton prevailed 2-0 at the AMEX Stadium courtesy of a neat 33rd-minute finish from Andrea Orlandi and a late strike from Will Hoskins.

Newcastle, which sold striker Demba Ba to Chelsea in midweek, fielded a weakened team and saw captain Shola Ameobi sent off with half an hour to play after he received a second booking for a rather innocuous foul on David Lopez.

"It was a team effort today," said Brighton coach Gus Poyet.

Ba scored twice as holder Chelsea roared back to beat Southampton 5-1.

Beaten 1-0 by Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League on Thursday, Chelsea fell behind in the 22nd minute at St Mary's when Jay Rodriguez got in behind Gary Cahill before deftly beating goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

Interim manager Rafael Benitez handed a first start to Ba since his move from Newcastle and the Senegal international crowned his debut with a 35th-minute equaliser when he helped a Juan Mata effort over the line from close range.

Victor Moses rifled home to put Chelsea ahead on the stroke of half-time, with Branislav Ivanovic heading home in the 52nd minute before Ba completed his brace and substitute Frank Lampard netted a late penalty.

Champion Manchester City enjoyed a similarly straightforward afternoon at home to second-tier Watford, winning 3-0 to book its place in round four.

Carlos Tevez opened the scoring in the 25th minute via a ferocious free-kick, with Gareth Barry heading home just prior to half-time before Marcos Lopez made it 3-0 in the 90th minute.

The biggest upsets of the day saw Macclesfield Town and Luton Town of the fifth-tier Conference National overcome Championship sides Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Meanwhile, Premier League sides Fulham, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Stoke City were all taken to replays by lower-league opponents.

Sunderland looked to be following its north-east rival Newcastle out of the competition after falling 2-0 down at Championship representative Bolton Wanderers.

South Korean winger Chung-yong Lee and Marvin Sordell put Bolton on the brink of round four, only for Connor Wickham and Craig Gardner to hit back for Martin O'Neill's side.

Giorgios Karagounis' stunning 80th-minute volley rescued a 1-1 draw for Fulham at home to Blackpool, with Jordi Gomez levelling for Wigan in a 1-1 draw against third-tier Bournemouth.

Stoke City gave a first start to close-season signing Michael Owen but he was substituted without threatening to score in a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa fell behind at home to Ipswich Town but prevailed 2-1 through goals from Ipswich old boy Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann, while Reading also had to come from behind in a 3-1 win at Crawley Town.

Tottenham Hotspur avoided a repeat of their 1987 cup final loss to Coventry City with a 3-0 success at White Hart Lane that saw Clint Dempsey claim a first-half brace.

In one of four all-Premier League encounters in the third round, Kieron Dyer's injury-time effort earned QPR a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Seventh-tier Hastings United saw its campaign ended at Championship club Middlesbrough which prevailed 4-1.

Hammers manager Sam Allardyce confirmed that the Moroccan has completed his move across London - but not in time to figure in Saturday's (Sunday AEDT) FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United at Upton Park.

Allardyce told Sky Sports News: "We've signed him for the rest of the season. I think that'll be it in terms of strikers as we need to get Andy Carroll back (to fitness).

Chamakh, 28, struggled to claim a regular place in the Gunners' first team after initially impressing after a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010.

Cole, 31, signed an 18-month contract at Upton Park to end a miserable spell at Anfield.

"It is a great move for me," the Hammers' website quoted Cole as saying.

"This is where I learnt my trade and I'm happy to have another chance to be here.

"I've always loved West Ham and I hope I can give the club a few memorable seasons."

Cole emerged from the West Ham United academy to sign professional terms in 1998, and he helped the Hammers win the FA Youth Cup the following year.

He became a fans' favourite before leaving for Chelsea in 2003, when he became one of the Blues' first signings after Roman Abramovich's takeover of the club.

He won eight major trophies with Chelsea, including three English Premier League titles, and was named in the Professional Footballers Association team of the year in 2006.

Cole, who has won 56 full England caps, joined Liverpool as a free agent in 2010, but he made a poor start at Anfield.

He was sent off on his Premier League debut, against Arsenal, and missed a penalty in his next appearance, a Europa League qualifying match against Trabzonspor, and the poor start set the tone for a Reds career hampered by form and fitness problems.

He was loaned to French Ligue 1 club Lille for the entire 2011-2012 season, when he scored nine goals in 42 appearances.

Cole underwent a medical at the club's training ground after it emerged that Liverpool is prepared to cancel the 31-year-old's contract.

West Ham, which brought Cole through its youth academy in the 1990s, hopes the midfielder will sign his new contract with the east London club before midday on Friday so he can play in this weekend's FA Cup third round clash against Manchester United.

Should the deal go through, it will end a nightmare two-and-a-half-year spell on Merseyside for the former Chelsea player.

Cole has started just nine Premier League games since he swapped Chelsea for Liverpool in the northern summer of 2010, and spent last season on loan at French club Lille.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers deemed the Londoner surplus to requirements when he took over last northern summer and Cole is keen to go back to Upton Park, where he spent four years in the youth system before going on to become a first team star for five seasons.

It is understood that Liverpool would pay Cole a negotiated settlement in order to get his estimated £100,000 ($153,799)-a-week salary off the wage bill.

West Ham midfielder Sebastian Lletget welcomed the club's move for Cole.

He wrote on Twitter: "Training with my man Joe Cole today, top player, looking forward to it."

West Ham has had a busy day in the transfer market as manager Sam Allardyce looks to strengthen his squad to ensure the club does not slip towards the relegation zone after a solid first half of the season.

West Ham, which is eight points clear of the drop zone in 11th position, signed Republic of Ireland Under-19 striker Sean Maguire from Waterford United on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The 18-year-old, who was joint top scorer in the League of Ireland First Division in 2012, told West Ham TV: "In summer 2011 the Waterford manager brought me in for a couple of training sessions and gave me a chance in the first team and I took it.

"Here I am now at West Ham and it's a dream come true really.

"People tend to say my best trait is my movement so hopefully I can show that here. I haven't been told yet which squad I will be in, but I presume I'll be going into the reserves so I'll try to work my way up like I did at Waterford."

The Hammers also announced that midfielder Yossi Benayoun has returned to his parent club Chelsea after making just six appearances for the club during a loan spell that was blighted by injury.

"West Ham United can confirm that the loan of @YossiBenayoun15 has ended and he has returned to @chelseafc," a statement on West Ham's Twitter feed read.

"The club would like to thank Yossi for his efforts during his second spell with the Hammers and wish him the best of luck for his future career."

West Ham co-owner David Gold revealed last week that Allardyce was keen to sign several players in the transfer window having seen his squad hit by a spate of injuries just before Christmas.

Reports also claimed the Hammers had made a bid for Arsenal back-up striker Marouane Chamakh.

West Ham, which last won against Chelsea on 1 December, went ahead through a Mark Noble penalty after just three minutes when referee Mark Clattenburg spotted a shirt pull by defender Ryan Bennett on Winston Reid.

Norwich midfielder Robert Snodgrass rattled the woodwork with a free-kick before Joey O'Brien crashed home a second goal after 26 minutes, which proved enough for a morale-boosting victory ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie against Manchester United.

Russell Martin netted a late consolation with a well-taken volley for his third goal in two games.

Snodgrass later wote on Twitter 'the referee kills the game . #gamesgone', and while accepting there was cause for a foul, Hughton felt the penalty award was soft, as well as highlighting other calls which went against the visitor.

"The key decisions in the game did not go in our favour, but we did not start well enough," said Hughton, who confronted Clattenburg as he left the pitch at both half-time and after the full-time whistle.

"We accept Ryan Bennett had hold of the lad's shirt, but I also saw Reid's forearm in Ryan's chest. They are very close, he is not pulling Reid so he cannot get away, it is something you see game in and game out right throughout the country.

"On almost every occasion you do not see a penalty, particularly when it is so early in the game, so I was very surprised when he gave it.

"I also don't accept it was not a foul on Alex Tettey leading up to the second goal and certainly was a handball in the first half and then the incident on Harry Kane.

"We have been on the end of poor decisions today."

After a 10-match unbeaten run which pulled Norwich away from the relegation zone, Hughton's side has endured a miserable run over the festive season, beaten at home by both Chelsea and Manchester City as well at West Bromwich Albion.

The Canaries, however, still have daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

"We showed in the second half a bit more of what we are about," Hughton said.

"Nobody has really given us a beating and they have all been really close games.

"We have to be at our best to get results and we have been close in the last four games.

"For us now it is about getting back to winning ways."

West Ham, meanwhile, got its campaign back on track after a run of just two victories in the previous 11 outings.

Carlton Cole had missed a great chance to make it 3-0 when he blazed over from close range before the break, while Ricardo Vaz Te also saw his second-half header come back off the post.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce feels his side is moving in the right direction.

"I was wondering if we were going to hold our confidence and performance level at home," said Allardyce, who felt the referee had a 'great view' of the penalty and made the 'correct decision'.

"It has been really good even though we have had two back-to-back defeats but today they showed they have the mentality to cope with whatever is thrown at them."

Allardyce hopes to have striker Andy Carroll available by the end of the month.

He continued: "The disappointing thing was the chances the front lads missed today, with balls just flashing across the box needed a tap in.

"We lost a goal in the 90th minute which made us edgy in the end when we should have been out of sight.

"We will continue to try to brush up on our finishing techniques with the lads and hope the next time round we are more clinical with our finishing."

Hernandez also had a strike disallowed, which came prior to him making the breakthrough after 35 minutes at the DW Stadium.

Van Persie doubled United's lead in the 43rd minute and it was the Dutchman's free-kick that ballooned up to present Hernandez with his chance to net again in the 63rd minute.

The Mexico striker's volley ended Wigan's hopes of any reward and Van Persie fired a late fourth as United passed the 50-point mark, taking its haul to 52 from 21 games this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side continues to head nearest rival Manchester City by seven points as it attempts to claw back the league title from its neighbour.

Fullback Pablo Zabaleta inched City towards a 3-0 win against Stoke City when he scored in the 43rd minute at the Etihad Stadium.

Edin Dzeko doubled the lead after 56 minutes when Sergio Aguero saw a shot pushed out, and Aguero fired a 74th-minute penalty to complete the scoring after Steven Nzonzi fouled David Silva.

Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third place, a point ahead of Chelsea which has two games in hand, after a 3-1 home win over second-bottom side Reading.

Andre Villas-Boas saw his side fall behind to a Pavel Pogrebnyak effort in the fourth minute, but Michael Dawson headed the host level in the ninth minute and Emmanuel Adebayor edged it ahead six minutes into the second half.

Clint Dempsey made the points safe, with his shot benefiting from a deflection as it beat Adam Federici for the third Tottenham goal in the 79th minute.

Danny Graham cracked home a late equaliser for Swansea City against Aston Villa to earn a 2-2 draw.

Visitor Villa had fallen behind to Wayne Routledge's ninth-minute finish, after he surged clear of a static defence to round goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

But the outlook improved for Paul Lambert's side just before the break when Andreas Weimann netted an equaliser in the 44th minute.

Christian Benteke's penalty after Nathan Dyer's foul on Weimann put Villa ahead, as it looked to banish memories of dismal recent results. But Graham had the final say, his powerful finish with time running out sparking delight among home supporters at the Liberty Stadium.

A third-minute penalty from Mark Noble and Joey O'Brien's strike in the 26th minute gave West Ham United a 2-0 cushion against Norwich City at Upton Park. Russell Martin pulled one back for Norwich late in the second half but the Canaries could not find a leveller.

Earlier, Fulham eased its relegation worries as Alexander Kacaniklic's second-half goal earned it a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion.

The Cottagers had slid towards the bottom three after winning only one of their previous 12 games but were well worth their second away success of the campaign.

Dimitar Berbatov's seventh goal of the season gave the Cottagers a half-time lead and although Romelu Lukaku levelled after the break, Kacaniklic restored the visitor's advantage in the 58th minute.

Finally, Arsenal may have struggled at Southampton but Guly do Prado's own goal ensured it would return to north London with a point from a 1-1 draw.

Arsene Wenger's side rarely threatened on the south coast in a game that the relegation-threatened host looked more likely to win. Gaston Ramirez had put Southampton ahead.

Pavel Pogrebnyak's fifth-minute goal was enough for the Royals to record their second Premier League win of the season at the expense of West Ham United and McDermott's side has now conceded just one goal in its last three outings.

Reading was the side to watch for goals before its recent defensive resurgence, with the Madejski Stadium seeing an average of five goals a game before the goalless Boxing Day draw with Swansea City.

McDermott said his ethos is to always entertain Reading's supporters but collecting points was much more important in the long-run.

"We tried to play a style of football here which entertains our fans," he said.

"But 4-3s, 3-3s, 2-2s, 7-5s; if the results are going against you that is not what the fans want to see and they start shouting at me.

"So today they got a result, our fans got a result and that is what they want to see and we have something to build on.

"A 0-0 with Swansea, the performance at Man City and the performance again today and another three points, that is four points from three games and gives us something to build on."

The win takes Reading five points behind 17th-placed Aston Villa and McDermott believes a change of mindset has made his side more miserly of late.

When asked what had changed over the past few games, McDermott said: "A tactical switch, a mindset switch, we have to do what we have to do to pick up results and I have been fortunate in the last three years that I have got results - we are in a results business whatever league we are playing in and we need to keep that going.

"Last year was a miracle to win the Championship, I don't know how many points we are behind but all I know is that we have got to try and win the next game."

Pogrebnyak struck his third league goal for Reading after a mistake from West Ham's James Collins.

The defender looked to play a simple ball back to goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and Pogrebnyak stole in to slot past the Finn and put Reading ahead early on.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce pinpointed Collins' error, as well as a glaring four-yard miss from substitute Ricardo Vaz Te, as the reasons why the Hammers left Berkshire empty-handed.

"James Collins makes a basic error, they take advantage of it then Vaz Te misses the chance," he said.

"He had the easiest chance to score a goal you'll ever see in a Premier League football match and misses it - hence no points. You make those types of mistakes, you can't expect to get anything out of a game at this level.

"Once they got the goal they wouldn't want to come out and play. They wanted to protect the goal we'd gifted them. The loss of the goal disrupted our flow."

Collins made a similar mistake when West Ham was beaten 3-0 at Swansea earlier in the campaign but Allardyce felt his players should have produced more to make the former Aston Villa defender feel slightly better about himself.

"I never thought I'd see James make that type of error again - he did it at Swansea," he said.

"He has been one of our most consistent from that time but low and behold he has a simple backpass he misplaces and they take advantage of it.

"The lads should have got him out of the mire. We should've got at least a point and then it wouldn't by lying as heavily on him as it is now. He's distraught at the moment. He knows what that mistake has meant. He has to get over it."

The defeat leaves West Ham six points above the relegation zone with Allardyce now looking over his shoulder.

"We're beginning to look down now for the first time this season," he said. "All of a sudden now, we're looking a bit cautious and we don't want to get dragged in if we can help it."

Wenger had talked up Walcott as the next Thierry Henry on Friday, and the England forward - still to pen a new deal with the club - did little to disprove that idea, scoring three excellent goals and setting up two more to give Arsenal the win that ensures it will end 2012 in fifth place, two points behind Chelsea and three adrift of Tottenham Hotspur with a match in hand.

Arsenal's record scorer Henry was in the stands watching his beloved former club and he was on his feet after 20 minutes thanks to Walcott's opener - a fine curled finish after a Henry-esque break from the halfway line.

Newcastle pulled level through Demba Ba, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored, only for Ba to grab his second to make it 2-2.

Arsenal looked set for a disappointing draw after Sylvain Marveaux equalised Lukasz Podolski's header, but Walcott turned on the class to put the Gunners 4-3 up.

The former Southampton man set up Olivier Giroud twice and added his much-deserved third strike in injury-time with a deft chip over Tim Krul.

Ten-man Manchester City came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Norwich City to avoid falling further behind in the battle for the Premier League title.

City looked to be cruising to a routine win after Edin Dzeko bagged a brace inside the opening four minutes, but Anthony Pilkington pulled one back before Samir Nasri was dismissed after a confrontation with Sebastien Bassong.

The visitor made light of the disadvantage to go 3-1 up thanks to a Sergio Aguero goal, but Norwich fought back as Russell Martin found the net.

But a Mark Bunn own goal, after a Dzeko shot had come back off the post, sealed a 4-3 win, despite Martin's second for the Canaries.

Manchester United retained its seven-point lead thanks to a comfortable 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.

Gareth McAuley diverted an Ashley Young cross into his own net for the opener, with Robin van Persie sealing the win late on.

Aston Villa's miserable recent run continued as it suffered another thumping defeat as it went down 3-0 at home to Wigan Athletic.

Ivan Ramis headed in the opener in the third minute, with Emmerson Boyce and Arouna Kone completing the scoring.

Villa would have fallen into the bottom three were it not for a superb comeback from 10-man Stoke City.

Southampton had led 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium thanks to strikes from Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and an Andy Wilkinson own goal.

Kenwyne Jones had got Stoke's goal and Matthew Upson made it 3-2 after 67 minutes, only for the Potters to have Steven Nzonzi dismissed for a tackle on Jack Cork.

But Cameron Jerome popped up in stoppage-time to make it 3-3 and earn the host a point from a breathless encounter.

Swansea City's impressive campaign continued with a 2-1 win at Fulham.

Danny Graham put the Swans ahead and Jonathan de Guzman doubled the advantage, meaning Bryan Ruiz's goal was not enough for Fulham.

In the day's early kick-off Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to beat Sunderland 2-1. John O'Shea put the Black Cats ahead but a Carlos Cuellar own goal and an Aaron Lennon strike gave Spurs the points.

Reading gave its survival hopes a boost as it beat West Ham United 1-0 after Pavel Pogrebnyak capitalised on a James Collins error.

Reid, 24, has started all 18 EPL games for the 12th-placed London club so far this season and impressed in the heart of a defensive line that is the competition's fifth stingiest.

He told the Daily Star he was enjoying his third season with West Ham since leaving Danish side FC Midtjylland in August 2010 after his performances for the All Whites at the FIFA World Cup.

"We are talking. There's an option in there for both parties to take another two years at the end of the season," he said.

"I've always wanted to stay here. I enjoy being here."

Reid, nicknamed the 'Maori Monster' by West Ham fans, has been praised more than once this season by manager Sam Allardyce, who said re-signing the former Denmark age group representative was a priority.

Everton and West Ham have both won challenges against dismissals, with the Toffees seeing Darron Gibson's punishment wiped out.

Cole was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor in the 67th minute for a high tackle on Leighton Baines which was determined to be dangerous.

It came soon after his opening goal was matched by an equaliser from Victor Anichebe, and Everton went on to take all three points thanks to a Steven Pienaar goal six minutes later.

West Ham succeeded with its case at a Football Association hearing, meaning Cole will be available for this weekend's Premier League match against Reading.

Cole wrote on Twitter: "Great news that the red card got overturned, @FA done a great job. Well done! Time to make all the aggro worth it on Saturday if selected!"

While Cole was ordered off midway through the second half, Everton midfielder Gibson followed in stoppage time for a similar tackle on Mark Noble during Everton's 2-1 win.

Everton lodged its appeal with the FA on Christmas Eve, meaning Gibson was able to face Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, and he will now be available to manager David Moyes for this weekend's game against Chelsea and beyond.

A statement from the FA read: "The FA can confirm that red cards shown to both Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson have been rescinded.

"Both players were sent from the field of play in the Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Everton at Upton Park on Saturday 22 December.

"Their three-match suspensions have been withdrawn immediately and written reasons will be provided at a later date."

The Hammers had Carlton Cole sent off during Sunday's (AEDT) 2-1 home defeat against Everton for a high tackle on Leighton Baines, although referee Anthony Taylor's decision to dismiss the striker seemed to be a harsh one.

Everton's Darron Gibson also saw red in the closing stages of the win for a similar offence, but Allardyce reckons it is time for football's governing bodies to implement the use of technology to help the officials make the correct decisions.

"The only way to make it better for us all is to bring technology into it," he said.

"I always said that two and three challenges a game should be in our favour. We should be allowed it, should allow technology into the game.

"Forget about your old (Michel) Platinis (UEFA President), who are antiquated.

"I know they're in strong positions and they affect the game but they're not doing us any favours by not allowing technology to come into play.

"The technology today means it's done in less than two minutes, isn't it - at the absolute most.

"I had two TVs in the dugout and it used to be a bigger help for me on the fact that I thought what decision the referee had or hadn't given.

"The fourth official could see that it wasn't an offside, or it was or it wasn't a goal - At least you knew it was or it wasn't.

Allardyce also revealed he had the televisions installed in his dugouts whilst manager of Bolton Wanderers and the 58-year-old criticised the FA for removing them.

"We put TVs in the dugouts in 2005 and had them ripped out by the Premier League in 2006, that shows you just how backwards they are doesn't it," he said.

"In fact we had two TVs in the dugout - one had a 10-second delay and the other showed replays of incidents."

Allardyce insisted the club will look to appeal against Cole's red card but, if the ban is upheld, West Ham will be without a main striker for the next three games with Andy Carroll also ruled out through injury.

The Hammers were due to travel across London to face Arsenal on Boxing Day but the match was postponed after the news London Underground staff will strike.

Allardyce said it was a blessing as he could not name a fully-fit side if he was forced to face the Gunners.

"I haven't got a team to play Arsenal," he said.

"I haven't got a team so it's worked out all right - we'll just come in on Monday and count up the bodies.

"We won't do any training and we'll just go and see how packed the medical room is."

London Underground drivers are to stage three strikes in a row over Bank Holiday pay, with the first scheduled for 26 December.

The move by members of the union Aslef threatens travel chaos in the capital and the Gunners have decided to call off the clash at Emirates Stadium, with both clubs' fans in mind.

"As a result of Monday's strike ballot and the proposed industrial action on London Underground on Boxing Day, Arsenal's Premier League match against West Ham United at Emirates Stadium, originally planned for Wednesday, 26 December, has been postponed," a club statement on its website read.

"This decision has been made now, due to the preparation period needed to safely operate Emirates Stadium by all the relevant agencies.

"The paramount concern was always the duty of care towards the Arsenal supporters, West Ham United supporters, matchday employees and workers and indeed everyone who was planning to attend the game on Boxing Day."

London Underground drivers are set to stage three strikes over Bank Holiday pay, with the first scheduled for 26 December.

The move by members of the union Aslef threatens travel chaos in the capital and Arsenal admit its game at the Emirates Stadium is under threat.

"Arsenal Football Club is currently in discussions with the Premier League, West Ham United, police and relevant authorities over the possible postponement of the Boxing Day fixture at Emirates Stadium, following the announcement that London Underground drivers plan industrial action on that day," a statement on the club's website read.

"The match is in doubt due to the difficulties of getting 60,000 supporters, plus matchday staff and employees to the stadium safely in the advent of disruption to public transport on a public holiday.

"The club will make a further announcement as soon as a final decision is made."

In contrast, Queens Park Rangers' match with West Bromwich Albion is going ahead and Fulham insists it has no plans to cancel its match with Southampton.

Aslef members voted by 9-1 in favour of strikes in a long-running row over extra pay for working on Bank Holidays.

They are due to walk out for 24 hours on 26 December and on 18 and 25 January.

Collison has not played for the Hammers this season after he suffered a recurrence of the knee injury that has troubled him over the past two-and-a-half years.

The Wales international moved closer to a recall, however, stepping out in a Hammers shirt for the first time this season during a 3-1 defeat at Norwich.

Collins, 24, set up a chance for Sebastian Lletget before heading Nathan Mavila's cross narrowly wide.

He was then replaced at half-time in a pre-planned substitution.

Norwich's on-loan Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, who has not played a first-team match since September due to a foot injury, pressed his claim for a recall to the Canaries' starting XI by scoring twice in the match.

Allardyce was without seven first-team players and only able to name six substitutes at the Hawthorns.

But he was full of praise for the way his side fought to claim a share of the spoils.

Allardyce said: "You could probably say it's seven injuries because we haven't seen Alou Diarra since he joined us because he tore a thigh muscle.

"That, on top of the other six, made it very difficult for us to come here. That's why we only had six subs on the bench.

"The only two really recognised players who played any part, we put on at the end, Modibo Maiga and James Tomkins. The rest of the lads are development squad players.

"But we've earned our point today. You know when you've got that many injuries, you're always worried as a manager because you wonder whether you're team's going to be able or capable of holding out.

"Certainly on today's performance, the way they defended, we didn't create as much as we wanted today.

"We tried as hard as we could to do that but our defensive qualities today were exceptionally good."

When asked if the shortage of players meant he needs reinforcements in January, Allardyce said: "If we get them all fit, no. But we always need a bit of help as a manager.

"We're never going to turn one down are we? Or two! You've always got to try. If there's anybody there who can enhance or better the team, then we would like to go for them.

"Whether that's short term, long term, it depends when the window opens who is actually available and who we can to get to come in."

Baggies boss Steve Clarke saw his side end a run of three successive defeats and admitted: "I thought a draw was just about the right result. We didn't quite do enough to get the three points.

"As the home team, the onus is on us to try and win it. We tried to win it but nothing really fell for us.

"We spoke before the game about defending well, to aim for the clean sheet, which we got, which is good, because we haven't had one for a while.

"That is one positive aspect. It does stop the run of defeats which is another positive aspect and it's another point towards the totals we are trying to achieve.

"But there are not many questions to ask on that game are there!?"

Clarke admitted he had made a mistake with his 4-4-2 formation in the opening 45 minutes.

He said: "Maybe it was my fault in the first half because we went 4-4-2 and it didn't quite click.

"But when we moved back to our normal system second half (4-2-3-1) we looked a little more lively."