West Brom 3-2 West Ham: Gianfranco Zola sees Hammers throw it away

They've probably started teaching Gianfranco Zola the words to I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. If he wondered why the song belongs so well to his new club then he knows now.

Just when it looked like Hammers could mark his arrival with a win, then at least a point, those Bubbles faded and died all over again.

This was cavalier capers.

You attack, we attack, and see who scores most.

It was too much even for Albion boss Tony Mowbray's love of flair. Three minutes into injury time, Luke Moore was still trying to score a fourth instead of taking the ball to the corner to sit on Chris Brunt's 83rd-minute winner.

"We've had that conversation in the dressing room already," said Mowbray. "I preach entertainment all week, but there's still a time and a place.

"The game could have easily finished 6-6, but it can't be like that every week."

Hammers clearly thought they should take their new boss's insistence he wanted football to be fun to the letter.

Zola, who will take over properly tomorrow morning, wore the bemused look of a man who couldn't quite fathom what he had just seen.

It was fast, flowing, exciting, in the West Ham tradition. But as so often down the years, it ended with no reward.

Caretaker boss Kevin Keen said: "Zola came in the dressing room and just told the lads they were unlucky and he'd see them on Monday.

"Was it too much fun? Well maybe there was a bit of me in that too because I was not the most defensive player.

"I just wish we'd been better organised after we went 2-1 in front because we let them back in so quickly."

A goal up after three minutes when James Morrison met Borja Valero's cross, West Brom set the tone as they threw caution to the wind in search of a second. Instead, they were pulled to pieces by the skill and passing of Mark Noble.

Despite losing Dean Ashton after 19 minutes with a cut ear, West Ham equalised when Scott Carson's attempt to save substitute David Di Michele's header broke into Noble's path.

Hammers went in front when Calum Davenport headed Noble's corner back for skipper Lucas Neill to fire in.

Three minutes later, Robert Green dropped Brunt's free kick, and got a definite touch on the ball in challenging Leon Barnett, only for referee Lee Probert to award a penalty that Roman Bednar smashed away.

The second half started in the same breathless way with Green saving from Bednar.

But it looked like settling down until Brunt held off Matthew Upson's challenge to give Albion their first win back in the Premier League.

Not even Zola could say they didn't deserve it.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Baggies have a terrible recent home record against West Ham - their last win over the Irons was 5-1 back in the 1984/85 season.

Stat Attack at THE HAWTHORNS. ATT: 26,213

How they rated

W BROM

Subs: Moore 5 (Valero), Kim 5 (Morrison), Cech 5 (Bednar)

W HAM

Subs: Di Michele 5 (Ashton), Faubert 5 (Behrami ), Etherington 5 (Boa Morte)

Possession

55% 45%

Story of the game

6 Shots on Target 8

6 Shots off Target 8

8 Corners 8

10 Fouls Conceded 19

2 Offsides 3

1 Yellow 1

0 Red 0

MAN OF THE MATCH 8

MARK NOBLE

If new boss Zola wants skill and touch, then the home-grown England Under-21 midfieldern is the boy to bring it. Some super touches and passing - and a goal

MANAGERS

8 TONY MOWBRAY

His team is so attacking, so exciting - but so exposed

KEVIN KEEN 6

The Hammers players worked hard for him in a madcap match

REFEREE

LEE PROBERT 6

Got the penalty decision wrong

Next four games

A VILLA (H)

M'BORO (A)

FULHAM (H)

MAN UTD (A)

NEWC'LE (H)

FULHAM (A)

BOLTON (H)

HULL (A)