2012

West Ham managed to retain their place at the top of the Coca Cola Championship with a battling 1 -1 draw against fellow promotion candidates Southampton at Upton Park recently.

The fact that Sam Allardyce’s men managed to gain this point after playing the majority of the game with 10 men makes their performance even more impressive.

West Ham are 1 point ahead of Southampton in the race for the Championship title, with Cardiff city only 4 points adrift after a 3 – 1 home win against Peterborough United.

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has said that the 2-1 victory over Millwall during the weekend was enough to prove the character within the West Ham United dressing room.

The local derby between the two clubs was expected to be a tight encounter and it turned out to be one. West Ham United took the lead in the first half through Carlton Cole.

Sam Allardyce has said that he is extremely disappointed with the way West Ham United lost the opportunity to go level on points with Southampton at the top of the Championship table.

West Ham United could only manage a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in the latest round of Championship fixtures, which also gave Southampton the opportunity to extend a small three point lead at the top of the table.

A narrow one goal win was enough for West Ham United to go level on points with leaders Southampton in the Championship. Even though West Ham United have played a game more than Southampton, this is a crucial advantage for Sam Allardyce’s men.

The 1-0 win against Barnsley will take them to 43 points from 22 matches, while Southampton also have the same points tally but from 21 matches. Papa Bouba Diop is usually known for his defensive abilities, but he turned out to be the unlikeliest of scorers for West Ham United.