West Ham registered their first win in five league games with a hard fought victory against relegated Derby County at Upton Park.

Bobby Zamora put the Hammers in an early lead midway through the first half but Derby fought back well to equalize through Tyrone Mears five minutes past the hour mark. But Carlton Cole restored the lead 13 minutes before full time and West Ham hung on to claim all three points from the match.

A scrappy start to the game almost saw Robert Green allow the ball sneak into his net before hoofing it clear. The hosts took time to settle down and scored from their first real chance of the match. A foul outside the area saw George McCartney curl in the free kick and Zamora raced forward to head the ball home with Dean Leacock unable to reach the ball in time.

However Derby immediately hit back with Kenny Miller going very close to pulling his side back on level terms. Green pulled off a great save to deny Savage as West Ham hung on to their lead till the half time whistle.

The visitors stepped up the pressure in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts in the 65th minute when Mears raced forward to meet Hossam Ghaly's through ball before slotting it past a helpless Green.

With time running out, West Ham pressed forward in search of the lead and Carlton Cole scored the winner in the 77th minute volleying home Freddie Ljungberg's cross from six yards out to give his side their first win in five matches.