Irons defeat gritty Clarets

On a day of firsts at Upton Park, Adam Nowland grabbed his first goal for West Ham, as Burnley boss Steve Cotterill suffered his first defeat with The Clarets.

Nowland lashed home the only goal of the game through a crowded penalty area, as The Irons grabbed all three points, but were reduced to ten men in the final stages.

It was hard luck on Burnley who had stifled everything that West Ham had thrown at them, but failed to convert early chances.

Inevitably Clarets skipper Robbie Blake was at the heart of everything for Burnley, and he saw a wicked free kick curl just past an upright with Stephen Bywater a relieved spectator.

Blake then scuffed a good chance wide under pressure from the West Ham defence, as the hosts slowly began to string some passes together.

Burnley keeper Danny Coyne made a wonderful save to deny Matthew Etherington, but almost immediately afterwards, Nowland grabbed the winner.

The former Wimbledon man thundered a fine drive through a crowded box after Burnley's defence failed to clear - and it proved to be the winner.

Youngster Chris Cohen put a dent in West Ham's victory celebrations when he was dismissed in the closing stages for a nasty tackle on Tony Grant, just five minutes after coming on as a substitute.