West Brom 0-3 West Ham: Hammers stay on course for European qualification

Mark Noble scored twice as West Ham continued their push for European football next season with a comfortable 3-0 Premier League win at West Brom on Saturday.

West Brom started the brighter of the two sides but they were made to pay for missed chances when Cheikhou Kouyate headed Dimitri Payet's inch-perfect cross past Ben Foster in the 34th minute.

The visitors doubled their advantage in injury time of the first half as Kouyate's pass found Noble in the penalty area and the Hammers skipper showed good composure to find the far corner with his right-footed shot.

After the break, West Ham extended their advantage and it was Noble again, volleying Andy Carroll's cross into the roof of the net to score his fourth goal in two games.

Victory moves Slaven Bilic's side, who are unbeaten in 10 matches the league, above Manchester United into fifth, but Louis van Gaal's side will reclaim fifth spot if they avoid defeat against title-chasing Leicester on Super Sunday.

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West Brom handed a first Premier League start to Jonathan Leko, who became the first player born in 1999 to start a top-flight game.

The 17-year-old made an early impact, bursting past Aaron Cresswell before pulling the ball back for Craig Gardner, whose first-time effort was blocked by Winston Reid. The midfielder latched onto the rebound but was denied again, this time by a smart save from Adrian.

West Brom had the better of the opening exchanges and in the 14th minute they created another opening for Gardner, who curled a shot towards the far corner. The ball looked destined for the back of the net until Michail Antonio intervened to deflect the ball wide.

Leko was again in involved in the 23rd minute, leaving Cresswell behind again before firing a dangerous, low cross in the penalty area, forcing Adrian into a block at his near post. The ball fell to Gardner but this time he failed to hit the target, heading wide at the back post.

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And Tony Pulis' side were made to pay for their missed chances in the 34th minute as the ball broke to Payet on the right flank after Reid's tackle, and the France international picked out the perfect cross to find Kouyate, who headed the ball back across goal and into the bottom corner.

Their lead was extended in added time and Kouyate was involved again, racing into the area to tee up Noble, who survived a poor first touch to stab the ball into the corner.

Pulis attempted to turn things around with Saido Berahino and Sandro replacing James McClean and Claudio Yacob, but the hosts continued to miss chances.

Salomon Rondon's weak header was easily gathered by Adrian, before Berahino missed a glorious chance on 64 minutes after being teed up by his strike partner.

Berahino had been on the pitch for less than 90 seconds when Rondon cushioned a cross into his path, but he could only drag his effort wide from 15 yards.

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Fellow substitute Sandro shot wide but West Ham wrapped up the victory with 11 minutes remaining when Noble scored his second.

Payet ran at the heart of the West Brom defence before releasing Carroll to cross for Noble, who adjusted his body to smash a 10-yard volley into the roof of the net to ensure West Ham continue their charge towards European qualification next season.

Soccer Saturday verdict - Phil Thompson

I think 3-0 was maybe a bit harsh on West Brom. In the first 25 minutes it was all West Brom and West Ham couldn't get into the game. Young Jonathan Leko - remember his name - was giving Aaron Cresswell an absolute nightmare. But in the end it was a very, very good win.

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Player ratings

West Brom: Foster (6), Olsson (6), Yacob (6), Evans (6), Gardner (7), McClean (6), McAuley (6), Fletcher (6), Dawson (6), Rondon (6), Leko (7).

Subs: Berahino (6), Sessegnon (6), Sandro (6).

West Ham: Adrian (7), Antonio (7), Reid (7), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (7), Kouyate (8), Noble (9), Sakho (7), Lanzini (7), Payet (7), Carroll (7).

Subs: Moses (6), Emenike (6), Oxford (6).

Man of the Match: Mark Noble

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