Hammers march on

Kevin Nolan
4 March 2012

Kevin Nolan reminded West Ham fans just how valuable he is to their promotion push with the opening goal of a scrappy 2-0 win over Cardiff in south Wales.

Nolan, who returned from a three-match ban at the Cardiff City Stadium, coolly slotted past David Marshall in the Cardiff goal two minutes before half-time to hand the visiting Hammers an advantage they never surrendered.

The Bluebirds were finished off in the 77th minute with George McCartney beating Marshall from a tight angle.

For all Cardiff's early possession, West Ham should have taken the lead midway through the first half. Henri Lansbury crossed from the right, Jack Collison nodded the ball across goal and Nicky Maynard lashed over.

Aron Gunnarsson's 25-yard drive skidded past the left-hand post before the visitors sneaked into the lead on the stroke of half-time. Cardiff dallied on the edge of their own area and Maynard capitalised to feed Nolan, who opened his body up beautifully to curl a sidefooted effort around Marshall.

West Ham could have made it two after 52 minutes when Nolan won possession in midfield and fed Maynard, but after hesitating in the box he poked the ball narrowly wide.

Cardiff were rocking, but out of nowhere they almost got themselves back on level terms. Gunnarsson's long throw picked out Mark Hudson, but the City skipper could only head over the bar.

The Bluebirds went even closer five minutes later as Peter Whittingham curled a delightful free-kick onto the left-hand post with Robert Green beaten.

However, with 13 minutes left, the Hammers put themselves out of sight. McCartney broke down the left and when his cross was not properly cleared by the Cardiff defence, he fired the rebound beyond Marshall from an acute angle.

Kenny Miller struck the bar from a close-range header in stoppage time, but the game was gone for the home side.

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