Super sub striker Pablo Couñago came off the bench to score twice as the Blues got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at West Ham. Jermain Defoe had put the Hammers ahead before the Spaniard netted a penalty and then flicked home a Reuser shot.

Richard Naylor and Tommy Miller were called into the Town line-up with Georges Santos and Ian Westlake dropping to the bench. Couñago, recently recovered from a hamstring injury, remained amongst the subs.

The first goalmouth action of the game saw Jermain Defoe fall to ground under the attentions of John McGreal in the penalty area. Referee Barry Knight, a man not too shy to award a spotkick, saw no foul.

For Town Shefki Kuqi struck a shot which David James saved. Soon after the dangerous looking Defoe twice hit efforts wide of Kelvin Davis' posts, the second very close to opening the scoring.

Kuqi and Tomas Repka spent much of the afternoon clashing and in the 20th minute the Czech appeared to fell the Finn inside the area, however once again referee Knight saw no infringement.

The former Sheffield Wednesday man was again sent to ground by a West Ham player in the 24th minute. Keeper David James rushed out for a high ball towards the edge of his box,but in windy conditions made a misjudgement, Kuqi heading the ball backwards towards the West Ham goal. Ian Pearce cleared up behind James, who followed through very late on the Town striker.

A number of Blues surrounded the referee, unhappy with the challenge on their teammate. After treatment Kuqi was able to carry on.

Just after the half hour David Connolly turned Marlon Harewood's right-wing cross wide of Kelvin Davis' goal before a Kevin Horlock‘s shot was claimed by the Town keeper.

On 37 Defoe had the ball in the net, heading past Davis, however the referee had already blown up for a foul by Marlon Harewood.

At the other end Chris Bart-Williams had a 20-yard shot saved by James, both keepers doing well to consistently hold on to the ball in slippery and windy conditions.

Just before the break Jermaine Wright had a shot from the edge of the area blocked and Michael Carrick had a strike gathered comfortably by Davis.

No changes at half-time after a 45 minutes where the Blues had enjoyed the majority of the possession but where the home side had probably had the best of the chances.

And it was the Hammer who would go ahead in the 48th minute. David James threw the ball down the right flank, Marlon Harewood went past Matt Richards and crossed low for Defoe, who swept the ball past Kelvin Davis.

It was a goal typical of West Ham's best moments in the game, the Hammers under Alan Pardew very much like Reading before them, basing their game on a deep defence and fast counter-attack.

Despite the goal the Blues were still having the better of the match, although chances were a rarity. In order to remedy this Pablo Couñago was brought on for Tommy Miller in the 58th minute.

The Spaniard was quickly into the action and within five minutes Repka was in the book for a wild challenge on the former Celta Vigo man.

There was danger for Town in the 66th minute when Chris Bart-Williams uncharacteristically lost possession not far outside the Blues' area. Fortunately Michael Carrick blazed his shot over the bar. Joe Royle replaced Darren Bent with Martijn Reuser.

A minute later a mix-up between Kelvin Davis and Matt Richards almost gave the ball to Defoe and Harewood, but the Town stopper was out quickly to boot clear.

In the 68th minute Town went ahead from their eleventh penalty of the season. Sub Couñago exchanged a one-two with Jim Magilton but was brought down by Horlock inside the area.

This time Knight had little choice but to award the kick and there seemed few complaints from the home side. The Spaniard put his spotkick to David James' left and into the corner of the net.

On 70 Shefki Kuqi's shot was saved by David James, before Matt Richards clashed with Don Hutchison. The young full-back had remonstrated with Hutchison for a very blatant dive inside the box a minute or so earlier. Hutchison pushed the 18-year-old in the chest twice and the referee spoke to the pair, both but showed no cards.

The Blues made their final substitution of the game in the 72nd minute, John McGreal going off with what appeared to be a back injury and Georges Santos taking over at the centre of the defence.

Michael Carrick found his way into the book in the 76th minute for a dive just outside the Town area.

A minute later the Blues were ahead. Matt Richards played the ball down the left to Martijn Reuser. The Dutchman cut in and struck a low shot which Couñago flicked into the corner of David James' net with his heel.

Within two minutes Kelvin Davis had made a fine save from Carrick at his near post after Defoe had crossed low from the right.

Martijn Reuser picked up his first booking of the season as the game entered the last ten minutes, for a foul on Hutchison. Davis did well to turn Hutchison's freekick round the post.

With five minutes remaining Michael Carrick should have done better with a header when around four yards out, his headed effort bouncing over the bar.

A fine win from the Blues who had the majority of the play against a West Ham side who appeared a long way from promotion challengers. The quality of Defoe and, more fleetingly, Harewood showed, but the home side were out-passed for long periods by a Town team vastly improved from last week's home loss.

An important three points and a performance which was probably the best since the away win at Cardiff City.

Another three points at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday will mean a more than reasonable points haul from the Christmas period.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, McGreal (Santos 72), Bart-Williams, Magilton, Wright, Miller (Couñago 58), Kuqi, Bent (Reuser 66).

Photo: Action Images

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