West Ham earned their first home win of the season after an entertaining 4-3 win over ten man Portsmouth in the Championship this afternoon.
The Irons conceded an early goal after Luke Varney’s shot was deflected in but Matt Taylor’s free-kick immediately made it 1-1 between the sides at half time.
Henri Lansbury marked his debut for the club by firing them in front but David Norris headed the visitors level.
Liam Lawrence was sent off midway through the second half, for a second booking, and the Irons punished them with two goals in the last 20 minutes.
A penalty for handball allowed Mark Noble to restore the Hammers’ lead and Carlton Cole’s fourth goal in as many games ensured they ended their winless run at Upton Park.
Sub Frederic Piquionne was sent off in injury time and Greg Halford scored a late penalty but the Hammers would not be denied the three points.
Lansbury made his first appearance for West Ham after joining from Arsenal on a season long loan.
The Gunners midfielder was the only one of their deadline day signings given a start for the game at Upton Park. Lansbury replaced Jack Collison in the only change from their win at Nottingham Forest.
Striker Sam Baldock and Spurs midfielder David Bentley were lined up for their debuts after being named on the bench.
The Hammers were shocked by an early goal for the visitors after just eight minutes. Varney’s strike took a wicked deflection off Cole and gave Robert Green no chance.
But West Ham responded immediately and grabbed their ninth minute equaliser when Taylor fired his free kick, which also took a deflection, into the net to score against his former club.
The Irons were looking to take the lead and striker Cole forced visiting goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown to make a save from his long-range effort.
The game had settled down but neither side was making a big impression with the final ball missing. West Ham were arguably shading possession but had not done enough to deserve a lead.
West Ham had a scare six minutes before half time when a header from Jason Pearce forced Green to make a good save. It was another warning that Portsmouth offered a threat from set pieces.
Taylor’s ability from a dead ball situation was highlighted just before the break when another free kick flew narrowly past the upright.
The Hammers were again grateful to England keeper Green after he managed to block Erik Huseklepp’s low strike with his leg and prevent Portsmouth from regaining the lead.
Skipper Kevin Nolan was given a yellow card at the start of the second half for a late challenge on Varney.
The Irons took the lead for the first time after 53 minutes and it was yet another deflected effort. Noble’s cross was headed away but Lansbury was quickest to react and the England Under-21 midfielder’s half-volley cannoned off a defender and squirmed past the wrong footed Ashdown.
Pompey responded and Green was forced into another fine save when he palmed away Varney’s curling shot from the edge of the area.
But the visitors grabbed an equaliser after 60 minutes and it was a poor defensive goal for the Hammers to concede. Huseklepp sent in the cross which was headed back across the line by Norris before Winston Reid could stop the ball.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce acted immediately by introducing Bentley for his debut in place of Julien Faubert.
Portsmouth suffered a major setback midway through the half when Lawrence was sent off for a second booking. He was ordered off after a challenge on Bentley which left them battling to return from Upton Park with a result.
The dramatic second half took another twist in the 72nd minute when Jason Pearce was penalised in the area for a handball. Referee Roger East pointed to the spot and Noble kept his nerve to smash the penalty into the corner of the net.
West Ham put the game beyond ten man Pompey with a fourth goal in the 76th minute. Taylor sent in a cross and Cole arrowed a superb headed past Ashdown to seal an impressive second-half showing from the Hammers.
There was still time for Piquionne to be given a straight red card for pushing Halford in injury time.
Pompey had one last attack and Noble conceded a penalty for a challenge on Tal Ben Haim. Halford converted it but the final whistle signalled the end of an eventful game at Upton Park.
West Ham: Green; Reid, McCartney, Tomkins, O’Brien; Nolan, Lansbury, Taylor, Noble, Faubert (Bentley, 63); Cole (Piquionne, 84)
Portsmouth: Ashdown; Mokoena, Pearce, Halford, Ben Haim; Lawrence, Mullins, Varney, Norris; Huseklepp (Ward, 78), Benjani
Referee: Roger East
