West Ham come from behind to down Portsmouth

Craig Bellamy scored two goals as West Ham came from behind to beat Portsmouth 4-1 here at Fratton Park and so record their first Premier League victory over the south coast side.

The win saw the Hammers move five points clear of the relegation zone but left Pompey, who've won just one of their last seven matches under Tony Adams, nervously looking over their shoulders.

Pompey took the lead and might have been 2-1 ahead at half-time had not former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe blazed wide from the penalty spot.

That was the cue for a Hammers second-half revival which saw Carlton Cole put the Londoners ahead before Wales forward Bellamy struck twice.

It had all started so promisingly for Pompey with Nadir Belhadj scoring in the eighth minute from 10 yards out after being played in by Peter Crouch.

But the home side have leaked goals since former Arsenal and England centre-half Adams replaced Redknapp and West Ham were level when Jack Collison shot past unsighted England goalkeeper David James in the 20th minute after a quick free-kick from Mark Noble was dummied by Bellamy.

It seemed as if Pompey would take the lead on the stroke of half-time when Crouch was brought down in the box by Australia defender Lucas Neill and referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot.

However, Defoe shot well-wide of Robert Green's left-hand post.

Pompey pressed for another goal in the early stages of the second-half but the England strike duo of Crouch and Defoe both struck shots which were too close to Green.

And they were made to pay when Bellamy's pace proved too much for the Pompey defence. He crossed for Collison, whose first-time shot hit the post. But Cole made no mistake with the rebound.

Pompey debutant Marc Wilson hit the post with the header and, less than 20 seconds later, the Hammers were 3-1 in front after Bellamy latched on to a clearance, sprinted clear from the half-way line and shot home at the second attempt after an initial block by James.

Bellamy set the seal on an impressive Boxing Day win for the Hammers when, umarked in the middle of the penalty area, he found the back of the net after a pull-back by substitute Luis Boa Morte.