The Hindu : Sport / Football : Collison nets West Ham’s winner

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Collison nets West Ham’s winner

— Photo: Bryn Lennon / Getty Images

CRUCIAL STRIKE: Jack Collison (right) exults with David Di Michele (left) and Carlton Cole after scoring the only goal of the game as West Ham United beat Manchester City.

LONDON: Jack Collison scored the only goal of the game as West Ham United beat visitor Manchester City at Upton Park in the Premier League on Sunday to edge closer to a possible UEFA Cup spot.

The Wales midfielder struck his third goal of the season in the 71st minute to continue the Hammers’ resurgence under boss Gianfranco Zola.

The result moved West Ham up to seventh in the league table on 36 points, while City remains in 10th spot, four points behind the Hammers.

Hull’s poor run

Meanwhile, Hull’s desperate plunge down the league table continued as visitor Blackburn hauled itself out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at the KC Stadium.

Hull has now gone 11 league games without a win and is just three points above the drop zone, while Blackburn moved one place out of the relegation spots on goal difference.

Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock scored the opener in the 34th minute and Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews doubled the damage three minutes later thanks to a Warnock pass.

Hull’s midfielder Dean Marney was given a straight red card in the 63rd minute and Blackburn’s Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen was dismissed for a second bookable offence seven minutes later.

Hull midfielder Ian Ashbee pulled one back for the host in the 79th but it could not capitalise on it to snatch a draw.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Liverpool’s lingering title hopes virtually disappeared on Saturday when it lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough where the home side secured a first league win in 15 matches.

Coming three days after its victory at Real Madrid in the Champions League, the defeat leaves Liverpool seven points behind leader Manchester United, which has a game in hand.

Chelsea climbed above Liverpool into second place on goal difference after an injury-time winner by Frank Lampard gave it a 2-1 home victory over Wigan Athletic.

Arsenal’s struggles continued as it was held at home by Fulham for its fourth successive goalless Premier League draw.

The results: Hull 1 (Ashbee 79) lost to Blackburn 2 (Warnock 34, Andrews 37); West Ham 1 (Collison 71) bt Manchester City 0; Bolton 1 (Gardner 47) bt Newcastle 0.

On Saturday: Arsenal 0 drew with Fulham 0; Chelsea 2 (John Terry 25, Frank Lampard 90+1) bt Wigan Athletic 1 (Olivier Kapo 82); Middlesbrough 2 (Xabi Alonso 32-og, Tuncay Sanli 63) bt Liverpool 0. — Agencies

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