Hammers beat Ipswich for first away win

A resurgent West Ham United secured their third win in succession and their first away from home this season by beating Ipswich…

A resurgent West Ham United secured their third win in succession and their first away from home this season by beating Ipswich Town 3-2 today.

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder had come under intense pressure after his side lost 5-0 and 7-1 at Everton and Blackburn Rovers respectively in their previous away games.

But they seemed to be headed for a rare away win when French striker Frederic Kanoute put them 2-1 ahead after 72 minutes with a shot on the turn from six yards out that was deflected past goalkeeper Matteo Sereni by defender Hermann Hreidarsson.

England under-21 striker Jermain Defoe, on as a late substitute, then extended West Ham's lead in the 89th minute, before Ipswich captain Matt Holland reduced the arrears with a rasping 30-metre drive in the final seconds of injury time.

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Hreidarsson, the Iceland international, had earlier brought Ipswich level on 63 minutes when he sharply turned the rebound into an empty net after West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop only managed to palm away Mark Venus's outswinging free-kick.

The visitors had taken a 21st-minute lead through Italian Paolo Di Canio, who took a fine pass from midfielder Don Hutchison before beating Sereni.

West Ham's victory at Portman Road followed up home wins over Southampton and Chelsea, a run which has seen them rise from 19th to 11th in the table.

The success over Ipswich was their first away win since last season when they beat Bradford City 2-1 on February 24th.