Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREMIER LEAGUE
MOTM FORGOTTEN striker Lucas Perez gave West Ham back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in nearly two years.
Neil Warnock’s Cardiff side were send packing as the former Arsenal marksman climbed off the bench to score twice in five minutes after the interval.
The goals were Perez’s first in the top flight since he netted at Bournemouth for the Gunners in January 2017 – a gap of 700 days. Coincidentally, that month was the last time West Ham won two in a row, beating Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.
The move from boss Manuel Pellegrini to snap up Perez from the Emirates stiffs may just have been an inspired one.
Andy Carroll made a second-half substitute appearance, his first for three months, but the world and his wife knows the Hammers sadly cannot rely on his fitness.
What they can bank on is confidence being sky high after this victory on the back of Saturday’s 3-0 thumping of Newcastle.
Injuries, inconsistency and politics have all served, in one way or another, to pull the rug from under the Hammers every time they have appeared to be turning a corner.
And there was more frustration during the first half with the home fans concerned at West Ham’s inability to raise their game against a side they were expected to beat.
Cardiff, fresh from pulling off a huge upset against Wolves last weekend, were stubborn opponents.
Keeper Neil Etheridge saved well in the 20th minute when Angelo Ogbonna powered in a header from a corner. Sean Morrison did well to block an effort from Marko Arnautovic and soon it was Cardiff ’s turn to threaten.
Lukasz Fabianski did well to parry a stinging drive from Victor Camarasa before Arnautovic bundled into the back of Junior Hoilett. Penalty.
Joe Ralls will have nightmares about blowing the chance to give the Bluebirds the lead in the 36th minute. His spot-kick was so weak that Fabianski was able to hold it.
Still, Cardiff were causing a few palpitations and when Arnautovic went off a minute later with a hamstring injury, the game was very much in the balance.
Enter Perez. Four minutes into the second half, Robert Snodgrass released him and the 30-year-old Spaniard made no mistake.
Cardiff were soon reeling again. Mark Noble started off a move down the left which ended with Arthur Masuaku finding Perez in the box. Same result. Etheridge beaten – this time by a diagonal strike.
On 61 minutes, Michael Antonio made it 3-0, guiding in a header from a Snodgrass corner.
Substitute Josh Murphy nodded a consolation goal deep into added time and it is way too soon to be writing off Warnock’s men.
Pellegrini’s in-form West Ham side, however, are just getting started.