WEST HAM 1 Noble (pen, 76) HULL CITY 0

MARK NOBLE’S penalty left luckless Hull bottom of the table as West Ham stole the points.

For the second time in three days, Noble stepped up to the spot to secure an unconvincing, but very welcome, victory for the Hammers.

But Hull will wonder how they left the London Stadium emptyhanded. They have now not scored away from home for eight-and-ahalf hours, but will not come much closer after being denied by the woodwork three times and seeing an effort cleared off the line.

West Ham, in contrast, were abject, but nevertheless picked up a fifth win of the season, all of which have been by the same scoreline.

Hull created a host of presentable chances, the first of which was all West Ham’s doing.

Aaron Cresswell’s woefully underhit backpass played Dieumerci Mbokani in one-on-one with Hammers keeper Darren Randolph, but his effort clipped the inside of a post and rolled across goal to safety.

Moments later Randolph did well to palm Harry Maguire’s powerful header wide, before Sam Clucas fired too high and Mbokani volleyed over.

The hosts trooped off at half-time to boos from some home fans and no doubt met with an angry boss in Slaven Bilic, who hauled off the ineffective Manuel Lanzini and Pedro Obiang at the break.

Andre Ayew and Edimilson Fernandes were the ones sent on to sort out the mess, but things threatened to get even worse with Noble heading Andrew Robertson’s cross against his own post.

Robertson then took aim from just inside the area only to see his angled drive crash back off the opposite post.

But in the 76th minute Hull were left crestfallen after Michail Antonio went down in the area under close attention from Tom Huddlestone, and referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot.

Noble had missed his spot-kick against Burnley on Wednesday, only to tuck in the rebound, but he made no mistake this time.