Grzegorz Rasiak's double sealed Derby's first win at Upton Park since 1976 -
and left Alan Pardew wondering if he will still be in charge for West Ham's FA
Cup match with Sheffield United next weekend.
Rasiak's goals - either side of Carl Fletcher's equaliser - took Derby level
with the Hammers on 45 points and arrived as a result of terrible defending from
the home side.
Proof that Pardew's luck was out came when referee Lee Mason bizarrely chose
not to send off Lee Camp in first-half stoppage time after the Derby goalkeeper
had body-checked Marlon Harewood when clean through.
Pardew had said this was a "must-win" game - but his team made the worst
start possible.
In the 10th minute, Richard Jackson's left-wing cross found Rasiak and the
Pole - totally unmarked - headed past James Walker from six yards.
The home side were stunned - but should have equalised in the 24th minute.
Harewood released Chris Powell down the left, only for Sergei Rebrov to head
the former England player's cross just over the crossbar from seven yards.
The Ukrainian was a relieved man when West Ham did draw level two minutes
later.
Nigel Reo-Coker's right-wing cross was headed partially clear by Jeff Kenna,
but Fletcher took advantage of Inigo Idiakez's hesitancy to win possession and
drill home a low, left-foot shot from 18 yards for his first West Ham goal.
In the 42nd minute, Camp should surely have been sent off. He up-ended
Harewood, who was racing onto Mark Noble's excellent through-ball, but referee
Mason only booked Camp - and Fletcher drove the free-kick into the wall.
West Ham were far more purposeful at the start of the second half, and nearly
took the lead twice.
First Fletcher saw his looping header nodded off the line by Kenna, and in the
48th minute Harewood somehow stabbed over the bar from three yards.
But Derby were also creating chances. In the 57th minute Morten Bisgaard
curled just wide after taking advantage of Noble's misplaced pass.
Rasiak scored his second in the 63rd minute, profiting again from some
dreadful West Ham defending.
Tom Huddlestone nodded Idiakez's left-wing cross to the unmarked Rasiak, and
the tall striker was allowed to turn and volley beyond Walker.
Substitute Teddy Sheringham was denied in the 78th minute by a superb tackle
from Pablo Mills, and Camp made a terrific save to keep out Luke Chadwick's
follow-up effort.
Deep into injury time, Ian Taylor cleared Hayden Mullins' goal-bound shot as
the pressure piled up for Pardew.
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