Wanderers 1, West Ham 0: Website report by Gordon Sharrock

14:47: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2002.

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

Wanderers V WEST HAM UNITED

NEW signing Stig Tofting was handed his debut in English football as Wanderers went in search of their first Premiership win in 13 games against Glenn Roeders' injury and suspension-hit Hammers.

The Denmark international joined the Reebok ranks on Thursday when he moved from German club SV Hamburg in a £250,000 deal and went straight in

for the first of six games Sam Allardyce believes will be crucial to his team's survival prospects.

Positive fitness reports on Bruno N'Gotty, Mike Whitlow and Simon Charlton meant Wanderers were able to field a strong back four with Paul Warhurst - so influential this season - returning after a six-match absence through suspension and injury to partner Tofting in midfield.

Fredi Bobic, who missed the FA Cup defeat at Spurs on Tuesday with a calf injury, was back to partner Michael Ricketts in attack.

West Ham, already without suspended duo Paolo di Canio and Tomas Repka and the injured Michael Carrick, were further weakened when Trevor Sinclair was ruled out with a virus. But Fredi Kanoute was back after missing the FA Cup defeat by Chelsea with a hamstring injury, to play alongside top scorer Jermain Defoe.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Nolan, Tofting, Warhurst, Gardner; Bobic, Ricketts. Subs: Hansen, Holdsworth, Southall, Wallace, Poole.

West Ham: James; Schemmel, Dailly, Foxe, Minto; Garcia, Lomas, Cole, Labant; Kanoute, Defoe. Subs: Andersson, Pots, Kitson, Courtois, McCann.

Referee: David Pugh (Wirral).

15:55: WANDERERS 1, WEST HAM UTD 0

Half-time

Ricardo Gardner, who claimed his first goal of the season in the 3-2 defeat at Newcastle, was on target for the second successive Saturday as Wanderers drew first blood in an untidy first half at the Reebok.

The jinking Jamaican drilled home a low left footer from the edge of the box on 38 minutes after seeing top scorer Michael Ricketts squander a glorious opportunity 16 minutes earlier.

The goal came from one of new signing Stig Tofting's trademark long throws - Fredi Bobic getting up to head the ball on for Mike Whitlow to make the decisive lay-off.

Ricketts looked odds on to score when Tofting's lobbed pass beat the Hammers' offside trap and left him with only David James to beat. But he shot too early and gave the England keeper an easy save.

West Ham's only serioius threat came on 12 minutes when Tofting and Bruno N'Gotty got themselves in a mess, allowing Jermain Defoe a clear sight of goal but Jussi Jaaskelainen made a fine save.

Wanderers suffered a blow in first half overtime when Paul Warhurst - back after a six-match lay-off - had to be substituted by Nicky Southall.

16:59: WANDERERS 1, WEST HAM UTD 0

WANDERERS did their survival hopes a power of good when they ended a run of 12 Premiership games without a defeat and claimed their first league win at the Reebok since August 27.

Ricardo Gardner's 38th minute goal settled it but they had to be solid at the back as West Ham claimed the lion's share of possession in a nailbiting second half.

In the end they secured the clean sheet Sam Allardyce has been desperately seeking thanks to a flying save by Jussi Jaaskelainen to keep out Paul Kitson's close range header in the closing minutes.

The match was a personal triumph for new signing Stig Tofting, who impressed on his debut and claimed an "assist" for the winning goal with one of his trademark long throws.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Nolan, Tofting, Warhurst, Gardner; Bobic, Ricketts. Subs: Southall for Warhurst 45 mins, Holdsworth for Ricketts 83 mins. Not used: Hansen, Wallace, Poole.

West Ham: James; Schemmel, Dailly, Foxe, Minto; Garcia, Lomas, Cole, Labant; Kanoute, Defoe. Subs: Kitson for Garcia 77 mins. Not used: Andersson, Pots, Courtois, McCann.

Referee: David Pugh (Wirral).

Attendance: 24,342.