AT times he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry – but there’s no doubting Owen Coyle was pleased with the outcome as Wanderers continue to hold the Indian sign over West Ham.

In a topsy-turvy afternoon at Upton Park, the Whites boss went through the full range of emotions – from furious rage to delirious delight.

And it was from the latter end of the scale that he emerged from the tunnel in East London to sum up a seventh straight victory over the Hammers.

“We’re all crying out to get that first win on the board, but to come here and give the level of performance we did, there’s no doubt it’s a pleasing day,” he said.

“We started the game well and could have been in front in the first 15 minutes. We had a couple of great chances but never took them.

“West Ham got a grip of the game, we were on the back foot and had to defend for our lives and Jussi was outstanding in goal.

“It was important we got in level at half time, and obviously I had one or two things to say.

“But then the second half performance was right up there with the best of them, because to a man, everyone was outstanding.”

Having seen Jussi Jaaskelainen save a rather tame Carlton Cole penalty to send the team in goalless at the break, referee Andre Marriner then awarded two further spot kicks and turned down a handful of seemingly decent appeals from both sides in a frantic second 45 minutes.

Matt Upson’s own goal and a fine strike from Johan Elmander looked to have put Wanderers into the driving seat before Mark Noble pulled one back with a contentious penalty.

Thankfully, Elmander netted again to make sure the decision didn’t have a major impact on Coyle’s afternoon.

“I can understand why the first penalty was given,” he said. “There was contact.

“Then, we had got to 2-0 and had to deal with one of the worst penalty awards I have ever seen in football. I didn’t see Gary Cahill make any contact at all.

“Ten minutes before that we had the biggest penalty appeal in the game when Chung-Yong Lee got brought down, and didn’t get it. We had to be resolute and we stood up, and better than that we went up the other end to score a terrific third goal.”

Johan Elmander’s brace – his first goals since March – were the tangible reward for last week’s star show against Fulham and proof, says Coyle, that the Sweden international is not the lost cause some had portrayed him to be in the past.

“As a striker, you are always going to miss chances,” the manager said. “I had a career of missing them, but I also got to score a few.

“You have to get yourself in there again, and I use the word all the time, but be brave.

“Sometimes you will miss them but you have to put yourself in the position to score.

“I’m delighted with him, he’s up and running, looking lively and a top, top player.”