West Ham win 2 straight for 1st time in over year

Published Mar. 5, 2011 1:54 p.m. ET

foxsports

West Ham climbed above the relegation zone when it beat Stoke 3-0 on Saturday for its first successive wins in the English Premier League in more than a year.

Stoke's Asmir Begovic and Marc Wilson tangled in attempting a clearance and gifted West Ham's Demba Ba the opening goal in the 21st minute.

The recalled Manuel da Costa made it 2-0 not long after when he was unmarked at the far post to header in a free kick from Thomas Hitzlsperger. Hitzlsperger smashed in a rebound of Frederic Piquionne's blocked shot to complete the victory.