West Ham 1 Sheff Utd 0

The new era at West Ham started off well with a nervy win against a gutsy Sheffield Utd side. The West Ham players started the game as if they were keen to impress the new owner but showed more enthusiasm than real class. The best of the early efforts fell to Bowyer, after Zamora dribbled into the box from the right wing to find the midfielder unmarked six yards out. Bowyer's shot was deflected wide. However from the resulting corner Mullins arrived unmarked to head in his second goal of the season from three yards out.

In the second half The Blades will feel they created enough chances to earn the equaliser. Christian Nade had a good chance when he shrugged off Gabbidon on the edge of the box, only to see Gabbidon recover and get his foot in just as the forward was about to shoot. Three minutes later Nade had an even better chance when Gillepie picked him out with a perfect cross, but the unmarked Wade shot wide from only seven yards out.

The Blades peppered West Ham's box at the death and were unlucky when Robert Kozluk rose to beat Green to a cross only to see his goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.

That however was the end of West Ham's good fortune as Mullins, who was injured half way through the second-half, was found to have torn a hamstring and could be out for nearly six weeks. And Tevez, who looked up upset at being substituted, immediately left the ground, much to the annoyance of Alan Pardew.