Zamora boosts Hammers survival bid

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West Ham increased their chances of avoiding relegation from the English Premier League when they became the first away side to win at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium with Bobby Zamora's first-half stoppage time goal on Saturday.

The 1-0 win put bottom from one Hammers onto 29 points, now only two behind Sheffield United and Charlton, with Wigan a further two points better off.

Sheffield United and Wigan both went down at home on Saturday, while Charlton took a point at Manchester City on Friday.

Fulham, who crashed 4-1 at Middlesbrough, are only four points away from the relegation zone.

Zamora's magnificent 20-yard lob deep into first-half stoppage time maintained the Hammers' recent resurgence and dealt a damaging blow to Arsene Wenger's team's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

The Frenchman was left bemused at how his team failed to crush their London rivals.

The answer was Robert Green. The West Ham goalkeeper produced one of the season's best individual performances, pulling off a string of stunning saves to prevent his team succumbing to a potentially decisive defeat.

Arsenal could well bemoan their luck in facing an inspired Green, but this was an all-too-familiar story of careless, wasteful finishing and West Ham's doggedness was worthy of reward.

Steven Taylor's 80th minute goal for Newcastle, in a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane, leaves Sheffield United in serious trouble.

Obafemi Martins gave Newcastle a 17th minute lead but sub Christian Nade raised Sheffield's hopes of picking up something from the game when he equalized after 74 minutes.

Wigan had high hopes of upsetting neighbors Bolton when Emile Heskey gave them a 31st minute lead but Nicolas Anelka equalized a minute before halftime and midfielder Andranik Teymourian scored two superb second-half efforts to see Bolton home.

Sam Allardyce's side are back in fifth place five points clear of seventh-placed Tottenham.

Liverpool are five points ahead of Arsenal in third position after Dirk Kuyt's 86th minute goal gave them a 2-1 win at Reading.

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