Cole double sinks Fulham

Carlton Cole scored his first ever Premier League double as West Ham eased the pressure on boss Avram Grant with a crucial 3-1 win at Fulham on Sunday.

Grant has been edging closer to the sack in recent weeks as West Ham struggled to climb off the bottom of the Premier League, but the former Chelsea manager earned a stay of execution thanks to Cole’s heroics.

The England striker, recalled as one of Grant’s five changes for the crunch clash, cancelled out an early goal from Fulham defender Aaron Hughes and then struck again with the decisive third goal after Frederic Piquionne put the Hammers in front.

Cole’s double, which sealed the Hammers’ first win in four league games - and their first away success in 27 attempts, moved Grant’s team off the bottom of the table and level on points with fourth bottom Fulham.

With West Ham’s co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold in attendance at Craven Cottage, defeat could have spelled the end for Grant.

Instead it is Fulham boss Mark Hughes who will start to feel the heat as his struggling side’s under-whelming run continues.

Grant took a gamble by handing Freddie Sears his first Premier League start since March 2009 after recalling the young striker from a loan spell at Championship club Scunthorpe but was amply rewarded as he picked up man of the match honours.

LONDON, Dec 26, 2010