Forgotten man Perez a two goal Hammers hero

 (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The Hammers lifted themselves into 12th position after a totally controlled second half performance having stammered and stuttered their way through the first.

Two goals from Lucas Perez – on for the injured Marko Arnautovic – was his perfect answer to the social media moans and groans and when Michail Antonio added a third all memories of that awful first period were forgotten.

Josh Murphy bundled in a consolation for Cardiff with the last touch of the game to deny the Irons a clean sheet their performance had probably deserved.

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had saved Joe Ralls’ first-half penalty after Arnie had senselessly bundled his way into a challenge which was entirely unnecessary whilst earlier Ogbona saw a thumping header superbly saved from a Snodgrass corner.

Perez – scored his first goal in 700 days following some sloppy defending from Cardiff and a clever chip by Snodgrass, and added a second when played in by Arthur Masuaku.

West Ham were dominant in the first half without seriously troubling the visitors beyond the Ogbonna effort and Fabianski made two strong saves before half-time with defender Masuaku blocking another strike from close range early in the second half.

But in the end we had far too much for Neil Warnock’s men and continued to show the sort of pure football approach the manager is encouraging.

Bring on Palace!