Five months short of his 40th birthday, Teddy Sheringham scored his fourth Premiership goal of the season to earn West Ham a 1-0 win over struggling West Brom.
Restored to the side to address the Hammers recent problems in finding the net, Sheringham responded with a 57th-minute strike.
A Tomas Repka ball into the area was knocked back across goal by Christian Dailly and the former England striker was first to react, prodding the ball into the net from just outside the six-yard area.
It was a victory that the home side probably just about deserved although the result could have gone either way with better finishing.
West Brom had reason to be grateful to defender Curtis Davies, who cleared Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun's shot off the line in the first half.
At the other end, Diomansy Kamara wasted two good chances for the visitors in the opening period.
The Senegalese forward should have given his side the lead in the 10th minute but blasted into the side netting when a pass to Robert Earnshaw would have yielded a certain goal.
Kamara was again guilty of profligacy when he surged forward from halfway but blasted wide from 20 yards with Earnshaw once more in a better position.
Benayoun gave the West Brom defence numerous problems but he also squandered a glorious chance when a Marlon Harewood drive was only half-saved and Sheringham teed him up to shoot from ten yards.
Davies's dive into the path of the ball averted the danger.
West Ham had another chance seven minutes after the restart when Paul Konchesky's hopeful long ball sent Harewood racing clear. His shot however slipped wide of the left post.
Sheringham finally made the breakthrough and West Ham were able to hold on fairly comfortably for a win that keeps them firmly ensconced in the top half of the table.
