They have paid the price for signing expensive players on extravagant wages, have been affected by the collapse of a beneficiary company and cannot breathe easily from fear of relegation this season. But enough of Barnsley, for whom the nightmare from living the dream even before the demise of ITV Digital is well documented. They have a bright future under Simon Davey. West Ham United, perhaps, may have only just entered the tunnel.

Things will be clearer at the end of the transfer window, but West Ham fans have had their nerves jangled more by their club in recent weeks than by their lower-league opponents on Saturday. Considerable bids have been turned down for at least two players, so perhaps it was little wonder that Gianfranco Zola, the manager, returned to Sardinia for a two-day break immediately after the final whistle. Any fears that the Italian held of an upset were extinguished when Herita Ilunga squeezed a shot in and Mark Noble theatrically won and then converted a penalty.

West Ham relaxed and Carlton Cole, all legs and effort, glided in his seventh goal this season, a tally that would be higher if he was more sure-footed in front of goal and could better anticipate in the penalty area. On separate occasions, he was caught on his heels as the ball was pulled back by Julien Faubert and Craig Bellamy, who was not shy of expressing his feelings to his team-mate. “Bellamy gives me constructive criticism — just in a loud way,” Cole admitted.

Zola has said that Cole and Robert Green merit places in the England squad but it is understandable, on this evidence, why the goalkeeper has been overlooked. An excellent shot-stopper, he fails to come out with conviction for crosses, once dropping the ball in the first half.

Diego Leon, a clever playmaker who hit the crossbar, epitomised Barnsley’s smooth style, but they could not repeat the shocks delivered to Chelsea and Liverpool last season.

West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 6 — J Faubert 7, J Collins 7, J Tomkins 7, H Ilunga 7 — J Collison 7 (sub: K Dyer, 70min 6), M Noble 7, H Mullins 6, L Boa Morte 5 (sub: M Etherington, 66 6) — C Bellamy 8, C Cole 7 (sub: D Tristán, 75). Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, J Spector, L Bowyer, D Di Michele. Booked: Mullins, Faubert.

Barnsley (4-1-2-1-2): H Müller 6 — M van Homoet 6, S Foster 6, D Souza 7, M El Haimour 7 — H Colace 7 — B Hassell 6, J Campbell-Ryce 6 — D León 8 (sub: J Butterfield, 89) — M Rigters 76 (sub: J Adam, 86), K Odejayi 6 (sub: M Coulson, 86). Substitutes not used: L Steele, M Mostto, L Potter, S Heslop. Booked: Odejayi, El Haimour, Colace.

Referee: M Oliver Attendance: 28,869

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