Cardiff 0 - 2 West Ham: Jaded Cardiff suffer cup hangover

He coolly slotted past David Marshall in the Cardiff goal two minutes before half-time and handed the Hammers a lead they never lost. It was a rare moment of quality in a scrappy match that lacked the fervour and intensity of the home side’s previous outing in the Carling Cup final.

After a bright start, the after-effects of Wembley seemed to tell in Cardiff’s display.

They began the second half sluggishly and were fortunate not to find themselves three down inside an hour, with Marshall saving from Nicky Maynard and Mark Hudson denying Ricardo Vaz Te.

The Bluebirds briefly looked like staging a comeback but were finished off in the 77th minute with George McCartney beating Marshall from a tight angle.

The hosts started the game well and Kenny Miller went close with an effort after 13 minutes.

But, for all Cardiff’s possession it, it was West Ham who had the best chance of the half through Maynard.

The visitors finally took the lead on the stroke of half-timewhen Nolan opened his body up beautifully to curl a sidefooted effort around Marshall.

The Hammers had further chances to increase their lead and Cardiff were rocking before almost equalising through efforts from skipper Hudson and Whittingham.

However, with 13 minutes left, the Hammers sealed the win when McCartney fired a rebound beyond Marshall.