It seems that last season's problems are coming back to haunt West Ham - they just cannot win at home.

Commitment - substitute striker Neil Mellor leaps clear of Preston's Tyrone Mears Picture: NICK ANSELL

The visitors largely dominated the opening 20 minutes, despite a couple of menacing runs from David Connolly, which were dealt with effectively by rookie defender Tyrone Mears.

Highly-rated striker Ricardo Fuller had two great chances to open the scoring, first mis-kicking in front of an open goal from four yards, then taking a touch too many in a one-on-one with David James amid howls for the offside flag.

But the unsteady start was quickly forgotten on 20 minutes when a classic breakaway saw Connolly put the home side in front.

David James' quick throw found Etherington wide on the left and he ran from halfway before releasing the striker into the box.

For the first time Connolly was able to edge his way goalside of Mears and stab the ball beyond the oncoming Jon Gould - and immediately Preston heads seemed to drop.

But another goal against the run of play was to change everything as Preston drew level on 64 minutes.

Marlon Harewood needlessly conceded a free kick close to halfway, and compounded his offence by getting a booking for dissent.

With the set piece moved forward ten yards, Graham Alexander swung a deep cross to the far post where Chris Lucketti rose unmarked to head across goal for the waiting Fuller to nod home.

Three minutes later a similar free-kick saw James forced to make a point-blank block from Fuller, but the subsequent corner brought the decisive goal.

Again Alexander was the architect with an intelligently-placed corner, which David Healy met first time on the right hand corner of the box.

His low shot came at James through a crowd of players, but seemed to squirm through the England keeper's grasp and into the net.

Published Monday January 12, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo