Kiwi Reid helps 10-man Hammers take derby spoils

New Zealand defender Winston Reid bagged a controversial winner as 10-man West Ham extended their lead at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Millwall on Saturday.

Reid scored only his second goal for the Hammers midway through the second half just minutes after Millwall midfielder Liam Trotter had cancelled out Carlton Cole's opener.

There was a element of controversy about the winner as it appeared West Ham's Julien Faubert had fouled Millwall goalkeeper David Forde before Reid's strike.

Sam Allardyce's side played with 10 men for 81 minutes after midfielder Kevin Nolan was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Jack Smith, but it was the hosts who claimed the London derby bragging rights.

The Hammers are now five points clear of second placed Southampton, who travel to Birmingham later on Saturday.

There was no repeat of the crowd trouble which marred the last meeting between these old foes at Upton Park, in the league Cup in August 2009, and West Ham took the lead in stoppage time with former England striker Cole's ninth goal of the season.

Mark Noble floated in a free-kick, Reid's back-header looped high into the air and Cole rose above Darren Ward to nod past Forde.

Struggling Millwall equalised in the 65th minute when Abdoulaye Faye tried to let the ball roll out for a goal-kick and was robbed by Darius Henderson, who chipped it back for Trotter to lash home a fine volley from 15 yards.

But Millwall were level for just two minutes before Reid scored the winner.

Forde felt he was fouled by Faubert as he punched Joey O'Brien's up and under, but play continued and the defender blasted home from the edge of the area.

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