Winning Zola's Hammers Italian Job

GIANFRANCO Zola's reign as West Ham manager fell to a perfect start as his Italian colleague David Di Michele hit a brace to help see off the crisis club Newcastle 3-1 at Upton Park. The former Chelsea midfielder officially took office on Monday - and the Hammers responded to record a third successive home win.

Di Michele, on a season loan from Torino, set on their way with a deflected effort after just eight minutes and then added another before half time. Matthew Etherington made 3-0 before England striker Michael Owen saved a consolation for the visitors, who are in desperate need of direction and without a manager under an owner who seek to leave as quickly as possible.

The victory was West Ham at 4 in the table behind Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool new leaders - even though the Reds could only manage a 0-0 draw against lowly Stoke at Anfield. Liverpool dominated throughout, there were about 70 per cent of possession but could not find a way past goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and his outstanding defenders.

There was a welcome victory for the new Blackburn boss Paul Ince, although his team needed a late winner against Fulham in the form of at Ewood Park. Local hero Matt Derbyshire rounded off a movement in South America oozing with talent to finally give Ince his first Premier League home win as Blackburn boss.

Derbyshire, for the final quarter hour with Ince desperate to break the deadlock, after Roque Santa Cruz pounced flicker across a superb ball from debutant Chilean Carlos Villanueva in his way. Derbyshire timely strike that ended 84 minutes of agony for Ince, whose side had worked hard to little effect and looks set to end a strangely sunny Saturday afternoon still firmly entrenched in the drop zone.

And the Sunderland boss Roy Keane Michael Chopra urged to learn from the mistakes he did as a player, despite seeing him fire the Black Cats to a 2-0 victory over local rivals Middlesbrough. The 24-year-old returned from suspension and a spell at the Sporting Chance Clinic to claim a double and the end to announce its readiness to combat the summer signings Djibril Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf for a place in the starting line - up.

Chopra, a 45th minute replacement for the injured Teemu Tainio, struck after 81 minutes, and then again in injury time to win a game that may already have been lost Stewart Downing had converted a 75th minute penalty. Keane was delighted but not surprised, by the contribution of £ 5million man, but offering advice born out of their own problems in the past.

He said: "I've been there before. I had a lifestyle that is very questionable, and hopefully can learn from my mistakes, otherwise, that the departure of problems."