There's no doubting this was a vital three points. As I've been saying for some time, I don't believe Blackpool are out of the relegation mix and the more clubs West Ham can drag into the mire the better their own prospects are.

In this match though, you wouldn't have thought the Hammers had too many worries. Two goals from the in-form Obinna and one from debutant Robbie Keane were enough to put West Ham in control as half-time approached. Blackpool's solitary strike on 42 minutes pinned the Irons back to 2 - 1 but Obinna scored with a cracker just 90 seconds later and it took the wind out of the home side's sails.

New boy report is very promising; Keane looked menacing up-front and it was interesting to see Scott Parker finding the Irish forward with a number of through balls, it was almost as if our best player was merely pointing out what had been missing for months. Gary O'Neill looked lively both wide and in midfield and Wayne Bridge looked solid in defence and a danger going forward.

As you'd expect at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool put West Ham under enormous pressure in the second-half to try and reduce the 3-1 deficit and Neal Eardley hit a post while ex-Hammer Marlon Harewood forced Robert Green to make an excellent save but with what might be considered to be a makeshift pairing of Reid and Tomkins at the back - Upson was injured and was replaced by Gabbidon who himself limped off after half-an-hour - the defence coped relatively well and the visitors were good value for the victory.

Nothing's for certain in this topsy-turvy season but Birmingham at home on Sunday and West Ham are looking confident. This is an opportunity that has to be taken.