Hammers off bottom after stunning comeback

West Ham moved off the bottom of the English Premier League Saturday after mounting a sensational second-half comeback to snatch a point against fellow strugglers West Bromwich.

The Hammers were three goals down at the break but rescued a 3-3 draw after two goals from Senegal's Demba Ba on his full debut and one from England striker Carlton Cole stunned the home team.

New West Brom manager Roy Hodgson was watching from the Hawthorns stands, and could only have been impressed by the sensational start made by his new charges.

French striker Marc-Antoine Fortune served warning of the home team's attacking intent with a shot after two minutes which was saved, but West Ham's relief was short lived.

Midfielder Graham Dorrans punished the Hammers just two minutes later, firing a vicious 25-yard shot past England 'keeper Rob Green into the corner of the goal.

Things went from bad to worse for under-pressure manager Avram Grant in the eighth minute when winger Jerome Thomas burst into the area and curled a finish past Green to make it 2-0.

Nigeria attacker Peter Odemwingie should have made it 3-0 on 18 minutes, but fluffed his lines when presented with a free header six yards from goal.

Shell-shocked Hammers were denied a route back into the game when Cole was incorrectly flagged for offside as he finished past home keeper Boaz Myhill.

Despite a period of consolidation, the away team were punished again shortly after the half-hour mark when Dorrans whipped in a dangerous free-kick which defender Winston Reid could only turn into his own goal.

The Hammers nearly gave themselves hope shortly before half-time, but Ba was denied by a superb full-length save by Wales stopper Myhill.

Former Portsmouth midfielder Gary O'Neil came even closer during first-half added time, striking the crossbar with a superb long-range attempt. The rebound fell to Cole, but his effort was deflected over the top for a corner.

Former Hoffenheim striker Ba threw the Hammers a lifeline five minutes into the second half, capitalising on Mark Noble's pinpoint pass to control and fire past Myhill.

The away team's hope turned into belief after an hour when Cole cut the deficit to one goal after heading in from close range after good work by substitute Frederic Piquionne.

West Brom hearts were in mouths moments later when goal creator Piquionne nearly turned scorer, but his header bounced agonisingly off the bar.

The Hammers' breathtaking comeback was finally completed seven minutes from full-time when Ba smashed the ball into the top-corner from inside the area.

There was still time for Odemwingie to send Hammers' hearts racing, but his curled effort was well saved by Green.