West Ham Cruise Past Hull to Retain Their Status As the Best Club in the World

Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship (UWCC) saw another defence this past Wednesday as champions West Ham United took on Phil Brown's Hull City at Upton Park.

West Ham were on a good run of form going into this one, having gone six games unbeaten, while Hull's form had been patchy at best, picking up seven points from the last 18 available.

It was West Ham who continued their good form, however, as they ran out 2-0 winners, making it three games in a row that they have won by a two goal margin.

Hull were very disappointing throughout the match, and are starting to look unrecognisable from the side that had such an impressive first half to the season.

David Di Michele gave the Hammers an early lead after Hull's debutant keeper Matt Duke—who was one of few in Hull colours to shine—kept out Carlton Cole. The lively Cole also won a penalty for his side, West Ham's third spot-kick in as many games.

Matt Duke brilliantly denied Mark Noble's powerful strike from the spot, and continued his marvellous form for the rest of the first half.

Hull showed a brief sign of resurgence at the beginning of the second half, but any hopes of a fightback were extinguished soon after as David Di Michele's shot hit the post, the third time West Ham had hit the woodwork in the match, and fell into the path of Carlton Cole who had an easy tap in.

Of the 92 voters in the poll, 81.5 percent of them said that Hull wouldn't beat West Ham so well done to all of you!

West Ham's run

West Ham 3-1 Fulham (West Ham become new champions)

Hartlepool 0-2 West Ham

West Ham 2-0 Hull City

(Click here to see the complete history of Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship.)

West Ham's next title defence comes later today as they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Could Arsenal become the best side in the world?!

Apologies for the lateness of this article, I was struck with a rather nasty bout of food poisoning while on holiday.