The raucous cheer that greeted Pepe Mel’s first win at The Hawthorns told its own story.

West Bromwich Albion fans have been starved of much to celebrate at home but three points were earned with a gutsy performance to all but secure their status in next season’s Barclays Premier League.

For West Ham United supporters, the final whistle simply brought another chance to boo the man they appear to have lost any love for.

Sam Allardyce was repeatedly told in chants to ‘f*** off’ by those who had travelled from east London.

Some even unfurled a banner that read: ‘Fat Sam Out. Killing WHU’ and the West Ham manager was jeered when he emerged from the dugout to offer instructions to his players during the second half.

West Brom trail their beaten opponents by one point in the table but the gap in atmosphere at each club yawns wide. One team is looking up, the other is looking lost.

This was West Ham’s fourth consecutive loss and seventh defeat in nine games.

After Allardyce was booed by his own fans during a victory against Hull earlier this campaign the poisonous chants against him yesterday illustrate his relationship with them is close to being beyond repair.

‘You don’t want to stand there and get abused,’ said Allardyce. ‘We all get it at some stage. Fans show their disapproval quicker than at any other time I’ve known.

‘You know what changes it around, players going out and winning. Until then the criticism is thrown at me and I accept it. I have a problem but I understand it.

‘My responsibility, and that of the owners, is to build a better team than this one. I’m contracted to West Ham United until such time the owners tell me something different.’

Saido Berahino delivered the killer blow in the 11th minute, turning in Morgan Amalfitano’s cross from close range on his first start since February 22.

It represented a personal turnaround after the England Under 21 striker was last month blamed by team-mates for giving the ball away against Cardiff, allowing a late equaliser, and involved in a dressing room bust-up with James Morrison.

Mel admitted it was a ‘personal gamble’ to pick Berahino but that the 20-year-old had learned from past mistakes. The Spaniard spoke of his relief at finally picking up a win at home following consecutive 3-3 draws when seconds away from victory in the last two games.

‘Yesterday I spoke at great lengths with Berahino and he knew he was going to play,’ said Mel.

‘I think he’s a player with an awful lot of talent and great future ahead of him. The only thing he needed was to work and think about the group, think about the team. Today he has done this so I’m extremely satisfied because it was a personal gamble.’

Mel’s future at West Brom is in doubt but after steering the side to the brink of safety he said: ‘I think the job is only half done, if I’m given the opportunity I can do a good job here.’

Mel compared Andy Carroll to Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa in the build-up to this match, but the England striker was limited to few chances.

Ben Foster saved his shot from a tight angle in the sixth minute and when Carroll did beat the West Brom goalkeeper the cross bar denied him. In the 72nd minute he was left unmarked at a Matt Jarvis corner and should really have scored with his header.

Other than that West Brom were excellent value for their win. Stephane Sessegnon was a constant pest, dribbling at the West Ham defence tirelessly and he was the catalyst for the goal.

He beat Mark Noble and James Tomkins and slipped a pass beyond James McCartney to Morgan Amalfitano. His shot-come-cross was diverted in by Berahino’s out-stretched foot.

—Daily Mail