Carlton Cole double sinks Fulham v West Ham (AFP)

London (REUTERS) - Carlton Cole scored his first ever double Championship as West Ham relieves pressure on the boss Avram Grant with a crucial 3-1 win at Fulham Sunday.

Grant is carrying more close to the bag over the past few weeks as West Ham struggled to climb from the bottom of the Premier League, but the former Chelsea Manager obtained a stay of execution through Cole heroic.

The England striker memories of a subsidy five changes for the shock of tightening, offset a goal Fulham Defender Aaron Hughes start and then struck again with the decisive goal, Frédéric Piquionne hammers forward.

Cole double seals hammers in four matches the first victory and their first success in 27 attempts, moved team grant from the bottom of the table and the level of points with the fourth ground Fulham.

West Ham fellow David Sullivan and David present Gold at Craven Cottage could defeat spelled the end of grant.

Instead of this, Fulham boss Mark Hughes, which will begin to feel the heat as its side struggling under continues to run.

Grant said: "it was a good game for us - we returned has been extraordinary." Fulham was a lot of possession and they were checking without creating opportunities.

"I loved the objective that we accepted but we scored three and we could scored more I am happy."

"Players are satisfied with the win, and they want to enjoy once more.

Grant had a bet by Freddie Sears its first championship start since March 2009, after recalling the early period of loan at the club Championship striker Scunthorpe amply rewarded, but if he was man of the match picked up honours.

West Ham is the short trip across London to know that a single club in the history of the Premier League has avoided relegation are at the bottom of the start of boxing day.

Cole is two chances in the early stages, as he led by scale and an effort off target moved from a tight angle.

But it was Fulham who took the lead in the 11th minute as West Ham not clear a corner, leaving Simon Davies, pass the Hughes unmarked at the head of the House of his first goal for more than six years.

Andy Johnson tested green distance two minutes later and Fulham lead in the 18th minute when he is enrolled in Davies cross six meters must have doubled.

After that, Matt opening torn West Ham a lifeline that Cole Equalised against the course of the game at the 37th minute.

Sears cross was intercepted by Dickson Etuhu, but the midfielder could only to send the ball directly to Cole, who strained to shoot past Mark Schwarzer from six metres.

Suddenly West Ham played more verve and Piquionne put visitors to come in time to stop when he arrived completely unmarked salvo in Scott Parker cross.

Hughes retired Clint Dempsey and Etuhu Damien Duff and Eddie Johnson, a change which greeted with songs "you don't know what you do" Fulham fans.

Hangeland played a defence splitting pass Johnson but West Ham keeper Rob Green was on the line in a Flash to block the arrival to the front.

Each return Fulham thoughts have been completed in the 73rd minute when the Hughes has sought to cut a long ball forward, but only in the nod directly Cole, who fired a beautifully past successfully drive bevel Schwarzer.

LeBron triple - double, even Lakers (PA) heat

LOS ANGELES - LeBron James and Kobe Bryant ran their mouth, then the downcourt, it makes eye contact with an unpleasant conversation in the last minutes.

"Only asked him what he received for Christmas," said James.

Although the two stars is not that they exchanged angry words reveal, it was not difficult to choose among a few Saturday statements. While Kobe and the Lakers in Los Angeles were given a first disturbing look at the Miami Heat, LeBron has the last word in Staples Center once more.

James has 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while hitting a season high five 3-pointers and heat holiday scene in a 96-80 victory have flourished.

Although both teams play called curiosity television rather than a potential view of the NBA Finals, that clearly meant something James, who had his third triple-double with Miami and the 31st career. James is also poorly Bryant, who received 17 points in his second victory right Christmas arena home Lakers, after the last victory of the season for LeBron riders.

"We try not to be a declaration for everyone," said James. "We are trying to show each other that we can play at a high level and try to get the best of each match." It is a game. ... We are happy because we have better today.

While heat go account of Boston and Orlando are far more significant barriers to their hopes of Championship, while for the playoffs, the very enthusiastic Lakers play a nothing tangible edge into the crowd in the Staples Center to this confrontation intersections - heat constant defensive effort flattened the Lakers in the second half.

Chris Bosh 24 points and 13 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 18 points on a painful knee and heat won 14 times in 15 games while flustering two defending champions a terrible offensive performance, beginning with 14 points Los Angeles first quarter.

"Our whole thing is just to play defense solid throughout the game, said Bosch." "" This is the first part of our identity. Our backbone is now defence. »

James played a match balanced, patient, even after a technical error in the neighbourhood of rest for a fight sous-le - basketball with Lakers defensive stop Ron Artest. James teammates have contributed enough to retain heat comfortably ahead of time, with Bosch play an excellent first half and Mario Chalmers contributions 13 points in a role of reserve, including three 3-pointers.

"Offensively, this is probably the most trusted and quiet, we played (with) this season," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Pau Gasol was awarded 17 points for the Lakers, who have fallen behind at the beginning and never mopped terribly new contenders for the title. Although door Bryant garish green shoes for the holidays, increase his Lakers simply their games to comply with the viewer following Miami fall well behind in the first half and never make a race.

Bryant, who are the third technical error in both competitions, was visibly unhappy with his teammates in the second half.

"It's as if these games at our opponents means more than us," said Bryant. "I believe that we get this right - game with more attention, more (stress) on these games." I don't like it. ... We know what we can do, and it is a part of the problem.

Lamar Odom had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost two straight home after five winners in a row on the road, followed by Tuesday collapse against Milwaukee with this large-scale flop. Although Odom think the Lakers are confident that Bryant believes the beginning of the problems in practice.

"Individually, you must make this decision on what is important," said Bryant. "The game is the most important thing." ... This is serious things. You not only two rings and say: "it is enough." We are pleased that we have. "I'm not going to let this slide."

Coach Phil Jackson doesn't like the annual location Lakers on Christmas of the NBA and perhaps for reasons independent of the season calendar: Los Angeles fell to 4-8 on Christmas since 1999, including unilateral loss of the season last in Cleveland, who finished with dozens of foam collective hands get raised to the Court.

Players from both teams broke out in festive holiday for the occasion, sneakers y included Nike lime-green thanks to Bryant Gasol, Odom. James and Bosch wore bright holiday-red with green lace shoes.

James received his T shortly after Artest in the basket, with 10 seconds left in the first half after Artest almost his entire arm James neck packed while fighting for bounce further position.

"I was in a cast of WWE and I tried out," said James.

Comments: the Lakers had won five games directly at home against Miami, whose final victory of the season on a flying buzzer 3-pointer stored on defence Wade by Bryant, who is the happiest hit of his career. ... Flatten Miami Jamaal Magloire almost Artest swooped in Bank of Miami in the third quarter behind its turnover. ... Fans near included aside Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, Larry David, Kanye West, will.i.am, Gabrielle Union, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeremy Piven, Christian Slater and Lionel Richie.