Perez double helps West Ham to 3-1 win over Cardiff

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Lucas Perez scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Dec 4 (Reuters) - - WEST HAM UNITED 3 CARDIFF CITY 1

Substitute Lucas Perez scored his first two Premier League goals for West Ham United to help the east London side to a 3-1 home win over Cardiff City after the visitors had missed a penalty on Tuesday.

West Ham, who have now won successive top flight fixtures for the first time since January 2017 following Saturday's 3-0 away defeat of Newcastle United, moved up to 12th in the table on 18 points from 15 games while Cardiff stayed 16th on 11 points.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Mark Noble with manager Manuel Pellegrini during the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Both sides missed several chances in a balanced first half before Joe Ralls squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to fire Cardiff ahead, when West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski easily smothered the midfielder's tame penalty kick.

That proved to be a turning point as substitute Perez, who came on for Marko Arnautovic after the Austria striker pulled a hamstring in the 40th minute, swung the contest West Ham's way with two quick goals shortly after the break.

Perez volleyed past visiting keeper Neil Etheridge in the 49th minute after Robert Snodgrass took advantage of a defensive mix-up and then doubled the home team's lead in the 54th with a crisp finish which capped a fine move down the left flank.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini gestures REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Michail Antonio sealed West Ham's victory on the hour when he headed home a Snodgrass corner at the near post and Etheridge made several fine saves before Josh Murphy nodded in a stoppage-time consolation for the Bluebirds.

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini praised Perez and his team's revival after a poor start.

"Lucas played very well, he is a striker so this game with so many players behind the ball is special for him," the Chilean said.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock applauds the fans after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

"It (the win) is important because we started the season badly, lost four games with one point, you need to try and win four in a row so we recover."

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Robert Snodgrass and Andy Carroll celebrate after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City's Sol Bamba with West Ham's Robert Snodgrass and Andy Carroll after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Andy Carroll reacts Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City's Josh Murphy scores their first goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 General view outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 General view outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 General view of a teddy bear dressed in Cardiff City clothing REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Angelo Ogbonna during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Robert Snodgrass during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley .

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Andy Carroll during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City's Callum Paterson and Lee Peltier during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Cardiff City - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 4, 2018 West Ham's Lukasz Fabianski in action REUTERS/Eddie Keogh