“As a striker, you are only as good as your service. That’s why Carlton Cole is scoring.”

It was great to see West Ham finally get that important home win in a game that had a bit of everything at the weekend.

There were red cards, penalties, deflected goals, well-worked goals – the game was a great advert for the Championship and I am sure that it was a great match to watch as a neutral.

What is important though, is that the Hammers got the result that they wanted, which was a win.

I know that the lads would have got back into the changing room after the game and be relieved to have finally got that win.

I said last week that I would have settled for a 1-0 win before kick-off but it was great to see West Ham scoring four goals once again, although this time it was in front of the home fans.

We didn’t get off to the best of starts by going 1-0 down, but the team showed good character to pull a goal back almost immediately and then build from there.

I enjoy seeing West Ham score goals for fun – we are the joint top-scorers in the Championship alongside Southampton and long may it continue.

By scoring goals we are showing that the team is creating and more importantly taking chances, which is a real positive for me.

The only downside is that we conceded three goals in the process, but I feel that even when the Hammers do concede, they have more than enough firepower to outscore any team in the Championship.

Another positive note was the inclusion of Henri Lansbury.

I saw a lot of him last year when I was working at Championship games and I liked what I saw.

We now have a wonderfully talented midfield that is good enough for the Premier League, let alone the Championship and it is a pleasure to watch.

I was also pleased to see Carlton Cole back on the scoresheet yet again.

That is now four goals in as many games for him and he is showing just how dangerous he can be at this level.

I have always been a big fan of Carlton’s and I know that he is a very good striker.

He will be the first to admit that he didn’t have the best of seasons last year, but as a frontman, you are only as good as your service.

Last season that service was non-existant.This season with the likes of Matty Taylor, Julien Faubert and now David Bentley, the service is there and Carlton is scoring.

I was surprised not to see Baldock involved on Saturday, but maybe he isn’t ready yet. Allardyce will know when to include him and I am excited about what Baldock can do, but it is a big step up from League One to the Championship.

Baldock needs to be ready for that and if he is patient I am sure he will get his chance.

Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John