West Ham United Substitute Carlton Cole scored a late winner as the Hammers made hard work of beating relegated Derby County at Upton Park.

Bobby Zamora had given the hosts a 20th-minute lead when he headed home George McCartney's free-kick from six yards but Tyrone Mears levelled for the rock-bottom Rams in the 64th minute.

But Cole finished off a run and cross from Freddie Ljungberg in the 77th minute to give Alan Curbishley's side all three points.

West Ham had the first real effort of the match when a 25-yard free-kick from Mark Noble was hit straight at Roy Carroll in the ninth minute.

Derby found themselves on the receiving end of West Ham's early pressure but the home side failed to take advantage of their possession.

Midfielder Scott Parker tried his luck with a 20-yard effort in the 12th minute but his effort was both high and wide.

Derby defender Alan Stubbs had been penalised for a foul on the edge of the penalty area and when George McCartney sent the free-kick into the six-yard box, Zamora outjumped Dean Leacock to head beyond the stranded Carroll.

West Ham's young striker, Freddie Sears, making his first start for the club, continued to give the Rams a difficult time with several clever runs into the penalty area.

The Hammers should have done better when Sears and Ljungberg combined neatly in the 33rd minute but the Swede's final ball to the youngster was far from the quality expected.

Derby had a scare moments later when veteran defender Stubbs required lengthy treatment on a leg injury before being allowed to carry on.

In the 37th minute, Zamora had a second goal ruled out for offside after the West Ham striker had managed to elude the Derby defence.

But it required an acrobatic save from Robert Green in the 38th minute to preserve West Ham's lead.

A cross from the left by David Jones was head goalwards by Robbie Savage only for Green to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Ljungberg was guilty of being over-elaborate moments later when a quick break caused panic in the Derby defence.

The Swedish midfielder tried to thread the ball through to Zamora instead of having a shot but Stubbs read the danger well and cut out his intended pass.

Derby's most dangerous play was provided down the left flank by Eddie Lewis and a number of his crosses caused the home side problems before being cleared.

West Ham were quickly into their stride in the second half and Noble put Sears away on the left flank only for the young striker's cross to elude the outstretched boot of Ljungberg in the six-yard box.

In the 50th minute Ljungberg and Parker combined on the edge of the penalty area but the latter's final shot flashed wide of Carroll's left-hand upright.

Derby began to enjoy their best spell of the match but the final ball into the penalty area often let them down.

West Ham required the help of goalkeeper Green again in the 62nd minute when Tyrone Mears burst into the penalty area.

The Derby midfielder shaped to lift the ball over the advancing Green but the West Ham 'keeper dived at his feet to collect the ball just in time.

But in the 64th minute Mears made no mistake when Hossam Ghaly put him clean through with just Green to beat.

This time the Derby midfielder kept his cool and sent a right-foot drive into the net.

West Ham hit back immediately but got nothing when Savage pulled back Ljungberg on the edge of the penalty area.

And in the 77th minute Cole finished off a run and cross by Ljungberg to give West Ham all three points.