West Ham step up their fight in Tevez saga after winning tense derby battle

Tomorrow they go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne with an outline appeal against the judgement while, two days later, the tribunal reconvenes in a Direction Meeting, to consider the damages claim of Sheffield United and a timetable of the process.

CAS have already told Standard Sport last week they are unable to hear any appeal unless both parties agree.

But West Ham — under the legal direction of Maurice Watkins — are still hopeful that Sheffield United, who have gone through an exhaustive arbitration and appeals procedure before receiving a favourable judgement, will endorse this final step to find a solution.

That would seem to be unlikely yet West Ham have received representations from other clubs urging them to go all the way to find a solution which would avoid the chaos of future mass litigation following what many see as a dangerous precedent.

West Ham also intend to instigate an exhaustive examination of United's books following the Championship club's bid to claim more than £30million in damages following their relegation.

On the pitch, at least, the Hammers appear to be unaffected by the dramas and beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is considering an appeal against the dismissal of striker Andy Johnson for two yellow cards but, in truth, it did not affect the final result.

Fulham's demise came in three minutes just before the end of the first half when Carlton Cole and Matthew Etherington scored West Ham's goals and Johnson was sent off.

Cole, who had been arrested in London on suspicion of drink driving earlier in the week, said: "I've learned my lesson and I won't make that mistake again.

"I hadn't been on a night out for so long and the first time I went out I got caught. That's what happens in life I suppose, what goes around, comes around."

Cole can expect an extended run in the team as Dean Ashton undergoes an ankle operation later this week which will keep him out of action until the New Year.

Ashton, who badly broke the ankle training with England more than two years ago, had been increasingly bothered by soreness around the site of the original injury.

But West Ham are close to agreeing a new main sponsorship deal following the collapse of travel operator XL.