West Ham 1-0 Manchester City

West Ham's midfield star Valon Behrami looks certain to miss the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments in yesterday's 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Swiss international Behrami, one of manager Gianfranco Zola's most consistent performers this season, was carried off after 42 minutes in obvious distress and went straight to hospital.

Behrami's studs seemed to catch in the Upton Park turf and he fell awkwardly on his knee.

A subsequent scan revealed no fracture which was positive news for Zola but the knee will be further assessed when the swelling has subsided and significant ligament damage is likely.

"Hopefully the injury will not be too bad," said Zola, because he is such an important player for us."

Behrami's prolonged absence is a blow for Zola as his team attempt to hold on to seventh place in the Premier League and possible qualification for Europe next season.

"If the combinations are right for us we might be able to play in Europe next season so we are fighting to keep this spot," Zola added.

"Some people have been worried about our recent results but the players here make me positive so I knew we would kick on again.

"I am looking up. I always look up. I try to focus not on problems but on the good things that can happen."

Zola has a limited squad from which to choose after off-loading eight players in the January transfer window and his substitutes' bench against Manchester City reflected that with youngsters Freddie Sears, Josh Payne and Junior Stanislas included.

Behrami's first-half injury though, gave another West Ham teenager, Savio Nsereko, an opportunity to illustrate why the club paid £5million to Brescia to sign the German Under-19 international last month. The Ugandan-born Savio looks raw and will obviously take time to adjust to the physicality of the English Premier League.

He does have that rare ability, though, of being able to take on opponents and he played a major part in West Ham's winning goal in the 71st minute when his shot was parried by Shay Given as far as Jack Collison (left), who coolly lobbed the ball back into the net. Zola was delighted because, with five matches without a win for his side, this was a vital victory.

"It was a close game but maybe we deserved a little bit more than them," he said. "It was a crucial game so to have won it is so important.

"Savio came on and did well. I'm pleased for him because he came here with a lot of expectation. He was a little bit under pressure because he knew that everyone was waiting for something special from him. I am pleased, though, with the way he is working.

"His attitude is good and I am sure he will be successful. We bought him because he has something different and I am sure there is a lot to come."

The vast majority of West Ham fans were geared up for the return of Craig Bellamy following his £14m move to City in January and the Welsh international striker was duly accorded the kind of Upton Park reception given to other former players such as Paul Ince and Frank Lampard.

"You only went for the money," was the one repeatable chant which washed down from the stands every time Bellamy touched the ball and the biggest cheer was reserved for the striker when he was forced to leave the field in the second half with a knee problem.

Before that, however, he and Zola had shared a chat and a hand clasp on the touchline although the West Ham manager revealed: "I had a big chat with him when he was on the pitch. I was trying to distract him.

"I wish him success there, though. He was very good and helpful for me."

It's true that Bellamy worked hard to make it work for City but others, such as Brazilian Robinho, looked less enthusiastic and you could see why they have only managed one away Premier League win all season.

It was Zola who summed it up when he said: "If you work hard, if you have passion, if you have belief, then you can be successful."