Sebastien Haller had not scored a top-flight goal from outside the penalty area in his previous 189 Eredivisie, Bundesliga and Premier League appearances
Sebastien Haller's superb strike consigned winless Sheffield United to another Premier League defeat as West Ham moved into the top half of the table.
The Blades, who have lost eight of their nine fixtures this term, stay bottom of the table while West Ham climb to eighth.
Chris Wilder's side had started brightly and created several early openings but the Hammers took control as the hosts faded as an attacking force.
Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek both had opportunities to score before Haller's powerful 20-yard drive found the top-right corner.
Declan Rice then headed against the crossbar as the visitors sought to press home their advantage.
Sheffield United did rally, with Oli McBurnie seeing a left-foot effort cannon back off the crossbar, but they are still yet to score in open play at Bramall Lane this season.
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Improving Blades fall short
With a solitary point on the board, Sheffield United began this contest with the joint-lowest points tally at this stage of a Premier League season and without a victory since 11 July.
However, while aspects of this performance will have pleased manager Wilder, they again came down on the wrong side of a tight contest.
Six of the Blades' eight defeats this season have been by a margin of one goal and on another occasion they might have been a couple of goals ahead before West Ham hit their stride.
John Egan's searching pass provided George Baldock with a third-minute chance to open the scoring but the full-back was unable to beat Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski at the near post.
Fabianski then parried McBurnie's rising half volley to safety during a forceful start by the Blades.
But after failing to unlock the door their two main failings - a lack of goals and an inability keep a clean sheet - proved the difference again.
While there were signs that they are beginning to cope without the injured and influential Jack O'Connell in their defence - restricting the Hammers to just three shots on target - they were punished for a momentary lapse of concentration that allowed Haller the freedom to get his shot away under little pressure.
More to follow.
Player of the match
RiceDeclan Rice
with an average of 8.04
- Sheff UtdSheffield UnitedSheffield UnitedWest HamWest Ham UnitedWest Ham United
Sheffield UnitedAvgSquad number24Player nameBrewsterAverage rating
4.33
Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
4.32
Squad number22Player nameAmpaduAverage rating
4.14
Squad number12Player nameEganAverage rating
4.07
Squad number2Player nameBaldockAverage rating
4.04
Squad number6Player nameBashamAverage rating
4.04
Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrickAverage rating
4.03
Squad number4Player nameFleckAverage rating
3.94
Squad number8Player nameBergeAverage rating
3.94
Squad number16Player nameNorwoodAverage rating
3.88
Squad number9Player nameMcBurnieAverage rating
3.88
Squad number19Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
3.77
Squad number13Player nameLoweAverage rating
3.76
Squad number7Player nameLundstramAverage rating
3.68
West Ham UnitedAvgSquad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
8.04
Squad number21Player nameOgbonnaAverage rating
7.74
Squad number3Player nameCresswellAverage rating
7.48
Squad number5Player nameCoufalAverage rating
7.44
Squad number1Player nameFabianskiAverage rating
7.44
Squad number22Player nameHallerAverage rating
7.43
Squad number20Player nameBowenAverage rating
7.41
Squad number28Player nameSoucekAverage rating
7.33
Squad number26Player nameMasuakuAverage rating
7.28
Squad number4Player nameBalbuenaAverage rating
7.11
Squad number18Player nameFornalsAverage rating
7.03
Squad number10Player nameLanziniAverage rating
6.76
Squad number16Player nameNobleAverage rating
6.55
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSheff Utd
- 1Ramsdale6BashamSubstituted forLundstramat 76'minutes12Egan22AmpaduSubstituted forRobinsonat 62'minutes2Baldock8Berge16NorwoodSubstituted forBrewsterat 65'minutes4Fleck13Lowe9McBurnie17McGoldrick
Substitutes
- 7Lundstram14Burke15Jagielka19Robinson21Verrips23Osborn24Brewster
West Ham
- 1Fabianski4Balbuena21Ogbonna3Cresswell5Coufal41Rice28Soucek26Masuaku20BowenSubstituted forNobleat 90+2'minutes22Haller18FornalsSubstituted forLanziniat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Benrahma10Lanzini11Snodgrass16Noble23Diop31Johnson35Randolph
Referee:Martin AtkinsonMatch StatsHome TeamSheff UtdAway TeamWest HamPossessionHome51%Away49%ShotsHome9Away15Shots on TargetHome5Away3CornersHome2Away6FoulsHome7Away6Live TextPost update
Match ends, Sheffield United 0, West Ham United 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, West Ham United 1.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt blocked. John Lundstram (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver McBurnie.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United).
90'+3'Post update
Max Lowe (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Max Lowe.
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Mark Noble replaces Jarrod Bowen.
86'Post update
Declan Rice (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by David McGoldrick (Sheffield United).
85'Post update
Offside, West Ham United. Lukasz Fabianski tries a through ball, but Sébastien Haller is caught offside.
84'Post update
Offside, Sheffield United. John Lundstram tries a through ball, but Rhian Brewster is caught offside.
83'Post update
Fabián Balbuena (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
81'Post update
Attempt blocked. Sébastien Haller (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vladimir Coufal.
81'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sébastien Haller.
78'Post update
Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
78'Post update
Foul by Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United).
76'Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Manuel Lanzini replaces Pablo Fornals.
76'Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. John Lundstram replaces Chris Basham.
75'Post update
Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Rhian Brewster.
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Source: bbc.com