WEST HAM FIGHT BACK FROM 3-0 DOWN TO DRAW AT CARDIFF IN PARKER'S FIRST MATCH

Scott Parker took charge of his first match as West Ham United manager, a 3-3 draw away at Cardiff City in the Championship. West Ham had appointed Parker shortly before the game, replacing Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked from the role. Cardiff's Jack Moylan scored a first-half hat-trick to put the home side 3-0 ahead. West Ham responded after the interval, with goals from Divine Mukasa, Arne Engels and Max Kilman securing a point for the visitors. Parker made three substitutions at half-time as his side turned the match around.

The draw echoed an earlier comeback involving Parker during his playing career at West Ham. In February 2011, the club recovered from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 at West Bromwich Albion, with a brace from Demba Ba and a goal from Carlton Cole cancelling out West Brom's lead. Mark Noble, who was part of West Ham's coaching staff for the Cardiff match, wrote in his autobiography Boleyn Boy that Parker delivered the half-time team talk that sparked the 2011 fightback. Noble quoted Parker telling the squad: "Lads, listen, if you don't want to play, just don't play... You need to actually go out there and f***ing get a bit of pride back because that was f***ing embarrassing."

Parker has won promotion from the Championship three times during his managerial career. He had previously managed Burnley before leaving that role. West Ham have been regarded as among the favourites for promotion from the Championship this season. The draw left Parker still searching for his first win since taking charge of the club.