West Ham boosted their Premier League survival aspirations with a vital win at Burnley, whose own hopes appear increasingly forlorn.

While the Hammers remain 18th in the table, they are now just three points from safety with second-bottom Burnley 11 adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

Given Burnley have now failed to record a top-flight victory since 26th October - a sequence stretching back 16 games - and have managed just three all season, it would take a remarkable reversal of fortunes for Scott Parker's side to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Meanwhile, West Ham will take heart after this success, which always seemed likely once Crysencio Summerville clipped the ball over advancing home goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, to give them a 13th-minute lead.

It continued the Dutch winger's rich vein of form as he registered his fifth goal in as many games in all competitions and ensured Nuno Espirito Santo's team capitalised on their superiority.

And it was no surprise when Argentina forward Taty Castellanos doubled their advantage before the break, heading in a pinpoint delivery from the left from El Hadji Malick Diouf after a slick Summerville touch to the left-back.

It was no more than the visitors merited against opponents who looked vulnerable at the back and impotent in attack.

While Burnley rallied after the break neither Zian Flemming nor Marcus Edwards were able to make the most of gilt-edged opportunities to reduce the arrears and set up a grandstand finale.

Given Burnley's perilous position near the foot of the table, it felt like a certain irony was attached when one of the themes from the famous Western movie, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', rang out around Turf Moor prior to kick-off.

And on a gloomy day in east Lancashire, it did not take long for things to get unpleasant for the home side.

They had already been guilty of losing possession cheaply when Lucas Pires' poor touch was seized upon in midfield by Mateus Fernandes.

The 21-year-old Portuguese was able to stride forward and release Summerville who had the simple task of calmly guiding the ball past Dubravka.

Castellanos' first Premier League goal since joining West Ham from Lazio in January - adding to his FA Cup goal against QPR - was also far too simplistic and easy in its nature.

After the ball was transferred wide, the 27-year-old was under no pressure whatsoever when he nodded Diouf's centre past Slovakia goalkeeper Dubravka.

It was the 25th goal conceded by Burnley in the opening half of a Premier League game this season and, not known for their attacking prowess, it left them with too much to do after the break.

They are now within one game of unwanted history too, with their worst run (17) without a top-flight victory coming at the start of 1889-90.

Having gone 10 Premier League matches without a win, West Ham finally appear to have built some momentum from Callum Wilson's dramatic late goal at Tottenham on 17 January.

They have now collected nine points from the last 12 available and can tackle their remaining 13 games with renewed hope and optimism.

Nuno's side are certainly in better form than Tottenham and Crystal Palace, who are six points better off than them, while Forest are well within their sights.

On Saturday, it clearly felt like there was gulf in class between the Hammers and the side directly below them in the table.

French defender Axel Disasi - a deadline-day arrival on loan from Chelsea - provided a steadying influence in defence on his first top-flight start since 8 March, 2025 during a temporary spell at Aston Villa.

That helped the visitors end a 21-game run without a clean sheet, while Burnley failed to get to grips further forward with Fernandes, who controlled midfield and enjoyed more touches than any other player.

Four of those crucially came when he laid on the opening goal for Summerville, whose pace caused Clarets full-back Kyle Walker problems all afternoon.

Struggling Burnley travel to Crystal Palace for their next Premier League game on Wednesday, 11 February (19:30 GMT), while West Ham host Manchester United on Tuesday, 10 February (20:15 GMT).