Connolly shows he's right from the start

Defender Rufus Brevett added: "David had a lot to say, rightly or wrongly, but he is a very strong character who speaks his mind.

"I know that him and the gaffer had a good chat the next day and it has all been sorted out and forgotten." From West Ham's point of view, it needs to be. Connolly already looks to have developed an understanding with Jermain Defoe and without them the team's chances of promotion this season would be very slim.

Connolly's deft chip on nine minutes beat goalkeeper Bill Turley and bounced out off the crossbar to allow Defoe an easy finish for the first goal.

The man labelled an "angry ant" by Roeder then scored the second, slotting the ball into the far corner after speeding past two defenders on the edge of the area, four minutes later.

Onandi Lowe pulled one back for Rushden in the 35th minute with a powerful long-range free-kick, which caught David James by surprise, and the goal triggered a bright period for the Second Division side.

But Connolly pounced again after 78 minutes when he tapped in the third after a Defoe turn and snapshot was parried by Turley.

The success of West Ham's strikers may still cause problems for Roeder because even if Connolly is content, England under-21 international Defoe has more than two weeks of potential distraction in store.

Manchester United are poised to bid for him before the transfer window closes but Roeder said: "I have been pleased with Jermain's attitude in games, at training and the way he has conducted himself. It is difficult for him to keep his concentration because of the speculation and I cannot praise him enough."

But Roeder's problems don't end with his strikers.

Makeshift right-back Anton Ferdinand could be out for several weeks with the ankle injury he sustained last night and the club's only established player in that position, Sebastien Schemmel, has fallen out with the manager and should complete his move to Portsmouth today.