Mullins taking a step up with Hammers

Hayden Mullins is joining West Ham to make a step up towards the Premiership.

He made his debut on loan from Crystal Palace at Upton Park last night and should complete a £600,000 move today.

Mullins will become manager Alan Pardew's first buy since the former Reading boss took over at Upton Park last weekend and is expected to be joined by a new right-back before West Ham go to Cardiff on Saturday.

Mullins will play in midfield but had to play in defence against Forest and received a public apology from Pardew for having to make his debut out of position.

But the 24-year-old was pleased to have a new challenge. He said: "I would not have made the move if I did not think it was a step up. It is a challenge for me and my first experience of moving clubs.

"When you look around West Ham you realise how big a club they are and on the field they are Premiership class. It was difficult to go straight in so to get a draw was satisfying." The Hammers went behind after five minutes to a 25-yard strike from Andy Reid and equalised through Jermain Defoe's header 11 minutes into the second half.

Both teams then hit the woodwork and missed a clutch of chances to win the game.

Pardew should be congratulated on getting his strike partnership of Defoe and David Connolly to pass to each other after reports of a frosty relationship between the strikers.

Whatever Pardew has said to them appears to have worked. "Jermaine and Connolly linked up okay," he said. "Jermain is a tremendous talent and was unlucky on a number of occasions.

"I am going to channel his enthusiasm as quickly as I can to try to get the best out of him."