West Ham United returned to the Championship at the end of last season after a lengthy six-year spell in the Premier League. Hammers boss Avram Grant suffered a fatal blow when he was sacked from the club, but former Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce took the reins in the summer.

The main priority for the East London side is to return to the top flight and with ex-Newcastle United boss at the helm, West Ham have enough experience to launch a bid for the title. Despite positive prospects for this season, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the Hammers would lose their star man Scott Parker before the end of the transfer window.

Sports Mole has analysed West Ham's first half of the season and considered whether they are on track for a Premier League comeback.

August

With a return to the top flight the main priority for the Hammers, it was important for Allardyce to kick off his West Ham career with a win. However, the newly-relegated side stumbled at the first hurdle against Cardiff City at Upton Park.

Despite starting the season on the wrong foot, Allardyce bounced back with his team and claimed three wins and a draw to finish off their first month in the league. However, the East London side didn't fare so well in the Carling Cup and were knocked out against Aldershot.

The biggest blow to the Hammers was the departure of talisman Scott Parker, who signed for Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the transfer window.

September

West Ham continued their campaign without Parker but maintained a winning run with a 4-3 victory over Portsmouth. They then struggled to make the breakthrough at Millwall before claiming a slender 1-0 win over Peterborough on home soil. The Hammers dipped slightly when Ipswich nicked three points at Upton Park at the end of the month.

October

It was becoming clear that West Ham and Southampton were the top two contenders for the Championship title and the Hammers kicked off October with a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. After dropping two points at Selhurst Park, Allardyce's side responded with a 4-0 thrashing of Blackpool the following week.

The Hammers met rivals Southampton but failed to snatch maximum points as the Saints secured a 1-0 win at St Mary's. West Ham rounded off the month with victories over Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City.

November

Despite failing to score against Bristol City in a stalemate at Upton Park, the Hammers had a successful month with four consecutive wins against Hull City, Coventry, Derby County and Middlesbrough.

December

Leading up to the festive schedule, the Hammers relinquished six points against Burnley and Reading but managed to convert a win against Barnsley. With a 1-1 draw against former Premier League side Birmingham City and a 2-1 defeat to Derby on New Year's Eve, the Hammers dropped to third in the table before the start of 2012.