West Ham 3 Newcastle United 1

But they could not survive a seventh minute attack in which Carlton Cole fed David Di Michele before the West Ham star's effort looped off David Edgar and over Shay Given into the net with the Toon keeper rooted to the spot.

Two minutes later and Edgar upended Cole to hand the home side a free-kick near the edge of the box but Mark Noble could only curl the ball over the top.

Noble was handed another set-piece opportunity on 17 minutes but once again the midfielder could only guide the ball high over the bar.

United weathered the storm and at the mid-way point of the first period Damien Duff felt Newcastle should have been awarded a penalty when his left-wing cross struck the hand of Julien Faubert.

However, ref Phil Dowd didn't want to know and the Hammers maintained their lead.

Owen did see a header bounce wide from N'Zogbia's corner just before the half hour mark but West Ham were still good value for their lead.

The little Frenchman won another flag kick two minutes later as United tried to rally.

But even when Nicky Butt's wayward effort fell nicely for him again out wide for another cross West Ham easily cleared.

The Londoners doubled their lead eight minutes before half time as Di Michele beat the offside trap to latch on to Noble's pass.

This time his initial effort struck the face of Given but the United defence went to sleep as the Italian had time and space to control the rebound before smashing it between the Newcastle goalie and his near post for 2-0.

The black and whites emerged after the interval looking for a miracle with West Ham fans in party spirit.

But five minutes in United did win a free-kick 30 yards from goal when Lucas Neill chopped down Owen and was booked for his trouble.

And Geremi's free-kick resulted in Newcastle's first attempt on target as Taylor flicked it into the path of Owen and the Toon star headed it straight at Robert Green.

But it was game over on 52 minutes as West Ham hit back on the counter attack.

Di Michele - on loan to the Irons from Torino - burst down the right to leave N'Zogbia for dead and rolled it into the path of Etherington who tapped home unmarked beyond Given for 3-0.

Di Michele then squandered a great chance to make it a hat-trick when he fired over from a left-wing cross with the goal yawning in front of him.

Hughton withdrew Canadian defender Edgar on the hour with Sebastien Bassong replacing him.

A reshuffle meant that N'Zogbia pushed up to left-wing with Bassong dropping to left-back.

Duff went wide right and Geremi tucked in behind him.

And on 67 minutes Newcastle were handed a glimmer of hope.

Cacapa did brilliantly to pick out Owen who kept his composure to turn and fire past Green to make it 3-1.

Two minutes after the goal, United won a corner and after N'Zogbia had chipped in Taylor's header found Cacapa with the South American drilling it straight at Green.

Duff tested Green again seconds later but the England international once again held on in Newcastle's best spell of the game.

With nine minutes remaining United caretaker boss Hughton handed Nacho Gonzalez a sniff of action with the recent signing replacing Cacapa.

Within seconds of his arrival Butt won a free-kick 30-yards from goal but Geremi's curler was easily held by Green.

But despite an improved second half display it wasn't enough to prevent United's third defeat of the campaign.

UNITED: Given, Edgar (Bassong 59), N'Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa (Gonzalez 81), Duff, Butt, Geremi, Owen, Xisco.

Subs: Harper, Ameobi, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill, Ilunga, Parker (Mullins 71), Etherington (Boa Morte 74), Cole (Sears 86), Upson, Noble, Faubert, Behrami, Di Michele.

Ref: Phil Dowd

Crowd: 34,743