Source: PA
Hammers routed by Toon
Leon Best reminded Andy Carroll that there is more than one striker on Tyneside as Newcastle thrashed West Ham 5-0.
Best, making his first Barclays Premier League start for the club in the absence of the injured Carroll and Shola Ameobi, opened his account on his 15th appearance with a fine hat-trick to repay a large slice of his £1.2million transfer fee.
Best's first-half brace, both close-range finishes, and skipper Kevin Nolan's 45th-minute strike put the Magpies in the driving seat, and his third on the hour completed a first double of the campaign before Peter Lovenkrands helped himself to a fifth.
It was Newcastle`s third win under Alan Pardew`s management, while West Ham recorded a first defeat in five.