BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report

Ian Wright struck the winner at St James' Park for the third season running as Newcastle crashed to yet another defeat.

Wright - the match winner for Arsenal the last two times he appeared at the ground - secured a double strike to settle the game for Harry Redknapp's men.

Laurent Charvet of Newcastle out-jumps Ian Wright

The Hammers took control of the game in the second half following Stuart Pearce's sending off for serious foul play and, making the most of the extra space, Wright showed that he was as deadly as ever.

His first came after 55 minutes, and was a goal worthy of winning any match.

Ruud Gullit talks to Ian Payne

Picking up the ball from Paul Kitson's header, Wright slipped past Laurent Charvet's attempted challenge and rifled a first time shot home from 20 yards.

Sinclair got in on the act 20 minutes later when he exchanged passes with Kitson - aided by an unfortunate deflection - and finished with ease level with the penalty spot.

Stuart Pearce moments before receiving the red card

Wright then crowned an exceptional display with typical coolness after substitute John Hartson had played him clear in injury time.

Newcastle will no doubt claim that Pearce's sending off - a somewhat harsh decision by referee Graham Poll - changed the course of the game.

West Ham boss Redknapp had left Hartson and Eyal on the bench and gave a starting place to Newcastle old boy Kitson, his first Premiership start for 10 months.

Kitson appeared to struggle with the pace of the game, but could claim assists for the first two goals before he made way for Hartson.

Another ex-Magpie Shaka Hislop had the satisfaction of keeping a clean sheet, a flying save from Nolberto Solano the pick of the action involving the goalkeepers.

Wright almost scored another, only minutes before his second when he broke down the left and curled the ball beyond Shay Given only for a last ditch clearance to deny him.