Leon Best hit a hat-trick on his first Premier League start for Newcastle to help the Magpies crush West Ham.
Best slotted in his first competitive goal for the home side on 18 minutes before knocking in Peter Lovenkrands's pass at the far post.
Kevin Nolan side-footed in the third from 10 yards and his ball led to Best's third, which was blasted in.
Lovenkrands made it a miserable night for the Hammers when he poked home Joey Barton's cross at the near post.
Former Coventry striker Best deserved his name in lights after his three-goal haul, but Barton was the star of the show.
Barton, who joined the Magpies in 2007, is enjoying his finest season in a Newcastle shirt and produced a brilliant all-round midfield display against the Hammers.
The 28-year-old not only hassled the visitors' midfield but also delivered pinpoint balls with alarming accuracy as far as the east Londoners were concerned.
Before his opener, Best twice had chances to put a mark on his Newcastle tally thanks to Barton's deliveries.
His first cross was cut out by James Tomkins as Best was about to make the contact and the second whipped-in ball was headed wide by the striker from 10 yards.
Best had come on as a substitute in the 1-0 win at Wigan last weekend and wasted a goalscoring opportunity after stumbling as he was about to shoot, so many of the fans in black and white could have been forgiven for thinking that perhaps the burly forward was destined not to break his duck.
But he relieved his and the St James' Park faithful's anxiety with a delicate finish in the 18th minute and then repeated the feat six minutes from half-time.
Barton played an important role in both strikes, finding the front two with raking past from just beyond the Newcastle area before feeding in Lovenkrands with a quick free-kick who in turn found his strike partner.
With the former Manchester City man pulling the strings, regular playmaker Nolan could afford to have a relatively quiet game. But in the final minute of the first half he sparked into life when he stroked Tomkins' awful clearance through a crowd of players and past Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green.
West Ham's painful night in the North East continued after the break when Best grabbed his third.
On this occasion it was Nolan's deft flick that fooled West Ham's sleepy defenders Danny Gabbidon and Tomkins. The ball found its way to Best, who smashed in with confidence from the edge of the area.
Grant flat after 'bad day at the office'
Newcastle's fifth was poked in at the near post by sharp-thinking Lovenkrands thanks again to Barton who played in another teasing ball from the right.
Nile Ranger should have added a sixth but somehow sent his shot three yards right of Green's upright.
Woeful is an inadequate word to describe their opponents' performance.
Newcastle keeper Harper was only called to make one save in the opening 45 minutes when he palmed away former Magpie Scott Parker's swerving shot.
West Ham's other chances fell to Carlton Cole, who after being virtually anonymous became a little more animated with his side 5-0 down.
His first effort was an overhead kick that fell straight to Harper and the second a fierce strike saved again by the home side's number one.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew's side deserved their clean sheet but it will probably the easiest they have earned all season.
And the future of Hammers manager Avram Grant will again be thrown into doubt following a performance that left his side his side back at the bottom of the Premier League.
90:00+1:56 Effort from outside the box by Scott Parker goes wide right of the target.
90:00+1:05 Carlton Cole has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
89:38 The official flags Zavon Hines offside. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.
89:10 Freddie Sears takes the chance to get an effort at goal.
Correction - 88:23 Victor Obinna takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.
88:23 Effort on goal by Victor Obinna from 20 yards. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.
88:07 Zavon Hines takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.
87:16 Peter Lovenkrands takes a shot. Save by Robert Green.
84:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Victor Obinna from the left by-line, Steve Harper manages to make a clearance.
82:44 Shane Ferguson fouled by Tal Ben-Haim, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
82:44 Booking Booking for Tal Ben-Haim for unsporting behaviour.
81:48 Effort from 18 yards by Carlton Cole. Steve Harper makes a save.
81:07 The assistant referee flags for offside against Carlton Cole. Free kick taken by Steve Harper.
81:07 Booking Victor Obinna is cautioned by the ref for dissent.
80:19 Unfair challenge on Cheik Tiote by Zavon Hines results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Cheik Tiote. Shot from just outside
the area by Victor Obinna misses to the left of the target.
80:03 Booking The referee cautions Zavon Hines for dissent.
77:43 The ball is swung over by Shane Ferguson, clearance by James Tomkins.
74:32 Shot from just outside the area by Zavon Hines goes over the bar.
73:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Gabbidon by Cheik Tiote. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Victor
Obinna from left wing, Danny Simpson manages to make a clearance.
73:21 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Victor Obinna.
72:44 Nile Ranger produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
72:28 Joey Barton produces a cross, clearance made by Daniel Gabbidon.
71:52 Short corner taken by Joey Barton.
70:55 Corner taken by Victor Obinna, Carlton Cole takes a shot. Save by Steve Harper.
70:24 Unfair challenge on Zavon Hines by Joey Barton results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Victor Obinna
from left wing, clearance by Cheik Tiote.
69:47 Shane Ferguson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Valon Behrami. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.
69:47 Substitution (West Ham) makes a substitution, with Zavon Hines coming on for Mark Noble.
68:03 Tal Ben-Haim concedes a free kick for a foul on Shane Ferguson. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton, clearance by
Carlton Cole.
65:13 Kevin Nolan concedes a free kick for a foul on Valon Behrami. Victor Obinna produces a strike on goal direct from the free
kick.
65:13 Substitution Shane Ferguson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jonas Gutierrez.
63:45 Substitution Nile Ranger is brought on as a substitute for Leon Best.
62:52 The assist for the goal came from Joey Barton.
62:52 GOAL - Peter Lovenkrands:Newcastle 5 - 0 West Ham Peter Lovenkrands fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newcastle 5-0 West Ham.
62:07 Tal Ben-Haim concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonas Gutierrez. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.
60:39 Jonas Gutierrez concedes a free kick for a foul on Valon Behrami. James Tomkins restarts play with the free kick.
59:31 The assist for the goal came from Kevin Nolan.
59:31 GOAL - Leon Best:Newcastle 4 - 0 West Ham Leon Best gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Newcastle
4-0 West Ham.
58:08 The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
57:13 Effort from outside the penalty area by Valon Behrami goes wide left of the target.
56:56 Daniel Gabbidon delivers the ball, Kevin Nolan makes a clearance.
52:21 Cheik Tiote concedes a free kick for a foul on Freddie Sears. Scott Parker takes the direct free kick.
52:08 The ball is sent over by Joey Barton, James Tomkins makes a clearance.
51:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Obinna by Cheik Tiote. Mark Noble crosses the ball from the free kick
right-footed from left wing, Steve Harper makes a save.
46:35 The assistant referee signals for offside against Freddie Sears. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
45:01 Substitution Steven Taylor goes off and Mike Williamson comes on.
45:01 Substitution Victor Obinna joins the action as a substitute, replacing Radoslav Kovac.
45:01 Substitution Valon Behrami is brought on as a substitute for Frederic Piquionne.
Half Time
45:00+1:16 The ref blows to end the first period.
44:34 GOAL - Kevin Nolan:Newcastle 3 - 0 West Ham Kevin Nolan grabs a goal from just inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newcastle 3-0 West Ham.
44:22 Centre by Cheik Tiote, clearance made by Radoslav Kovac.
43:31 Leon Best fouled by Matthew Upson, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.
41:02 Cheik Tiote produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
40:22 The assistant referee flags for offside against Peter Lovenkrands. Free kick taken by Matthew Upson.
Correction - 38:22 Assist by Peter Lovenkrands.
Correction - 38:22 GOAL - Leon Best:Newcastle 2 - 0 West Ham Leon Best finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Newcastle 2-0
West Ham.
38:22 Peter Lovenkrands provided the assist for the goal.
38:22 GOAL - Leon Best:Newcastle 2 - 0 West Ham Goal scored by Leon Best from deep inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Newcastle 2-0 West Ham.
Correction - 37:49 Leon Best fouled by James Tomkins, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton.
37:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by James Tomkins on Leon Best. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton,
37:13 Jonas Gutierrez handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Tal Ben-Haim takes the direct free kick.
35:04 Carlton Cole is caught offside. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.
34:35 Jonas Gutierrez takes a shot. Save made by Robert Green.
34:25 Jonas Gutierrez delivers the ball, Carlton Cole makes a clearance.
33:59 Joey Barton decides to take a short corner.
32:40 The ball is sent over by Joey Barton, save by Robert Green.
31:44 Jonas Gutierrez challenges Scott Parker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Parker.
31:11 Leon Best is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.
30:11 Peter Lovenkrands gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tal Ben-Haim. Tal Ben-Haim takes the direct free kick.
28:05 A cross is delivered by Daniel Gabbidon, clearance by Fabricio Coloccini.
26:29 The ball is swung over by Jonas Gutierrez, James Tomkins manages to make a clearance.
25:36 Peter Lovenkrands gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlton Cole. James Tomkins takes the direct free kick.
23:54 Corner taken by Joey Barton, comfortable save by Robert Green.
23:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tal Ben-Haim on Jonas Gutierrez. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Joey Barton from
left wing, Scott Parker makes a clearance.
22:27 The ball is crossed by Frederic Piquionne, clearance by Steven Taylor.
22:10 The ball is sent over by Joey Barton, James Tomkins makes a clearance.
20:54 Radoslav Kovac produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
20:16 Peter Lovenkrands is caught offside. James Tomkins restarts play with the free kick.
19:17 Foul by Matthew Upson on Leon Best, free kick awarded. Joey Barton restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 17:44 Assist on the goal came from Peter Lovenkrands.
17:44 The assist for the goal came from Peter Lovenkrands.
17:44 GOAL - Leon Best:Newcastle 1 - 0 West Ham Leon Best scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newcastle 1-0 West Ham.
16:34 Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton to the near post, Frederic Piquionne manages to make a clearance.
16:19 Centre by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
12:31 Radoslav Kovac challenges Jonas Gutierrez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Harper takes the free kick.
12:31 Booking Radoslav Kovac is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
12:10 Scott Parker takes a shot. Steve Harper makes a save.
10:44 Cheik Tiote has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
6:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Frederic Piquionne. Fabricio Coloccini takes the free kick.
3:33 The ball is crossed by Joey Barton, Headed effort from inside the box by Leon Best misses to the right of the target. The
referee penalises Carlton Cole for handball. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.
1:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tal Ben-Haim on Jonas Gutierrez. Free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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