Lua Lua stars in Magpies win
St James' Park provided the background for a game that contained plenty of thrills - despite The Hammers' efforts to frustrate their hosts.
With pressure mounting after 60 goal-less minutes, a corner was knocked on by Jermaine Jenas and Lua Lua was on hand to slot through David James' legs to the delight of the vociferous crowd.
West Ham visibly collapsed after the opener and Hugo Viana provided a delightful cross for Lua Lua's second - leaving James with the impossible task of keeping the headed effort out.
Lua Lua then played a major part in the third - when he outfoxed two defenders to feed Nolberto Solano who cut back for Shearer to slide home with typical aplomb, as West Ham floundered.
Alan Shearer turned provider for the fourth, as his side rampaged forward, beating his marker and cutting back for Solano to slide in at the far post.
An entertaining first half had seen West Ham sit back and invite pressure, and although they looked bright and lively, the home side never really tested David James, aside from a disallowed Shearer effort.
Lua Lua served intent with two early efforts - the first blazed wide and the second a creative looping shot that nearly found the far corner.
Olivier Bernard, the cause of so much bad blood between the two clubs, looked more comfortable in the opponents half than in his own, and he also saw an effort fly the wrong side of the post.
Nearly half an hour in, and Alan Shearer smashed the ball into the goal, only to have the effort struck off for a push to Christian Dailly.
Although the former England captain had raised his arm, it appeared that the defender had actually slipped to let in the marksman, but referee Paul Durkin was adamant that a foul had occurred.
Joe Cole was the beating heart of everything that West Ham threw forward and he nearly earned his side an unlikely opener with individual brilliance when he turned superbly and shot narrowly wide.
Shearer then saw a powered free-kick deflected narrowly wide off of Thomas Repka, with James rooted to the spot.
But West Ham's valiant defensive efforts went very sour when Lua Lua's deserved first opened the floodgates.
Sir Bobby Robson will have been delighted with some of the flowing football - and the continued emergence of Lua Lua from bit part player to genuine star.
Counterpart Glenn Roeder will have to be content with some flashes of breathtaking ability from Cole - and will be crossing his fingers for the speedy return of Paolo Di Canio or Freddie Kanoute to first team duty.
Click on the link below for a full breakdown of the match
Newcastle v West Ham
