By Tim Hodges
West Ham United 6 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
The Albion were thrashed by West Ham at Upton Park this afternoon.
Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Te bagged a hat-trick, including the the opener after three minutes and another five minutes later.
It was as if Albion were in shock, as Kevin Nolan tapped in a third from close range on 11 minutes.
The Seagulls tried to impose their passing game on the Hammers but with the deficit as it stood, West Ham were simply inclined to soak up the pressure.
Captain Gordon Greer had the Albion’s best chance of the half, but his header from Vicente Rodriguez’s corner, was well saved by ex Engalnd keeper Robert Green.
Gus Poyet may well have wanted his team to at least maintain the same scoreline in the second half, but just a few minutes after the interval Vaz Te completed his hat-trick with a good old fashioned scissor kick.
Albion had no luck at all, as a few minutes later, Carlton Cole’s shot rebounded off Lansbury and over Peter Brezovan’s head and into the goal for 5-0.
The final indignity came as Gary Dicker, under no real pressure, steered a West Ham corner past Peter Brezovan to complete Albion’s biggest ever defeat under Poyet.
West Ham: Green; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, Taylor; Noble, Nolan, O’Neil, Lansbury; Vaz Te, Cole. Subs: Henderson, Collison, Collins, Carew, Maynard.
Albion: Brezovan; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter; Navarro, Bridcutt, Dicker; Assulin, Vicente, Barnes. Subs: Ankergren, LuaLua, Mackail-Smith, Jara Reyes, Noone.
Ref: Roger East (Hertfordshire)
