Alan Curbishley endured a torrid
return to The Valley as West Ham United were thumped 4-0 by his
former club Charlton Athletic.
In a crucial clash between the relegation rivals, Alan Pardew put
one over his old employers to lift Charlton to within three points
of safety.
Darren Ambrose opened the scoring for The Addicks in a one-sided
romp, with Jerome Thomas adding a second goal as West Ham's defence
caved in.
Darren Bent marked his first appearance in two months with the
third goal before half-time and Thomas got his second of the game
with 10 minutes left to secure Charlton's biggest Premiership win
since November 2004.
Calum Davenport made a good early block to prevent Darren Bent
reaching Ambrose's cross before Charlton old boy Paul Konchesky was
booked for going through the back of the midfielder.
Ambrose's probing runs in field were a constant threat in the first
half and one dart into the penalty area required a good block from
a covering defender.
Nigel Quashie was then booked for another robust challenge on
Ambrose before Konchesky thrashed a volley across the face of goal
after Carlton Cole's cross had been flicked on.
The breakthrough came on 24 minutes when Thomas' pass released
Marcus Bent, who appeared a fraction offside, and his pull-back was
cushioned inside the post by Ambrose.
Just 10 minutes later it was 2-0 as Thomas took advantage of gaps
in the West Ham defence to sprint into the box and drive a low shot
across Green after Davenport failed to get in a challenge.
Marcus Bent was then forced off with an injury and his replacement
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - was the creator of the third goal on 41
minutes after Scott Carson had earlier been pressed into his first
save by beating away Quashie's 30-yard thumper.
Hasselbaink's pass sent Darren Bent scampering clear, with
Davenport having failed to time his decision to play offside, and
the returning striker struck a composed finish past Green.
Charlton came close to scoring a fourth goal early in the second
half, but Hasselbaink's caressed curler from 25 yards came back off
the post.
Carlos Tevez, having whipped a free-kick just over late in the
first period, forced Carson to tip a set-piece over the bar as West
Ham showed a little more purpose going forward.
Davenport headed straight at Carson, Yossi Benayoun shot at the
on-loan keeper, who then turned substitute Marlon Harewood's
deflected shot wide.
But with The Hammers having slung on all their attacking guns, they
were caught with a sucker-punch 10 minutes from time, having been
applying the pressure in Charlton's box.
Carson saved another Davenport header from a corner and immediately
launched a counter-attack, which ended with Ambrose playing a low
ball into the box for Thomas to sweep home in decisive
fashion.
The scoreline could have been more embarrassing for The Hammers,
but for the frame of the goal as Souleymane Diawara headed Thomas'
free-kick against the bar in injury-time.
Curbishley will be mindful that a 4-0 away defeat marked the end of
Pardew's tenure back in December and the current incumbent will be
desperately hoping lightning does not strike
twice.
