Marlon Harewood gave West Ham the lead in the opening exchanges with a spectacular strike from 30 yards out after receiving a clearance from Hayden Mullins.
The wind-assisted shot flew into Paddy Kenny's top right hand corner to silence the enthusiastic home crowd.
It could have been Marlon's second goal of the game; earlier, he missed a low cross from Matthew Etherington from four yards out.
Marlon then played a low cross into Kenny's hands after a fine run on the left with Teddy Sheringham waiting to receive in the six yard box.
Former Hammer Jon Harley curled a Carl Fletcher-conceded free kick just wide; in the altercation that followed the challenge Nigel Reo-Coker and Ashley Ward were booked.
Carl Fletcher picked up a yellow card early in the second half for a foul on Harley.
Adam Nowland replaced Luke Chadwick midway through a second half that was producing little by way of goalmouth action; Reo-Coker went to right midfield and Nowland took up a central position.
Almost immediately, he conceded a foul on Paul Thirlwell, and from the free kick Alan Quinn's cross floated over Steve Bywater in a crowded box and into the net.
Shortly afterwards Alan Pardew took off Marlon Harewood and replaced him with Sergei Rebrov.
West Ham restored the lead when Teddy Sheringham's goalbound left foot free kick deflected beyond Kenny and into the net.
Malky Mackay then replaced Hayden Mullins, with Tomas Repka switching to right back. Calum Davenport made his debut alongside Tomas Repka at the heart of the defence, while Carl Fletcher also made his first start in midfield.
Chris Powell, signed on Friday with Malky Mackay, was on the bench.
Team: Bywater, Repka, Brevett, Davenport, Mullins [Mackay], Chadwick [Nowland], Fletcher, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Sheringham, Harewood [Rebrov].
Subs unused: Walker, Powell.
Attendance: 21,058