Blackpool rout pleases Big Sam

The Hammers roared into the top two of the npower Championship with their biggest home league win since 12 September 2005.

Sam Baldock scored his first West Ham United goals in between an opener from John Carew and a clincher from Jack Collison as the home side dominated at a packed Boleyn on Saturday. In truth, it could have been five or six as chance after chance was spurned.

The manager was satisfied, nevertheless. "It was confidence boosting. Especially at home because it has been our achilles heel as everyone knows results wise. Today we got everything right. We were defensively sound. We had quality of play in possession and quality of finishing when the opportunities arose.

"It is not often I can say I am a little disappointed we only scored four with the chances we created. There were a number of other chances we had that could have been converted but I like the way we finished Blackpool off in the second half and we took the chances we did."

PHOTO GALLERY I MINUTE BY MINUTE UPDATES

Reminding that the team were "dreadful" in the last home outing against Ipswich Town, the manager said he deliberately repeated the 4-4-2 formation because he knew "Blackpool were very attack-minded and left a lot of gaps and spaces." His plans were also affected by the loss of David Bentley for the season with a knee injury.

He added: "Because they like to push the full-backs on, it left them exposed. Both centre-halves were left on their own facing John Carew and Sam Baldock and those two were excellent.

"They were our best players today and that is the main reason we won 4-0 and you have to give the rest of the lads credit for the defensive work and the supply they gave them to create and score chances."

Baldock and Carew got the nod up front with Carlton Cole rested. Henri Lansbury was also stood down after two Under-21 internationals with England while Mark Noble made the bench after overcoming his toe problem

Those three, plus unused sub Frederic Piquionne and Joey O'Brien, back from hamstring trouble, should all be in contention for Southampton on Tuesday. It will be hard for anyone to dislodge Baldock, with the manager emphasising his praise for the No7.

"As a player, in terms of his finishing he is something we haven't got. We have got John, Carlton and Freddie, but Sam looks like he can score many types. He was probably the only player on the field apart from Kevin Phillips that could have scored the second."