West Ham United put struggling Hull City to the sword at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, as three second-half goals earned the Hammers a first Barclays Premier League victory of the New Year.
Sam Allardyce's men awoke from a first-half slumber to open the scoring in the 48th minute, as Andy Carroll poached his fifth of the campaign after Allan McGregor could only parry an Enner Valencia strike.
Substitute Morgan Amalfitano then finished with aplomb to double the Hammers' lead on 69, before Stewart Downing raced onto a stunning Alex Song through ball to seal a first league win in five and West Ham's biggest success of the campaign to date.
Ironically, for all the jubilation of Tuesday evening, it was Hull City who showed first here and might have hit the front inside six minutes. The industrious Sone Aluko wriggled his way to the by-line and picked out the run of Ahmed Elmohamady, who should have at least hit the target, but screwed an effort past Adrian's right-hand upright.
Mark Noble then played a quick free-kick to Aaron Cresswell, who took a touch before lashing it goalwards, with McGregor at full stretch down to his right to watch it safely wide of the post.
By now Carroll and Valencia were beginning to find their feet in the final third. The former picked out his strike-partner on the edge of the box, but his right-footed strike was miscued and wayward. Carroll was at it again down the left moments later and it took a brave Curtis Davies block to snuff out the danger at the expense of a corner. McGregor misjudged Noble's ball in and though James Tomkins comfortably beat him to it, he nodded over the top from point-blank range.
At the other end, Aluko repeatedly threatened. He firstly burst past Tomkins and into the box, but Collins came across to hammer it out before Aluko could get a shot away. He then cut in from the right and sped past Collins, but instead of pulling the trigger, tried to exchange passes with Jake Livermore and the chance went begging.
With a disappointing half drawing to a close, Downing's right-wing cross was met by Collins, whose looping header had McGregor desperately back-pedalling and then came back off the bar. It was only partially cleared and when Downing swung it in for a second time, McGregor had to get down smartly to smother Tomkins' downward header.
West Ham upped the tempo after the break and reward almost came instantly. Downing's cut-back sped all the way through to Nolan on the edge of the box, whose strike sailed agonisingly over the top.
No matter, as the Hammers had the lead seconds later. Valencia dropped his shoulder out on the left and his dipping effort proved too hot for McGregor to handle. He parried it straight back into the six-yard box and Carroll reacted quicker than Davies to steer home.
Buoyed by the opener, West Ham went in search of a killer second. Valencia looked to be in on goal, only to be stopped in his tracks by the linesman's flag. The Ecuadorian had another sight of goal after 67 minutes, as he intercepted Michael Dawson's ill-advised square ball across the 18-yard box. Though Valencia's first touch took him wider than he would have wanted, he promptly shifted it onto his left and belted one high into the side netting.
But Valencia was soon celebrating his second assist of the afternoon, as substitute Amalfitano sealed it for the hosts. The Frenchman raced onto Valencia's slide-rule pass and brilliantly dinked it over the advancing McGregor. Game over, you would think. And if there were any semblance of doubt about that, a West Ham third two minutes later well and truly ended it as a contest.
Tomkins broke up play at the back and then left it to Alex Song to take control. And didn't he just. The Cameroon man bisected the Hull back four with a fabulous through ball, giving Downing all the time in the world to clinically slot home at the near post.
Now in cruise control, the hosts might have made it four late on, but the unlucky Kevin Nolan steered against the crossbar from the acutest of angles. But it was of little consequence as the Hammers now look ahead to a fourth round FA Cup tie at Bristol City with a spring in their step.
West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins (Reid 49), Tomkins (O'Brien 76), Cresswell, Song, Noble (Amalfitano 66), Nolan (c), Downing, Carroll, Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Poyet, Jarvis, Cole
Goals: Carroll 48, Amalfitano 69, Downing 72
Booked: Noble
Hull City: McGregor, Chester (Figueroa 45), Bruce (Maguire 46), Davies (c), Dawson, Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Elmohamady, Quinn, Aluko
Subs: Harper, McShane, Ramirez, Ince, Sagbo
Booked: Elmohamady, Quinn, Meyler
Referee: Martin Atkinson