Allardyce's men Hammer Pool (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Sam Baldock's double helps West Ham United hammer Blackpool

9:38pm Saturday 15th October 2011 in West Ham

Summer-signing Sam Baldock may have missed out on a hat-trick but this afternoon was still one to remember for West Ham United fans after their side thumped Blackpool 4-0.

Blackpool showed the confidence you would expect from them early on, having beaten Bristol City 5-0 in their last game.

But John Carew headed Julien Faubert's cross into the bottom corner on 12 minutes to put West Ham in front.

The Hammers were then comfortable throughout and went close to doubling their lead on several occasions in the opening period, with Baldock and Carew going close.

Liverpool starlet Jonjo Shelvey forced West Ham goalkeeper Manuel Almunia into a stop just before the break but that was a rare attack from the visitors.

The three points were secured in eight second-half minutes as the Hammers scored three times between the 47th and 55th minute.

Baldock broke the Pool offside trap to make it 2-0 and then Matt Hill's mistake allowed the former MK Dons striker to double his tally with a simple tap-in following Carew's flick on.

Jack Collison made it 4-0 with a deflected volley but Baldock was left to rue another superb save by Gilks when he was denied a deserved hat-trick.

West Ham: Almunia; Faubert, Tomkins (Faye 60), Reid, McCartney; Collison, Nolan, Diop, Taylor (Sears 62); Baldock, Carew (Noble 80). Subs not used: Boffin, Piquionne.