West Ham earned their second consecutive away win after a 4-0 victory at Watford in the Championship this evening.

United struck telling blows at the start and end of the first half which effectively decided the contest. James Tomkins opened the scoring with an early header and, despite coming under concerted pressure from the hosts, they added a second goal through Joey O’Brien’s individual effort on the stroke of half time.

Carlton Cole sealed the win in the second half with a simple tap-in and Scott Parker netted the fourth in stoppage time.

The Hammers made one change from the side which earned their first win of the season at Doncaster Rovers. Cole started his first game up front for West Ham with Frederic Piquionne dropping down to the bench. Julien Faubert was also fit enough to be named as a substitute for the visitors.

West Ham had an early scare inside the first minute when John Eustace’s low strike was spilled by Robert Green but he managed to hold Marvin Sordell’s follow up.

But the visitors responded immediately and Matt Taylor’s free-kick was pushed around the post by Scott Loach. Taylor took the corner and centre-back Tomkins rose to head the Hammers into a third minute lead.

Sam Allardyce’s side were handed another opportunity in the 14th minute when Taylor fired a free-kick from outside of the box just wide. But the Hornets were only denied an equaliser after a stunning save by Green from Sordell’s strike.

The game was going at a frenetic pace but it was making for a cracking contest with the Hornets looking as dangerous as the Championship favourites.

West Ham came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Cole flicked the ball on and Winston Reid was unable to divert the ball into the net from close range.

Watford were certainly threatening the Hammers and the impressive Sordell tested Green with a fizzing low shot from outside the area.

The England goalkeeper was forced into another save after 34 minutes when he managed to hold Chris Iwelumo’s header.

West Ham struck a nice move together towards the end of the first half but Mark Noble’s cross-shot floated wide of Loach’s post.

The Hammers came close to adding a second goal but Jack Collison headed Parker’s cross over the bar.

West Ham threatened again on the break when Parker released Cole and the striker’s shot was parried by Loach.

The Hammers crucially doubled their lead in the 47th minute of the half when defender O’Brien burst past several Watford players and fired his shot into the far corner of the net. It was the former Bolton defender’s first goal in six years.

West Ham were happy to keep control of the ball during the early stages of the second half and the home side’s goal threat had died down.

The Hammers brought on Abdoulaye Faye, for his debut for the club, midway through the second half in place of goalscorer Tomkins.

West Ham killed off the contest in the 70th minute when Herita Ilunga burst forward and squared the ball for Cole to tap home the third. The England striker was given a warm ovation after being replaced by Piquionne.

The visitors made their final change with 14 minutes remaining when Faubert replaced Collison.

Parker launched a spectacular strike from outside the box late on but his effort was just wide of Loach’s post. There was still time for Kevin Nolan to volley over the crossbar.

Allardyce’s side coasted through the closing minutes of the match safe in the knowledge they had secured back to back away wins for the first time in four years.

The Hammers added a fourth goal in injury time when Parker broke clear and fired into the far corner.

Watford: Loach; Dickinson, Taylor, Mariappa, Doyley; Eustace, Forsyth, Jenkins, Yeates (Deeney, 75); Iwelumo (Massey, 56), Sordell

West Ham: Green; Reid, Tomkins (Faye, 68), O’Brien, Ilunga; Nolan, Parker, Collison (Faubert, 76), Taylor, Noble, Cole (Piquionne, 74)

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 14,747