Newcastle hit their Best form against West Ham

Published on 05/01/2011 18:47

LEON Best reminded Andy Carroll that there is more than one striker on Tyneside as Newcastle dumped West Ham deep into relegation trouble.

Best, opened his account for the club in the absence of the injured Carroll and Shola Ameobi with a fine hat-trick. His first-half brace and skipper Kevin Nolan's 45th-minute strike put the Magpies in the driving seat, and his third on the hour ended the Hammers' recent revival before Peter Lovenkrands netted a fifth.

Aston Villa dropped into the bottom three on goal difference as their former loan signing Phil Bardsley earned Sunderland victory at Villa Park. Villa were reduced to ten men before Bardsley's decider when Emile Heskey was sent off for violent conduct. Black Cats substitute Boudewijn Zenden was given his marching orders near the end for two bookable offences.

Ronnie Stam scored an 80th-minute equaliser for Wigan at Bolton, who had taken the lead through on-loan Benfica forward Rodrigo Moreno.