Ricardo Vaz Te ended his six-year wait for a Premier League goal to help West Ham United establish a 2-0 half-time lead over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight.
The Portuguese striker had not scored a top-flight goal in English football since he netted for former club Bolton Wanderers in the 2006-07 season, but he added to Matt Jarvis's earlier header as the visitors piled the misery on a winless QPR.
Summer signing Jarvis scored his first Hammers goal to give them a 3rd-minute lead, nodding in across goal after Kevin Nolan's miscued shot had looped towards the back post.
Sam Allardyce then had cause for concern when Winston Reid took a heavy knock to the head after colliding with teammate Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The New Zealand international managed to get back on his feet but had to be substituted, as did fellow defender Joey O'Brien.
West Ham recovered from their double injury blow to extend their advantage as Vaz Te converted from a tight angle, beating Julio Cesar with the outside of his right foot from Mark Noble's cross.
QPR fashioned little in terms of goalscoring opportunities, although Djibril Cisse did test Jaaskelainen with an acrobatic effort before the half-time whistle, which was greeted by a chorus of boos from the home support.
Joe Fish
