Charlton Athletic 4 West Ham United 0

JEROME THOMAS scored twice as Charlton breathed new life into their fight for Premiership survival with Saturday's crushing defeat of companions in distress West Ham before a sell-out crowd at The Valley.

The Addicks never looked back once midfielder Darren Ambrose gave them a 24th minute lead from Marcus Bent's cross.

Thomas opened his account in the 34th minute with a cool finish after racing clear.

Leading scorer Darren Bent celebrated his return from long-term injury when he made it 3-0 in the 41st minute after substitute Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink had played him through.

Hasselbaink was out of luck with a swerving shot that struck a post in the 53rd minute, before Thomas rounded off the scoring in the 80th minute from a pass by Ambrose.

Charlton went close to adding a fifth in second half stoppage when substitute Zheng Zhi rattled the crossbar with a header.

It was a miserable first return to The Valley for former Charlton manager Alan Curbishley who sufferd the indignity of hearing West Ham fans chanting the name of former boss Alan Pardew, now in charge of the Addicks.

Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Thatcher, Ambrose, Song (Faye 85), Holland, Thomas, M Bent, D Bent (Zheng 80).
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Rommedahl.
Attendance: 27,111.

* Keep up to date with all the news from The Valley every week in the Bexley Extra.