KEVIN KEEGAN received a sharp reminder that his expensive Newcastle outfit can take nothing for granted after this mauling in Upton Park.

Harry Redknapp's rampant Hammers breathed new life into the Premiership title race with an irresistible performance recognised by a standing ovation at the end.

Premiership leaders Newcastle were nine points ahead of Manchester United at kick off with a game in hand and a 100 per cent League record in five matches since their St Stephen's Day defeat at Old Trafford.

But they were shattered by goals from Danny Williamson and Tony Cottee, which made it five Premiership wins in a row for West Ham.

Keegan gave £7.5 million Colombian Faustino Asprilla his full debut, but was without the injured Robert Lee and the suspended David Ginola.

Newcastle started confidently enough, Darren Peacock heading, a fourth minute Peter Beardsley corner against the West Ham crossbar with goalkeeper Ludo Miklosko well beaten.

But West Ham are no easy touch these days. Three minutes later Williamson gave them the lead when Iain Dowie flicked on a Dicks pass and he rounded Warren Barton before burying his left foot shot beyond Pavel Srnicek.

Some of Asprilla's control, vision and balance had even the home fans purring with delight.

He might have had a penalty when felled by Steve Potts after 32 minutes, but Surrey referee Paul Alcock ignored Newcastle's claims.

As the game ebbed and flowed during a magnificent first half West Ham should have doubled their advantage when Dicks sent Cottee clear with a superb 30 yard pass, but the former England forward could not break away from Philippe Albert, who recovered to get in a saving tackle.

On the resumption Asprilla should have levelled after sending Marc Rieper the wrong way with a body swerve. He looked up, took careful aim and placed his swerving shot against the left hand upright.

West Ham's second arrived when Dicks rose highest for a Williamson corner, headed the ball forward and Cottee beat Srnicek with a spectacular overhead kick.