WestHam 3 Middlesbrough 0:Dean Ashton scored his first goal since returning from his 16 month injury layoff, the 23-year-old striker on target as the Hammers beat Boro courtesy of a blistering second half performance.

For Boro, Jeremie Aliadiere hit a post and Tuncay Sanli rattled the crossbar, but despite being on top for periods of the first half, the visitors were simply blown away after the interval.

Boro almost broke the deadlock with their first attack in the 18th minute when Mido skilfully turned and sent Aliadiere racing clean through, but the Frenchman's shot hit Robert Green's left-hand post.

Craig Bellamy was forced off in the 26th minute when the Welsh striker pulled up sharply. Carlton Cole got a rare chance to impress.

Boro also had to reshuffle their strikeforce when former Hammers loan player Aliadiere limped off, with Tuncay coming on.

He almost had an instant impact when he sprung West Ham's offside trap and crossed towards the unmarked Stewart Downing, but Green dived forward to clear the danger.

The Hammers had to wait just 25 seconds after the break to find the net, when Bowyer started and finished a swift move to score his second goal of the season.

And five minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage when Cole shrugged off the attentions of Downing and aimed a precise angled pass towards Mullins, only for Luke Young to steer the ball past Schwarzer into his own net.

Boro should have pulled one back just before the hour when Julio Arca's long ball sent Tuncay clear. Green came charging out to narrow the angle and Tuncay lobbed the ball over the Hammers keeper only to see it bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Ashton's big moment came two minutes later, Mullins swept the ball out to Etherington, who skipped past Young and crossed for Ashton to tuck home at the far post to prompt rapturous celebrations from fans and players.

Tuncay's afternoon was summed up when again he was put in one on one with green this time opting to shoot low only to see his effort roll tamely wide of a gaping net.

Freddie Ljungberg cam off the bench late on, he had been out injured since the opening day defeat to Manchester City.

Carlton Cole missed a chance at the death after being played in by Ljungberg, and shot horribly wide, before Schwarzer saved well from Bowyer in stoppage time.