Jerome Thomas scoring his first two goals of the season.

Darren Bent, returning after a seven-match absence, made it 3-0 just before half-time for his 11th of the season after Darren Ambrose (23 minutes) and Thomas (34) put the Addicks in command to delight their former West Ham chief Alan Pardew.

Thomas made it 4-0 nine minutes from time after substitute Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink hit a post. And although the Hammers improved after the break with sub Marlon Harewood going close, the result means they are now three points behind Charlton in the bottom three and looking doomed to the drop.

West Ham were soon under siege with Charlton wound up from the start by the capacity crowd. Darren Bent fed namesake Marcus who drilled a shot wide of the near post from 20 yards and then it needed a smart interception by Calum Davenport to prevent Darren Bent latching onto Darren Ambrose's cross into the six-yard box.

There had been no sign of a decent West Ham attack in the opening 20 minutes although they must have been encouraged by the sight of nervous Charlton defenders giving the ball carelessly away.

The home also looked uncomfortable when Cole back-headed Christian Dailly's cross and Konchesky's drilled, low finish scuttled wide. But it was Charlton who took a deserved lead on 23 minutes and Ambrose was the deserving scorer.

Marcus Bent burst clear down the right and his fine cross found Ambrose unattended to thump home on the half-volley. despite working hard afterwards the Hammers were struck a huge blow when Thomas starred again, this time in a quick breakaway down the left and rammed his shot beyond Robert Green. It was the former Arsenal midfielder's first goal of the season.

Charlton lost the injured Marcus Bent after 35 minutes with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink replacing him but Scott Carson protected the two-goal lead with a spectacular save to keep out Quashie's blockbusting drive from 20 yards three minutes later. And it was Hasselbaink's slide-rule pass that put Darren Bent through a square West Ham defence for a fine finish four minutes from half-time.

Hasselbaink almost added a fourth for rampant Charlton seven minutes after the interval when his powerful shot from 20 yards struck a post wit Green well beaten The Hammers had brought on Marlon Harewood for Etherington up front and when he was brought down Tevez curled a free-kick over the Charlton wall only for Carson to turn it over the bar with a leaping save.

Thomas grabbed his second goal of the game with nine minutes to go. He met Holland's cross and drilled the ball past the hapless Green from 12 yards. Darren Bent was given a standing ovation whe he left the field, to be replaced by Zhi Zeng, three minutes later.