Hammers delight at Royal turnaround

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The Hammers crashed to a 6-0 defeat on New Year's Day but never looked back after Craig Bellamy had given them an early lead.

Matthew Etherington added two more in the second half, while Reading striker Kevin Doyle saw his penalty saved.

It had taken the home fans just a few minutes to start the inevitable "6-0" chants - but within seconds Bellamy had netted his third goal in claret and blue, adding to his midweek Carling Cup double at Bristol Rovers.

Reading's undoing was of their own initial making, however, as James Harper was carelessly dispossessed in midfield by Lee Bowyer and Ivar Ingimarsson was never going to catch the flying Welshman, whose low, angled drive beat the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

West Ham doubled their lead just four minutes into the second half when Etherington played a clever one-two with Bellamy before firing home.

Reading were handed a lifeline when goalkeeper Robert Green brought down Dave Kitson in the box.

However, he guessed correctly to block Doyle's spot-kick with a dive to his left.

Etherington wrapped up the points in stoppage time following a superb solo run.