Newcastle United 4 West Ham United 0
Livewire striker Lomana LuaLua ensured that Newcastle launched their new Premiership campaign in style as they romped to victory over West Ham.
The 21-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo front man struck twice within 12 second-half minutes as the Londoners finally wilted under intense pressure, leaving it to strike partner Alan Shearer and Nolberto Solano to cement the points and take their team top of the table.
It was a night of many landmarks for Bobby Robson's side - it was the 50th Premiership win of the manager's reign, the club's 100th clean sheet since they returned to the top flight and, remarkably, the first time Shearer had scored for his home town club on opening day.
But, perhaps more importantly, it demonstrated that last season's fourth-place finish was no fluke, and that the £18million the manager has invested in youngsters Jermaine Jenas, Hugo Viana and Titus Bramble has been well spent.
Jenas and Viana in particular were outstanding, although LuaLua's energy, pace and sense of adventure gave his side a thrilling element which proved too much for the Hammers.
A packed house of 51,027, still buzzing from the memories of last season and the prospect of Champions League football returning to St James' Park, arrived full of expectation, and they had plenty to applaud before the break as Robson's side turned on the style from the off in front of England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The only fly in the ointment was the fact that they did not manage to put the ball past Hammers skipper David James, although it seemed only a matter of time before a back four, forced to soak up intense pressure before the break, eventually cracked.
The breakthrough finally arrived with 61 minutes gone when the impressive Jenas flicked on a Solano corner and LuaLua arrived right on time to dispatch the ball into the back of the net.
James made another magnificent stop on 64 minutes to deny Viana a goal on his Premiership debut, but there was nothing the keeper could do to keep out LuaLua once again with 17 minutes remaining.
Solano's cross field pass picked out Viana on the left, and his ball was perfectly weighted for LuaLua to power home his second with a Shearer-like header.
Not to be outdone, the United skipper got in on the act three minutes later as his side ran riot, turning up on the end of a superb exchange of passes between Solano and LuaLua to steer the Peruvian's cross home.
The former England captain returned the favour four minutes from time when he jinked his way into the box to cross for Solano to add a fourth goal with the Hammers by now in disarray.