FAUSTINO ASPRILLA scored his first St James Park goal since his £7.5 million move from Italy as Newcastle destroyed West Ham, who had a man sent off, to go back three points clear with a game in hand in the English FA Premiership.
Kevin Keegan's men had faced a fortnight of headlines questioning whether they had the courage and mental strength to claim their first title in 69 years after their 100 per cent home record was smashed by Eric Cantona.
But the answer could not have been more emphatic as they returned to their brilliant best with a display that must have Old Trafford and Anfield fearing the worst. Philippe Albert, with his sixth goal of the season, gave the Tynesiders the start they wanted with a sensationally worked strike in the 21st minute.
Harry Redknapp's aside were already struggling to stay afloat - and their chances of keeping above the surface effectively ended when Steve Potts committed two bookable fouls on David Ginola, right in front of referee Stephen Lodge, in the space of 25 first half seconds.
But the manner in which Keegan's outfit took advantage of their extra man to stroke the ball about was a joy to watch, only the brilliance of Les Sealey sparing the Upton Park side embarrassment.
Despite that, even Sealey could do nothing to prevent Asprilla converting Peter Beardsley's textbook pass 10 minutes into the second period.
And then Les Ferdinand completed what might have been a rout with his 26th goal of the season as the chant of "champions" echoed round St James's Park.
Had it not been for the outstanding reflexes of Sealey, making his full debut - and his first start since playing for Blackpool against Brighton 18 months ago - in the absence of Ludek Miklosko, the contest would have been over well before the break.
Inside 20 minutes, Sealey had pulled off four outstanding stops, before Albert struck. The goal was a classic, both in construction and execution, with the Belgian picking up the ball 35 yards out, feeding Ferdinand and timing his run superbly when it was transferred on by Asprilla into his path before he slid home.
West Ham, who gave Ilie Dumitrescu his full debut, received a crushing blow by Potts's 25 seconds of indiscipline in the 32nd minute.
There could be no arguing with the first caution - the defender seemed intent on swapping shirts with Ginola - and although he might have made contact with the ball for the second, the tackle from behind was reckless in the extreme.
Sealey, in inspired form, brought off more stops to, deny Albert twice and Ginola. But even he should have had no chance when Ginola released Ferdinand in the 49th minute, a weak shot allowing the goalkeeper to save.
It was only delaying the inevitable though, and in the 55th minute, following Asprilla's superb run on to Beardsley's pass and cool finish, any doubts about the destination of the points were ended. Steve Watson came on for Warren Barton before Pavel Srnicek made his only serious stop of the night, backpedalling to grasp Michael Hughes' 40 yard chip, but at the other end the floodgates seemed set to open.
It was showtime, with Asprilla and Ginola the ringmasters and in the 65th minute, even Ferdinand had something to smile at. Steve Howey met Ginola's left wing corner, Asprilla nodded back into the danger zone and Ferdinand, first to react, slammed home from close range.
