West Ham took advantage of a suicidal defensive display by Leeds to continue their assault on a UEFA Cup spot with a commanding display at Upton Park.

Welsh international John Hartson - playing against George Graham, the manager who made him the country's most expensive teenager when he signed him for Arsenal from Luton - strike partner Samassi Abou and Ian Pearce scored the Hammers' three goals.

But the Leeds defenders, who had come into the game on the back of three consecutive clean sheets, were uncharacteristically pulled apart all evening as they belied their reputation for resilience.

The main fall-guy was recent signing Martin Hiden, a £1.3million capture from Rapid Vienna, who endured a torrid time as David Wetherall waited on the bench until the last 15 minutes and Lucas Radebe through suspension.

The victory - West Ham's first League win over Leeds for an incredible 16 years, when Trevor Brooking scored twice in a 4-3 success - took Harry Redknapp's side above Derby up to seventh.

Hartson opened the scoring as early as the eight minute as Leeds failed to cope with an inswinging corner from Eyal Berkovic, who had dominated the midfield with his silky touches alongside Trevor Sinclair.

Hiden succeeded in merely glancing the ball across the face of goal and keeper Nigel Martyn was completely wrong-footed at his near post as Hartson arrived at the far post to guide the ball home from short-range for his 22nd goal of the season.

West Ham's second, just 13 minutes later, was almost comical. Defender David Unsworth played a long ball out of defence, which Hartson headed on but it still looked easy for Leeds to clear.

But defender Hiden collided with keeper Martyn on the edge of the penalty area and Abou, who had run forward more in hope than expectation, was as surprised as anyone to find the ball at his feet and he merely ran it into the net.

Leeds, who had won their last two games 4-0 against Blackburn and 5-0 against Derby, could even have gone three down before the break but Ian Harte cleared off the line from Pearce and Martyn made a fine reaction save from Berkovic.

The inevitable third goal eventually arrived on 67 minutes, when Berkovic threaded a pass through for Pearce, playing superbly out of position at wing-back, chased on to before cutting inside, rounding the static defence and keeper Martyn before shooting home.

And Hartson almost made it four just seconds before the final whistle when he hit the post from Emmanuel Omoyimni's cross, while Abou also forced Martyn into a fine diving save with a 20-yard free-kick.

Leeds did have their chances, with Bruno Ribeiro heading narrowly over and forcing Bernard Lama to tip away a shot for a corner before the break.

Lama also acrobatically tipped a Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink free-kick over the bar but it was not until the 75th minute, when his side was already 3-0 down, that Graham sent on striker Rod Wallace to give his lone striker some real support.

They could have gone fourth in the table if they had won. But as it was, they never got to grips with an impressive West Ham side and defeat left them looking nervously over their shoulders at a host of clubs chasing the prized places in Europe next season.

Teams

West Ham: Lama, Unsworth, Pearce, Ferdinand, Lazaridis, Moncur, Berkovic (Mean 79), Abou (Omoyinmi 87), Potts, Hartson, Sinclair.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Hodges, Coyne.

Booked: Lazaridis, Moncur, Sinclair.

Goals: Hartson 8, Abou 23, Pearce 68.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Haaland, Hasselbaink, Ribeiro, Bowyer (Wetherall 75), Halle, Harte, Hiden, Maybury (Wallace 75), Molenaar.

Subs Not Used: Beeney, Matthews, McPhail.

Booked: Ribeiro, Kelly, Haaland.

Att: 24,107

Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).