Newcastle United belatedly served up some of their special brand of champagne football to bring a fitting end to their home campaign.

Second best before the break, Bobby Robson's men made the most of their good fortune to punish West Ham for missed opportunities after it.

Alan Shearer had dragged the home side back into it four minutes before half-time as he cancelled out Jermain Defoe's 20th-minute opener, but Glenn Roeder headed for the dressing room knowing that his side should really have been well in front.

However, the home side rallied on their return and their reward was goals from Lomana LuaLua and Laurent Robert which not only secured another three Premiership points, but sent the bulk of a crowd of 52,127 home with smiles on their faces.

The Magpies faithful turned out in force determined to celebrate, and having witnessed an 8-0 trouncing of Sheffield Wednesday in Robson's first home game two-and-a-half years ago, they came hoping for fireworks.

They got them too, but sadly for the Tynesiders, most of them before the break came from the visitors as they refused to stick to the script.

Indeed, the Hammers should really have tied up the points long before half-time as they tore United apart at regular intervals and limited their key men to scraps.

That they did not was a result of some marginally wayward finishing, one fine save from Shay Given and several large slices of good fortune as Joe Cole, Frederic Kanoute and Trevor Sinclair pulled their markers all over the park to expose the gaps between them.

Kieron Dyer was rarely able to get into the game and although Robert gradually built up a head of steam, there was for too long little end-product.

Aaron Hughes had already blocked a Defoe effort when the England Under-21 striker let fly with a powerful volley which Given had to beat away, Andy O'Brien completing the job as Kanoute picked up the loose ball.

Kanoute sent a header inches wide after Sinclair picked him out unmarked in the middle, but Defoe finally made the pressure count with 20 minutes gone when he ran on to the Frenchman's flick and thumped another volley past the stranded Given.

Cole and Steve Lomas both shot wide and Kanoute lifted another effort on to the roof of the net after playing a delicious one-two with Cole as Newcastle struggled to keep their heads above water.

But the one thing Robson has always been able to rely upon is that, given the chances, Shearer will score goals, and he did just that four minutes before the break.

Robert's pass split the Hammers' defence and the 31-year-old drew David James before slotting home his 26th of the season.

The Magpies might have gone into the lead twice within seconds as the half drew to a close as O'Brien and Gary Speed went close, but that would in all honesty have been something of a travesty.

Master motivator Robson must have left his players in little doubt that what had gone before was not good enough, and their response was breathtaking.

It took them just eight minutes of the second half to force their way in front, LuaLua firing home from close range after James had atoned for his poor headed clearance with a superb save from Robert.

Dyer twice wasted glorious opportunities by shooting high over when he should really have hit the target, but United extended their lead with 65 minutes gone after Nolberto Solano and Robert combined to devastating effect.

The Frenchman lifted the Peruvian's long ball over the advancing James and when it came back off the post, followed up to prod home his 10th goal of the season.

Newcastle were in full flow and Solano twice tried to beat James from distance with the outside of his right foot.

But the Hammers refused to accept their fate and it took a good save from Given to keep out Cole and a well-timed Olivier Bernard challenge to deny Kanoute.

However, there was no denying United another victory, and one which was received deliriously by a packed house.

Teams

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien (Distin 45), Dabizas, Bernard, Solano, Dyer (Jenas 83), Speed, Robert, LuaLua (Cort 83), Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Kerr.

Booked: Distin.

Goals: Shearer 41, LuaLua 53, Robert 66.

West Ham: James, Repka, Dailly, Pearce, Labant (Garcia 82), Sinclair (Winterburn 71), Carrick, Lomas, Cole, Kanoute, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Potts, Iriekpen.

Booked: Pearce, Kanoute.

Goals: Defoe 20.

Att: 52,127

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).