Ian Wright leapt off the bench to grab a goal as West Ham performed an Upton Park demolition job on Derby.

Wright, who came on after just 18 minutes, fired the Hammers 3-0 up 10 minutes into the second-half and had a shot cleared off the line at the death.

When Steve Potts' troublesome knee forced him off Wright entered the fray and within a minute Paolo Di Canio had given the Hammers the lead.

Derby exploded out of the blocks and kept Shaka Hislop busy as they looked to take the early initiative.

Trevor Sinclair and Frank Lampard went close before Di Canio struck. The Italian moved onto his left foot on the edge of the box and his shot took a wicked deflection off Spencer Prior leaving Russell Hoult stranded in the Derby goal.

Nine minutes later Marc-Vivien Foe showed just why Harry Redknapp had pursued him with such determination, lifting the ball over the defence and into the path of the on rushing Di Canio who confused the Derby defence, before squaring for Berkovic to sidefoot home.

The Hammers continued to pile on the pressure as Wright, Di Canio, Berkovic and Lampard all went close.

But after the restart, there was only one man who was going to steal the show and Wright did not disappoint.

His 55th-minute strike was met with a roar which shook the stadium. Lampard's 25-yard shot bounced just in front of Hoult. He could only parry into the path of Wright who made no mistake.

It seemed that there was nothing Derby could do to stem the flow of claret and blue shirts which kept pouring through their defence.

And on the hour, Neil Ruddock got in on the act, rising above Prior on the far post to meet Sinclair's cross and head home.

Four minutes later skipper Steve Lomas charged up the right flank, swinging over the perfect cross for Sinclair to meet with a deadly finish.

In the final minutes, Wanchope produced a superb solo effort as he surged through the defence, rounded Hislop and slid the ball into an empty net.

Teams

West Ham: Hislop, Lomas (Cole 70), Pearce, Ruddock, Potts (Wright 18), Sinclair, Lampard, Foe, Minto, Di Canio, Berkovic.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Moncur, Keller.

Booked: Wright.

Goals: Di Canio 19, Berkovic 28, Wright 55, Ruddock 64, Sinclair 68.

Derby: Hoult, Schnoor, Carbonari, Laursen, Prior, Dorigo (Harper 32), Powell, Beck (Murray 57), Bohinen, Wanchope,Sturridge.

Subs Not Used: Poom, Christie, Jackson.

Booked: Sturridge.

Goals: Wanchope 79.

Att: 25,485.

Ref: K Burge (Tonypandy).