Nottingham thrashed 4-1 by West Ham

West Ham got their spluttering campaign back on track with an impressive 4-1 victory at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Sam Allardyce's side were held to a 2-2 draw by Leeds last weekend and then crashed out of the League Cup with a last-minute defeat against League Two minnows Aldershot in midweek.

But any fears that the Hammers would find it hard to adjust to life back in the Championship after last season's relegation from the Premier League were laid to rest by this dominant display.

The east London outfit moved up to fifth place in English football's second tier thanks to a Luke Chambers own goal and strikes from Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole and Winston Reid.

West Ham's victory was all the more impressive as it was achieved without England midfielder Scott Parker, who is expected to leave the club imminently.

The Hammers were ahead in the 21st minute, Matt Taylor whipping a cross into the six-yard box that Chambers directed into his own net.

Nolan used his head to double the advantage three minutes later, James Tomkins nodding the ball into a throng of visiting players for the former Newcastle midfielder to bag his second goal this term.

Allardyce's side scored again in the 32nd minute as England forward Cole nodded home from Reid's cross.

Forest got one back when Andy Reid and Joel Lynch combined to set up Robbie Findley, who slotted home in the 70th minute.

But the contest was all over in the 77th minute when Reid latched onto Taylor's pinpoint cross to slip a shot past Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp.