West Ham United went back to the top of the Championship with a 4-1 victory over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tonight.

Two goals in four minutes put the Hammers in control midway through the first half as James Tomkins headed them into a 28th-minute lead.

On his first start sincing joining from Bristol City, Nicky Maynard bagged the second when he shot past Tangerines stopper Matt Gilks.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips made it 2-1 on the stroke of half time, heading in past visitors' keeper Rob Green just ten minutes after his introduction off the bench.

It looked as if things were turning in Blackpool's favour when Green was sent off for bringing down Roman Bednar shortly after the break.

Without a recognised goalkeeper among his substitutes, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce turned to midfielder Henri Lansbury to keep net for the remaining 38 minutes.

Remarkably Lansbury kept a clean sheet as the Londoners strolled to victory by scoring twice more through Gary O'Neil and Ricardo Vaz Te.

The victory sees West Ham regain first place from Southampton while Blackpool fall out of the playoff places following the defeat.