After taking the lead late in the first half, West Ham produced a dominant second-half display to thrash nine-man Lincoln City 6-0 at Sincil Bank on Wednesday night.
Six goals, five different scorers, two early red cards for the hosts, and the first win in three to send the Hammers up to third in the Championship table.
This breathless encounter at Sincil Bank was all about the numbers, and in the end, the eleven men blew the nine away.
The contest was effectively decided inside the opening 23 minutes as the hosts were reduced to nine men. Tom Hamer received a straight red card in the third minute for a late challenge on Joël Veltman.
Conor McGrandles followed him down the tunnel on 23 minutes after a professional foul on Jarrod Bowen.
Despite the numerical advantage, West Ham were made to wait until first-half stoppage time for the breakthrough.
Konstantinos Mavropanos rose highest to head home from a Jarrod Bowen corner, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at the interval.
The floodgates opened after the restart. Substitute Edvin Austbø doubled the lead three minutes into the second half, before captain Bowen made it 3-0 on 50 minutes with a clinical finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Arne Engels.
West Ham continued to press home their superiority.
Pablo added a fourth on 75 minutes, and Tomáš Souček, introduced from the bench, rounded off the scoring with a late brace – finding the net on 79 and 89 minutes to cap off a fine few days, personally.
Earlier this week, the club confirmed the Czechia international star had signed a new contract to keep him in east London until 2028.
West Ham rout was a matter of time
The comprehensive victory, West Ham’s biggest of the season, underlined the gulf in class once Lincoln were forced to play more than an hour with nine men.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side controlled possession and created numerous chances against a depleted Imps side who battled bravely but were ultimately overrun.
It was only a matter of time.
The result moves West Ham into third place in the Championship table, and all of a sudden, the situation takes a positive turn.
Unbeaten in eight league games, the Hammers can now look forward to maintaining the promotion challenge.
Nuno sent a warning and the response has been emphatic. More of the same will do.
Lincoln City 0-6 West Ham United
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