West Ham hit five to show their mettle

Jim van Wijk at Upton Park

• Last Updated: November 28. 2009 9:57PM UAE / November 28. 2009 5:57PM GMT

West Ham 5 // Burnley 3

LONDON // West Ham gave themselves hope that a battle against relegation can yet be avoided as they took apart Burnley – but were also reminded that they cannot afford to lose focus if they are to pull away from the bottom three.

Goals from Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas, Carlton Cole, Guillermo Franco and Luis Jimenez sealed this impressive victory.

But a late brace from Steven Fletcher plus a Chris Eagles strike took some gloss off the win for the Hammers, who remain just two points above the relegation zone.

The Irons took the lead when Scott Parker’s free-kick allowed Collison to beat the offside trap to run clean through and slot past Brian Jensen.

They doubled their lead after 34 minutes when the busy Franco slipped a reverse pass to Junior Stanislas on the right. The winger looked to have missed his opportunity when Jensen made a smart save at his near post only for the keeper to get his angles all wrong from the rebound as Stanislas guided the ball home.

West Ham were awarded a penalty when Jonathan Spector was felled by Robbie Blake. Cole stepped up to drill in the spot-kick for his seventh goal of the season.

It was game over after 50 minutes when Franco made it 4-0.

Stanislas whipped a free-kick from the right across the six-yard box, where Franco headed home. Dave Nugent missed two golden chances in quick succession to pull a goal back for the visitors, which just about summed up their afternoon.

Franco was given a well- deserved rest when Luis Jimenez came on after 60 minutes.

Referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot once again after the on-loan Inter Milan winger was brought down by Jensen as he dashed into the right side of the penalty area.

Jimenez stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, and lashed it into the right corner for his first West Ham goal.

Burnley kept going – and netted a consolation when Fletcher scored at the far post following good work from Eagles on the left after 67 minutes.

He grabbed a second six minutes later, and there was still plenty of drama as Steven Caldwell was sent off for a professional foul and Eagles pulled another back.

* PA Sport