Gianfranco Zola's reign as West Ham manager got off to the perfect start as his fellow Italian David di Michele hit a brace to help see off crisis-club Newcastle 3-1 at Upton Park.

The former Chelsea midfielder officially took up his duties on Monday - and the Hammers, playing with squad numbers on the front of their shirts after their sponsor XL holidays went bust - responded to record a third home successive win.

Di Michele, on a season loan from Torino, set them on their way with a deflected effort after just eight minutes and then added another before half-time.

Matthew Etherington made it 3-0 before England striker Michael Owen salvaged a consolation for the visitors, who are in desperate need of direction without a manager and under an owner looking to get out as quickly as possible.

Di Michele' s first goal came after he cut in from the right after eight minutes and shot from 20 yards — then wheeled away in celebration as the ball ricocheted off Steven Taylor and up over the keeper into the net.

Nine minutes before half-time the Italian bagged his second. But the chance looked to have been spurned after the Italian was played in by Mark Noble and Shay Given had come out to make a reaction save with his head.

The ball dropped back to the striker and, given far too much time and space, he simply turned inside Taylor before slamming home from six yards.

Newcastle faced an uphill battle now to get anything out of the match but made a bright start to the second half which rudely halted by Etherington who had di Michele's unselfishness to thank for his first of the season.

Unselfishly, the Italian, on a hat-trick, laid the ball back across goal for Etherington to sweep it into the net.

Newcastle got a lifeline after 67 minutes. Claudio Cacapa slipped in Michael Owen at the edge of the penalty area and the England striker dropped his shoulder to pass Neill before bending a superb effort into the top right corner.

The visitors' spirits were raised and Cacapa almost stabbed in another, but Robert Green was behind his close-range effort before then keeping out a low drive from Damien Duff.

While West Ham looked far from comfortable during the closing stages - something which their new manager will undoubtedly work on - they managed to close the match out without any further scares.

Indeed, they should have netted a fourth in stoppage time, but substitute Luis Boa Morte shot wide when clean through - with di Michele screaming for a square pass and a certain hat-trick.