Mark Viduka scored two goals for Newcastle United as they chalked up a comfortable 3-1 victory over West Ham United in their Premiership match on Sunday.

The former Middlesbrough striker gave Newcastle an early lead with a goal in the second minute. However West Ham equalized through Dean Ashton on the half hour mark. Viduka put the Magpies back in the lead with a close range shot four minutes from half time and Charles N'Zogbia made sure of the victory in the 76th minute.

Michael Owen was included in the starting line up and was partnered up front with Viduka. Obafemi Martins was once again placed on the bench as Sam Allardyce went ahead with his favored strike pairing.

The hosts raced to the lead in the second minute of the match when Viduka rose high to meet N'Zogbia's cross from the left flank to head home inside the near post past Robert Green. It proved to be one of the few bright points in the half for Newcastle as West Ham took control of the match, exploiting Newcastle's lack of width on the right side.

Mark Noble came close to equalizing for West Ham but his stinging drive was blocked in time by Steve Harper as the Hammers pressed ahead in search of an equalizer. And the pressure finally paid off in the 32nd minute when Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole played a headed one-two before Aston slammed home the ball from six yards out.

Stung by the goal, Newcastle responded in a positive fashion and Ferdinand made a superb defensive header to deny Viduka. However the Australian striker put his team ahead minutes later as N'Zogbia turned provider once again, doing some great work on the left flank and finding Viduka with a perfect cross which he converted from six yards out.

The hosts received a blow in the 51st minute when Owen limped off the field following a recurrence of his groin injury and was replaced by Martins. Ashton and Lee Bowyer came close to scoring for West Ham but Harper pulled off great saves to deny the equalizer.

Newcastle put the match beyond West Ham's reach with a third goal in the 76th minute when N'Zogbia latched on to Martins' pass and was left with a simple tap in to crow his brilliant performance with a goal.

With West Ham unable to create any chances, Newcastle played out the final few minutes in a relaxed manner and in fact could have extended the lead through Martins but the striker was unable to hit the target after latching on to a mistake by Matthew Upson.