Andy Carroll helped West Ham move up into seventh place in the Premier League table with a goal in their 3-0 win at home to strugglers Hull on Sunday.

Second-half goals from Carroll, Morgan Amalfitano and Stewart Downing secured all three points for the east London club in front of the Upton Park home crowd.

Defeat saw Hull -- punished for failing to take advantage of their early chances -- remain in the bottom three, still a point from safety.

After a goalless first half, the Hammers took the lead in the 49th minute when Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor could only tamely parry a shot from Enner Valencia and striker Carroll got in front of the covering defence to seize on the loose ball from close range.

Valencia thought he had made it 2-0 in the 57th minute after running on to a fine pass from Alex Song but his 'goal' was disallowed for offside, although replays suggested he was level.

But the hosts doubled their lead through Amalfitano, who scored five minutes after being sent on as a substitute for Mark Noble by Hammers manager Sam Allardyce.

Valencia was again the provider, his pass finding Amalfitano, who then produced a sublime finish to chip McGregor in the 69th minute.

West Ham then piled on the agony for Steve Bruce's visitors three minutes later when Song's 45-yard pass through the middle evaded the Hull defence completely, allowing the onrushing Downing to finish with aplomb.

Five minutes from time, West Ham almost made it 4-0 but Kevin Nolan's shot came back off the crossbar after Downing had produced an excellent through-ball over the top of the defence.

It might have been a different story had Hull turned their early opportunities into goals.

Sone Aluko had a couple of shots blocked and in the 20th minute he beat James Tomkins with ease to work his way into the box only to wastefully take too much time over a shot and be tackled.