West Ham's season sunk to new depths at the Madejski Stadium as Reading exposed their defensive inadequacies in a comprehensive 6-0 thrashing. Kevin Doyle scored twice, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Stephen Hunt and Leroy Lita also netted, while Anton Ferdinand's own goal illustrated the extent to which the visitors self-destructed.
Alan Curbishley knew even a win would not have got his Hammers side out of the bottom three, and Charlton and Watford below them could be breathing down their necks soon if their run of three consecutive defeats continues.
Hammers fans remained in good voice until the sixth went in, while their Reading counterparts were almost sympathetic in their assessment as they watched Curbishley's men get dismantled.
The visitors were looking for their first away goal since the defeat to Chesterfield in the Carling Cup last October when Marlon Harewood struck early.
That defeat was one of the more damaging results under Alan Pardew, but the first 45 minutes against Steve Coppell's men was equally as embarrassing.
The Hammers were looking for a positive reaction after back-to-back defeats since Christmas but they suffered a New Year hangover that left their defenders looking in bewilderment at each other.
The initial signs were good, with Lee Bowyer bursting through early on but failing to get power on his shot - then Reading seized their chances and stunned the visitors.
After 12 minutes, Doyle earned a foul on the left flank and Nicky Shorey's set-piece found Gunnarsson unmarked six yards out.
Gunnarsson, filling in for injured skipper Graeme Murty at right-back, made no mistake with his header to start the rout.
The lead was doubled in the 15th minute, with West Ham's defence sliced open by a deft Glen Little chip, Steve Sidwell volleying to the back post where Hunt headed calmly past goalkeeper Robert Green.
West Ham's indecisiveness in defence allowed Doyle to get another strike on goal, but the Republic of Ireland striker hit the side netting from the edge of the area.
The visitors were punished, however, on the half-hour mark from another Shorey free-kick after Danny Gabbidon had fouled Lita on the right touchline.
Left-back Shorey whipped in another set-piece and Ferdinand jumped in front of his own goalkeeper and headed into his own net.
Little could have added another when found unmarked, only for Gabbidon to clear, but the hosts did score a fourth in the 36th minute.
Shorey was again the provider, this time dancing through the Hammers defence before passing to James Harper, who crossed for Doyle to rifle into the roof of the net.
The visitors had already lost Bowyer to a shoulder injury following a challenge by Harper, with Shaun Newton coming on for his first appearance since completing his drugs ban for taking cocaine.
Striker Harewood was then taken off for Jonathan Spector at the end of a first half that had new chairman Eggert Magnusson looking shocked up in the directors' box.
Aside from a tame penalty shout by Yossi Benayoun when he was clipped by Hunt, the Hammers had created very little in the first half and Spector's introduction looked like damage limitation.
However, an extra defender could not prevent Reading scoring a fifth in the 53rd minute.
Doyle's telling pass released Sidwell on the right and his cross was stabbed in by Lita, despite the efforts of Green.
Royals boss Coppell admitted in his programme notes that Lita had been "dissatisfied" with getting left out earlier in the season, but the striker now has three goals in three games after strikes against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, returning from suspension, fired into the side netting for the visitors but Reading remained in full control and took the chance to rest Ibrahima Sonko and Little, with John Oster and Andre Bikey coming on.
They continued to battle for every ball despite their lead, with Harper receiving a caution for sliding in on Hayden Mullins.
Doyle could have added another with a fierce volley but Green was down sharply to save, while Oster crashed a shot into the side netting shortly after.
Doyle added a sixth with a header from a corner delivered again by Shorey, completing West Ham's embarrassment.
They did hit the bar through Bobby Zamora late on but it would have been the smallest of consolations.
