England under-21 midfielder Frank Lampard hit a memorable hat-trick against Walsall at Upton Park as West Ham booked a place in the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.

Lampard, the 19-year-old son of West Ham's respected assistant manager, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with his third goal of the season, and he completed the rout with strikes in the 73rd and 74th minutes.

That left Walsall shell-shocked after they had earlier belied their lowly position of 21st in the second division to put up a fight against their Premiership hosts.

But while Lampard was the hero of the night with the first hat-trick of his first-team career, midfielder Eyal Berkovic was Walsall's chief tormentor, setting up three of the home side's goals.

Lampard's first was due to Berkovic's vision as he picked up the ball 20 yards out and spotted the youngster's surging run into the box. Lampard took the ball in his stride, steadied himself and then blasted the ball past Walsall goalkeeper James Walker.

Wales international striker John Hartson doubled the home side's advantage just over a minute later as he struck his 14th goal of the season, and again Berkovic was the creator.

Andy Watson put Walsall back in the match on the stroke of halftime with a scrambled goal-line effort following a corner.

But Lampard destroyed Walsall's hopes of a comeback with his double strike midway through the second half.

His second goal of the night came after yet another through-ball from Berkovic, which Lampard guided the ball home on the turn, while his third arrived a minute later following an incisive pass from Hartson.

West Ham Utd: Forrest, Breacker, Unsworth, Hartson, Lomas, Ferdinand, Moncur, Lampard, Pearce, Abou, Berkovic. Subs Not Used: Miklosko, Dowie, Rowland. Booked: Ferdinand. Goals: Hartson 16, Lampard 15, 73, 74.

Walsall: Walker, Evans, Marsh, Mountfield, Viveash, Keates, Keister, Hodge, Watson, Boli, Peron. Subs Not Used: Ryder, Porter, Ricketts. Goal: Watson 45. Referee: D Orr (Iver).