Middlesbrough will happily settle for this result in six days' time as they gave themselves a vital psychological edge over West Ham.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's 17th goal of the season and a second-half spot-kick from Massimo Maccarone served notice of Boro's intent ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash between these sides on Sunday.
With that game sandwiching a two-legged UEFA Cup semi-final against Steaua Bucharest, boss Steve McClaren's side at least approach the most important eight days in the club's history high on confidence.
As dress rehearsals go, though, it was hardly a warm-up to take too much notice of because with bigger fish to fry, McClaren made nine changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Portsmouth on Saturday.
There may be those detractors wondering why McClaren fails to field his strongest line-up for every match, but with safety long secured and with the two semi-finals looming, he had every right to do so.
On this occasion his two in-form strikers in Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka were restored to the starting line-up, while 19-year-old David Wheater was handed a full debut at centre back.
However, with just over five minutes elapsed he almost handed the Hammers the opener on a plate, only for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to spare his blushes.
West Ham enjoyed the greater possession in the opening half, but it was Boro who always looked the more likely to score.
The home side, though, had to wait until the 18th minute for their opening opportunity, with Doriva firing a 20-yard drive inches over the crossbar.
That had followed what the Hammers fans thought was Teddy Sheringham becoming the first 40-year-old to score in the Premiership.
But their cheers died in their throats when they saw his shot from 15 yards bounce behind the Boro goal, with the situation worsened as he had handled Hislop's long goal-kick en route and was booked.
After Hasselbaink had been thwarted by Shaka Hislop, and Sheringham had curled a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over, it was Boro's veteran forward who broke the deadlock four minutes from the break.
Matthew Bates played a one-two with Maccarone with the right-back pulling the ball in from the byline for Hasselbaink to drive home his 13th goal since the turn of the year in 19 appearances.
Boro doubled their lead in the 57th minute. Shaun Newton bundled over Adam Johnson in the area, allowing Maccarone to drill home the resultant spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner, despite a laboured run-up that suggested otherwise.
