Georgios Samaras scored both goals, each in a space of thirteen second half minutes, to secure only City's second win in the Premiership this season. It was their first match at the City of Manchester stadium for almost a month, and the win ended a sequence of three consecutive defeats, including Tuesday night's defeat at Chesterfield in the Carling Cup.
City, whose last appearance at home resulted in a 1-0 win over Arsenal, started brightly. Bernardo Corradi was crowded out by a posse of claret and blue shirts as he attempted a turn and shot after West Ham had made a mess of trying to clear an attack.
City's first decent opening fell to the feet of Micah Richards who cut inside from Trevor Sinclair's astute pass, but, after avoiding a Hammers challenge, he fluffed his effort well wide of goalkeeper Roy Carroll's right hand post.
Javier Mascherano one of West Ham's Argentine imports, responded by flashing a shot over the bar, while Matthew Etherington sent a cross behind for a goal kick when well positioned. City were the menacing of the two bottom half of the table sides in the first period but once again their shooting let them down as Ishmael Miller making his first start for City, failed to threaten Carroll's goal after making good ground from the halfway line.
A lovely pass from Miller sent Samaras scampering into the penalty area in the 21st minute and trying to pick a spot in the far corner of the net the forward saw his shot go agonisingly wide.
In a blow for West Ham, defender Anton Ferdinand went down injured with no one around him and was replaced by Hayden Mullins.
Despite some neat build up play, so synonymous of West Ham's side's of yesteryear, the final ball lacked a real cutting edge and they were limited to long range efforts.
City should have been in front two minutes before half time, but Miller's unopposed header from Joey Barton's corner flew high and wide and in stoppage time Corradi's close range shot was blocked after Richards had made a storming run into the penalty area.
City continued where they left off at the start of the second half and deservedly went ahead in the 50th minute when Samaras expertly volleyed home after Miller's shot at the end of a near 60 yard run, was stopped by Christian Dailly. The pressure eased further on Blues boss Pearce 13 minutes later when the Greek striker lifted the ball over Carroll for number two.
Pearce's opposite number Alan Pardew introduced Carlos Tevez and Carlton Cole to bolster West Ham's insipid frontline but neither made an impact as the visitors from the east end of London ended the game without managing a shot on target.
Samaras, searching for a hat-trick, was unable to control a pass from Sinclair when in an advantageous position, while substitute Stephen Ireland pushed his shot wide as City pushed hard for a third goal.