Everton win 2-1 at West Ham

By JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - David Moyes hailed his patchwork side as they ended a run of seven games without a win to defeat West Ham 2-1 at Upton Park.

Louis Saha leapt off the treatment table to fire Everton into the lead before Dan Gosling’s first Premier League goal of the season doubled their advantage.

Tony Hibbert conceded an own goal to raise Moyes’ blood pressure but West Ham, without the injured Carlton Cole, struggled to break the visitors down.

Moyes said: “It was not the best Everton performance of the season but one thing my team what to do is win and that was the most important thing.

“We did not start well and West Ham were on top but when Louis gets a chance he usually tucks them away and it was good for him after his injury.

“At 2-0 up we should have been comfortable but it was all hands to the pump in the last 30 minutes and we needed everything to keep them out.

“We know as a unit we can do much better and we have had some injuries but that is no excuse, we have had to get the job done with the players available and we did that.”

West Ham buoyed from their first home win of the season against Aston Villa in midweek began with some vibrancy despite the absence of Cole who was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

The hero of the Villa win Zavon Hines began the game but spurned two early chances when he was sent through down the right flank only to lose possession in key areas.

Guillermo Franco connected with Valon Behrami’s cross but his effort drifted just wide however Everton looked panicky and unsure of themselves at the back.

From this uncertainty, they took the lead as Tim Cahill ghosted into space on the edge of the penalty area and slotted a pass into Saha to finish well.

West Ham looked visibly deflated after their early work had been undone and they soon two down after the break with substitute Yakubu setting up Gosling and from a position of strength the home side were well adrift.

Everton’s confidence has of late been as brittle as their hosts and they set up a nervy final third when Junior Stanislas’ chip was lifted over the onrushing Tim Howard only for Hibbert, in attempting to clear, to sky the ball into the roof of the net.

Thankfully for Moyes that moment of ruthlessness was a blip as Hines missed two further chances and then the excellent Scott Parker rolled a pass into the oath of Franco only for the Mexican to slip at the crucial moment.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola said: “The guys gave everything until the end but it was some little mistakes which let us down.

“We need to stop chasing the game in the final stages as it does not make things easy. This has been a disappointment for everyone at the club.

“I think we deserved enough for a draw but this is a difficult league and we know we have to raise our game and fight for every point.”