West Ham United 1, Everton FC 2: full time report

Everton secured a much-needed first win in five Barclays Premier League games with a battling 2-1 victory at West Ham, who slipped back into the relegation zone.Louis Saha, who missed the midweek Europa League defeat to Benfica with a calf problem, netted from 20 yards against the run of play on 26 minutes.Dan Gosling added a second just after the hour, but the Hammers made a fight of it following an own goal by Tony Hibbert.West Ham's England Under-21 forward Zavon Hines was handed a start for the injured Carlton Cole, having netted a dramatic last-minute winner here against Aston Villa in midweek.The youngster again looked lively, bursting into the left side of the penalty area, before going down under a shoulder charge from Hibbert, as referee Alan Wiley waved away the half-hearted appeals for a spot-kick.Everton deployed five in midfield and were content to let West Ham have plenty of the ball, waiting patiently for their chance.However, Gianfranco Zola's men continued to look dangerous, as Julien Faubert flashed a low cross through the six-yard box following a sweeping passing move.Hines again caused a threat down the left side, and Scott Parker almost capitalised when he got past Joseph Yobo, but then shot straight at Tim Howard.The Everton defender redeemed himself when coming across to cut out Parker's through ball, which would have sent Hines clear.Then, out of nothing, Everton took the lead on 26 minutes.Tim Cahill battled to hold the ball up on the edge of the West Ham box, before laying it back to Saha.The French striker, 20 yards out, needed no second invitation - and drilled his first-time shot low into the bottom right corner.The goal was against the run of play, and left Upton Park in stunned silence - apart from the band of travelling Everton supporters on the far side.

Source: Liverpool_Echo