Hammers sitting pretty

Everton 1 West Ham 2

An own goal from David Weir and Bobby Zamora’s third goal in as many games gave them the victory.

“I was pinching myself at some of our play against a team which is bang in form,” said manager Alan Pardew, after a richly-deserved three points suggested their focus should be on the top half and not the relegation scrap.

“We are just trying to have the best season we can. We are looking above not what is below us and we will continue to do so.

“I am very proud of this team and the way they are going about things.”

Everton took an lead when Beattie converted his third league goal of the season by powering in front of James Collins to sidefoot in from six yards.

That ninth-minute opener did not appear to deter the Londoners, however, as their intricate passing led them into some dangerous areas.

From one such position, the Hammers claimed a fortuitous 19th-minute equaliser via a Weir own goal.

Tomas Repka’s low cross evaded a number of bodies at the near post and made its way through to an unsighted Weir, whose left boot inadvertently looped the ball over Wright’s head and under the crossbar.

Beattie then danced through the challenges of Fletcher and Anton Ferdinand to test Hammers goalkeeper Roy Carroll with a dipping shot from outside the area.

But the home crowd became increasingly frustrated as the game progressed and Leon Osman’s speculative effort which dribbled wide proved a rare break in West Ham domination.

Marlon Harewood was at the centre of the visitors’ menace, as he threatened to score three times in a handful of second-half minutes.

The initial one was all of his own making as, veering away from goal on the right-hand side of the area, he turned to unleash a drive into the side netting.

Harewood was then guilty of a glaring miss as Hayden Mullins’ hanging cross picked him out only for him to guide a free header wide.

Then, the former Nottingham Forest striker failed to get on the end of a Matthew Etherington cross.

But from Etherington’s next meaningful contribution, however, West Ham took the lead.

Etherington cut in from the left and although his right-foot curled shot was well kept out by Wright, Zamora converted the rebound.

Moyes reacted to going behind by throwing on Duncan Ferguson and he soon latched onto Beattie’s probing centre only for his downward header to lack power.

Another second-half substitute Mikel Arteta, added some attacking impetus but his deflected shot, which flew wide with quarter of an hour remaining, was the nearest Everton came to claiming a point.

EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert (Arteta 61), Yobo, Weir, Nuno Valente, Osman, Neville, Davies, Kilbane (Ferguson 68), Beattie, McFadden (Bent 20).

WEST HAM: Carroll, Repka, Ferdinand, Collins, Konchesky, Benayoun, Fletcher, Mullins, Etherington (Dailly 86), Harewood, Zamora (Newton 86).

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).