West Ham United's search for their first away win of
the campaign continues after a 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday
afternoon.
In hurricane-like conditions at Goodison Park, midfielder Leon Osman took the wind out of Hammers's sails with a looping strike six minutes into the second half, before substitute James Vaughan netted in stoppage time to condemn Alan Pardew's men to a seventh successive Premiership defeat on their travels this season.
The Hammers boss had been forced to make one change to his starting line-up following last week's 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, as James Collins made a timely return from injury to replace his Welsh international colleague Danny Gabbidon, who was sidelined with a hamstring problem.
It was the visitors who adjusted quicker to the adverse weather, though, and enjoyed the majority of the early possession and chances in front of goal. Last week's match-winner Hayden Mullins saw a shot blocked by a defender in the eighth minute, while Bobby Zamora charged down an attempted clearance by goalkeeper Tim Howard, but Alan Stubbs got to the loose ball before Carlos Tevez could pounce.
The Argentine striker was certainly in control on 18 minutes, though, when he collected a pass from Matthew Etherington on the right and jinked his way brilliantly past Lescott before clipping a perfect cross back for the on-rushing Lee Bowyer, who seemed certain to score as he met the ball on the half-volley 10 yards out, only for Howard to somehow pull off a point-blank stop and divert it over the bar for a corner.
That corner was one of NINE that Hammers forced inside the opening 23 minutes, as the hosts were pegged back under pressure but, with the exception of a Collins header that was deflected over the bar by the boot of Lescott, they failed to make the host of set-pieces count.
Everton almost took the lead with their first real attack of the game on 28 minutes, as Andy Johnson broke free on the right and fired in a low effort, but Robert Green came to the rescue with a superb one-handed stop.
Tevez then twice came close with similar efforts - cutting in from the left and unleashing fierce strikes that were palmed away by Howard - before the hosts began to make more of an impact as the half came to a close. Green was grateful to see the ball drop into his hands after a corner had bounced off Lescott and then Jonathan Spector, and the goalkeeper excelled again moments later by bravely smothering at the feet of Beattie just six yards out.
Hammers picked up their high tempo again at the start of the second half, though, and created an opening just two minutes in when Tevez pounced on a loose pass from Johnson and advanced to the edge of the penalty area before squaring the ball to Zamora, who unfortunately curled a right-foot shot high and wide.
Moments later, Pardew's men were made to pay as Everton broke quickly to claim the all-important opening goal. A hopeful clearance down the right appeared to be heading out for a goal-kick, but Beattie refused to give up the cause and managed to hook the ball into the danger area.
Spector headed clear to the edge of the box, but Osman was following up unmarked to chest down and send in a measured left-foot shot that dipped over the despairing dive of Green and into the top corner of the net.
The goal understandably knocked Hammers out of their stride and, as the defensive quality and confidence of the Merseysiders began to shine through, openings in front of goal were becoming hard to find.
With 20 minutes remaining, Pards made a double change to increase the attacking options, sending on Sheringham and Harewood in place of Bowyer and Zamora, and the switch opened up more space for Tevez, who sent two efforts just wide of the target soon after.
Harewood's pace and power also began to cause problems for the Toffees, and the striker almost grabbed an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining when he turned well in the penalty area and fired in a shot that Howard saved well.
Sadly, that was to be our last effort on target, as Everton added substitute David Weir to their backline and focused on protecting their lead. Javier Mascherano made his first appearance in over a month as a late substitute for Spector, in a last throw of the dice, but despite a goal eventually coming, it wasn't at the right end.
Deep into stoppage time, Hammers's misery was complete when McFadden won possession and Carsley found young substitute Vaughan, who beat Green with a low shot from 12 yards to make sure of the points and send Pardew and his players back home to London empty-handed.
In hurricane-like conditions at Goodison Park, midfielder Leon Osman took the wind out of Hammers's sails with a looping strike six minutes into the second half, before substitute James Vaughan netted in stoppage time to condemn Alan Pardew's men to a seventh successive Premiership defeat on their travels this season.
The Hammers boss had been forced to make one change to his starting line-up following last week's 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, as James Collins made a timely return from injury to replace his Welsh international colleague Danny Gabbidon, who was sidelined with a hamstring problem.
It was the visitors who adjusted quicker to the adverse weather, though, and enjoyed the majority of the early possession and chances in front of goal. Last week's match-winner Hayden Mullins saw a shot blocked by a defender in the eighth minute, while Bobby Zamora charged down an attempted clearance by goalkeeper Tim Howard, but Alan Stubbs got to the loose ball before Carlos Tevez could pounce.
The Argentine striker was certainly in control on 18 minutes, though, when he collected a pass from Matthew Etherington on the right and jinked his way brilliantly past Lescott before clipping a perfect cross back for the on-rushing Lee Bowyer, who seemed certain to score as he met the ball on the half-volley 10 yards out, only for Howard to somehow pull off a point-blank stop and divert it over the bar for a corner.
That corner was one of NINE that Hammers forced inside the opening 23 minutes, as the hosts were pegged back under pressure but, with the exception of a Collins header that was deflected over the bar by the boot of Lescott, they failed to make the host of set-pieces count.
Everton almost took the lead with their first real attack of the game on 28 minutes, as Andy Johnson broke free on the right and fired in a low effort, but Robert Green came to the rescue with a superb one-handed stop.
Tevez then twice came close with similar efforts - cutting in from the left and unleashing fierce strikes that were palmed away by Howard - before the hosts began to make more of an impact as the half came to a close. Green was grateful to see the ball drop into his hands after a corner had bounced off Lescott and then Jonathan Spector, and the goalkeeper excelled again moments later by bravely smothering at the feet of Beattie just six yards out.
Hammers picked up their high tempo again at the start of the second half, though, and created an opening just two minutes in when Tevez pounced on a loose pass from Johnson and advanced to the edge of the penalty area before squaring the ball to Zamora, who unfortunately curled a right-foot shot high and wide.
Moments later, Pardew's men were made to pay as Everton broke quickly to claim the all-important opening goal. A hopeful clearance down the right appeared to be heading out for a goal-kick, but Beattie refused to give up the cause and managed to hook the ball into the danger area.
Spector headed clear to the edge of the box, but Osman was following up unmarked to chest down and send in a measured left-foot shot that dipped over the despairing dive of Green and into the top corner of the net.
The goal understandably knocked Hammers out of their stride and, as the defensive quality and confidence of the Merseysiders began to shine through, openings in front of goal were becoming hard to find.
With 20 minutes remaining, Pards made a double change to increase the attacking options, sending on Sheringham and Harewood in place of Bowyer and Zamora, and the switch opened up more space for Tevez, who sent two efforts just wide of the target soon after.
Harewood's pace and power also began to cause problems for the Toffees, and the striker almost grabbed an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining when he turned well in the penalty area and fired in a shot that Howard saved well.
Sadly, that was to be our last effort on target, as Everton added substitute David Weir to their backline and focused on protecting their lead. Javier Mascherano made his first appearance in over a month as a late substitute for Spector, in a last throw of the dice, but despite a goal eventually coming, it wasn't at the right end.
Deep into stoppage time, Hammers's misery was complete when McFadden won possession and Carsley found young substitute Vaughan, who beat Green with a low shot from 12 yards to make sure of the points and send Pardew and his players back home to London empty-handed.