Three goals in the last ten minutes helped Everton claim a win from a game that their hosts had looked in control of for eighty minutes.
The home side dominated the first half and took a well deserved lead just after the hour when Jack Collison marked his home debut by scoring his first goal for the club. With just seven remaining, however, Joleon Lescott headed an equaliser before two late strikes from Loius Saha wrapped up the points.
West Ham United made two changes from the team that took a well earned point at Middlesbrough a week ago. Scott Parker had recovered from his calf injury to join the returning Lee Bowyer in a new central midfield pairing. Collison and Hayden Mullins dropped to the bench to underline the options available to Gianfranco Zola. The visitors were without the suspended Marouane Fellaini and the injured pair of Steven Pinnaer and Yakubu.
There was an impeccably-observed minute's silence before the game to mark Remembrance Sunday. But as soon as the action got underway the crowd made plenty of noise to applaud the servicemen as they left the stadium. The attention soon switched back to the action on the pitch, however, as Saha and Parker both flashed shots wide from twenty yards at either end. The home side then took control as three corners in quick succession pinned the visitors back
The hosts suffered a set-back, though, when Matthew Upson, who, along with Robert Green, had appeared in every minute of this season's Barclays Premier League campaign, had to be stretchered off after landing awkwardly. Collison, who had impressed on his first start of the season at the Riverside, came on to replace him. Julien Faubert switched to right-back with Lucas Neil moving into the centre.
The blow did not seem to affect the flow of the game as West Ham United continued to have the upper hand. Freddie Sears and Craig Bellamy demonstrated their understanding by linking up well. The 18-year-old helped culminate an impressive passing move by sending the Wales captain sprinting into space but his shot was deflected wide. The No10 had another good chance minutes later - after more good work from Sears - but saw his volley fly high into the Centenary Stand.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sears came so close to getting his second goal in a claret and blue top. A great ball from Luis Boa Morte released Bellamy, who expertly tricked his marker with a dummy. After racing into the area, his cut back was met by the left foot of Sears. Tim Howard reacted well to just touch it onto the crossbar.
Two minutes before half-time Boa Morte, who had seen plenty of the ball in the opening period, flicked a delicate pass into the path of Sears to leave him with space inside the Toffees area, but Howard again tipped the ball around the post.
It had been an impressive first half from Zola's men with the only frustration being that they had not capitalised on their total domination with a goal.
After such a frantic opening period it was perhaps understandable the second half began at a slightly more leisurely pace. The first chance of note eleven minutes in fell to Everton as young midfielder Jack Rodwell headed just wide from a corner. Zola made his second change on 59 minutes as Boa Morte left the field to rapturous applause to be replaced by Matthew Etherington.
Four minutes later Collison finished a fine move to give his side the lead. Sears passed to Etherington, whose weighted ball into the area was back-heeled perfectly into the path of the 20-year-old by Scott Parker and he made no mistake - side-footing into the top corner.
Referee Mark Halsey, who had been a virtual bystander thus far, got his book out for the first time to take Lescott's name for hauling back Bellamy. The striker tested Howard from distance while Vaughan went close for the visitors as both sets of fans in the 33,961 crowd found their voice once more.
Everton equalised with six minutes remaining. Saha picked up the ball on the right-hand side and delivered an inch-perfect cross to Lescott, who powered a header past Robert Green. A minute later, from nowhere, they took the lead when Saha crept a shot in via the post.
Both managers reacted by bringing on subs - David Di Michele for the home side and Leighton Baines for the guests with Parker and Anichebe making way. It did not matter as Saha beat Green from 25 yards to wrap up the points for the visitors.
West Ham United can take some comfort from their first half display as they will look to bounce back in another home game against Portsmouth next weekend.
The home side dominated the first half and took a well deserved lead just after the hour when Jack Collison marked his home debut by scoring his first goal for the club. With just seven remaining, however, Joleon Lescott headed an equaliser before two late strikes from Loius Saha wrapped up the points.
West Ham United made two changes from the team that took a well earned point at Middlesbrough a week ago. Scott Parker had recovered from his calf injury to join the returning Lee Bowyer in a new central midfield pairing. Collison and Hayden Mullins dropped to the bench to underline the options available to Gianfranco Zola. The visitors were without the suspended Marouane Fellaini and the injured pair of Steven Pinnaer and Yakubu.
There was an impeccably-observed minute's silence before the game to mark Remembrance Sunday. But as soon as the action got underway the crowd made plenty of noise to applaud the servicemen as they left the stadium. The attention soon switched back to the action on the pitch, however, as Saha and Parker both flashed shots wide from twenty yards at either end. The home side then took control as three corners in quick succession pinned the visitors back
The hosts suffered a set-back, though, when Matthew Upson, who, along with Robert Green, had appeared in every minute of this season's Barclays Premier League campaign, had to be stretchered off after landing awkwardly. Collison, who had impressed on his first start of the season at the Riverside, came on to replace him. Julien Faubert switched to right-back with Lucas Neil moving into the centre.
The blow did not seem to affect the flow of the game as West Ham United continued to have the upper hand. Freddie Sears and Craig Bellamy demonstrated their understanding by linking up well. The 18-year-old helped culminate an impressive passing move by sending the Wales captain sprinting into space but his shot was deflected wide. The No10 had another good chance minutes later - after more good work from Sears - but saw his volley fly high into the Centenary Stand.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sears came so close to getting his second goal in a claret and blue top. A great ball from Luis Boa Morte released Bellamy, who expertly tricked his marker with a dummy. After racing into the area, his cut back was met by the left foot of Sears. Tim Howard reacted well to just touch it onto the crossbar.
Two minutes before half-time Boa Morte, who had seen plenty of the ball in the opening period, flicked a delicate pass into the path of Sears to leave him with space inside the Toffees area, but Howard again tipped the ball around the post.
It had been an impressive first half from Zola's men with the only frustration being that they had not capitalised on their total domination with a goal.
After such a frantic opening period it was perhaps understandable the second half began at a slightly more leisurely pace. The first chance of note eleven minutes in fell to Everton as young midfielder Jack Rodwell headed just wide from a corner. Zola made his second change on 59 minutes as Boa Morte left the field to rapturous applause to be replaced by Matthew Etherington.
Four minutes later Collison finished a fine move to give his side the lead. Sears passed to Etherington, whose weighted ball into the area was back-heeled perfectly into the path of the 20-year-old by Scott Parker and he made no mistake - side-footing into the top corner.
Referee Mark Halsey, who had been a virtual bystander thus far, got his book out for the first time to take Lescott's name for hauling back Bellamy. The striker tested Howard from distance while Vaughan went close for the visitors as both sets of fans in the 33,961 crowd found their voice once more.
Everton equalised with six minutes remaining. Saha picked up the ball on the right-hand side and delivered an inch-perfect cross to Lescott, who powered a header past Robert Green. A minute later, from nowhere, they took the lead when Saha crept a shot in via the post.
Both managers reacted by bringing on subs - David Di Michele for the home side and Leighton Baines for the guests with Parker and Anichebe making way. It did not matter as Saha beat Green from 25 yards to wrap up the points for the visitors.
West Ham United can take some comfort from their first half display as they will look to bounce back in another home game against Portsmouth next weekend.