FA Premiership
Everton 1-2 West Ham United 

Wednesday, 14th December 2005
by Graeme Howlett

Bobby Zamora's third goal in successive games was enough to give West Ham their first win at Goodison Park for 11 years tonight.

Zamora scored the decisive goal in the 67th minute to give West Ham their first win on Merseyside since a Tim Breacker goal earned the Hammers a 1-0 win back in January 1994.

West Ham - who started with Carl Fletcher in place of Mark Noble and James Collins, deputising for the injured Danny Gabbidon - started brightly in their third successive away fixture but it was the home side who struck first when James Beattie converted a James McFadden cross from the edge of the six yard box on eight minutes.

However the Hammers were behind for just 11 minutes before an equaliser arrived when an innocuous-looking low cross was turned into his own net by Everton's David Weir, whose bungled attempt at a clearance looped over Richard Wright into the net.

The score remained level until the 67th minute when the Hammers bore the fruits of a 20 minute period of sustained pressure; Matthew Etherington skipped down the left side and drew a shot across Richard Wright who could only parry the ball into the path of Bobby Zamora, who steered the ball home for his third goal in as many games.

Thereafter the West Ham rearguard was rarely threatened by the home side, and it was the visitors who had the better chances in the final quarter of the game.

The three points lift the Hammers above Manchester City and Wigan into seventh spot - and just five points from a Champions League spot.

Alan Pardew, talking after the game was naturally delighted with the result:

"This will be a day I remember for a long time," he said. "It was an unbelievable performance and I was amazed at some of our play.

We've come here and given them [Everton] a football lesson. It's hard to single any players out and this team have surprised me tonight.

"We were in control from the off," he added. "I was very, very confident on the side. I've got to be honest - it was our best performance of the season."

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Player Ratings

Roy Carroll
Comments to follow.


Tomas Repka
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Paul Konchesky
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James Collins
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Anton Ferdinand
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Hayden Mullins
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Carl Fletcher
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Yossi Benayoun
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Matthew Etherington
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Bobby Zamora
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Marlon Harewood
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Substitutes

Christian Dailly
(Replaced Etherington, 86) Comments to follow.


Sean Newton
(Replaced Zamora, 86) Comments to follow.


Shaka Hislop
Did not play.


David Bellion
Did not play.


Jeremie Aliadiere
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Roy Carroll, Tomas Repka, Paul Konchesky, James Collins, Anton Ferdinand, Hayden Mullins, Carl Fletcher, Yossi Benayoun, Matthew Etherington, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood.

Goals: David Weir og 19 Bobby Zamora 67                .

Booked: Carl Fletcher 71          .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Nuno Valente, Neville, Osman, Davies, Kilbane, Beattie, McFadden.

Subs not used: Turner, Kroldrup.

Goals: Beattie (9).

Booked: Hibbert (50), Osman (81).

Sent off: None.

Referee: P.Walton.

Attendance: 35,704.

Man of the Match: Yossi Benayoun.