Everton seal win at West Ham

Stuart Pearce was dismissed after conceding a penalty

West Ham United 0-2 Everton

Everton eased their relegation fears and extended West Ham United's miserable run of form with a comfortable win at Upton Park.

Former West Ham defender David Unsworth gave Everton the lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

And Swedish international Niclas Alexandersson gave Walter Smith side's breathing space in the Premiership danger zone with his first goal since his £2.75m summer move from Sheffield Wednesday after the break.

Stuart Pearce added to West Ham's misery when he was sent off after conceding the foul which gave Everton their penalty.

There's no doubt we have hit a brick wall, but if we can't get a couple of victories in the last seven games I'll be wearing a crash helmet and a bullet-proof vest

  West Ham manager Harry Redknapp

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp could only watch in anguish as his team's season continues to go into freefall after it promised so much.

The Hammers have not won at home in the league since Boxing Day, and have also suffered the damaging FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Spurs.

And their fiercely committed followers vented their fury at the final whistle after another dismal showing.

Everton counterpart Smith entered the match knowing his side needed points to calm growing anxiety at Goodison Park that they could be dragged into yet another fight against the drop.

Alexandersson hit his first goal

Everton striker Duncan Ferguson squandered a hat-trick of clear-cut chances inside the opening 15 minutes.

The giant Scot's worst miss came after six minutes when Thomas Gravesen's cross found him unmarked inside the six-yard box and he somehow directed his finish well wide.

West Ham then almost made Everton pay for Ferguson's unwitting generosity as they finally achieved some cohesion on a difficult Upton Park surface.

It takes more than one result to make you safe and we still need to achieve some measure of consistency

  Everton manager Walter Smith

Frederic Kanoute shot just wide after 18 minutes, before Joe Cole saw a close range effort blocked in a desperate goalmouth scramble.

Everton were acquitting themselves well despite their recent struggles, but were thankful to captain David Weir for again denying Cole with a timely interception.

The game appeared to have swung Everton's way in the space of 60 seconds shortly before half time.

Di Canio - booked

Veteran Pearce was booked by referee Andy D'Urso for a wild challenge on Ferguson - and seconds later he compounded his recklessness as Everton took the lead.

Pearce flattened Everton debut boy Tony Hibbert inside the area, and was shown the red card as referee D'Urso pointed to the spot.

West Ham's di Canio was then shown the yellow card for a bizarre display of histrionics aimed at pointing out that the ball was not on the spot.

But Everton's spot-kick expert Unsworth remained calm to beat Shaka Hislop to give the Merseysiders a priceless lead.

West Ham made a positive start to the second half, with Steve Watson making a crucial tackle on di Canio before Everton keeper Paul Gerrard was forced to turn Rigobert Song's header over the crossbar.

Gerrard made crucial save

Everton goalscorer Unsworth was booked for a foul on Song after 58 minutes, but was furious after claiming the former Liverpool defender made a meal of the tackle.

Kanoute followed him into referee D'Urso's notebook ten minutes later for diving under challenge from Michael Ball.

Everton ended West Ham's comeback hopes when Swede Alexandersson extended their lead after 71 minutes.

Ferguson released Alexandersson on the left hand side of the penalty area and he dragged a finish across Hislop into the bottom corner.

Everton substitute Francis Jeffers could made victory even more comprehensive, but saw a brilliant chip bounce back off the crossbar with Hislop stranded.

But Everton boss Smith will have been delighted with the performance and result before a crucial clash with troubled Manchester City.

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West Ham: Hislop, Stuart Pearce, Song, Stimac, Foxe, Winterburn, Carrick, Cole, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs: Bywater, Moncur, Schemmel, Soma, Todorov.

Everton: Gerrard, Watson, Weir, Unsworth, Alexandersson, Nyarko, Ball, Gravesen, Gemmill, Ferguson, Hibbert. Subs: Simonsen, Jeffers, Jevons, Clarke, Tal.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)