Everton thrash West Ham

Tomasz Radzinski scored on his full Everton debut

Everton 5-0 West Ham United

Everton ended their recent losing streak in style with a sparkling demolition of West Ham United - but saw their joy marred by an injury to Paul Gascoigne.

Boss Walter Smith saw the jeers he heard at Blackburn turn to cheers as Everton produced a stunning second half show to humiliate the Hammers.

Everton suffered the worst possible start when Gascoigne suffered a serious-looking knee injury early on.

It was a game I thought could be a difficult one because of their skilful front players but to win as well as that was very pleasing

Everton manager Walter Smith

But Everton were unstoppable after captain Kevin Campbell broke the deadlock in first half injury time.

And they ran riot after the break with an own goal from former Everton star Don Hutchison, Thomas Gravesen, Steve Watson and £4.5m debutant Tomasz Radzinski.

Everton's hopes of a bright start were shattered inside five minutes when Gascoigne sustained his injury.

Song beats Everton's Campbell

And once again the former England midfield man was the victim of his own over-enthusiasm, hurting himself in a wild challenge on Frederic Kanoute.

Gacoigne required lengthy treatment, but appeared angry to be finally replaced by Mark Pembridge.

Everton and West Ham both had opportunities in a lively opening 45 minutes.

Paolo Di Canio had West Ham's best chance after 23 minutes when a move of lightning pace involving Di Canio, Sebastian Schemmel and Trevor Sinclair ended with the Italian shooting wide from only six yards.

We have let our fans down and I want to apologise to them for that - the second half was unacceptable

West Ham United manager Glenn Roeder

Radzinski, in his first full appearance for Everton, stretched West Ham's defence, but it was strike partner Campbell who put Smith's side ahead in first-half stoppage time.

Niclas Alexandersson was the creator with a cross from the right, Campbell rising to power a header past Shaka Hislop from six yards.

And Everton put themselves firmly in charge when Everton old boy Hutchison put through his own goal after 52 minutes.

Pembridge's free-kick caused an awful mix-up between Hutchinson and Hislop and the ball bounced in off the Scotland international.

Everton effectively sealed the contest four minutes later when Gravesen was allowed to run from 40 yards out to fire past the under-siege Hislop.

West Ham were now a shambles and Everton hit them with another quick double to make it five.

Watson took advantage of more slack defence to add a fourth after 72 minutes, then Radzinski crowned a marvellous day for under-fire Smith with a slick finish for the fifth three minutes later.

---

Everton: Gerrard, Xavier, Weir, Pistone, Watson, Alexandersson, Gascoigne, Gravesen, Naysmith, Radzinski, Campbell. Subs: Stubbs, Pembridge, Simonsen, Moore, Hibbert.

West Ham: Hislop, Winterburn, Dailly, Song, Schemmel, Courtois, Carrick, Hutchison, Sinclair, Kanoute, Di Canio. Subs: Foxe, Kitson, Forrest, Soma, Byrne.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)