Sinclair strike beats Everton

Kanoute had a couple of near misses for West Ham

West Ham 1-0 Everton
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A second-half strike by Trevor Sinclair eased West Ham's relegation fears and leaves Everton hovering precariously above the relegation zone.

It sealed the Hammers' fourth successive home win in the League, while Walter Smith's side are now without an away win in 13 games.

The first twenty minutes set the mood for a dour affair, both sides toiling honestly with little to show for their efforts.

  Key Moments

45 mins Cole inches away from stab-in

45 mins Blomqvist pushes shot wide

59 mins Sinclair bags the winner

West Ham's Freddie Kanoute over-hit a pass to Joe Cole on 15 minutes when the newly-blonde England midfielder would have been through on goal.

If we'd tried to assert ourselves more we could have achieved a better result

Everton manager Walter Smith

Lee Carsley had Everton's first real chance on 22 minutes, but his chest-and-volley from 20 yards was easily saved by David James in the West Ham goal.

With Cole and Paolo Di Canio unable to get a handle on things in midfield, the game looked to be drifting aimlessly midway through the first half, but a Jesper Blomqvist shot on 23 minutes lifted the tempo slightly.

Sinclair, finding plenty of space on the Everton left, drilled a 25-yard shot straight at Steve Simonsen on 30 minutes, and a minute later West Ham produced their best move of the half.

Ian Pearce went galloping into the Everton half and released Di Canio who unfurled a divine chip that skimmed the bar.

It was on the stroke of half-time that both teams had their best chances.

Cole was just inches away from stabbing in after Kanoute had played him through and Blomqvist pushed a shot wide at the other end when he should have scored.

It is a really exciting championship this year, and it is quite exciting around the middle too

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder

West Ham started the second half in more determined fashion, Di Canio grazing the bar with a left foot shot and then volleying a Vladimir Labant corner into Simonsen's arms.

And then on 59 minutes the home side took the lead, a Cole shot from the edge of the area diverted into the Everton net by Trevor Sinclair.

David Ginola replaced the injured Kevin Campbell soon after, and Walter Smith must have been praying the mercurial Frenchman was in the mood.

But on a night for artisans rather than artists, the game drifted away from Everton, leaving the Toffee men dangerously in the mire.

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West Ham Utd : James, Schemmel, Dailly, Pearce, Repka, Winterburn, Sinclair, Cole, Labant, Kanoute (Defoe 83), Di Canio

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Minto, Garcia, Kitson

Everton : Simonsen, Pistone, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Alexandersson (Gravesen 67), Blomqvist, Gemmill, Carsley (Linderoth 67), Campbell (Ginola 62), Radzinski

Subs Not Used: Clarke, Gerrard

Booked: Pistone

Att: 29,883

Ref: B Knight (Orpington)