Everton came from behind to beat West Ham United 2-1 at Upton Park this afternoon, with both sides finishing the match with 10 men.
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The first chance of the match fell to the visitors when Leighton Baines found an unmarked Sylvain Distin in the box, but the defender's header went into the ground and bounced back up over the bar.
Baines was involved again a couple of minutes later, swinging another cross in that Leon Osman met with a header that beat Jussi Jaaskelainen. However, the linesman flagged the Everton midfielder for a foul, so the goal was disallowed.
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The Hammers took full advantage of this decision, breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute. Mark Noble found Carlton Cole, who got the better of Johnny Heitinga before lashing an effort across Tim Howard and into the net.
Nikica Jelavic should have found the equaliser four minutes into the second half when the ball fell to him inside the box, but Jaaskelainen made a reaction save to deny the Croat.
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The Toffees did get their equaliser 15 minutes later, however, when Steven Pienaar whipped in an inviting cross that Victor Anichebe headed home.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts just two minutes later as Cole was controversially sent off for a dangerous tackle on Baines.
Everton made their extra man count within five minutes, taking the lead when Pienaar scrambled an effort home through a scrum of West Ham defenders.
West Ham came close to grabbing an equaliser in the 83rd minute when Modibo Maiga nodded the ball onto Kevin Nolan, whose volley was not far away.
The visitors were also reduced to 10 men in the 93rd minute when Darron Gibson was given his marching orders for a high boot in a challenge with Noble, but Everton managed to hold out to claim all three points.
Barney Corkhill
