Everton 3 - 1 West Ham United

Everton 3-1 West Ham United: Saha at the double

Updated: May 16, 2009, 5:17 PM UK

Louis Saha scored a brace in a comfortable 3-1 victory against 10-man West Ham at Goodison Park.

• Saha pushing for Wembley place

With Jo ineligible for the FA Cup final in two weeks, it was the ideal moment for Saha to stake a claim for a place at Wembley where they face Chelsea.

West Ham made the ideal start and Radoslav Kovac gave them the lead before Saha equalised with a penalty after Tim Cahill had been tripped by James Tomkins.

That resulted in Tomkins being sent off and the visitors imploded. Joseph Yobo put Everton ahead and Saha added a second.

Everton had the majority of possession in the first half only to find themselves chasing the game.

Saha dragged a shot wide of the post from the edge of the area after nine minutes having been set up by Steven Pienaar.

Then Pienaar strode forward and unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards that went narrowly over the bar.

Leon Osman should have given Everton the lead in the 13th minute but screwed his shot wide of the post after Marouane Fellaini had flicked on a cross from Lars Jacobsen.

West Ham responded and Kovac split the defence to release Diego Tristan. He seemed surprised at the chance and goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to mop up.

Osman tested Robert Green with a delicate chip in the 19th minute before West Ham took the lead with a goal out of nothing in the 24th minute. Kovac delivered a stunning effort from distance that flew into the corner beyond Howard.

Czech Republic midfielder Kovac celebrated in style as it was his first goal for West Ham after arriving on loan from Spartak Moscow.

Gianfranco Zola's side were growing in confidence and Tristan clipped a shot wide of the post in the 28th minute.

However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 38th minute when West Ham were reduced to 10 men.

Tomkins tripped Cahill as he burst into the penalty area and was sent off.

West Ham were outraged but Saha kept cool. He stepped up and sent Green the wrong way with his spot-kick to take his tally for the season to six goals.

Everton took the lead in the 48th minute after some sloppy defending by the visitors.

Yobo was left unmarked at the back post as Pienaar swung in the corner and rifled a shot into the net, the ball taking a slight deflection off Matthew Upson.

Everton almost increased their lead two minutes later. Saha got on the end of Osman's cross but his header clipped substitute Jonathan Spector and came back off the post.

Then Saha skipped away from Lucas Neill in the 62nd minute, only to see his shot go wide of the post.

However West Ham suddenly launched two swift counter-attacks with Howard doing well to thwart Luis Boa Morte, then substitute Carlton Cole failed to get a decent touch in a good position.

Everton extended their lead in the 76th minute with Saha's second goal of the game. He scored from close range following a cross from Pienaar, who had shown good skill to skip to the byline.

Saha should have completed his hat-trick two minutes later but Green blocked his effort after he had been released by Cahill.

The Frenchman was then given a standing ovation when he was replaced by James Vaughan in the 79th minute as Everton rounded off their home games with a comfortable victory before going on a lap of honour.

Saha pushing for Wembley place

Everton manager David Moyes praised the contribution of Louis Saha after his brace helped propel the club into fifth place in the Barclays Premier League.

Saha improved his chances of a starting place in the FA Cup final as they secured a 3-1 victory against West Ham at Goodison Park.

He would appear to be at the head of the queue to face Chelsea in two weeks at Wembley as Jo is ineligible.

Moyes said: "I thought Louis' overall contribution was much better today. I think he has got that in him.

"It is just a case of Louis getting out and showing it. He had a header which hit the post after a deflection, he had a chance to make it four, he scored a tap-in and he scored a penalty kick.

"The most important thing though was I wanted to win the match. I am not going to play people just because I am looking at the FA Cup.

"We have options and I wanted to give people opportunities to see what they could do.''

Saha cancelled out Radoslav Kovac's spectacular 30-yard opener for West Ham with a penalty after James Tomkins had tripped Tim Cahill.

The result was that Tomkins was red carded and the visitors imploded. Joseph Yobo gave Everton the lead before Saha added a third.

Moyes is delighted to see his side on the shoulders of the top four.

He said: "If you had given me sixth at the start of the season I would have said thanks very much. If we can stay fifth I will be more than happy.

"I thought we were really good for the first 20 minutes, then we went a goal behind against the run of play. We showed great character to come back and do the job.

"The penalty and the sending off were a double whammy for West Ham. It was difficult for them but I don't think you can doubt we played very well first half.

"Patience was always going to be the key as West Ham tried to hit us on the counter.''

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola felt referee Phil Dowd should have shown leniency towards Tomkins.

He said: "Maybe he should have received just a yellow card. He did try to get the ball.

"The penalty changed the game. I watched it on TV, maybe yes, maybe no. It is painful.

"We did not start the game as well as I wanted but then we scored a great goal. It was a great strike.''

West Ham will miss out on a Europa League place and Zola said: "The players are very disappointed.

"But I am even more disappointed we have not been able to make seventh place. But that does not taken anything anyway from our season.

"I am really pleased and proud to be their manager. Considering all the problems that were around the club, all the injuries we had, the players have done a fantastic job.

"I have promised them that next season we will be much better. I do believe that.''