Everton vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,574.
Sunday 30 October 2016 19:48, UK
Everton ended their four-match Premier League winless run with a 2-0 victory over West Ham at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku scored his ninth goal in his last nine matches against the Hammers to put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute.
Ross Barkley doubled the advantage in the 76th minute, finishing from Lukaku's pass to score his first league goal since the opening day of the season.
West Ham, who had won their last three games in a row, rarely threatened after a bright start that saw Pedro Obiang and Manuel Lanzini both go close.
The victory is Everton's first in the league for over a month and moves them five points off top spot.
With Maarten Stekelenburg ruled out, Joel Robles started in goal for Everton, with Ramiro Funes Mori getting the nod ahead of Phil Jagielka in defence.
As he did in the EFL Cup in midweek, Michail Antonio was preferred up front for West Ham, who made the better start to a game that was preceded by tributes to former Toffees player and manager Howard Kendall on the first anniversary of his death.
Antonio diverted a cross over the bar before Obiang fired over from inside the box as two defenders slid in to block.
Robles then saved from Dimitri Payet as the visitors continued to look the brighter side.
At the other end, Lukaku failed to control Idrissa Gueye's shot in front of goal as the hosts struggled to get going.
Lanzini curled wide after swerving round Funes Mori before Adrian produced the moment of the half, reacting sharply to superbly stop Barkley's shot with one hand.
That was the closest either side came before the break, but the Hammers' level dropped markedly in the second half.
They fell behind in the 50th minute as Adrian palmed out a shot from Seamus Coleman and Yannick Bolasie reacted quickly to sweep the rebound across goal for Lukaku to head in.
Barkley then curled over the bar from just outside the area as Everton looked to add to their advantage.
They were almost undone by some slack defensive work from Ashley Williams, who lost out to Antonio and was grateful to see Robles save.
But otherwise the visitors hardly threatened and the game was as good as done when Barkley doubled the advantage, finishing at the back post from Bolasie's cross.
Lukaku and Tom Cleverley were both denied by Adrian as Everton finished the game on top and comfortably saw out victory.
Player ratings
Everton: Robles (6), Coleman (7), Ashley Williams (6), Funes Mori (6), Oviedo (6), Gueye (5), Barry (6), Barkley (8), Mirallas (6), Lukaku (8), Bolasie (7).
Subs used: Jagielka (5), Lennon (5), Cleverley (5).
West Ham: Adrian (6), Reid (5), Kouyate (5), Ogbonna (5), Antonio (6), Noble (5), Obiang (5), Cresswell (5), Lanzini (5), Fernandes (5), Payet (5).
Subs used: Feghouli (5), Zaza (5), Ayew (5).
Man of the match: Ross Barkley.