Everton 2 West Ham 1 By Paul Walker, PA Sport

Graham Stuart gave Everton their first win of the season and sent West Ham tumbling to their first defeat.

The tough little midfielder somehow managed to create space for himself in the box with just seven minutes to go but it was enough for him to spin and fire the ball past a startled Ludo Miklosko from six yards.

It fired life into Everton's season, that had started so badly with the opening day defeat by newly-promoted Crystal Palace.

Howard Kendall's re-constructed side have had to wait since then, through a fortnight's inactivity because of international demands, to put that awful start right.

In that time Kendall has signed midfielder Danny Williamson from West Ham, and let former England defender David Unsworth go in the opposite direction.

Both played well for their new clubs, and certainly early on it looked like Unsworth was going to have a happy return to Goodison Park, where he received a fine ovation from his old fans after 10 years on Merseyside.

West Ham defended with style and composure, with Rio Ferdinand outstanding at the back.

But although West Ham finished the first half deserved leaders, Everton should take great heart from the strength and determination of their comeback.

It was sustained and powerful, and finally wore West Ham down. They just couldn't break out of the stranglehold of Everton's bombardment.

It wasn't very sophisticated, most of it was in the air and aimed at Duncan Ferguson. In the end Kendall had four giants going for every set piece. He sent on Craig Short to add to the height of Ferguson, Slaven Bilic - also playing against his old club - and Dave Watson.

West Ham were always under the cosh now, but it was skipper Gary Speed who pulled them level after 66 minutes.

Nicky Barmby's left wing corner swung in, and Speed ducked to guide a fizzing low header home through a packed box.

West Ham had been ahead after 22 minutes. It was their just reward for a half of clever skills. It came after Bilic had been booked for a foul on Eyal Berkovic, which resulted in John Moncur also being cautioned for his part in the resulting dust-up.

When the free-kick was taken, John Hartson took control and powered in a 20-yard shot that Neville Southall would have saved to his left.

But Watson was standing right in front of his keeper and lunged in to divert the ball home for an own goal.

West Ham had looked very dangerous on the break, and Hartson and Paul Kitson caused considerable trouble. But if Everton were being outshone by West Ham's skills, they came out after the break hell-bent on a siege.

After just a minute, Barmby got behind Ferdinand to produce a great close-range save from Miklosko.

Terry Phelan bounced a high cross onto the West Ham bar as the Everton pressure mounted. John Oster was flung into the fray to produce some width and skill on the left, and then Stuart stabbed a close-range shot wide after Ferguson had headed down a Phelan cross.

The equaliser had to come, and skipper Speed obliged, and soon after Miklosko saved superbly from Barmby.

It looked as if West Ham had managed to survive, and they probably deserved a point for the efforts of Steve Lomas in midfield alone.

But with just seven minutes left, up popped Stuart to produce that moment of inspiration in the box, and Everton's season was up and running.

Teams:

Everton:Southall, Barrett, Phelan, Williamson (Short 78), Watson, Bilic, Stuart, Barmby, Ferguson, Speed, Farrelly (Oster 58).

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Thomas, Branch.

Booked: Bilic, Williamson, Barmby, Ferguson.

Goals: Speed 67, Stuart 83.

West Ham: Miklosko, Breacker (Dowie 87), Unsworth, Rieper, Ferdinand, Moncur (Hughes 81), Lazaridis, Lomas, Berkovic (Lampard 81), Hartson, Kitson.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Potts.

Booked: Moncur, Breacker.

Goals: Watson 23 og.

Att: 34,356

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).