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.

They 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.