Louis Saha struck twice as Everton came from behind to end West Ham's European hopes with a 3-1 Premier League win at Goodison Park.

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The visitors took the lead midway through the first-half thanks to an absolute screamer from Radoslav Kovac, but the game was turned on its head eight minutes before the break when West Ham defender James Tomkins was sent-off for a foul on Tim Cahill inside the penalty area.

Saha converted the resulting spot-kick, and despite a spirited effort from West Ham's ten men in the second half, a goal from Joseph Yobo and another from Saha sealed Everton three points which moves them up to fifth in the Premier League table.

Everton made a lively opening to the match, with efforts from Saha, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman all going narrowly wide in the first 15 minutes.

But Kovac stunned the home crowd with a swerving shot from more than 30 yards out after 22 minutes. It was a beautiful strike from the man from the Czech Republic, but Everton keeper Tim Howard probably should have kept it out.

West Ham sat deep while threatening on the counter attack after taking the lead, but their game plan felt apart after the sending off. While the decision to award a penalty was the right one - Tomkins tripped Cahill as the midfielder burst into the box - brandishing a straight red card seemed like a harsh call from referee Phil Dowd. Not that Saha cared about that as he stroked the ball home from the spot for the equaliser

West Ham held on until half-time, but despite bringing on another defender in Jonathan Spector at the break, they could only hold out for three minutes of the second half. The goal came from a Pienaar corner which fell kindly for Yobo, who had time to control before side-footing home.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, West Ham came close to levelling after falling behind - first when Matthew Upson headed straight at Howard when well placed to score. They then had a penalty appeal of their own turned down when Cahill handled in his own area but Dowd ruled that the contact was unintentional.

Luis Boa Morte missed the clearest chance of all when he was sent clean through on goal by half-time substitute Carlton Cole, who impressed on his return from injury. But the Portuguese winger fired his shot too close to the on-rushing Howard, who made a smothering save.

Fellow substitute Junior Stanislas also tested Howard after a barnstorming run but it was Everton who found the back of the net as Pienaar showed great skill to free himself on the left wing before squaring for Saha to tap into an unguarded net.

Saha missed a gilt-edged chance to complete his hat-trick moments later as he shot at Rob Green after finding himself one-on-one with the West Ham keeper. Substitute Jack Rodwell then stood the ball up for Cahill at the far post after collecting the ball from Green's save but the Australian could only head against the bar.

The result moves Everton above Aston Villa into fifth place while West Ham can no longer join the Toffees in Europe next season as they sit five points behind seventh-placed Fulham with just one game remaining.