Yarmolenko Hammers a Pair as Hammers Hammer Everton

It's the best way to silence doubters.

Andriy Yarmolenko finally earned a start for his new club, after West Ham splashed out £17.5million to pry him away from Borussia Dortmund and had himself a day.

The Ukraine international shifted the spotlight of criticism from himself to ex-Barça left back Lucas Digne, who -- for all his hard work on the attack -- left space for Yarmolenko to exploit time and again as the Hammers downed Everton, 1-3.

This couldn't have come at a better time for West Ham, but then again, any win couldn't come at a better time for them.

Their first victory of the season actually lifted the Hammers outta the relegation zone, which has damn near become unfamiliar territory.

 

As the match began, Manuel Pellegrini’s side spent time parrying Everton thrusts, giving as good as they got.

Digne's initiative to get the Blues on the board resulted in him trying to do too much. His flank was exposed much of the match, and it became evident in the 11th minute.

That's  where and when Marko Arnautović transitioned to Yarmolenko, who calmly beat Jordan Pickford:

 

A case of déjà vu broke out in the 31st.

Yarmolenko got the ball on the spacious right wing and cut through two defenders, one of whom was the unfortunate Digne. Dude then curled home to the top corner as all Pickford could do was watch:

 

Yarmolenko was one of four changes Pellegrini made after West Ham's sorry showing when Wolverhampton came to town.

What chemistry the Hammers do have appeared disrupted at times, and one instance occurred just before the break.

Gylfi Sigurðsson had stepped up the entire half, found an opening just before the whistle, and finally broke through with an explosive header past Lukas Fabianski:

 

 

No doubt the Blues crew got their patooties singed after Marco Silva laid a bitta Portuguese spice on them. Whatever it was, Everton showed signs of life after intermission.

Didn't last.

In the 62nd minute, Pedro Obiang and Arnautović combined for a one-two that ended up with the Austrian in position to put paid to this one:

 

Other than Sigurdsson and the well-intentioned Digne, the Everton camp has reason to be dismayed. They may be sitting mid-table, but that 1-3-1 record isn't very reassuring.

As to Yarmelenko and West Ham, it was a good day.