A NICELY-TIMED D HAMMERING; Blues' fine form augers well as Cup Final date with Chelsea draws near.

Byline: Dominic King

EVERTON......... 3 WEST HAM ...... 1

FINE performance, excellent result, shame about the weather.

If you sat down at the beginning of the season and made a prediction about how you saw the final home game unfolding, surely it would involve Everton sauntering past hapless opposition in front of packed stands, as Goodison Park basked in sultry temperatures.

But while the elements were more middle of March than middle of May on Saturday, everything else was just about perfect as the Blues brushed West Ham United side to send the masses away for summer content with their lot.

It would be wrong to say that Goodison bounced from start to finish but, come the final whistle and subsequent lap of honour, the noise inside the famous stadium confirmed the immense pride that supporters felt in their team.

No wonder. Provided Everton match Aston Villa's result next Sunday, they will go into the FA Cup final with their status as the fifth best team in the Premier League preserved and that would be some achievement considering the ham-fisted start they made.

Cast your mind back to August 16 and that last-gasp defeat at the hands of a Blackburn Rovers side who, frankly, made Everton look second rate.

Neutrals would not have picked the visitors as being the ones who would end up fighting against relegation.

So to witness all four sides of the ground standing in unison after West Ham United had been dispatched with the little fuss, eager to pay tribute to the men who have worked tirelessly to turn things around, was one of the most heartening sights there have been all year.

Some may have feared that the Goodison campaign would be book-ended by defeats when Radoslav Kovac thumped a 30-yard drive past the wrong-footed Tim Howard in the first half but the simple truth was Everton were never really in any danger.

Once referee Phil Dowd had correctly sent-off James Tomkins for depriving Tim Cahill a goal-scoring opportunity and Louis Saha had crashed the resulting penalty past Robert Green, the only question was how many Everton would score.

Yes, it can argued that West Ham waved the white flag the moment Joseph Yobo fired the Toffees ahead shortly after the interval but it was the way that David Moyes's men toyed with their opponents that so impressed.

Like a cat taunting a cornered mouse, they toyed with West Ham for long periods of the second half before killing things off when Saha ended the best move of the match by tapping into the empty Gwladys Street End net from five yards.

That they were able to make it look so easy, though, spoke volumes for the quality of squad Moyes has assembled and the confidence that the players have gained from putting together a sequence of results that has been of Champions League-qualifying quality.

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aha. He made a bright start to life on

Merseyside but the hamstring injury he suffered at Tottenham on November 30 came at the worst possible time and there have been a few instances when he has flattered to deceive since coming back.

A number of games - the defeats against Portsmouth and Manchester City spring to mind - have passed him by but, clearly, there is a reason why he is held in such high regard by his teammates and he showed that here.

His spot kick was dispatched with aplomb, while he did what all good strikers should do - be in the right place at the right time in a packed penalty area - to tap-in from five yards after wonderful work by Steven Pienaar but it was his all-round game that impressed most.

When Saha is firing on all cylinders, not many central defenders are capable of keeping him in check and Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry will need no reminding of the chasing he gave them at Old Trafford 18 months ago.

If Everton are going to win the FA Cup - and there is no reason why they can't - having Saha in this type of hungry mood is a prerequisite; he is a player of huge ability and the big occasion will not bother him one jot. All Moyes must decide is how to deploy him.

You see, the suspicion remains that Saha will be seen to best effect being unleashed from the bench with 30 minutes to go, his raw aggression and pace sure to be potent weapons on a pitch that is sure to be spongy and sapping.

Who, then, will take his place in the starting line-up, given Jo's ineligibility? Easy - Jack Rodwell. Like Saha, the thought of playing at Wembley will inspire rather than intimidate and the manner which he passes the ball, allied to his poise and power, could be critical in the battle for supremacy with Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard et al.

That game will soon be upon us but before all intentions can be focused on lifting the FA Cup, a trip to Fulham must be negotiated so that an outstanding domestic campaign can be wrapped up. People will say there is nothing riding on it but Moyes will be aware that three points at Craven Cottage - a ground which has not witnessed an Everton victory since 1966 - will secure fifth spot and also the second highest points tally of his Goodison tenure.

"If you had given me sixth at the start of the season I would have said thanks very much," Moyes reflected afterwards.

"But if we can stay fifth, then I will be more than happy." As happy as those who gave him and his players such a rousing send-off.

Should Moyes go on to mastermind an FA Cup triumph, the homecoming will be something on a completely different level..

Star Man Steven Pienaar : His performances in the past two months have been a joy to watch and the way he created the impressive Louis Saha's second goal summed his efforts up to a tee..

CAPTION(S):

GO-AHEAD GOAL: (Above) Joseph Yobo rifles Everton ahead against West Ham United in front of the Gwladys Street End TWO-GOAL HERO: Louis Saha celebrates with Leon Osman and Tim Ca ahill FORWARD DRIVE: Leon Osman goes on the attack FELLED: Tim Cahill is tripped by James Tomkins to win a penalty for the Blues, converted by Louis Saha (right)