Leighton Baines helped Everton on their way to a 3-2 victory at West Ham on Saturday with a brilliant brace of free-kicks.
West Ham took the lead on 31 minutes when a Ravel Morrison shot took a deflection and left Tim Howard wrong-footed for his first Premier League goal.
However, Baines drew the visitors level in the 62nd minute with the first of his sublime set-piece goals.
James Collins was penalised for a foul on Ross Barkley 25 yards out and Baines stepped up to curl a magnificent effort beyond Jussi Jääskeläinen.
A Mark Noble penalty looked to have secured a win for the home side with 14 minutes remaining, but the midfielder went from zero to hero shortly after when he collected a second yellow for tripping Barkley.
And it proved costly as Baines once again produced a free-kick from out of the top drawer, going for the opposite corner this time and giving Jääskeläinen no chance with his shot which found the net via the upright.
And just two minutes later, Romelu Lukaku grabbed a winner for the Toffees on his debut after coming off the bench.
"I think we are all well aware of the quality that he (Baines) has and the first free-kick would show you that," said Everton boss Roberto Martínez after the game.
"I think that where Leighton takes his quality level into a next step is that he's capable of taking another free-kick with a world-class goalkeeper with the experience that Jussi Jääskeläinen has and score.
"There are many footballers around the world that have a really good quality to take those free-kicks but when you put Leighton Baines into that situation the second time, and to be able to do that I think it's quite unique."
Baines added: "I've never done that before. I just tried to keep everyone guessing.
"I saw the keeper was quite central for the first one so that made my mind up for me. He changed his position for the second - and so did I."
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| Everton fans jubilate as Leighton Baines celebrates his second goal against West Ham Photo: PA |
West Ham took the lead on 31 minutes when a Ravel Morrison shot took a deflection and left Tim Howard wrong-footed for his first Premier League goal.
However, Baines drew the visitors level in the 62nd minute with the first of his sublime set-piece goals.
James Collins was penalised for a foul on Ross Barkley 25 yards out and Baines stepped up to curl a magnificent effort beyond Jussi Jääskeläinen.
A Mark Noble penalty looked to have secured a win for the home side with 14 minutes remaining, but the midfielder went from zero to hero shortly after when he collected a second yellow for tripping Barkley.
And it proved costly as Baines once again produced a free-kick from out of the top drawer, going for the opposite corner this time and giving Jääskeläinen no chance with his shot which found the net via the upright.
And just two minutes later, Romelu Lukaku grabbed a winner for the Toffees on his debut after coming off the bench.
"I think we are all well aware of the quality that he (Baines) has and the first free-kick would show you that," said Everton boss Roberto Martínez after the game.
"I think that where Leighton takes his quality level into a next step is that he's capable of taking another free-kick with a world-class goalkeeper with the experience that Jussi Jääskeläinen has and score.
"There are many footballers around the world that have a really good quality to take those free-kicks but when you put Leighton Baines into that situation the second time, and to be able to do that I think it's quite unique."
Baines added: "I've never done that before. I just tried to keep everyone guessing.
"I saw the keeper was quite central for the first one so that made my mind up for me. He changed his position for the second - and so did I."
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