David Moyes welcomed his former employers as the Blues took on West Ham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Unlike the Hammers when they moved into London Stadium, Everton were undefeated at their new home
on the banks of the royal blue Mersey.
A shock move on Thursday saw Graham Potter sacked and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo just two days before they were to take the long ride up the M1. With only two training sessions, it would be difficult to see how he would change how the team played but that is why he was selected.
Team News
David Moyes named an unchanged Everton side from the team that narrowly lost the Merseyside derby last week. Some would say that this was the team who should have started in the Carabao Cup against Wolves but I digress. Idrissa Gana Gueye was playing his 200th match for Everton.
Nuno Espirito Santo made two changes for his first match in charge. James Ward-Prowse was not even included in the squad, while Callum Wilson dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Soungoutou Magassa and Niclas Fullkrug
Match Report
The roar was incredible as Z Cars echoed around the Hill Dickinson Stadium. David Moyes warmly welcomed Nuno Espirito Santos just before the kickoff. Everton were quickly pressing high up the pitch and Beto was doing his usual pestering of the backline.
Samuel Barrott was the man in the middle who we hoped would be none existent in the match. Everton were controlling the play but were not piercing the back line of the Hammers. A lovely show of support for Bradley Lowery in the sixth minute as Grealish delivered a nice cross but Ndiaye could not reach it.
A driving run by Bowen saw West Ham get their first control of the ball in the Everton end but some good holdup play by Ndiaye relieved the pressure. Summerville was then charging forward but he could not get past Tarkowski who stood up well.
Beto recorded the first shot on net with a weak header which was followed quickly by KDH choosing to pass rather than shoot which saw Ndiaye force another save from Areola. Mykolenko then slid the ball into the path of KDH who forced a corner. Garner recycled his corner and delivered a lovely ball which was met by Michael Keane who powered the ball into the back of the net with his head!
West Ham were trying to get on the ball but the goal charged Blues were buzzing and creating issues. Tarkowski was given a yellow for a late challenge which looked harsh on the captain. A long throw from West Ham was met by Kilman and flicked on to Fulkrug but his header was easily handled by Pickford.
Jake O’Brien was taken down by Diouf and the free kick which was delivered by Dewsbury Hall was disappointing. Everton started to control the play after a period of West Ham control led to KDH driving the ball into the six yard box but Beto could not get his head on the cross.
Kyle Walker-Peters was given a yellow card for the 4th foul on Grealish. Seconds later Ndiaye delivered a lovely cross to KDH who had his header go just wide of the post. It should have been the second goal. Summerville was one on one with O’Brien and his quick turn of pace forced a foul and yellow card for the big right back.
West Ham were finishing the half strong but they were not able to made the final pass or trouble Pickford. One minute of added time was announced as the happy Evertonians started to head to the concourse for some of their new favourite blue Everton donuts! The whistle was blown and Nuno Espirito Santo ran into the tunnel to get ready to change his team’s fortunes.
Everton started the half strong and an early corner from Garner was recycled again and Gueye blasted a shot which he claimed was deflected over the bar but the referee gave a goal kick. Beto was then sprung forward by Grealish but the striker never got the ball under control. Seconds later Ndiaye slid the ball to Garner but his shot was blocked.
KDH put Grealish into the open and there were several calls for a penalty and VAR was looking at it but they said the arm of Mavropanos was in a natural position. Fulkruug was close to tying the match when Diouf delivered a beautiful cross but the German could not make contact.
Another good ball from Garner forced Kilman to concede a corner. The delivery from KDH was well defended and when the ball fell to Garner he laced the ball goalward but it was saved by Areola. Espirito Santo had seen enough and brought on Potts for Magassa. The West Ham supporters broke into that bubbles song which I cannot understand.
A nice play by Mykolenko to shield the ball out of play drew a foul from Jarrod Bowen. The Ukrainian’s wry smile was a nice moment as he walked away chatting with Bowen. Pickford was called upon to make a save of the match when O’Brien tried to head the ball back to his keeper but he sold the keeper short and Summerville was onto it like a flash but the England number one got a toe on it.
West Ham were on the front foot and a great cross from Diouf was headed by Keane but it was met by Bowen who drove the ball which was deflected by Keane into his net. It might have gone wide and in the end, the powers that be decided it was a Bowen’s goal.
Moyes had seen enough and withdrew Beto for Barry. West Ham were on the front foot and were looking to get a second. Summerville was pulling the strings and when Bowen took another shot, it deflected off Tarkowski but this time it was wide of the post.
Everton were struggling to put any pressure on the West Ham goal and when Summerville counter attacked, Pickford slid out to clear the ball into touch. Everton were on the ropes and were not able to get control of the ball. Incredibly, Summerville was taken off for Luis Guilherme.
O’Brien had the chance to deliver a long throw which was easily defended. The Evertonians were getting restless as the final ten minutes arrived. Moyes prepared Tyler Dibling for introduction and Ndiaye made way for the young winger. Immediately, Everton were on the front foot and Mavrapanos was forced to haul down KDH on the edge of the box.
Garner’s shot was narrowly wide of the near post. He was immediately suffering from cramp and needed to be withdrawn with Iroegbunam getting ready to enter the match. West Ham continued to push forward and it took a good tackle from O’Brien to deny Fullkrug. Mykolenko was fouled by Paqueta and when he continued to push the Ukrainian, Paqueta fell down and drew a yellow card.
It was then Everton’s turn to push for a winning goal and when Grealish laid the ball back to Garner, the midfielder blasted the ball and forced a great save from Areola. KDH was then given a yellow card for dissent after he had a foul called against him for something I could not fathom. This meant that he would miss the next match as this was his fifth yellow of the season.
The five minutes of additional time did not see the deadlock broken and at the end, West Ham looked happy to head back to London with a point in the bag. Moyes knew that we had the chances to win but ultimately, we lacked the finishing touch and the killer instinct.
Everton’s Man of the Match
James Garner: It would be easy to see the goal from Michael Keane as the moment that got the team going along with his solid defensive play in the first half as being the standout. However, over the whole match, James Garner played a great match both defensively and going forward. Back in his more familiar central midfield role, Garner pulled the strings throughout the match. An assist on the Keane goal was pinpoint perfect and with five shots and nine defensive contributions, the young Englishman showed his quality.
Instant Reaction
Everton came out of the blocks quickly and when they took the lead through the Keane goal it looked like we were clear sailing as the first half ended. Once again, that killer instinct was not shown and we allowed West Ham to get back into the match. This was another match where we could have taken all three points but we ended up throwing two of them away.
An unchanged side from the Merseyside derby was not a surprise after the debacle against Wolves. What did not change was the insipid contribution of Beto and Barry when he arrived for the final fifteen minutes. With teams doubling up on Grealish, there has to be a lot more from whoever is playing up front. How many games do we continue to start Beto and then give Barry a few minutes. Beto is good with a through ball to his feet but he has struggled to fit with the new midfield trio that is supporting him.
I remember a few years ago that the Premier League decided to crack down on simulation…..cheating in my book. They started giving yellow cards for it and things got better. Sadly, this faded and no game goes by without someone who is trying to deceive. Tonight, Paqueta fouled Mykolenko and as the defender got up, Paqueta put his hands on his face and fell to the floor. Zero contact to the face and a yellow card for Mykolenko. An absolute travesty.
Kiernan Dewsbury Hall was unlucky to get his fifth yellow card near the end of the match. In fact, it could be argued that his fourth against Liverpool was also a bit soft. However, it has happened and this will give Ndiaye the chance to move to the middle and give Dibling a chance on the right side of the attack. The next match against a very strong Crystal Palace team will be difficult but another home match before the next international break needs to be seen as another chance to get some points on the board.
