Match Report

When the post-mortem of this season is done and Everton have, perhaps, just missed out on the top four or a European place by a few points, it's games like this one, like the goalless draws at Swansea and Tottenham, and the ultimately unfulfilling Goodison derby that could be looked back upon as missed opportunities.

There is a maddening sense that this Everton side is playing within themselves at times, one fostered by an apparent lack of intensity and either the desire or ability to move up a gear and force the issue in order to win games they can and often should.

Maybe that's expecting too much – this was an away game after all against a team sitting four points above the Blues at the start of play – but, having gone into the half-time interval on a high note when Romelu Lukaku cancelled out Manuel Lanzini's sublime opener and then seen West Ham's main schemer, Dimitri Payet forced off through injury, it just felt as though all the conditions were there for an Everton victory.

If they were, Roberto Martinez's side failed to capitalise on them in what was, ultimately, a disappointing second half of precious few chances for either side. Indeed, both teams seemed at their most fluid when countering off the other's own attacks and stymied when the opposition had time to get men behind the ball and close off space and passing lanes.

For the Hammers, much of their joy coming forward ebbed away once Brendan Galloway had belatedly got to grips with Victor Moses down the home side's right flank. The Nigerian international had revelled in playing on the young defender's inexperience in the early going, drawing him into marking too tightly and then losing him in the space created behind. He fired the first chance of the game into the side-netting, drew a couple of fouls in dangerous areas midway through the first half and drove in the shot that ultimately led to Lanzini's goal.

Everton, meanwhile, occasionally looked dangerous on the break but struggled in their usual pedestrian manner to break down the opposition when they were back in their shape. Martinez had kept faith with the team that had done so well against Sunderland last Sunday, making the one change to that team by starting Galloway in place of the injured Bryan Oviedo, but he has been frustrated in his search for a line-up capable of delivering consistent results.

Like Steven Naismith before him, Arouna Kone was unable to build on the platform of a superb hat-trick and he was the one to make way for Kevin Mirallas with 25 minutes to go in the second half. Had the Mirallas that came on to such stunning effect in the FA Cup third round replay here in January made a reappearance, the Blues might indeed have claimed all three points today but the Belgian was unable to influence this contest to the same degree.

As it was, Mirallas's tame shot straight at Adrian in stoppage time and Lukaku's near miss from an excellent Galloway centre a few minutes earlier were as close as Everton came to winning it, while Winston Reid bulleted the Hammers' only real chance after the interval a foot over the bar with a header off a corner.

The best of the action came in the first period, one which West Ham started confidently but which Everton had largely wrested control of before the home side scored. The Blues had had an early claim for a penalty on Ramiro Funes Mori waved away by referee Peter Tierney, Galloway had finished off some neat interchanges between Lukaku and Kone by ballooning a shot well over, and Barkley's wonderful turn and shot had ended with him firing straight at the 'keeper from the edge of the box.

Arguably their best chance up to that point had come off a quick free kick, however, where Kone had the chance to play Lukaku in on goal but the Ivorian elected to shoot himself and he sliced wastefully wide.

They were beginning to tighten the screw a little when Gerard Deulofeu's mesmeric run to the byline forced a corner off the legs of Adrian. But once again the opportunity to put a ball into the box for one of Funes Mori, Lukaku or the imperious John Stones to attack was eschewed in favour of a shorter corner routine by Barkley to James McCarthy that was quickly closed down.

From the subsequent West Ham move, Lanzini scored the opening goal as, not for the first time, Payet exploited the ocean of space that regularly opened up in front of Galloway on Everton's left flank by clipping a ball out to Moses. The former Wigan and Chelsea man jinked his way inside and hammered a shot off Gareth Barry's arm that was prodded instinctively away by Stones, but only as far as Lanzini on the edge of the penalty area, from where the Argentine bent a "postage stamp" shot into the top corner.

Everton recovered, though, and levelled two minutes before the break with a goal wonderfully reminiscent of the fourth against Sunderland last weekend. Finding himself in a more central spot on this occasion, Deulofeu spotted Lukaku's run and threaded an inch-perfect ball between the two centre halves who were probably positioned as narrowly as they dared but powerless to prevent the Belgian from racing through, rounding Adrian and rolling the ball home in one fluid motion. In doing so, he equalled Bill Dean's record of seven consecutive goals against the same opposition.

It was a moment of quick-fire, rapier-like incision that was largely absent from the rest of Everton's performance and it meant that the large bank of vocal travelling fans had to be content with a point on a ground where three have become the norm in recent seasons. Once more Evertonian thoughts wandered back to the summer and the failure to land a genuine creative string-puller to either supplement or push Ross Barkley for his place, because this is an Everton side that can be lethal when it's in the mood or when it's driven by genuine inspiration. Unfortunately, while consistency and a reliable match-winner elude them, they're likely to keep falling just short.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

After the Argentine had curled a shot into the top corner of Tim Howard's goal, Deulofeu put the Belgian striker clean through to round the goalkeeper and score the second week running and make it 1-1 heading into half time.

The second half was something of a damp squib, however, with the Blues unable to capitalise in West Ham's loss to injury of Dimitri Payet who never recovered after being injured by James McCarthy's heavy tackle in the first half.

Matchday Updates

Everton took on West Ham United side thriving under Goodison old boy, Slaven Bilic, with a strong line-up from last week's win, the only change being Brendan Galloway starting in place of injured Bryan Oviedo, with Baines still not ready to make his comeback. Mirallas, Lennon, Naismith, and Osman are all on the bench along with Gibson and Mason Holgate the only defender for Everton's last game at Upton Park.

West Ham kicked off and had most of the possession, a cross for Carroll headed away before Moses struck a shot first time just wide. Stones stopped the next attack but Deulofeu could not carry the ball forward. However, a brilliant flick by the Spaniard put Kone into space and it seemed a perfect cross for Lukaku but the keeper Adrian got to it just ahead of him.

Everton continued to probe, getting a lot more possession, Barkley almost playing in Lukaku. The Hammers were forced to play tippy-tappy, Everton patient until they regained possession, Deulofeu winning a corner but playing it short and the chance disappeared when Funes Mori rolled his foot over the ball and went down.

Lukaku shaped up to shoot but it was blocked and the ball fell too quickly for Galloway who volleyed over.

Payet nutmegged Barkley and the eventually shot was from outside the area and wide. Kone got a chance to run at goal off a great Barry pass but chose to fire wide rather than play in Lukaku. Moses tried to profit, getting his cross past Galloway, who later fouled him to give away a dangerous free-kick that Payet crossed very deep for Tompkins.

Everton broke well but it ended with another horribly poor touch by Lukaku as both sides probed. Kone pushed in the back, giving away another free-kick, McCarthy heading away but West Ham went close, Creswell curling the ball wide.

Everton won an easy free-kick off an inadvertent handball by Moses and Barkley fired it straight at Adrian. The game slowed to walking pace as Stones looked to move the Blues forward but his pass to Lukaku was poor and he had to chase back and tackle, which he did well.

Everton were getting plenty of space to move the ball forward but were not really testing Adrian, although Deu did his usual off a brilliant pass from McCarthy, firing in at Adrian from the byeline. But another corner wasted, this time Barkley playing it back deep.

West Ham then put their strongest attack together and Moses shot was blocked but a superb strike by Lanzini sailed past a despairing Howard into the top corner. 1-0 to West Ham.

Everton were deflated and McCarthy overzealous with his scissors tackle on Payet: Yellow Card, even though he got the ball. A better corner by Barkley, played to the far post where Funes Mori almost got his head to it.

Barry's quick thinking almost got Coleman played in. Both sides were looking to pass through each other as the tactical battle developed. Lukaku got a half-chance to turn and shoot bit his effort was blocked.

A brilliant move, saw Lukaku score an identical goal from last week, Deulofeu's fantastic throughball right to his feet. 1-1. Lanzini tried another but his effort flew wide. Howard then came out and punched a ball! Kone and Lukaku got in each others way, then Deulofeu got blanked and went down in the area, both sides really even at the break after a good half of football.

Barkley fired a free-kick well wide and over. Payet sat on the ground and finally had to leave after the tough tackle from McCarthy. Valencia replaced him and West Ham attacked with pace, the cross evading Kouyate and Galloway cleared.

Everton's tackles were a little too robust for the West Ham crowd as Bilic and Martinez discussed the challenges. Moses was next to fall over too easily. Valencia then put over a very inviting cross but Noble wasted the corner with a hilarious 'shot' for a throw-in.

Everton played some nice football around the West Ham area but failed to make a strike. Funes Mori was next in the book with a rather late tackle on Moses. On the free-kick, Howard came right out into the mix to punch away!

More good passing through the middle saw another chance for the Del stepovers, but Wets Ham broke and a shot was deflected wide for a West sHAm corner that came to nothing. Mirallas replaced Kone after the hour as Coleman had to make a good tackle on Valencia, catching his ankle. The sub failed to recover after treatment and was replaced by Zarate.

More tippy-tappy as Everton probed a way forward, Deulofeu getting fouled, a corner coming from Barkley's free-kick, dropped short to Barry at the near post. Then it was a corner at the other end, Moses with a perfect delivery for Reid who headed inches over from around 9 yds out.

Mirallas did well to chase down Tompkinson but the move ended with a wild long-distance effort from Funes Mori. The tempo of the game had dropped as both sides were so evenly matched. Deulofeu got wide and won another corner that he took, Funes Mori unable to get the required touch on an excellent delivery.

With 10 mins left, it seemed both sides had the measure of each other as moves stalled outside each area without really threatening. Thus Lennon replaced Deulofeu to perhaps change things, a tremendous effort put in by the Spaniard.

West Ham showed a little more zest, Jenkinson went on a fine run down the middle and tried to beat Howard but the shot-stopper made a trade-mark World Cup stop. At the other end, Galloway did brilliantly to wait and weight the cross into Lukaku who timed his run well only to poke it inches wide. Barkley then played in Lukaku who was a foot offside. Nikica Jelavic replaced Andy Carroll for the last few minutes.

Mirallas was fouled by Tompkins. Barkley swung in the free-kick on 90 mins but it was not deep enough. With 5 more minutes signalled, Zarate was booked for dragging back Coleman(?) Mirallas made one rather lame shot on goal in added time and that was it, the second half not producing quite the level of finishing required by either side.

A draw probably a fair result as both sides matched eachother closely throughout, with strong defences and neither showed the magic spark needed to win what was generally a very well played contest.

Scorers: Lanzini (30'); Lukaku (43')

West Ham United: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Moses, Payet (50' Valencia (69' Zarate [Y:91'])), Lanzini, Carroll (88' Jelavic).
Subs not Used: Randolph, Ogbonna, Antonio, Cullen

Everton: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori [Y:59'], Galloway, McCarthy [Y:34'], Barry, Deulofeu (83' Lennon), Barkley, Kone (64' Mirallas), Lukaku.
Subs not Used: Robles, Gibson, Naismith, Osman, Holgate.

Kick off: 3pm Saturday
Referee: Paul Tierney

Michael Kenrick

From My Seat: West Ham (A)

It was hard to realize that, barring a cup draw against them, this was the last time we would visit Upton Park (I could never get used to calling it the Boleyn ground) but, once the game started in the wind and rain, such things as that were lost as we fretted with the ease WHU were getting down our left hand side. As early as 2 minutes in, we got cut apart as Moses was put in and his speed and strength was a bit too much for Galloway but luckily he was just wide with his shot.

Much talking and gesturing was going on in our defence as they had started much faster than us. It looked like we were sitting in and looking for the quick breaks and we did fashion one on five minutes by getting Kone in down our right; his excellent cross just evaded the head of Lukaku. WHU charged back at us and the cool Stones lost his cool to panic as he made a hash of a simple clearance yet immediately regained his composure and strode out with the ball in elegant fashion.

Galloway was getting a bit of a roasting from Moses but he was sticking to his task better now, especially with the help of the excellent Barry from time to time. As the quarter-hour mark passed, we were coming to terms with the home team onslaught and the game was getting more end to end. Barkley got himself to the edge of the box, swivelled and hit one but straight at the keeper; then 5 minutes later we got a free kick and took it very quickly and Kone was given a shooting chance in the box but his powerful shot went swerving wide. At the other end, Moses was still causing Galloway trouble and the youngster fouled him for about the third time but luckily for him no card shown.

Deulofeu was showing well now and was becoming a constant thorn in the side of the hosts with his direct running varied with some fancy cross-overs and good crosses that WHU defence dealt well with. Stones was stepping out into the midfield doing a bit of playmaking so the fans sang Money can’t buy you Stones. The Mori was at it raiding down the left, we will have to have a song for him. As the half hour mark was reached it was quite a ding-dong battle with us relying more on the break were the Hammers were more up and at it.

What I was surprised with was for all of the WHU pressure Andy Carroll was mainly anonymous and wasn’t needed when Moses yet again did Galloway and put in a cross that we blocked and cleared... but not far enough as Lanzini picked it up on the left, cut in and curled a beaut over Howard's head and into the top corner. No fault on Howard’s part in that one, it was just a perfectly executed goal but a right downer for the faithful. Still, I thought, here we go... another game to come back in. Well I hoped so!

I thought Barkley was doing well in midfield in wanting the ball and moving forward with purpose but, as their 18-yard line was reached, his pass decision and final ball were woeful today. I counted six occasions when his choice of pass was little more than a pass to their defence; however, if that can be worked on and improved and he can use a little more urgency and arrogance, then we may yet have a super player in our ranks.

Maybe he can take heart from Deulofeu who has certainly upped his game and was getting good results and appreciation for it. He had been a menace most of the first half and, as the clock ticked to half-time, I was hoping to keep the 1-0 score-line and regroup for a second half blast. But that thought was redundant when, on half-time, Deulofeu picked up a clearance from Barry and strode forward to the half-way line and delivered a peach of a pass that carried just the right weight to take WHU defenders out and play Lukaku in. The big Belgian reprised his goal from last week by calmly going around the keeper and slotting home. The faithful went ballistic and Lukaku was with them. What a pass from Deulofeu!

Two minutes were added and, as the last of these minutes were being played out, WHU hit a long one over the top with Andy Carroll after it. As he was gaining on it, the Ref blew up, much to the delight of the Blues fans and the ire of the claret and blue fans. Quite comical that, I thought.

Half-time: 1-1, and a good half of football. WHU just shaded it yet over the piece but I thought we looked the more likely. The half must have been quite even as people’s interpretation of it varied wildly.

We kicked off the second half and we got a free kick early but Barkley took a poor one and many a voice was raised in requesting he be relieved of set-piece kicks. Then the player who pulls the strings for WHU, Payet limped off leaving our fans quite happy but their fans not so.

The game was settling into one where both teams want to win yet neither want to lose so the play reflected this; as soon as an attack broke down for either team, their first thought was get back behind the ball rather than trying to win the ball back higher. WHU had the first really dangerous move and a cross from the right went right across our box and eluded everyone.

On 57 mins (I checked my watch!) Howard charged from his line and grasped the ball ending any danger. See he can do it!

From the hour mark, the game got sort of sloppy and we saw end-to-end stuff with no end product. WHU did have an attack that we defended but only to their goalscorer Lanzini who shot strongly but Howard tipped over in good style. From the corner our keeper was off his line like a train, taking all before him, à la Southall, and got a free kick to boot. We used this break in play to replace Kone with Mirallas. In the next WHU attack, Coleman takes no prisoners and the sub Valencia limps off, limps back on and lays down and is then stretchered off... No quarter asked for nor given in this game. He was clapped off though.

We then had a decent spell without really troubling the keeper. Then back came WHU for their turn and in one attack swung in a cross from a dead ball situation; it was their centre-back who rose highest and headed just over the bar. Then we had a go and Mirallas did well to win the ball near halfway and progressed to the edge of the box but, on looking up, not much was on, so he played it back to the supporting Barkley who looked up himself. With all avenues blocked, he fed the marauding Funes Mori some 35 yards out and the Argentinian took on the shot which was high... very high, talk about being optimistic!

Deulofeu took things into his own hands and ran right at them at pace whilst twisting and turning. He got along the by-line but unfortunately the best he could get was a corner that was cleared. On 80 mins, his race was run as Lennon replaced him as he got tremendous applause for his slow walk off arms aloft clapping as he went.

The clock was ticking down and it looked like we had settled for it bar a quick burst forward without overcommitting came off. Their right back had run at us and we laid off enough to get the ‘gee up’ from those assembled from L4. He got a shot in though and Howard was grateful it was low and straight at him.

Near the end, we had 5mins added, Galloway galloped away down our left and fed in a measured low cross that saw Lukaku come across his man to the near post and his stretch sent the ball just the wrong side of the post, some thought it was in it was that close. We then got a free kick in a dangerous position but all that did was reinforce our need for a change of kicker.

The half ended similar to the first with a WHU attack that saw them gain a free-kick in a dangerous position only for the Ref to blow time just as they were about to take. 1-1 and considering both teams' displays and a goal for each side that was worthy of winning a match, then I suppose you can say a draw was a fair result.

MotM: Deulofeu or Barry

A good display in patches from us. Galloway grew up a little more this afternoon as Moses was a fast, strong, rough opponent who knew how to gain a free-kick from a rookie. Fair play to Galloway: he stuck to his task and by the end was performing much better. The game also exposed our need for what I call a good ‘schemer’ who would know how to use the talent we have in other quarters. Barkley has talent but experience in such matters as directing the pace and ebb and flow of a game has not yet been gained. We must hope he develops so we must give him encouragement.

The games up until the end of December look to be ones we can gain points in, but a quick look at the fixture list and you see Palace, Leicester and Stoke, you soon realise it's not all plain sailing and top form and attitude will be a minimum requirement. Still let’s go for it. See you after the international break; I hope our participants do well and return in one piece.

UP THE BLUES

Ken Buckley

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