EPL – West Ham vs Everton: The Toffees despite having two games in hand are in a serious relegation battle. Considering the quality of clubs they were set to face returning from the international break.
A win against West Ham could have been crucial in their quest to stay up. However, it was an important contest for West Ham as well, who are fighting for a spot in Europe.
Creswell put the Hammers up when he scored from a free kick in the 32nd minute. Only for Holgate to equalise at the start of the second half when he capitalised on a poor clearance from Fabianski.
Bowen marked his return to action when he scored from a rebound which resulted at the end of Antonio’s counterattack.
Only minutes later, Everton captain Keane got sent off after getting his name on the book for a second time for a challenge on Antonio. The Iron Ones, following that, were able to see through the result against a 10-men Everton.
EPL – West Ham vs Everton: Player ratings
West Ham: Fabianski (6), Fredericks (6), Dawson (7), Zouma (6), Cresswell (6), Soucek (6), Rice (7), Bowen (7), Benrahma (7), Fornals (7), Antonio (8).
Subs: Yarmolenko (n/a), Noble (6).
Everton: Pickford (6), Kenny (4), Godfrey (7), Keane (4), Mykolenko (6), Doucoure (7), Holgate (7), Iwobi (6), Richarlison (7), Gray (6), Calvert-Lewin (6).
Subs: Gordon (6).
Managers’ reaction
West Ham manager, David Moyes: “We give him [Aaron Cresswell] a lot of stick because he practises free-kicks so much and has not had many goals. He has had a lot of assists in other ways. It was a real good free-kick today.
“It was a really good win and I thought the players did a really good job. I would like the standards and levels to be better. Coming back from international duty and getting the players back on it is never easy. It was a tough game. We huffed and puffed at times, had opportunities but so did they.
“We have a huge game coming up on Thursday night. I would like to say that wasn’t playing in my mind, but it clearly was. I’d like to say all the players have come through OK, Jarrod Bowen included.
Everton manager, Frank Lampard: We’re disappointed because we deserved at least a point from the game. At 1-1 I fancied us to score a second. There’s a mistake and they break away and score. It drops to them. The first goal is a free-kick in the top corner.
“The reality is that we are in that kind of moment where everything is going against us – decisions, moments in games, red cards. I can’t fault the players, their character, play generally. The performance was really positive and we have 10 games to perform like that again and more.
“The red card changes plans. It is the third game in a row. Two of those sending-offs are yellows you can be frustrated with. One is not a sending-off. Allan against Newcastle should be overturned but people want to save face. It is difficult with 10 men. We kept going and the spirit and resilience in the team was really good.”
