Another disappointing home draw left the Hammers languishing in the drop-zone the last time they played Everton at home.
West Ham started the game well and took the lead in the 16th minute through a hint of good fortune. James Tomkins forced Everton ‘keeper Tim Howard into a save. The ball then fell to Radoslav Kovac who turned the ball back in, only for Tony Hibbert to unwittingly divert the ball into his own net.
West Ham’s fortunate early lead led to them gaining the upper hand for a brief period. However, the period of ascendency was thwarted by Everton’s composed possession game. This eventually led to the Merseysider’s registering an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta found Australian Tim Cahill in space on the left. Cahill then guided an accurate ball to the far post, which was duly finished by an unmarked Seamus Coleman. West Ham almost immediately restored their lead after the brilliant Scott Parker teased Howard with a delicate chip. Despite catching Howard off his line, the ball drifted over the top of the bar.
Early in the second-half, both sides changed the shape of their attack upfront. Carlton Cole replaced Fredric Piquionne for the Hammers and Yakubu replaced youngster Jack Rodwell for Everton. Despite scoring a double against Fulham two days earlier, Cole was off his game when Freddie Sears picked him out at the far post at the start of the second half. Unfortunately for the home fans, Cole mustered a tame finish, well wide of the mark with only Howard to beat.
Cahill and Marouane Fellaini both had fantastic opportunities to score late in the match, but West Ham ‘keeper Rob Green saved the day and ensured the match remained all square.
West Ham: Green, Tomkins, Upson, Faubert, Illunga (Spector 34), Parker, Boa Morte, Kovac, Sears, Piquionne (Cole 56), Obinna (Hines 85)
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Distin, Neville, Coleman, Arteta (Bilyaletdinov 90+3), Cahill, Pienaar (Beckford 90), Fellaini, Rodwell (Yakubu 62)
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