West Ham 0-1 Everton: Sean Dyche’s side battle to hard-fought win in first game since Bill Kenwright’s passing
Everton battled to a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham in the first match since the death of their chairman Bill Kenwright.
Before kick-off, respects were paid to Kenwright, Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton, both of whom recently passed away.
After a disjointed first half from both sides, Everton took the lead in the 51st minute through Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola brilliantly denied Abdoulaye Doucoure to keep his side in the match, while England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford punched away substitute Said Benrahma’s powerful strike late in the match to secure an emotional win for the Toffees.
The win moved Everton up to 15th place, five points clear of the relegation places. Meanwhile, West Ham remain ninth but suffer a third straight defeat in all competitions.
How Everton battled past West Ham to claim an emotional victory…
There were emotional scenes at the London Stadium ahead of kick-off as England World Cup winner Hurst joined the managers and both teams on the pitch, while respects were paid to Hurst’s England teammate Charlton and Everton chairman Kenwright.
Wreaths were laid on the field by both managers, while flowers lay on a chair in the director’s box where Kenwright would have sat. There was then applause throughout the stadium for Charlton and Kenwright, who both died last week.
Before kick-off there were tributes to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and England legend Sit Bobby Charlton
The emotion may have rubbed off on both players, especially Everton, who were playing in their first match since Kenwright’s death.
It took until the 23rd minute for the first real chance of the match when Lucas Paqueta met Jarrod Bowen, but the England international skewed his shot wide.
A few minutes later, Paqueta was involved again, but this time a mix-up with Nayef Aguerd allowed Jack Harrison to drive home. However, the former Leeds winger’s tame shot was easily collected by Alphonse Areola despite the wet conditions.
Everton grew into the game towards the end of the first half when Harrison fired over from distance, and despite some early pressure from the Hammers as Bowen headed over, the Toffees got their reward.
Jarrad Branthwaite intervened powerfully to win the ball from Michail Antonio as Everton surged forward. Harrison rolled the ball into Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the penalty area and the striker turned away from Kurt Zouma and Aguerd’s tight marking before drilling a shot into the bottom corner.
West Ham’s frustration increased and Everton almost had a second. Branthwaite’s long ball from defense was tapped in by Calvert-Lewin to release Doucoure. The midfielder collected the ball in his stride before firing a low half-volley from the edge of the box to Areola’s left, but the goalkeeper brilliantly got down to tip the ball around the post and kept his side in the game .
Areola then had to be alert to tip Dwight McNeil’s goal over the crossbar from distance, before West Ham saw a penalty case dismissed after Aguerd’s glancing header struck Amadou Onana’s arm from close range.
West Ham’s frustration continued to grow as the match progressed but they had one final chance but Benrahma’s powerful scissor kick at the back was pushed away by Jordan Pickford to seal Everton’s victory.
In pictures: Kenwright and Charlton commemorated it
What’s next?
West Ham host Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup continues live on Wednesday evening Air sports, starting at 7:30 p.m. They then travel to Brentford in the Premier League next Saturday; starting at 3 p.m.
Everton Take on Premier League new boys Burnley at Goodison Park in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Goodison Park on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm. Next Saturday they host Brighton in the Premier League, kick-off at 3 p.m.