Everton 1 West Ham 1
With Upson not recovering in time Alan Curbishley handed James Tomkins his first start. Sears started on the bench with Boa Morte returning to the side.
It looked like a dream start for Tomkins when he nearly repeated Sears' feat of last week by scoring within five minutes. From a Noble corner Tomkins stooped and headed the ball from seven yards but unfortunately his header hit the bar.
Three minutes later and that dream became a nightmare as he went up for a header with Yakubu and completely missed the ball. That left Yakubu clear in behind the West Ham defence and Green could do nothing as Yakubu slotted the ball home.
In the 31st minute the Everton defence tried to return the favour when the two centre backs both went for a Noble cross and both missed the ball. Ashton, six yards out, was gifted a perfect opportunity to equalise but his shot just flew wide of the left hand post.
It was a slice of luck that Everton perhaps deserved as before Ashton's miss they had a perfectly good goal from Yakubu ruled wrongly offside. With a couple of minutes of the first half left Ashton had a chance to atone for his glaring miss when West Ham were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. Ashton bent the ball low around the wall, the ball hit the back of an Everton defender and looked like it was going to beat an already diving Howard but the keeper did well to save with his feet.
Five minutes into the second half and Sears was brought on for Boa Morte. Sears' pace and eagerness seemed to spur West Ham on. In the 54th minute from a corner Ferdinand headed the ball down to Tomkins just three yards out but the ball bounced up unkindly and Tomkins couldn't get his shot away.
In the 64th minute Baines was played through on goal and Green came out well to save at his feet. Three minutes later Neill crossed a hopeful ball into the box from the touchline and Ashton got in front of his marker and headed West Ham's equaliser from around the penalty spot.
In the dying minutes West Ham had three good opportunities to take the lead. In the 84th minute Sears pounced on a defensive error, he tried to take the ball around Howard but was forced a little wide and couldn't dig out his shot with any force. In the 84th minute Noble made some ground down the left, passed the ball onto Solano, received the ball back and shot from twenty yards just over the bar.
Then thirty seconds later Sears was played clear through on goal, he tapped the ball past Howard and the ball rolled towards the goal only to hit the post and bounce back into play.
In the end West Ham were probably unlucky not to win the game.
posted by Keir Clarke @ 4:56 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
they looked like two evenly matched teams and although WH conceded a goal so early in the game, it was nice to see it not mean the game over for WH.
once again, Curb’s substitution and timing was just right with Sears. even if he did not score today, it was better to put someone on that is confident in front of the net. WH dominated the last 30 minutes of the game so it really is a shame that they did not score a second time given all the chances that were taken.
He does look a great player to bring on when the opposition are tiring.
I thought Tomkins did well after his initial mistake. He might lack a little pace though.
Showed tremendous character to come back from a goal down at a place like Goodison. It cud have gone horribly wrong after conceding ,but it didn t . Curbishley s putting Solano and Sears on was sensible and done early enough to make a difference.
What didn t make sense was starting with Boa Morte ,when at least two other players wud have been more appropriate. After his recent outings I don t think that Boa Morte warranted the chance today , but even Curbishley seemed to acknowledge that the player wasn t contributing much today,by taking him off as early as he did.
Although i think Spector does a lot more than people give him credit for, I was didn t undertand why he came on for Parker. Unless it was absolutely necesary for Parker to come due to injury,I can t see why we d take a player of that quality off with 10 minutes to go.
Sears,even if only 18,does look a great prospect ,and that quickness of feet that he has seems to be very important to the team now. What a difference to see a West Ham side run an opponent, a quality opponent at that ,absolutely ragged for the last 30 minutes.
Thought the lads done splendid today and we can be really, really proud of the team. I haven't been happier after a West Ham performance for a long while. I love it when we go to someone else's place, have a good jolly up (we made all the noise today, didn't hear a peep from the home lot where I was sat) and run our opponents ragged (especially second half)
Green did well in goal and looked more confident than he has in recent weeks.
Defence grew in assurance as the game went on, Anton improved and made some vital interceptions, Tomkins did well for his senior debut despite the goal (combination of lack of experience and the sheer impressiveness of Yakubu's physical side) but Kier I agree he lacks a bit of pace. Seems a good reader of the game though, his positioning was pretty decent for an eighteen year old.
Midfield central 3 worked hard, Parker done well too, Ljungberg was for me very impressive. Boa Morte didn't look up for it, it was almost as though he was scared of getting stuck in and sent off again.
Ashton up front was sublime. Unlucky not to score first half but was a constant menace. His goal was absolutely fantastic IMO. His first touch was good, he looked hungry and sharp and caused Everton all sorts of problems. Sears when he came on looked very dangerous, unlucky not to score, ran Jagielka ragged. A very tantalising prospect.
I like Curbs a lot as some of you will have gathered (today was proof that the possession pass and move game we try and play can work) but for christ's sake what is his obsession with Jonathan Spector? I really do think he is a very, very ordinary player. Lad seems to get on every game.
Anyway, think if anyone deserved the three points today it was us, we had more ideas and more about us in the second half than them. On to Sunderland next, will be a tough, tough game as they're fighting for their lives and will look at home games against the likes of us as winnable games. But if we play like we did today, I'll be delighted.
COYI!
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