TEN MEN (AND THE REF) COULDN’T CARRY LAMPARD
West Ham 2 Everton 1
It is strange when you consider that West Ham have only ever beaten Everton once at London Stadium, and you have to go back to May 2018 for that game, towards the end of David Moyes’ first period in charge of the Irons. Manuel Lanzini scored twice in a 3-1 victory that afternoon, though he won’t be taking part in this one due to having turned over his sports car after training at Rush Green earlier in the week.
Jarrod Bowen returns this afternoon to strengthen Hammers’ front line, having completed a full week’s training in which he appeared to be back at his best. Everton have a strong team but are in the middle of one of their worst seasons for some time, having secured a miserly 25 points from 27 games. This is a side that have never been relegated in their illustrious lengthy history, and who plan to move shortly to a new expensive stadium alongside Albert Dock.
The game starts slowly with neither side seemingly keen to violate the goalless backdrop, but instead spend the ninety minutes playing knockabout. A foul on Antonio leads to a free kick just outside the area, which Cresswell curves over the wall and beyond the outstretched hands of Pickford.
The battle between Antonio and Michael Keane continues unabated and sees the Everton captain get a 34th minute booking for another desperate and unnecessary lunge. It does look as though Lampard will need all his focus and managerial nous to motivate his team after this poor first half showing.
Something of note may have been said as the spring-stepped toffees draw level eight minutes after the restart when Mason Holgate fires in a low shot into the corner after a goalmouth scramble.
No matter. Antonio breaks away just minutes later and his goalbound shot, though well saved by Pickford, runs loose to Bowen who clips it joyfully into the empty net, restoring Hammers’ lead. Seven minutes later and the battle between Keane and Antonio is culminated in a referee’s red card after one cynical challenge too many.
Yarmolenko and Noble appear as late substitutes to give them a run out just in case they are needed for the Europa League Quarter Final game against Lyon on Thursday. A routine victory
1 Lucasz Fabiański, 3 Aaron Cresswell, 24 Ryan Fredericks, 4 Kurt Zouma, 41 Declan Rice (c), 15 Craig Dawson, 28 Tomas Souček, 8 Pablo Fornals, 22 Saïd Benrahma, 9 Michail Antonio, 20 Jarrod Bowen
Substitutes: 16 Mark Noble, 7 Andriy Yarmolenko
Goalscorers: Aaron Cresswell, Jarrod Bowen
