After an impressive August, Everton headed into their final September fixture winless in three. A stuttering month put any dreams of a European tour on hold, with David Moyes reiterating that patience would be needed as a new-look squad continued to gel. The Beto-Barry conundrum rumbles on, with both struggling to impress in recent weeks. It was the former who was called upon as struggling West Ham visited Hill Dickinson, although the Hammers were buoyed by the recent appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo.
Everton began on the front foot, controlling possession. James Garner dictated the tempo, while the trio behind the striker looked lively. However, the visitors showed signs of threat, with Crysencio Summerville fancying his chances against the towering Jake O’Brien. Midfielders Manuel Fernandes and Lucas Paquetá found space behind Everton’s midfield, though without producing anything decisive. After some interplay, James Tarkowski found himself in an unfamiliar crossing position and picked out Beto in the box, but the number nine could only direct his header straight at the goalkeeper. Illiman Ndiaye also tried his luck shortly afterwards, as the home side turned the screw. Yet as both forwards couldn’t provide the finish, Michael Keane broke the deadlock with a stunning header. The defender fed the flames of ironic calls to convert him into a forward, given recent striker woes. Shouts of “Keano, Keano” rang out as Everton capitalised on a strong spell. They continued to push for a second, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall going close with a header just wide of the post.
Despite a goal and a flurry of efforts for the home side, West Ham wrestled their way back into the contest, pushing for an equaliser in the final ten minutes of the half. Both wingers threatened and the midfield circulated possession neatly, but Everton went into the interval in front.
With the game finely poised at 1-0, West Ham resumed after the break with urgency. Everton failed to kill the contest and couldn’t carve out a decisive moment to settle fans’ nerves. With 30 minutes left, the Hammers should have been level when Summerville latched onto a poor back pass from O’Brien, only for Jordan Pickford to deny the tricky Dutchman. It was a warning sign that went unheeded, as the next attack saw Jarrod Bowen slam the ball into the back of the net. A swift counter ended with Mame Diouf crossing into the area, where the imperious Keane could only half-clear, the ball falling kindly to Bowen.
Both sides had openings to win the game in the final twenty minutes, but neither could make them count. Thierno Barry and Tyler Dibling were both introduced, but neither managed to alter the outcome. Another chance for three points slipped away, leaving Moyes with plenty to ponder.
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