Premier League
West Ham United 0-0 Everton 

Saturday, 22nd April 2017
by Staff Writer

There were few thrills and spills at the Olympic Stadium this afternoon as West Ham produced their first goalless draw since moving to Stratford.

And whilst there were few genuine goalmouth incidents for the fans to mull over during their post-match pints, it was at least a far more robust and defensively sound performance than Slaven Bilic's side have produced for some weeks.

So much so that Everton - including Romelu Lukaku, United's nemesis in blue - failed to conjure a single shot on target all afternoon; their first of four not arriving until the 70th minute.




Conversely the Hammers - who hadn't beaten Everton at the Boleyn Ground in any of the last ten Premier League meetings - managed a total of 15 efforts at goal, but with only three on target they too were no more likely to break the deadlock.

The only major scare for West Ham came on the quarter-hour mark when goalkeeper Adrian - restored in place of Darren Randolph - made a complete hash of a throw in, almost allowing Everton in before he managed to grab hold of the loose ball.

At the other end James Collins, a colossus once again in defence went close with a header that he should have perhaps found the target with - which was about the sum of the first half action.




Singer Pixie Lott entertained the punters at half time with a song, even though most of the crowd had disappeared to the bars, eateries or khazis by that point. However it was still the most entertaining moment of an otherwise drab encounter to that point...

...and pretty much to the final whistle.

Referee's assistant Sian Massey pulled a muscle whilst running the line and had to be replaced five minutes after the restart, which was the main taking point of the second half until Edi Fernandes fired high from a Jonathan Calleri centre just before the hour mark.




Shortly after West Ham's less-than-convincing claims for a penalty after Manuel Lanzini's cross appeared to make contact with Ashley Williams' arm were waved away by referee Roger East, before the biggest cheer of the day followed with the introduction of Diafra Sakho.

The Argentinian was involved again on 73 minutes when he forced a smart save from Maarten Stekelenburg, an effort sandwiched by speculative efforts by Ademola Lookman (both of which ended up well wide of their desired target).

Jose Fonte had the chance to make himself a hero for a week as the game entered extra time but in keeping with the general poor quality of football on display, his header was weak and straight at the Everton 'keeper.

The point leaves West Ham 13th in the Premier League table with 38 points from 34 games.



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Player Ratings

Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo
Comments to follow.


Edimilson Fernandes
Comments to follow.


Arthur Masuaku
Comments to follow.


James Collins
Comments to follow.


Jose Fonte
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Winston Reid
Comments to follow.


Havard Nordtveit
Comments to follow.


Cheikhou Kouyate
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Andre Ayew
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Manuel Lanzini
Comments to follow.


Jonathan Calleri
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Substitutes

Edimilson Fernandes
(Replaced Snodgrass) Comments to follow.


Arthur Masuaku
(Replaced Cresswell) Comments to follow.


Jonathan Calleri
(Replaced Kouyate) Comments to follow.


Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo
Did not play.


Havard Nordtveit
Did not play.


Mark Noble
Did not play.


Ashley Fletcher
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo, Edimilson Fernandes, Arthur Masuaku, James Collins, Jose Fonte, Winston Reid, Havard Nordtveit, Cheikhou Kouyate, Andre Ayew, Manuel Lanzini, Jonathan Calleri.

Goals: None.

Booked: Edimilson Fernandes 33  0        .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Everton: .

Subs not used: .

Goals: .

Booked: .

Sent off: None.

Referee: Roger East.

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: Arthur Masuaku.