Premier LeagueWest Ham United 0-0 Everton
Saturday, 9th November 2024
by Chris Wilkerson
One of the most boring games in Premier League history finished as it deserved to, a 0-0 stalemate that will fade quickly from memory.
A late flurry from The Hammers aside, it was a largely incident free game that showcased two teams with very few attacking ideas, both playing well within the ability of their individuals, 90 minutes lacking in style, skill and substance.Whilst this was reported as a must-win game for the struggling West Ham manager, it was most certainly a must-not-lose, and the bare minimum was achieved. Not much else was.
There were two changes from the side beaten last week by Nottingham Forest, with Soucek replacing the suspended Alvarez in midfield, and Antonio returning to the side in the place of Mavropanos as Lopetegui moved away from a back five and returned to a back four.
The visitors were without Dwight McNeil, arguably their player of the season so far. The home side were saved by the pace of two new signings twice inside the first 10 minutes as Everton looked to take advantage of a slow West Ham start.
Just after the first minute, a long ball down the middle was flicked on, and Doucoure burst from a little deeper to take it down and push to the box, only for Wan-Bissaka to make up strides from behind to catch and challenge the midfielder. Minutes later, a West Ham corner provided the danger.
Hit long, Bowen recovered the ball on the right wing, but his pass back to Wan-Bissaka was wayward and forced the right back into a sliding challenge with Gueye. He won the ball, only for his poke towards Summerville to roll short. Lindstrom pounced and suddenly Everton were on the counter as he played forward to Gueye on halfway.
The midfielder carried deep into the West Ham half and then slid a diagonal pass through the retreating Hammers and on to Doucoure, who looked set to score as he controlled and then hit across goal from 12 yards out, only for a wonderful challenge from Summerville right at the last gasp to block his shot and save West Ham's clean sheet, the ball looking set to find the bottom corner.
West Ham were flat, confidence low and likely further knocked back by Everton's fast start.
The away side looked more comfortable, even with only one win in their last 16 away games. N'Diaye offered a threat off the left, dribbling with a lovely glide and float that saw him ghost between defenders. Had he a better finish on him, he may have profited from a dance into the West Ham box on 12 minutes, but his effort was tame and easily saved.
Nothing summed up West Ham's struggles more than a long spell of possession on 25 minutes that saw The Hammers moving the ball around with little purpose in the Everton half. As often was the case, a lack of haste in their approach saw them against a settled defence, and so they were forced into sideways and backwards passing.
Pushed back, a pass all the way to Fabianski nearly caused trouble as the goalkeeper's less than stellar first touch had Calvert-Lewin almost on top of him making a challenge, but the Polish ?EUR~keeper was able to flick it away.
It was at a point that West Ham fans were likely already clinging to the hope that their team could make it to the break at level pegging and then see if Lopetegui could again make the changes that fix the problems of the team he had started.
As minute after minute of this pursuit of nothing continued, it took 44 of them to see the home side test their opponents with a shot.
It came from Antonio's hard work, bullying his way from the left channel to the centre of Everton's half. He tried to push and run past Branthwaite, and the challenge between the two knocked it into the path of Bowen.
Coming alive, the West Ham captain made himself a little bit of space into the box and smashed with his right to the near post, with Pickford equal to it to parry wide.
Into stoppage time, Bowen intercepted a loose Tarkowski on halfway and drove forward. At the edge of the box, he slipped through a pass to Antonio in the area, but the striker was forced wide and couldn't squeeze the shot through Pickford from the byline.
It was a shock to see the two sides come back out from the break with no changes. Everton started fast again, but it was Bowen who got away the first shot, making space and shooting from distance. The deflected effort forced a corner, which Bowen flicked on at the near post, only to see it evade all in the area.
There was more life to this game in the second half, not that it took much. Lindstrom headed wide from a Calvert-Lewin cross, Rodriguez hit well from outside the box to force a good Pickford save, and Mykolenko matched onto a loose ball in the West Ham box, only to see his shot blocked crucially by Soucek.
Just past the hour mark, Fabianski had to be at his best to keep the score level. The impressive N'Diaye played a cute pass in the box to the byline where Mangala had made his run.
Keeping it in, the midfielder dug out a chipped cross into the middle, and Lindstrom was free from eight yards out, meeting the ball powerfully to head at goal. Were it aimed either side of the goalkeeper, Everton would have taken the lead. Thankfully for West Ham, it was fired at Fabianski, above his head, and the goalkeeper made a fantastic reaction save to tip over.
With just over 20 minutes to go, the manager rolled the dice, a treble change as Lopetegui looked to win the game. On came Coufal, Soler and Ings, off went Wan-Bissaka, Rodr?-guez and Antonio. To his credit, West Ham ended the game on top, his changes adding life to what had been a limp performance.
As the home side looked to add life up front, Everton dropped deeper, settling for the point. The best moment of the game came soon after. It was individual genius, Paqueta acting quickly in possession just inside the Everton half and guiding a wonderful 30 yard pass, curled on the floor through the defence.
Summerville was onto it, taking it on centrally and pushing across to the left side of the box. He placed his effort across goal with the inside of his boot, beating Pickford, only to see the ball bounce back off the inside of the post, rolling to an Everton defender and clear.
The wind was behind the backs of the Irons now, and Paqueta was carrying his side's creative threat. A little bit of luck and he would have combined with Ings to find that elusive goal.
With three minutes remaining, Soler burst through midfield, eventually hitting a weak shot that deflected out to Paqueta. The Brazilian instantly played a pass to Ings in the box, and the veteran striker showed the instinct and composure that Antonio often lacks, taking the ball under control quickly, moving it out of his feet, then opening up his body to curl across goal with his left foot.
It was destined for the bottom corner, but Pickford was equal to it, diving at full stretch to push it away from the melee in the box. That was good from the England goalkeeper, but it was his stoppage time save that showed why he has been Everton's best player for many years.
This time, a ball forced forward came to Ings. The striker moved it out wide to Paqueta and carried on his run forward, quickly receiving it back from Paqueta in his path as he pushed into the box and hit hard as the ball bounced up. It took off, skimming off the deck, flicking off of Tarkowski and firing off at goal. But Pickford threw out a hand at full stretch to his right, and kept the scores at what they deserved to be as the full-time whistle blew.
Both sides will take it, neither massively helped by a solitary point against an opponent they would have targeted to beat, but more eager not to lose than anything. Going into the last international break of the year, maybe both managers will take it as enough to get them through the next two weeks without too much drama. How lucky are football fans?
Manager's Rating
Julen Lopetegui 6/10: The changes added life, but waiting gave us 67 minutes of watching a team that wasn't working. Not a game to change any opinions, at least not in his favour.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Everton match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Lukasz FabianskiA couple good saves in there that kept his side level.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Solid, unspectacular, some good covering runs but also beaten by N'Diaye more often than he should.
Emerson Palmieri
Lindstrom made little impact on the ball, but did drift off into space in the middle to nearly score a couple times.
Jean Clair Todibo
Calvert-Lewin was kept quiet, so he will consider it a good day. Clean sheet, few chances.
Max Kilman
Much the same, with Kilman particularly impressive in the air.
Guido Rodriguez
With the full backs a little less ambitious, and Soucek functioning in there, Rodriguez wasn't at his busiest, but held his space and, as he often does, maintained the right positions.
Tomas Soucek
It was a game of working hard and being across the pitch for Tommy. Didn't make an impact in either box.
Lucas Paqueta
The big chances all came from Paqueta's vision and passing. He worked hard, defended physically, and created with ingenuity and speed in big moments.
Michail Antonio
Didn't quite make an impact. Just couldn't get anything out of the centre backs, Everton have often been able to handle his play, with their more rugged defence.
Crysencio Summerville
His lack of end product may become an issue, but his direct running is great to see when he gets the chance.
Jarrod Bowen
A harsh 5, but Bowen just doesn't look as good in a team where he's making less runs behind and into dangerous areas, and more on the ball creativity.
Substitutes
Carlos Soler(Rodriguez 66) Not too impactful, although that sudden burst onto a loose ball and shot showed signs of life. His first.
Danny Ings
(Antonio 66) His cameo was close to a success, suddenly finding an actual striker in the box and looking to make space.
Vladimir Coufal
(Wan-Bissaka 66) Not many good moments, a nice booking and a long throw straight off the pitch.
Luis Guilherme
(Summerville 82) Nice to see him. Made no impact.
Wes Foderingham
Did not play.
Aaron Cresswell
Did not play.
Ollie Scarles
Did not play.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Did not play.
Andy Irving
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Emerson Palmieri, Jean Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Guido Rodriguez, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: None.
Booked: Julen Lopetegui 0 Vladimir Coufal 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Everton: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Lindstrøm, Doucoure (Harrison 86), Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin (Beto 75).
Subs not used: Virgínia, Begovic, Patterson, Bates, Keane, O’Brien, Armstrong.
Goals: .
Booked: Gueye, Young.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Stuart Attwell.
Attendance: 62,463.
Man of the Match: Danny Ings.