West Ham score twice in stoppage time to beat struggling Everton
Everton 1 West Ham 3
No appeals board will save Everton on current form. Sean Dyche’s team may have been lifted by the return of four points on Monday but the psychological release did not transfer to the pitch where West Ham struck twice in stoppage time to inflict a damaging blow on the relegation candidates.
An exquisite finish from Tomas Soucek turned the game West Ham’s way in the 91st minute before Edson Álvarez sealed a second win in six days for David Moyes’s improving side.
Everton led through a second-half header from Beto, who also missed a first half penalty, but Kurt Zouma, Soucek and Álvarez struck in a stirring comeback by West Ham as the hosts’ winless Premier League run extended to 10 matches.
Dyche’s team have not won in the league since visiting his former club Burnley on 16 December and are toiling at both ends of the pitch as they search for that elusive victory.
The Dyche double of a long ball and a foul on the opposition’s most creative player was quickly ticked off the coupon. Jordan Pickford launched the first into West Ham territory after two seconds and Lucas Paquetá took an accidental blow in the face from Beto before the Everton goalkeeper’s kick came down. Another attritional afternoon at Goodison beckoned.
Beto was making his first start of the year after the Everton manager’s patience with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal drought understandably expired after 20 games. The Portuguese forward’s limited game-time was another reason it was a surprise to see him take Everton’s first penalty award of the season. His admirable sense of responsibility did not reflect well on more established teammates.
Everton started brightly and, in fairness, did look to the fit-again Amadou Onana and James
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