Everton battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at West Ham in the first game since the passing of their chairman Bill Kenwright.
Ahead of kick-off, respects were paid to Kenwright and Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who both recently passed away.
After a disjointed first half from both sides, Everton went ahead in the 51st minute through Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s low shot from the edge of the box.
Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola brilliantly denied Abdoulaye Doucoure to keep his side in the game, while England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford palmed away substitute Said Benrahma’s powerful strike right at the end of the game to secure the Toffees an emotional win.
‘Befitting to get a result for the chairman’
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Everton manager Sean Dyche hails the character of his players for their 1-0 win at West Ham after what has been a difficult week following the passing of Chairman Bill Kenwright
“It’s been a very tough week for different reasons, a very sad week in many ways for many people,” Everton boss Sean Dyche said.
“Like I say it was befitting to get a result for the chairman, who sadly passed away, and his family. The underlying thing is that a lot of players that have spent a bit of time here and know the chairman and they’re sad as well as I am.
“The players knew [what it meant]. They know depth of the chairman’s love for the club.”
Victory sees Everton move up to 15th, five points clear of the relegation places. Meanwhile, West Ham stay ninth but suffer a third straight defeat in all competitions.
How Everton battled past West Ham to claim emotional win…
West Ham and Everton players clash at London Stadium
There were emotional scenes at the London Stadium ahead of kick-off as England World Cup winner Hurst joined the managers and both teams on the pitch as respects were paid to Hurst’s England team-mate Charlton and Everton chairman Kenwright.
Wreaths were laid by both managers out on the pitch, while there were flowers on a seat in the director’s box where Kenwright would have been sitting. Applause then sounded out around the stadium in respect of Charlton and Kenwright, who both passed away last week.
There were tributes to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and England legend Sit Bobby Charlton before kick-off
The emotion may have got to both sets of players, particularly Everton, who were playing in their first match since Kenwright’s death.
It took until the 23rd minute for the first real chance of the game as Lucas Paqueta teed up Jarrod Bowen, but the England international skewed his shot wide.
Minutes later, Paqueta was involved again but this time a mix-up with Nayef Aguerd allowed Jack Harrison to drive at goal. However, the former Leeds winger’s tame shot was easily gathered by Alphonse Areola, despite the wet conditions.
Everton were growing into the game towards the end of the first half as Harrison fired over from distance, and despite some early pressure from the Hammers with Bowen heading over, the Toffees got their reward.
Jarrad Branthwaite stepped in strongly to win the ball from Michail Antonio as Everton launched forward. Harrison rolled the ball into Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the box and the striker spun away from the tight marking of Kurt Zouma and Aguerd before drilling a shot into the bottom corner.
The West Ham frustration was building and Everton almost had a second. Branthwaite’s long ball from defence was flicked on by Calvert-Lewin to release Doucoure. The midfielder took the ball in his stride before firing a low half volley from the edge of the penalty to Areola’s left, but the goalkeeper got down brilliantly to tip it around the post and keep his side in the game.
Jarrod Bowen reacts to a missed chance after beating Vitaliy Mykolenko
Areola then had to be alert to tip Dwight McNeil’s strike from distance over the bar before West Ham saw a penalty appeal turned down after Aguerd’s flicked header hit Amadou Onana’s arm from close range.
The West Ham frustration continued to build as the game wore on but they did have one final opportunity, but Benrahma’s forceful scissor-kick at the back was palmed away by Jordan Pickford to seal Everton’s victory.
In pictures: Kenwright and Charlton remembered
Dyche’s praise for Branthwaite, Tarkowski and Pickford
Everton boss Sean Dyche:
“We came down with the intention of taking the game on, we always do.
“It’s not always easy, this is a tough place to come, they’re an experienced outfit with a very experienced manager of course but overall with the way we performed, the chances we created and a fine goal, we just about edged it and got a nice three points.
“They can control the game here with sometimes playing slowly and methodical so I thought we had to change the tempo and ask more questions. I thought we worked well on the break, bit more quality here and there and we might have got a chance to score. Their keeper made a great save, we hit the bar, big moments go against us.
“West Ham had a couple of chances as the game wore on but Jordan [Pickford] makes a great save and a couple of saves in the second half that you’d like to think he would make. We kept them controlled the best we could, I thought the two centre-halves were immense. Jarrad [Branthwaite] continues to mature into a player, Tarky [James Tarkowski] is obviously a bit more rounded but I thought those two were immense today and the keeper behind them in the second half particularly.
“Overall, we see it through and I think it’s been a sad week as well and it’s befitting to get a result for the chairman [Bill Kenwright], who we have lost sadly, and his family.”
Moyes: Everton defended brilliantly
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
West Ham manager David Moyes reflects on his side’s defeat to Everton
West Ham boss David Moyes:
“Very close game but I expected it. Everton on the road are much better than they are at home this season and they proved it. Tough to break down, a goal whoever got it might have been the difference and they got the goal.
“We missed two or three chances but ultimately we conceded a goal and we did enough, we missed a few opportunities and we kept knocking at the door trying to get there but we couldn’t score.
“Huge credit to Everton for the way they defended the box brilliantly well, they didn’t give us much room when we did get room, their goalkeeper [Jordan Pickford] might have made a save and also we have to come up with a bit more creativity and a bit more sort of guile. We had two or three chances to score and we didn’t take them.
Opta stats: Everton’s impressive record at West Ham continues…
Everton have won more Premier League away games against West Ham than they have against any other opponent (13).
The Toffees have won a Premier League away game without conceding a goal for the first time since August 2021 at Brighton – this was their 41st league away game since that victory.
West Ham have failed to score in a Premier League game at the London Stadium for the first time in 2023, ending a run of 14 consecutive home games with a goal.
After a run of three consecutive victories in the Premier League, West Ham have won just one of their last six (D1 L4).
What’s next?
West Ham host Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night live on Sky Sports, kick-off 7.30pm. They then travel to Brentford next Saturday in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.
Everton face Premier League new boys Burnley at Goodison Park in the Carabao Cup fourth round at Goodison Park on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm. They then host Brighton in the Premier League next Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
