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West Ham logo
Premier League
Sep 21, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Everton logo

2-3

Morrison (31'), Noble (76' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Baines (62', 82'), Lukaku (85')

Live Commentary: West Ham United 2-3 Everton - as it happened

Find out how Everton came from behind to win 3-2 at West Ham United with Sports Mole's text updates.
2

West Ham United played host to Everton this afternoon looking for their first victory over the Toffees in 11 attempts.

Ravel Morrison put them in front before the break, but Leighton Baines restored parity shortly after the restart.

Back came the Hammers, who took the lead when Mark Noble scored from the penalty spot. He was later sent off, though, and the away side made the most of their numerical advantage with goals from Baines and Romelu Lukaku.

You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Afternoon all. There's a host of Premier League matches on today and we are covering an encounter between two sides with a reputation of playing good football. With that in mind, it should be a good one.

Right, before some pre-match chat and statistics, the team news from Upton Park is just starting to filter through. Let's start with how the visitors will start this encounter...

EVERTON XI: Howard; Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Distin; Naismith, Mirallas, Osman, Barry, Barkley; Jelavic

So, the big news from an Everton point of view is the fact that Lukaku starts among the substitutes. Instead, Nikica Jelavic will play as a lone centre-forward, with Kevin Mirallas providing the support. Behind them will be England youngster Ross Barkley, as well as Manchester City loanee Gareth Barry, who impressed on debut last weekend against Chelsea.

And next up is the hosting Hammers...

WEST HAM XI: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Rat, Collins, Reid; Noble, Morrison, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis; Maiga

Still no Andy Carroll as he continues his recovery from a foot injury, so in his place as a lone frontman is Modibo Maiga. Elsewhere, former Manchester United youngster Ravel Morrison is given an advanced midfield role, while summer Razvan Rat has been included in the four-man defence.

Also within the West Ham starting lineup is Jussi Jaaskelainen, who was fantastic between the posts against Southampton last time out. It was a performance that has earned the Finn high praise from West Ham's goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson:

"Location-wise, Jussi has been in the right positions to make the saves," Margetson told the club's official website. "When you have played 600-plus games in the Premier League, that obviously helps you, but some of the smaller technical things we try to do have also helped him.

"One thing I try to do as his coach and all the coaches at the club do is look at the smallest details. I've got clips from Sunday now that will prove to him that, if he keeps on doing what we're working on, he will make a whole lot more saves like that."


It's actually a bit of a surprise that Lukaku will not be trying to score against Jaaskelainen this afternoon - well not from the start anyway. The loanee signing from Chelsea has been handed a place on the bench. Let's have a look at who will be joining him...

WEST HAM: Adrian, Tomkins, McCartney, Taylor, Collison, Vaz Te, Petric

EVERTON: Robles, Stones, Heitinga, Oviedo, Deulofeu, McCarthy, Lukaku


James McCarthy is also a perhaps a surprise inclusion on the bench for Everton. The Toffees parted with around £14m to land him from Everton on deadline day, so you would imagine that he may go straight into the side, particularly after impressing against Chelsea from the bench. Still, it's a good replacement to call upon.

Right then, let's turn some attention on West Ham, although it may not make for positive reading for all you Hammers. As mentioned in the introduction, not since 2007 when Bobby Zamora scored the winner have they tasted victory over Everton.

And West Ham have done little to suggest this season that they will record a positive result today. After beating Cardiff City on the opening day, they've failed to score a Premier League goal. They also have one of the worst shooting accuracy in the Premier League at around 20%, while centre-forward Maiga is yet to find the net. All in all, it doesn't bode well.

Despite that, Everton full-back Leighton Baines has just told Sky Sports News that he is expecting a tough time this afternoon: "They'll make us defend and put us under pressure in and around our box. We know their style means that they like to try to get balls into the box and play to their strengths. They've got good players like Kevin Nolan so we will have to match them, then we can concentrate on doing our own stuff."

Back to Everton and they will be wearing their new third kit for the first time this afternoon, as just confirmed by the club's Twitter:



Having spoken to Baines, Sky Sports News has now caught up with West Ham's Mohamed Diame. The midfielder believes that his side needs to improve offensively:

"It's a very important game for us after the draw against Southampton. Everton had a very good game against Chelsea so they come here strong. Last season it was difficult for teams to come here and get three points. We know we are strong defensively, we need to score goals though."


PREDICTION: Right then, with not long now until we get started, let's look into the crystal ball. To be frank, West Ham have a shocking record against Everton of late and it would be a surprise if they corrected that today. With the firepower of Lukaku on the bench if things are not going right, it would be a shock if Everton didn't return to Merseyside with at least a share of the spoils. Putting my neck on the line - 2-0 Everton.

Here come the players then - there's a really good atmosphere inside Upton Park. You get the feeling that the supporters know just how important a win would would be for the Hammers today. Will they get one? Not long now until we have an answer...

GAME ON! Everton, kicking from right to left, get this clash started. Big 90 minutes ahead for both teams.

Very little to report on thus far. Everton have enjoyed more of the possession, but they are yet to work Jaaskelainen in the West Ham net.

Dear oh dear Diame. He's by no means a natural goalscorer, but even by his standards that is poor. He collects a flick on from Maiga to the left-hand side of the penalty. Instead of waiting for support, the midfielder opts for a first time shot which flies wildly over the crossbar.

SAVE! Smart work from Jaaskelainen as he parries clear a curling effort from the left by Mirallas. Naismith is waiting for the rebound, but the ball drops just out of his reach. Meanwhile, up the other Matt Jarvis is about to shoot after a pacey run, but Sylvain Distin retreats to clear the danger. Lively stuff at the moment.

After a positive start, proceedings have died down a little in East London. As was the case earlier, Everton are seeing much more of the ball, with Barkley in particular looking useful. To their credit, West Ham are working extremely hard to regain possession.

A slick passing move from Everton comes to nothing, although they deserved more. Barry and Barkley are both involved to free Mirallas down the left. His initial cross is blocked, but when he drills the ball into the area a second time, Jaaskelainen is able to collect with ease. You can see the impact that Martinez has had on this side already.

Where West Ham are concerned, Maiga is cutting a rather lonely figure up front. He's also being fed scraps to be honest, which the Everton rearguard are able to mop up with ease. It's got to be down to the likes of Nolan and Morrison to get further forward to provide further options.

Talking of Morrison, he has just shown exceptionally quick feet to dance away from Barry in the centre of the pitch. He also goes beyond Leon Osman, but the Everton midfielder retaliates by bringing down the young midfielder, who looks to have a very bright future ahead of him.

If this continues, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Martinez introduce Lukaku early in the second half. Everton are playing some neat football, but at the moment they are lacking a real threat up front. That may be a bit harsh on Nikica Jelavic, because he hasn't had much service, but then again his movement hasn't been the sharpest.

GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Everton (Morisson)

They may not deserve it, but the Hammers have their first goal in five and a quarter hours of Premier League football. It's neat play from Jarvis, who cuts in from the left to pick out Morrison 20 yards from goal. He takes one touch before going for goal and gets some luck as his shot deflects, leaving Tim Howard in the Everton goal stranded. Not only is it a big moment for West Ham, but it's also a huge goal for Morrison because it is his first in the Premier League.

It's been a positive response from Everton to going behind in terms of possession, but they still are struggling when it comes to shots on goal. You get the impression that the next goal in this contest is going to be very important.

BOOKING! And there is Morrison's petulant side. It's a needless and late foul he commits on Steve Naismith in a dangerous area as well. Luckily for him, West Ham are able to clear Leighton Baines's free kick with minimal fuss.

This match is rather chugging towards the break at the moment. West Ham have virtually everyone behind the ball and are asking Everton to break them down. At the moment, they can't!

We will have just the one minute of injury time at the end of the opening half.

HALF-TIME: West Ham 1-0 Everton

Well, West Ham have been by no means brilliant, but they lead 1-0. In all honesty, they've been much better without the ball, having harried Everton into mistakes. Defensively, as they so often are, they've also been solid.

In contrast, Martinez is bound to be an unhappy manager. His side have had plenty of the ball, but the final pass or movement has been painfully lacking. It wouldn't be a surprise at all if Lukaku was called upon very soon, maybe even before the restart. On the plus side, both Mirallas and Barkley have been lively.

Lukaku would offer Everton some that has so far been absent from their attacking play - pace and power. He will get behind the West Ham rearguard, but can also look after himself in the hustle and bustle of the penalty area. No disrespect to Jelavic, but right now, he doesn't look capable of doing either.

SUBSTITUTION: Unsurprisingly, as West Ham get us restarted, Lukaku has come on for Jelavic. There is also another change as McCarthy takes the place of Steven Naismith, who barely touched the ball during the opening 45 minutes. You'd have to say that it's positive changes from Martinez.

CHANCE! Almost an instant impact from Lukaku as he plays in fellow Belgian Mirallas with a neat low pass that splits the centre-backs. He beats Jaaskelainen to the ball, but his touch is a little heavy and the West Ham defence is able to get back in time to clear. Much more bite about the Toffees already.

Here's Dion Dublin, who has just been talking about Lukaku on BBC Sport: "I think Romelu Lukaku will be amazing [for Everton]. He's got pace, he's strong and he will score goals if he's given games. I'm surprised Chelsea let him go."

SUBSTITUTION: Bad news for Everton as Osman has picked up a hamstring injury and is unable to continue further. He's been replaced by Bryan Oviedo, meaning that the visitors will have to play the remainder of the match having used all their substitutes. Let's hope that they don't suffer another injury!

After a brighter start, West Ham appear to have weathered the Everton storm, for now at least. It's a real shame that we won't see Gerard Deulofeu this afternoon because the Barcelona loanee could well possess that trick that opens up the West Ham defence.

CHANCE! Great defending from West Ham as James Collins throws himself in the way of a low shot from Oviedo. Then Baines gets involved and crosses over from the left. All there is left for Mirallas to do is nod the ball into an empty net, but the ball from Baines is a little too high and just skims the attacker's head before rolling away from danger. That's a big let off for the home team.

BOOKING! One of the most obvious yellow cards you will see this season as Collins slides in on Barkley, giving Everton a free kick in a very dangerous position...

GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Everton (Baines)

That, in a nutshell, is why Everton fought so hard to keep hold of their left-back. It's a costly foul for Collins to commit as Baines spots up the ball and then powers a free kick from 25 yards out around the wall and into the top left hand corner of the net. What a strike from the England international. Parity restored.

BOOKING! Mirallas is fast becoming Everton's leading light in this game and it is he who is fouled by Mark Noble, resulting in a booking for the West Ham midfielder. He tries to argue his cause, but there was a clear pull of Mirallas's shirt.

SAVE! Almost a second for Baines, who is rampaging forward at the moment. His shot from a tight angle, but it is at a good height for Jaaskelainen and the West Ham goalkeeper is able to thwart the danger. All Everton right now.

PENALTY TO WEST HAM!

GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Everton (Noble, pen)

Not McCarthy's finest piece of defending, as he trips up Nolan inside the area. The contact is minimal, but it's enough for the West Ham captain to hit the deck. Naive in truth from the Everton midfielder. Up steps the reliable Noble, who sends Howard the wrong way from 12 yards out. West Ham back in front.

RED CARD! Noble (West Ham)

Hero to zero as Noble collects his second yellow of the afternoon for a foul on McCarthy. He tries his best to argue, but he has to go for that I'm afraid. What's more, it's given Baines a free kick in a very dangerous position - we know that he's capable from this sort of distance...

GOAL! West Ham 2-2 Everton (Baines)

I'm going to say it - there are few better takers of a free kick in European football than Baines right now. If his first was good, this one is stunning. He goes the opposite side this time and curls the ball beyond a motionless Jaaskelainen, who can only watch as the full-back's effort nestles in the net via the upright. Everton are level and have a man advantage - there is also time for winner!

GOAL! West Ham 2-3 Everton (Lukaku)

As Ray Wilkins has said on numerous occasions: "My word." Everton are in front and it's Lukaku on his debut, who rises highest to power in a header from a Mirallas cross. The travelling faithful go wild, as do the scorer's teammates. He's on the floor, though, having suffered a head injury. Everton need him to get up because they have no more substitutes left.

Thankfully for Everton, Lukaku is back on. A penny for the thoughts of Chelsea fans, who have seen their side loan out the clinical Belgian...

The numerous stoppages mean that we will have SEVEN minutes of injury time. Still plenty of time for West Ham to find an equaliser.

West Ham are finding it hard to get hold of the ball right now. They are trying their usual direct approach, but the ball just isn't sticking. It appears that Everton are going to hold out for all three points.

FULL TIME: West Ham 2-3 Everton

Well, what a comeback from Everton. In terms of the football played, they deserved it. Allardyce is unhappy with the referee, but he was right to send off Noble - the home side can have no complaints. That's also all we have time for from Upton Park, but be sure to check back here shortly for our analysis of the clash. Until next time, goodbye.

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West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce looks during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Reading at the Boleyn Ground on May 19, 2013
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