EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB - News Archive

Everton 0-0 West Ham

One point gained? or two points lost?. If you’re a West Ham fan, then its one point gained. If you’re a blue... then I am sure you agree its two points lost.

This match report will be one of my shortest ever, with the first 45 minutes being very dull... both teams struggled to string two or three passes together.

Brian McBride re-instated in place of Kevin Campbell. Tony Hibbert returned from injury to replace Alessandro Pistone.

The first 5 minutes was an end-to-end affair, both sides creating chances. It appeared as if it would be another typical Everton vs. West Ham game.

Indeed, the only save of note in the opening half hour was made by David James when he safely collected an early Tomasz Radzinski header.

The limit of Richard Wright’s responsibilities in the same period was to pluck a few wasteful crosses out of the air.

Forward passes were poor, the players were poor, and because of this the atmosphere inside Goodison Park went dull.

Probably the biggest cheers game when Mark Halsey’s whistle brought to an end the most tedious first half of football witnessed at Goodison Park this season!

Surely things could only get better in the second half. The first real action of the second period came, when Alan Stubbs almost turned a low cross past his own keeper – the ball just sliding wide of the post for a corner.

At the other end, Radzinski’s appeals for a body-check from Repka fell were turned down, and it appeared we had a game on our hands.

Richard Wright made a fine save to keep out a 54th minute shot from Trevor Sinclair and almost immediately, David Moyes made a triple substitution.

In a bold move, the manager sent on Wayne Rooney, Kevin Campbell and Li Tie for Brian McBride, Scot Gemmill and Gary Naysmith.

Everton looked as if they'll go on and win the game, on 59th minute, Radzinski’s curling shot was palmed away by James, and Rooney’s rebound effort was blocked.

Tony Hibbert was cautioned for a high challenge on Joe Cole and then Rooney sprinted down the left wing and delivered a teasing cross that was scrambled back to James by Rufus Brevett.

Steve Watson tried his look when he danced around a couple of challenges on the edge of the box only to scuff his final shot and pull it well wide of the target.

At the other end, Everton almost paid a high price for poor defending by Gravesen. The Dane dispossessed Cole but then allowed him to win it back and was relieved to see Carrick’s drive clear the bar comfortably.

The breakthrough almost came on 74 when Stubbs hurled himself at a Hibbert centre only to head wide by a matter of inches, seconds later, Rooney was even closer when his angled shot deflected past James’ right-hand post as Everton pressed forward.

In stoppage time, Rooney had an effort blocked, Gravesen blasted the loose ball, but James made another good save.

West Ham will be delighted with the result, but Everton now know, that things are going to get much more difficult if they are to enter Europe. Let’s hope Everton manage to do the double over Arsenal on Saturday...