In a match where a draw didn't necessarily help either team, a point each us what was shared. West Ham are now two points from bottom but remain in the relegation zone as they were unable to overcome Everton at Upton Park in London. The Hammers went up 1-0 in the 16th minute thanks in large part to a Radoslav Kovac acrobatic strike that took a fortunate deflection off of Tony Hibbert and past Tim Howard in the Everton goal. The goal was awarded to Hibbert as an OG but realistically, Hibbert could have done little in avoiding the assist.
West Ham United Vs. Everton, Final: Match Between Underachieving Clubs Ends Level
West Ham enjoyed the better of the possession early on which resulted in the goal, but failed to test Tim Howard who on more than one occasion risked all to leave his box in aiding his defenders. It was last ditch goalkeeping from Howard yet West Ham did little in making him pay for it. Scott Parker in particular was effective for West Ham when he got forward yet those advances were few and far between as the midfielder stayed conservative in the center of the pitch.
Towards the end of the first half, Everton started to click and looked far more dangerous as their passing, crisp and quick, threatened to open up the West Ham defense and finally did in the 42nd minute. Everton's Seamus Coleman was the recipient of a fine ball from Tim Cahill who crossed to Coleman for what was essentially a tap in at Robert Green's far post.
Both sides took to the interval level and that’s exactly how the game would end. More of a slug-fest than a match pleasing on the eye, West Ham played more defensive during the course of the second half by carrying out specific tactics implemented by boss Avram Grant. The message: get at Everton and don’t allow them the space and time to pass. Sounds obvious, but it was enough to save a point at home when three would have lifted the Hammers out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.
With the draw, Everton jump to 11th on 22 points level with three other clubs, and West Ham stay in 19th on 17 points while a Wolves win tomorrow will again place the Hammers dead last.
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