Everton vs West Ham - Match report

Everton picked up their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon at home to West Ham United, with summer signing Neal Maupay getting the all decisive goal 8 minutes after the restart to give Everton a 1-0 win.

For most Everton fans, during the opening 6 games, we have been feeling that the first win was only a matter of time and yesterday it finally happened.

Jordan Pickford was missing due to a thigh injury which meant Asmir Begovic was in between the sticks, but that also meant we were without a captain. With Seamus Coleman now back-up to Nathan Patterson, loanee Conor Coady was given the captaincy meaning he was the first loanee to ever captain the club.

The first half was not one that many will want to watch again, with the only notable chance being Coady nearly putting the ball into his own net, but somehow putting the ball wide for West Ham’s first of 8 first half corners and considering Everton’s defensive frailties last season from set-pieces, it was a breath of fresh air to see an Everton side with leaders in defence dealing comfortably with this sustained pressure.

The second half start, was a lot better than the entirety of the first half with Jarred Bowen blazing over from the edge of the box, after some good work down West Ham’s left side, Pablo Fornals picked out Bowen, but the winger couldn’t keep his shot down.

At the other end, Demarai Gray who was a constant threat all game cut inside onto his right foot, and from just inside the area forced Fabianski into his first real save of the game.

Moments later, the deadlock was broken. Alex Iwobi who has turned into the Nigerian Iniesta since Lampard’s arrival, picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and drilled it low into the feet of Maupay. The Frenchman trapped the ball perfectly allowing it to sit up on the half volley and smashed it past Fabianski into the bottom corner.

This kicked Everton into another gear and with better positioning, could have doubled their lead. Gray, beat his man to the byline and whipped the ball across the 6-yard box with it just needing the slightest touch and it was 2-0, but no Everton player was anticipating the cross.

There were a few scares for Everton late on with Tarkowski blocking Bowen’s goalward shot, and substitute Said Benrahma hit the post after his left-footed shot from outside the area left Begovic flat-footed. Everton held onto all three points, securing consecutive clean sheets for the first time in over a year.

After yesterday’s game, David Ornstein from TheAthletic reported that Everton are looking to offer new contracts to Jordan Pickford, Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi.

What do you think? Is Alex Iwobi worthy of a new contract?

Take part in our poll and let us know in the comments or through our Facebook and Twitter @EFCVital your reasons why.