- Everton extended their unbeaten run to six games after a 1-1 draw with West Ham
- Jake O’Brien scored for the Toffees to level the affair in the 91st minute
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the League Cup final is Newcastle’s to lose
There was an excellent touch, after the game’s breathtaking finish, when David Moyes marched across to acknowledge West Ham’s fans and was offered rich applause in return.
The afternoon’s events revealed precisely why he had so many friends in the house.
West Ham, the better, sharper, more technically effective of the sides, owed their goal to two of the Moyes signings who remained legacies of his West Ham management when the club let him walk out the door.
Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek were so typical of the kind of players he finds: uncomplicated men with a work ethic who don’t break the bank.
Bowen had been the game’s shining light when he danced around the edge of Everton’s box just beyond the hour and laced a ball to Soucek, who manoeuvred himself around the bouncing ball and struck the opener.
Moyes’ unbeaten run – nine league games now – seemed over until that same eye for a player paid his new club a late dividend.
Everton were able to save a point against West Ham to draw 1-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday
Thomas Soucek opened the scoring for the visitors in the 67th minute with a curling shot
Jake O’Brien equalised in the 91st minute – his first goal for the Toffees since joining last July
David Moyes’ imprint is still on the West Ham team – and the fans showed their love for him
This time it was Jake O’Brien, the right wing-back who had been languishing on the margins until Moyes arrived here.
The 23-year-old Irishman, whose capacity to find dangerous positions brought a sharp save from Alphonse Areola in the first half, was in the six-yard box to head home Idrissa Gueye’s volleyed cross and earn Everton their point.
Moyes will ask why four Everton defenders clustered around Soucek did nothing to prevent him scoring and will rue Carlos Alcaraz rolling a shot inches wide at the death.
But West Ham should have nursed most regret. They were more the more energetic, alert and creative side. The intensity of their press, squeezing the life out of Everton at times, and capacity to get six behind the ball in paid order after losing possession told us that Graham Potter is making strides.
Bowen was everywhere, quick of thought and movement, displaying brilliant feet in confined spaces. Time stands still for such a player on form like this. In one beautiful first half moment when he paused, allowed a bounce of the ball and unravelled a shot which Jordan Pickford touched over. It was one of two fine instinctive saves from the England goalkeeper.
‘They’ve got a great team,’ Moyes said of West Ham, at the end. ‘I know, I spent a lot of the money there. I’ve built bonds with the majority of them. Tomas scoring was a blow but it doesn’t surprise me.’ Everton provided little equivalent quality. The delivery from the flanks was poor. The midfield lacking in vision.
The West Ham fans streaming out into the sunshine had sung ‘Champions of Europe, we know what we are.’ The man in the home dug out delivered them that UEFA Conference League trophy. They haven’t forgotten.
