Frank Lampard and his Everton players can savour the upcoming international break having bagged their first Premier League win of the season. They were good value for it too, having outplayed a poor West Ham United team far more comprehensively than the 1-0 scoreline suggests. Showing speed and invention at times, particularly in the second half, this Goodison Park clash was as one-sided as a single-goal game gets.
Everton had the better of the first half, but struggled to turn possession and territory into opportunity. Neal Maupay’s smart through-ball to Alex Iwobi was cut out before reaching its intended target. Maupay’s creativity came to the fore again when a cross towards Anthony Gordon saw the winger snatch at the chance.
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Amadou Onana impressed more than anyone in the first period. The midfielder’s drive and energy helped his team make inroads. Onana looped a header over from a set piece and narrowly missed out on connecting with an Iwobi cross that carved West Ham open.
The biggest moment of the half was not an attempt but a tackle. Gordon’s crunching but fair slide on Pablo Fornals elicited the biggest Goodison Park roar of the first half.
The second half started with Everton still on the front foot. Demarai Gray cut inside on the left hand side and fired a powerful shot at Lukasz Fabianski. They made this positive start count when Maupay pivoted to fire home from an Iwobi pass to give Everton the lead. It was an instinctive finish, the moment of brilliance that was needed to break down a resolute West Ham.
Everton have the breakthrough and it is some goal from Maupay! 💥
The goal lit a fire under Everton, who poured forward while Goodison Park screamed in support. Gray fired a cross that narrowly missed Maupay who looked hungry to add a second having netted his first Toffees goal. Iwobi himself flashed a shot across goal as the pressure mounted on the underwhelming Hammers.
Iwobi fired one over after Gray took a heavy challenge from Thilo Kehrer in the box. The challenge was fair, despite the protests, and the shot should have been better. The same was true of Maxwel Cornet, who had a shot saved by back-up stopper Asmir Begovic at the other end.
Lampard’s men are finally off the mark. It was a desperately needed result and a fine performance. After a season spent battling relegation in 2021-22, The Toffees needed points on the board quickly. On another day they may have been punished for their lack of ruthless finishing but on this day they were good value for their victory.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
