West Ham United failed to lift the pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui, playing out a goalless draw at home to Everton in a match lacking in excitement and quality. The Hammers remain mired in mid-table mediocrity, and despite some late chances, they couldn’t break the deadlock against a resilient Everton side.
The visitors settled into the match quicker than their hosts, but despite some early promise, they failed to trouble West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski apart from a tame effort from Iliman Ndiaye. On the other hand, West Ham were largely anonymous in attack, offering little threat in the opening 45 minutes, though they did come close to taking the lead just before the break when Jarrod Bowen’s near-post drive was expertly saved by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
While there were slight improvements from the Hammers after halftime, the match remained frustratingly uneventful. Everton had their chances, with Jesper Lindstrom’s header requiring a tip-over from Fabianski, while Crysencio Summerville’s low shot rattled the post at the other end. The game’s best chance came in added time, when Pickford pulled off a stunning save to deny Danny Ings’ deflected strike.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left with a point, with West Ham staying 14th in the Premier League table, two points above Everton, who sit in 16th.
West Ham’s Lackluster Attack
There was no shortage of effort from West Ham in the opening exchanges, but their attacking play was disjointed and lacked any real cutting edge. The visitors, by contrast, looked the more dangerous side in the first half, forcing some early scrambles and half-chances. Abdoulaye Doucoure was denied a clear shot at goal on a couple of occasions, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Summerville making important recovery tackles to foil him.
The hosts’ first meaningful attempt came right at the end of the first half, when Jarrod Bowen let fly from the near post, only for Pickford to produce an excellent one-handed save. It was a brief moment of quality in an otherwise uninspiring first 45 minutes, as West Ham struggled to find any rhythm in the final third.
Everton Early Promise Fades
Everton, for their part, were slightly more threatening in the first half but couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. Ndiaye’s low shot from the edge of the box was well wide of Fabianski’s goal, while a header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin just before halftime failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Despite Everton’s better positioning and early dominance, they faded after the break, allowing West Ham to find more of a foothold in the game. Yet, neither side could break the deadlock, with both teams failing to convert the limited chances they created.
Crysencio Summerville nearly put Everton ahead in the 73rd minute, but his low shot ricocheted off the foot of the far post with Pickford beaten, and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief.
Pickford’s Heroics Save Everton
As the game drew to a close, Pickford was once again called into action. In the dying seconds of added time, Danny Ings saw his shot deflected towards goal, but the England international goalkeeper was equal to the task, diving to his right to produce a superb save and preserve a point for Everton.
A Draw that Leaves Both Sides Wanting More
For West Ham, the point does little to ease the pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui, whose side remains a work in progress. Though they were slightly better after the break, their attacking play continues to look toothless, and their inability to break down a limited Everton side at home will surely be a concern.
Everton, meanwhile, will be pleased to leave with a point after a disciplined defensive display, but they will also feel that they could have snatched more from the game, especially after a promising first half.
The draw means that West Ham remain in 14th place, just two points above Everton, who continue to hover just above the relegation zone. Everton’s recent run of form, where they’ve lost only one of their last seven league matches, is a slight positive, but their struggles away from home—one win from their last 17 away games—continue to haunt them.
With both sides failing to make a statement, the result does little to boost either team’s aspirations for the season ahead.
source – BBC
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