West Ham's inability to hold a winning position cost them dear this afternoon as Everton seized all three points at the Boleyn Ground with two late goals.
Sam Allardyce's side were looking reasonably comfortable at 2-1 with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, before disaster struck. Firstly, Mark Noble received his marching orders for a second bookable offence - then Everton struck twice in two minutes to record a second successive Premier League victory against London opposition.In stark contrast to their last outing here against Stoke, the Hammers started brightly and were good value for the 1-0 lead they held at the break courtesy of Ravel Morrison's first Premier League goal. On the half hour mark, Matt Jarvis jinked his way down the left wing before darting inside and passing short to the youngster, whose shot was diverted in the opposite direction by Phil Jagielka's flailing right foot and into the back of a prone Tim Howard's net.
The game changed as a result of Roberto Martinez's decision to introduce James McCarthy - who shackled the previously marauding Ravel Morrison effectively - and Romalu Lukaku, who tormented West Ham's defence throughout the second half. That would have been particularly hard to swallow for Allardyce, for whom the on-loan striker was a key summer transfer target.
Both substitutes played a major part in swinging the game Everton's way, but it was a desperate lunge from James Collins that proved to be the catalyst for the visitors' revival. The Welshman lunged in on Ross Barkley as the youngster was poised to shoot and conceded a free kick on the edge of the box; an opportunity that Leighton Baines took full advantage of by expertly guiding the resulting free kick into Jaaskelainen's right hand corner.
Everton, full of confidence having restored parity drove on in search of a second, yet it was to be West Ham who unexpectedly grabbed the next goal. Completely against the run of play, United restored their slender advantage from the penalty spot as Mark Noble, unerringly accurate from 12 yards, made it 2-1 with just 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Although it was captain Kevin Noble who won the spot kick when he fell over substitute McCarthy's trailing leg, all credit goes to debutant Mladen Petric whose persistence prior to the foul had kept the ball in play.
Determined to make the most of the 70 per cent of possession they'd enjoyed up to that point in the second period, Everton continued to apply the pressure. Having failed to clear their lines once or twice, West Ham began to get decidedly edgy and that slight whiff of panic eventually manifested itself in a late challenge from Noble on Barkley - again - on the edge of the box. Again.
Having already been booked, Noble knew he was in trouble and referee Lee Mason had no hesitation in pulling out a red card - although many inside the stadium were convinced the midfielder made contact with the ball before colliding with Barkley. Once Noble departed and the debate had ceased, up stepped Baines to send the ball into the opposite side of Jaaskelainen's goal to where he'd placed his first, equally stunning, free kick.
So with just seven minutes remaining the question on everyone's lips was "could West Ham hold out for a point?" Just a minute later they had their answer, when sub Lukaku stopped bravely to head home what proved to be both the winning goal and the first West Ham have conceded from open play this season. Lukaku's reward for his bravery was a head butt to the face from marker James Collins and several minutes' medical treatment.
Seven minutes of added-on time ensued but the Hammers never looked like grabbing a third goal and a share of the spoils, leaving Allardyce and his troops reflecting on a second successive home defeat. The season may be young but worrying signs are beginning to emerge - whilst yet again the Hammers failed to trouble the opposition 'keeper (two shots on target today took the season total from five games to just eight).
Next weekend, Big Sam takes his squad to newly-promoted Hull City for their next Premier League clash. Prior to that is the second visit of Cardiff City already this season for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup clash. Whilst that game has no impact on the league, it at least offers Allardyce and his squad - who have now taken just two points from their last four games - the opportunity for brief respite from the league campaign and the chance to rebuild some flagging morale.
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