Bowen returns to thwart Everton

West Ham 2 Everton 1

There's a strangely muted feel to this Sunday afternoon match, with the London Stadium feeling soporific and Big Fat Frank not even being taunted, though Fraser does ask how many men it would take to carry Lampard. We're joined by Matt, Lisa, Nigel (minus his lucky banana) and Michael, though the Clacton crowd appear to be waiting for the big one against Lyon on Thursday.

Good news is that Bowen is back though Lanzini is omitted after his car crash on the A12 and Johnson is also absent. Everton have lost Van de Beek in the warm-up. The game starts slowly with West Ham's best effort seeing Bowen and Benrahma set up Fornals, for a shot smothered by the onrushing Pickford. But Iwobi and Doucoure and seeing a lot of the ball in midfield and only a great recovery tackle from Fredericks foils Richarlison, who looks about to score when through.

The breakthrough comes on 32 minutes when Holgate gives away a free-kick on the edge of the box. Mystic Matt says we never score from free-kicks but Nigel has a good feeling about this one. Sure enough, Aaron Cresswell curls an effort over the wall into the top corner. It's positively Ward-Prowse-esque and Scouser Cressy enjoys celebrating in front of the Everton fans.

A few minutes late Everton should equalise, as Pickford's kick finds Richarlison getting behind Fredericks and chipping over the bar. It's almost two for the Irons when Benrahma finds Antonio — who is getting manhandled by Keane every time he goes for the ball — who rounds Pickford but from a tight angle can only hit the side-netting.

West Ham start slowly again in the second half, with Calvert-Lewin hitting the frame of the goal after a mistake from Rice. Eight minutes into the half the Toffees equalise after winning a corner. Fabianski punches to the edge of the area, but Richarlison pokes the loose ball to Holgate, who fires home with the aid of a big deflection off Fornals. At least this rouses the home crowd with some belated choruses of "West Ham are Massive!" and Bubbles.

BOWEN BOUNCES BACK

Luckily, Everton are in relegation trouble and prone to making silly mistakes. They are only level for five minutes before Iwobi mis-controls and Fornals sends Antonio away with an excellent first-time pass. Michail's shot is saved by Pickford, but Jarrod Bowen, who hasn't looked fully match fit, is on hand to stroke home the rebound. 

Everton further assist West Ham with a sending-off, as Keane receives a second yellow for another agricultural lunge at Antonio. "It's always difficult to play against ten men," mutters everyone in our group. West Ham almost make it three after great work from Benrahma on the left, only for the hit and miss playmaker to wildly overhit his cross. 

Everton show enough spirit to still trouble the Hammers and Moyes sensibly replaces the tiring Bowen with Mark Noble, who has the experience to calm things down. Cresswell is a bit fortunate to only get a yellow card for kicking the ball against Richarlison's face late on, though he's not helped by the Brazilian's multiple roll-overs as if he's been shot by the Jack Grealish sniper.

The Irons see the game out, and despite not playing well it's another great three points taking us back up to sixth. The side has again shown resilience and it's workmanlike performances from the likes of Dawson, Zouma and Fredericks that have got us through this. 

We start the long march to the Railway, but after some special pleading opt for the Cart and Horses instead. The pub is billed as the birthplace of Iron Maiden and certainly milks its claim to fame, even though, as Matt points out, they made their name mainly playing at the Ruskin Arms. The band also seem to have had time to brew their own beers, as we sample some Trooper and a rather good stout called Fear of the Dark.

Trivia king Matt misses an open goal when he forgets the name of the Uruguayan club we loaned Jonathan Calleri from — it was of course Deportivo Maldonado. Nigel has rarely looked happier as the juke box plays Metallica and even a song by Angelwitch, whom he once saw play at the Hermitage Club in Brentwood. All this and he's seeing 10CC live later... Michael looks less happy, as he scrolls down the jukebox for songs by Soft Cell and Bucks Fizz, only to find it won't accept his money. Some of the prices have us tempted to Run To The Hills, but it's a decent boozer with a good selection of ales.

Overall, a valuable three points when WHU were not at their best and now comes the biggest game of the season on Thursday. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Fredericks 7, Dawson 7, Zouma 6, Cresswell 7; Soucek 5, Rice 6, Fornals 6, Benrahma 6 (Yarmolenko n/a); Bowen 6 (Noble 7), Antonio 7.