It's a strangely early kick-off at 1pm so it's a dash from Hackney Wick to see David Moyes, Geoff Hurst (the last surviving member of the 1966 World Cup winners) and Sean Dyche lay wreaths for Bobby Charlton and Bill Kenwright.
It's an attacking line-up with Kudus in for Soucek. West Ham create an early chance when Paqueta lobs the ball over Patterson and pulls back for Bowen to scuff the ball wide. It's the sort of chance he normally scores from and that sets the tone.
The game is as grey as Everton's terrible away kit. Tarkowski and Branthwaite are taking no prisoners at the back for Everton. Matt quizzes us on the two Everton players who have both got hat-tricks against West Ham - who are Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison. A melee erupts when Kudus objects to Tarkowski's late tackle, Pickford rushes from his goal to get involved and is loudly jeered by the Bobby Moore Stand. Paqueta is lucky not to give a goal away when he loses possession and Harrison breaks, only to shoot straight at Areola.
West Ham don't really know how to play against another counter attacking team. Antonio is getting no change from the giant Branthwaite. The BBC reports one fan saying at half-time, "it's two teams both trying hard to lose."
HALLOWEEN HORROR
After the break Ward-Prowse delivers a decent free-kick but Bowen puts a free header over the bar. Pickford still hasn't been tested. On 51 minutes the impressive Branthwaite wins a tussle with Antonio and sets up Harrison to play a one-two with Calvert-Lewin. The Everton striker takes a great first touch to spin past Aguerd and Zouma and fire into the far corner. Then we discover the real reason for our poor showing - Nigel has forgotten his lucky banana.
Fraser contemplates ordering another pitch invasion against a Sean Dyche side. Bowen volleys a half-chance over but the side looks tired after the trip to Greece and we're missing the suspended Emerson's attacking runs. Everton nearly make it two when both centre backs go for the same ball. Everton win the header and Doucoure races through. He's denied by a brilliant stop from Areola.
Kudus has worked hard but Bowen is strangely out-of-sorts, while Alvarez starts to give the ball away. Soucek and Benrahma come on for Antonio and Ward-Prowse and the Hammers improve marginally. Benrahma struggles to get past his full-back, but late on produces a great volley from Paqueta's cross, only to be denied by Pickford. It's a rare shot on target.
We succumb to the inevitable 1-0 defeat and the side's form is starting to get worrying. Everton defended excellently, and Thursday-Sunday football isn't easy, but then again none of the back four started in Athens and we created very little. Things need to improve and quickly.
PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 7; Coufal 6, Zouma 6, Aguerd 5, Cresswell 6 (Ings n/a); Alvarez 5, Ward-Prowse 5 (Soucek 6), Paqueta 6, Kudus 6; Antonio 5 (Benrahma 6), Bowen 5.
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