Everton 1-1 West Ham

Toffees coming unstuck as West Ham take a point at Goodison

The travails of the season seem to be taking their toll on Everton's relatively small squad. Following on from their narrow exclusion form the UEFA cup at the hands of Fiorentina, and the defeat away to Fulham, comes a dropped home point to West Ham. Moreover on the basis of the performance, the point was one gained, not one dropped. West Ham fully deserved their point, and only luck prevented them taking the points as they hit the post late on.

Everton now seem to be demonstrating the difference in resources, between them and their illustrious neighbours across the park. Yakubou (who some wag labelled 'more Lenny Henry than Thierry Henry'). With defeats for their rivals Aston Villa and Portsmouth, and Liverpool visiting Old Trafford, this was the perfect stage for them to push on for that coveted fourth place in the Premier League.

Instead they turned in a performance that if repeated much more, will hand Liverpool fourth place on a plate. Yakoubou and Anichebe gave a physical presence to Evertons attack, and they indeed got an early lead through Yakoubou. However, 15 minutes in Everton had a second disallowed, and after that West Ham roused themselves to make a game of it.

Before the interval Ashton was denied by the leg of Howard, but Everton didn't heed the warning, and he outjumped Jagielka to make it 1-1 after 68 minutes. As the game wore on Everton offered less and less, with the lively West Ham pushing on for victory.

Ultimately Everton survived, but despite Liverpools tough run of games, they are looking the more likely to get fourth place in the Premier League.