Fan blogger Joe Difford reflects on Saturday's victory at Everton
Fan blogger Joe Difford reflects on Saturday’s dramatic win at Everton…
Not one person at Goodison Park would have expected the outcome of Saturday's result. Our long-standing problem with beating Everton stretches back almost nine years and having gone two goals down and watching as Romelu Lukaku stepped up to take a penalty, it appeared to be game over.
In the past week, Slaven Bilic's side have shown great versatility and desire; beating Sunderland in an ugly game of football, taking three points against Spurs who are chasing the title, and now coming from two goals down against Everton.
Adrian has a thing for saving penalties, especially against Everton where he became the hero in the FA Cup last year. Lukaku's spot kick wasn't great, but justice was done as the foul came outside the 18 yard box anyway.
Before the turning point, the Belgian striker had already done what he does best against West Ham. The ball was fed into his feet and he turned quickly, shrugging off young Reece Oxford, before firing into the far corner. It was his eighth goal in eight appearances against the Hammers, and he was instrumental in the second goal too.
Again, the ball came to his feet, but this time he flicked it on for Aaron Lennon to run onto and slot home. These two goals came either side of Kevin Mirallas' dismissal, the first booking for a blatant dive on the edge of our penalty area, the second for a dangerous challenge on Aaron Cresswell.
Credit to the Toffees, you couldn't tell that they were a man down until the penalty was saved and Bilic's men were shocked into gear.
Mark Noble, who is now surely as close as ever to an England call-up, whipped a cross in and Michail Antonio headed in yet another goal.
Just three minutes later, it was Dimitri Payet's turn to send in a perfect ball, this time for Diafra Sakho to head home. Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike have all showed signs of greatness, but it sure is good to have Sakho back fit.
At 2-2, you would have expected Bilic to shut up shop and take a well-earned point, but this is Super Slav we're talking about here, and we went for the jugular. A couple of questionable Everton substitutions certainly helped, as Gareth Barry replaced Lukaku when the home crowd were hoping for a late winner.
The moment of magic came as Cresswell played a long, accurate ball up to Carroll, who nodded onto Sakho, with the Senegalese striker flicking it on once more with a lovely back heel, and Payet pounced to poke home, nutmegging the goalkeeper in the process.
It was the first time we have come back from a two goal deficit to win since Paolo Di Canio inspired a 5-4 victory over Bradford City in 2000, so it was fitting that the man who has come closest to matching him in claret and blue scored the winning goal.
Thanks to a Manchester United slip-up, we will now remain fifth for at least two weeks, with our game next weekend at Old Trafford for the FA Cup Quarter Final, and if we play the way we have against top sides this season, we could be at Wembley in a few weeks.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
Not one person at Goodison Park would have expected the outcome of Saturday's result. Our long-standing problem with beating Everton stretches back almost nine years and having gone two goals down and watching as Romelu Lukaku stepped up to take a penalty, it appeared to be game over.
In the past week, Slaven Bilic's side have shown great versatility and desire; beating Sunderland in an ugly game of football, taking three points against Spurs who are chasing the title, and now coming from two goals down against Everton.
Adrian has a thing for saving penalties, especially against Everton where he became the hero in the FA Cup last year. Lukaku's spot kick wasn't great, but justice was done as the foul came outside the 18 yard box anyway.
Before the turning point, the Belgian striker had already done what he does best against West Ham. The ball was fed into his feet and he turned quickly, shrugging off young Reece Oxford, before firing into the far corner. It was his eighth goal in eight appearances against the Hammers, and he was instrumental in the second goal too.
Again, the ball came to his feet, but this time he flicked it on for Aaron Lennon to run onto and slot home. These two goals came either side of Kevin Mirallas' dismissal, the first booking for a blatant dive on the edge of our penalty area, the second for a dangerous challenge on Aaron Cresswell.
Credit to the Toffees, you couldn't tell that they were a man down until the penalty was saved and Bilic's men were shocked into gear.
Mark Noble, who is now surely as close as ever to an England call-up, whipped a cross in and Michail Antonio headed in yet another goal.
Just three minutes later, it was Dimitri Payet's turn to send in a perfect ball, this time for Diafra Sakho to head home. Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike have all showed signs of greatness, but it sure is good to have Sakho back fit.
At 2-2, you would have expected Bilic to shut up shop and take a well-earned point, but this is Super Slav we're talking about here, and we went for the jugular. A couple of questionable Everton substitutions certainly helped, as Gareth Barry replaced Lukaku when the home crowd were hoping for a late winner.
The moment of magic came as Cresswell played a long, accurate ball up to Carroll, who nodded onto Sakho, with the Senegalese striker flicking it on once more with a lovely back heel, and Payet pounced to poke home, nutmegging the goalkeeper in the process.
It was the first time we have come back from a two goal deficit to win since Paolo Di Canio inspired a 5-4 victory over Bradford City in 2000, so it was fitting that the man who has come closest to matching him in claret and blue scored the winning goal.
Thanks to a Manchester United slip-up, we will now remain fifth for at least two weeks, with our game next weekend at Old Trafford for the FA Cup Quarter Final, and if we play the way we have against top sides this season, we could be at Wembley in a few weeks.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United