Last-gasp rocket sweeps West Ham to victory against Everton

For Everton, it's a missed chance to put pressure on others at the top of table

West Ham United's Tomas Soucek celebrates scoring the winning goal against Everton. PA

A late rocket from Tomas Soucek gave West Ham United a 1-0 win at Everton in the first Premier League game of 2021 that had been short on fireworks until the Czech midfielder's well-deserved winner in the 86th minute.

The Hammers lost goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to injury during the warm-up but his replacement Darren Randolph barely had a save to make as Everton struggled to break down their defence.

West Ham wasted some decent chances until Soucek struck late, first forcing Jordan Pickford to parry a shot before reacting quickest to steer home Aaron Cresswell's deflected effort for a goal that gave West Ham boss David Moyes his first victory at Goodison Park since leaving Everton in 2013.

The victory leaves West Ham 10th in the standings with 26 points while Everton, who could have gone second with a win, remain in fourth spot on 29 points.
Everton were left to rue this huge missed opportunity to bolster their European credentials.

Carlo Ancelotti's men had enjoyed nearly a week off after their clash with Manchester City was postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak among the City squad.

Ancelotti welcomed back Richarlison from a concussion and James Rodriguez made his return from injury off the bench in the second-half, but the Toffees rarely put West Ham stand-in goalkeeper under any pressure.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a hat-trick when the sides met in the League Cup in September, but the England international was largely anonymous.

West Ham were playing for the third time in six days but it was Moyes's men who managed to end the game stronger and grab the late winner.

Soucek's goals from midfield have played a big part in his side's success this season and the Czech international scored for the fourth time in seven games when Cresswell's effort broke kindly to him.