Glenn Roeder ought to offer to play all West Ham's games away from Upton Park as they remain without a victory in front of their supporters this season after a poor display yesterday culminated in defeat against David Moyes's fast-improving Everton side.
Only Liverpool picked up more home points than West Ham last season but this campaign has been a different, and hugely depressing, story for Roeder. His side were uninspired here, hitting too many long balls, particularly in the first half, and coming to life only after Everton had scored in the 70th minute through a Lee Carsley header. They remain only one point above the relegation places.
Although West Ham had chances to equalise, Everton stood firm to continue their climb up the table, rising to eighth. The focus this week has been almost solely on Wayne Rooney but this was a reminder that there is more to the club than an exciting teenager.
Everton's performance was solid rather than spectacular but they had spurts of good passing, defended obdurately from the strikers back, and showed the work ethic, organisation and fitness Moyes is instilling.
Joseph Yobo was outstanding at the centre of defence and helped restrict the home team to few opportunities until their late burst and Tony Hibbert looked a promising young right-back.
West Ham snatched at opportunities that saw Wright make a couple of important saves and watched their late pressure come to nought.
"We had to lose the goal before we had a wake-up call," an angry Roeder reflected. "After two away wins that's the last thing I expected. I thought we would put on a performance but it was only in the last 15-20 minutes that we really went for them."
Guardian Service
WEST HAM: James, Sinclair, Repka, Dailly, Pearce, Minto (Camara 83), Carrick, Lomas (Cisse 74), Cole, Defoe, Di Canio. Subs Not Used: Breen, Winterburn, Van Der Gouw.
EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Unsworth, Carsley, Linderoth, Tie Li (Pistone 90), Pembridge, Radzinski (Rooney 64), Campbell. Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Alexandersson, Weifeng Li. Goal: Carsley 70.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
