Dean Ashton dealt a Hammer blow to Everton's Champions League ambitions on wintry Merseyside last night.
Sunday People
02:42, 10 Feb 2013Updated 11:30, 01 May 2013
Dean Ashton dealt a Hammer blow to Everton's Champions League ambitions on wintry Merseyside last night.
The England hopeful climbed above Everton defender Phil Jagielka to thunder a header past Tim Howard from Lucas Neill's cross in the 68th minute, just when Everton seemed to be cruising.
It was a sweet moment for Hammers, who had lost twice to Everton at Upton Park in the space of three days shortly before Christmas.
And it was a happier return to Merseyside for Alan Curbishley's men, who earlier this month were blitzed 4-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.
For Everton, though, it was another bitterly disappointing result just a week after their 1-0 defeat at Fulham.
David Moyes's men are desperate to overhaul Liverpool in the race for the fourth Champions League spot but a haul of just one point from their last two games mean they trail their city rivals by two points, having played a game more.
Just how important will next weekend's Merseyside derby be now!
And it could have been even better for Hammers late on when teenage sub Freddie Sears, hero of last week's win over Blackburn, robbed Jagielka deep in Everton territory but was denied by Howard's block.
And then from an Ashton flick in the last minute Sears outpaced the Everton defence but watched in agony as his shot rolled against the post.
Yet it had all started so brightly for Everton when Yakubu put them ahead in the eighth minute.
The Nigerian had not scored for four matches but seized on Victor Anichebe's flick-on and overpowered new boy James Tomkins before lashing his shot past Hammers keeper Robert Green for his 13th Premier League strike of the campaign.
It was not quite the perfect start for Moyes' men, though, as Aussie star Tim Cahill, who has been struggling with a couple of niggles, limped off with just under 10 minutes on the clock.
The Blues thought they had doubled their advantage after another powerful run by Anichebe.
As the big striker was halted on the edge of the box, the ball cannoned off Scott Parker for Yakubu to stick the ball in the net for a second time - only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
Ashton was often isolated up front but when the Hammers finally created a golden opening for him just after the half-hour mark, the England hopeful made a real mess of it.
The tireless Mark Noble cut in from the right and sliced his cross but Jagielka and Mikel Arteta collided on the edge of the box to give Ashton time and space to shoot but he clipped wide of the post from 10 yards.
When Ashton dropped deep and attempted to lob over the top for Ljungberg, Jagielka was there again to hook clear.
Green kept West Ham in the game just before the break when Yakubu sent his strike-partner through, only for Anichebe's shot to be blocked by the Hammers keeper.
A minute before the interval, Ashton's low free-kick curled around the wall and deflected off Lescott but Howard was alert to save.
The Blues were looking to get the points wrapped up straight from the restart but Anichebe's header from Baines' whipped cross was palmed away by Green.
Tomkins again showed himself to be a threat from set-pieces after Everton failed to clear Noble's corner and it took three Everton defenders to wrestle the ball away from the Hammers centre-back.
Yakubu could have made the game safe when he slid in front of Ferdinand to meet another Baines' cross but shot straight at Green from six yards.
With just over half an hour left, a thumping drive from Ashton flew wide off Jagielka and Noble also fired a free-kick over Howard's bar a couple of minutes later.
Everton managed to break out but Green blocked Baines after the leftback was slipped through by Osman.
But Hammers drew level with a wonderful 68th-minute header from Ashton.
Lucas Neill's cross from deep on the right was hit more in hope than menace, but Ashton rose above Jagielka on the pnealty spot to thunder a header towards goal.
Howard got a hand to it but could only palm it in off the post
Everton: Howard 6 - Neville 5, Jagielka 7, Lescott 7, Baines 7 - Arteta 7, Carsley 8, Cahill 5 (Fernandes, 10mins, 5), Osman 6 - Anichebe 7, *YAKUBU 8.
West Ham: Green 6 - Neill 5, *FERDINAND 7, Tomkins 6, McCartney 6 - Ljungberg 5, Noble 7, Mullins 7, Parker 6, Boa Morte 5 (Sears, 50mins, 6) - Ashton 5.
Ref: M Halsey 6.
MATCH STATS
SHINER
Dean Ashton
Made up for his early clanger to head the Hammers level and show there is life left in their season.
SHOCKER
Yakubu (right)
Could have made the game safe with his chance just after the restart but fired his shot straight at Green.
Everton v WEST HAM
1 Goals 1
7 Shots (on) 6
8 Shots (off) 10
4 Corners 4
3 Offsides 3
11 Fouls 10
0Y/0R Cards 0Y/0R
50 Poss % 50