15th December, 2007

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

JA Jacko CH Chewy JU Junco EG Eggy AN Anton AY Antony AB Albie Beck
JY Jonny MO Morrad BF Bishops Finger OW Old Wrinkley MM Mad Mart LA Law

Sky Sports: The Hammers had more of the possession, but were unable to break through a solid Everton back-line. The home side enjoyed the better of the chances in the first half, but with injury time approaching Yakubu snatched his ninth league goal of the season. A looping cross from Mikel Arteta was knocked back across goal by Tim Cahill, and Yakubu got his head to the ball before the outstretched hands of Robert Green. Everton retreated behind the ball after the break, and West Ham were forced to resort to firing desperate long balls into the box.

BBC Sport: West Ham were eager to avenge Wednesday's 2-1 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat and driven forward by Scott Parker, they created plenty of goalscoring opportunities before Yakubu broke the deadlock moments before the half-time whistle. Parker was at the centre of all West Ham's moves going forward, most notably setting up Ashton's looping volley which drifted just wide of Tim Howard's goal midway through the first half. Ljungberg should have also done better but had his shot blocked after failing to make the most of a one-on-one with keeper Howard. But against the run of play, Everton gained a crucial edge when Arteta picked out Cahill in the Hammers box and the Australian headed back across the goal to leave the unmarked Yakubu with an easy nod past Green.

Hammers Mad: Goals in the dying seconds of both halves from Yakubu and then substitute Andrew Johnson sent the Merseysiders into sixth place, as David Moyes' men extended their fantastic unbeaten league and cup run to 12 games. But it would have been such a different story if Alan Curbishley's side had taken their early chances to avenge Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter-final defeat... Curbishley's side had only lost one Premier League game in their last seven outings, though, and although the East Enders boss had to make two changes as a result of injuries to Luis Boa Morte and Danny Gabbidon, their replacements Nolberto Solano and James Collins made a seamless entry into the side. Indeed, right from the off, it was clear that West Ham were looking to avenge that cup defeat, as they took the game to Everton. Tim Howard was quickly forced to palm Solano's difficult corner out from beneath his crossbar, while Dean Ashton bundled wide and then Freddie Ljungberg called upon the visiting keeper to make a point-blank stop. Ashton cleverly connected with Lucas Neill's pinpoint pass, but his hook shot cleared both the advancing Howard and his left-hand post, while Scott Parker also headed into the sidenetting.

Sunday Mirror: Twice West Ham switched off and twice they paid the penalty as Everton secured their second win at Upton Park inside four days. Some people never learn, it seems. When they were ditched from the Carling Cup last Wednesday, West Ham conceded goals a minute from half-time and two minutes from the end. Yesterday, it was Take Two as the impressive Everton revival under David Moyes gathered momentum.... After an indifferent and uncertain opening 20 minutes when West Ham created and duly wasted two clear-cut chances, Everton grew in stature and confidence. In Phil Neville, they have a natural leader. "He is everything you would want from a captain, on and off the field," said Moyes. And in Joseph Yobo, they have a central defender of genuine class who reigned supreme in the air and was totally unnerved by West Ham's late attempt to salvage a point. Now Alan Curbishley is casting an anxious glance over his shoulder. The mid-table security they enjoy is a fragile one and a sequence of results from those below them could see a replication of last season's turmoil when only a last day win at Old Trafford ensured their Premier League status. (Steve Stammers, 16th December, 2007)

Daily Telegraph: West Ham, so fortunate to survive the drop last season, created sufficient festive season bubbles in the first 40 minutes to give their followers optimism for a prosperous New Year. Their inter-passing and movement off the ball entertainingly reflected Alan Curbishley's inventive coaching, but in the final 20 yards of the field neither Carlton Cole, less than fit, nor Dean Ashton could break open Everton's solid defending. Without Craig Bellamy and gritty Lee Bowyer - among a host of injuries - West Ham are punch-shy, and though the first half was substantially conducted in Everton's half of the field, West Ham none the less remained fundamentally tepid. Freddie Ljungberg is a lamp burnt low, and the team's status, it must be said is more upmarket Craven Cottage than down market Emirates. (David Miller, 17th December, 2007)

The Times: Everton played a counter-attacking style built on resolute defending and tireless midfield running, but Moyes admitted that his team had to survive a furious rally in the second half. Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, was quick to blame the result on his extensive injury list after making three changes to his starting lineup, with James Collins, Fredrik Ljungberg and Carlton Cole replacing LuÍs Boa Morte, Matthew Etherington and Danny Gabbidon. “One of the biggest problems is people are exposed, not 100 per cent match fit for this Premier League, and we’re throwing them in,” he said. “And to get through it is very, very difficult.” It would have been less arduous for the home side had Ljungberg converted a glorious chance in the fifteenth minute, but Yakubu Ayegbeni scored his fifth goal in three games just before half-time. Mikel Arteta picked out Tim Cahill with an inswinging cross from the left and the Australia midfield player’s header across goal gave his strike partner an easy finish. West Ham deserted their short-passing game for a more direct style in the second period, but this ultimately proved costly with the defence exposed. Yakubu will be missing for Everton when the African Cup of Nations starts next month, but this is not of great concern for Moyes, who watched Andrew Johnson, the Nigeria striker’s replacement, show all his awareness, pace and finishing acumen to nick Everton’s second. (Bill Edgar, 17th December, 2007)

The Guardian: Having withstood consistent pressure for much of the first period when West Ham played intelligent, inventive football and might have scored two or three, Everton grabbed the lead on the stroke of half-time with Yakubu Ayegbeni's fifth goal in three matches in eight days. Thereafter they easily dealt with West Ham's increasingly ragged attempts to draw level and completed the win in stoppage time when Andrew Johnson came off the bench to score spectacularly on the break.... Alan Curbishley's squad continues to be beset by frequent injuries and after the latest defeat the West Ham manager was about as cheerful as the Book of Job. "Our injuries are into double figures again," he said. "We are playing players who are only partly fit. It's so frustrating. Possible signings in the transfer window are something we've got to discuss, but with so many players not available it is very difficult to see where you start." Curbishley's frustration was understandable. With Scott Parker's shrewd use of space complemented by the drive of Hayden Mullins and subtlety of Nolberto Solano, West Ham achieved several fluent movements that saw Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole linking well up front. Freddie Ljungberg, Ashton and Parker each had chances that were saved or missed by a whisker. Then Cole, carrying a hip injury, had to come off at half-time and the attacking thread was lost. Ashton and Ljungberg again looked off the pace and after Solano had departed West Ham were reduced to trying to batter their way through the middle, where Everton were most resilient. (David Lacey, 17th December, 2007)

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