Everton player ratings as three 5/10 in damaging late West Ham defeat

Tomas Soucek headed the hosts in front on 51 minutes from Jarrod Bowen’s corner-kick but a spirited late comeback saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall lash the ball into the Hammers’ net from James Tarkowski’s knockdown on 88 minutes.

After what had been a largely uninspiring display, the Blues’ late flourish was in vain though as they failed to deal with a testing ball into their area by El Hadji Malick Diouf that Bowen knocked back into the danger area and substitute Callum Wilson pounced to fire in a 92nd minute winner.

And here's how we rated the Blues.

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Jordan Pickford 5

Had no saves to make for the first 50 minutes but just moments after he was rushed into action to deny Taty Castellanos from close range, he saw his defenders outmaneuvered again in a crowded penalty area as he was left powerless when trying to stop Tomas Soucek’s header and you could question whether he should have been more dominant when West Ham put the ball into the box for their second goal.

Enjoyed a bright start, nipping past Crysencio Summerville and picking out Dwight McNeil, he’s looked alert both in and out of possession but was forced to stop Summerville in his tracks and pick up a booking when the West Ham wide man got beyond McNeil and was then taken off as Everton chased the game.

Vitalii Mykolenko 5

Had his work cut out up against Hammers’ captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen but after putting in the cross that led to Everton’s equaliser, he got caught out by El Hadji Malick Diouf’s delivery for the hosts’ second goal in stoppage time.

James Tarkowski 6

Not quite the same level of smoking gun moment after he was outmuscled by Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool’s last-gasp derby winner, but Everton’s captain will be hurting to have been at the scene of the crime as his side conceded another goal from a corner kick with this time Tomas Soucek getting the better of him, but then redeemed himself somewhat with the knockdown for Dewsbury-Hall’s equaliser.

Michael Keane 6

Having signed a new one-year deal this week, he came into the side to replace the injured Jarrad Branthwaite and while he can’t offer the same level of pace, he looked steady for over 90 minutes before he and Mykolenko got tangled up for West Ham’s second goal.

Idrissa Gueye 6

Although his vast experience is often a great asset, the oldest player in the Everton side was mostly on the back foot here and looks a bit heavy legged at times.

Had already caught opponents a couple of times to bail out Idrissa Gueye before he was cautioned for barging into Summerville, his deliveries weren’t off his usual high standard and he was switched from central midfield to right-back for the final quarter of the match as Everton chased the game.

Dwight McNeil 6

Continues to get the nod because of his willingness to put in a shift, but it was more perspiration than inspiration from him in what was a bitty display and Moyes chose to sacrifice him for the more dynamic Tyrique George after falling behind.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 7

Iliman Ndiaye 6

Worked hard on the wing, first on the left and then on the right, and demonstrating the graft that also goes with his craft, we didn’t see so much of his silky skills apart from a dribble into the West Ham area before getting the ball back off McNeil.

Thierno Barry 5

Denied by Soucek’s clearance off the line when his big opportunity of the afternoon came around, he also failed to make the most of a chance on the counter attack from a pass by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the first half but it was encouraging to see that he was at least putting himself about to close opponents down after his lacklustre display off the bench in the derby.

Tim Iroegbunam (on 65 for O’Brien) 6

Offered fresh legs in the latter stages as Everton chased the game.

Tyrique George (on 65 for McNeil) 7

Lively going forwards towards the end, he was positive off the bench.

Charly Alcaraz (on 87 for Gueye)

Eventful cameo as he played his part in the build-up for Everton’s equaliser and then was booked in the final seconds.