Callum Wilson came off the bench to score in stoppage time as West Ham defeated Everton 2-1 and lifted themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone.
On a hectic and eventful afternoon in the capital, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked very close to three points until the end thanks to Tomas Soucek’s 51st-minute header.
First, as news of Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolves goals filtered through the London Stadium, Keenan Dewsbury-Hall volleyed home the equalizer for the visitors with two minutes remaining, pushing the Hammers into the drop zone on goal difference.
But when the board was raised with eight minutes of stoppage time left, the evergreen Wilson scored after some good work from Jarrod Bowen at the back post, giving West Ham another vital blow to knock their London rivals off the table.
Callum Wilson celebrates West Ham’s late goal
After a balmy first period in the East London sunshine, there was little sign of the climax that was in store for us, but Soucek’s powerful header at the near post from Bowen’s inswinging corner sparked the game.
The home side looked to be on the right track, but Soucek only managed to tip Tierno Barry’s shot onto the bar, and Everton were denied a convincing penalty in the 84th minute when Matheus Fernandes appeared to have scooped the ball into his hands.
West Ham’s Crisencio Somerville runs with the ball under pressure from Everton’s Idrissa Gaye
Video assistant referee Michael Salisbury deemed it a coincidence, but the close call appeared to cast doubt on West Ham’s final line, and minutes later Dewsbury-Hall’s volley from James Tarkowski’s deft header looked set to seal the winner for the hosts.
With four games remaining and West Ham holding a two-goal lead over Spurs in a come-from-behind battle, Wilson used all his experience in the second minute of stoppage time to see exactly where Bowen’s knockdown would land.
What the managers said…
West Ham manager Nuno:
“It’s not going to be easy for anyone. I think it’s going to be a big battle until the end. But the good thing is we’re not giving up. We’re still going. I think the momentum, especially here at the London Stadium, is a big factor in the Premier League.”
Everton manager David Moyes:
“(Regarding the decision not to give Everton a second-half penalty) It’s not that the ball goes into his hands, it’s his arm going towards the ball.
“I think today is the first time I’ve heard the word ‘coincidence’ being used. I think that word has really been removed from the vocabulary.”
Hammer will have Moyes to thank if he defeats Drop.
Sky Sports’ Rich Morgan at the London Stadium:
If West Ham manage to continue winning this season, former manager David Moyes will have more than one way to thank him, as the Scot brought both Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen to the club during his time in charge at the London Stadium.
The pair have played a vital role in keeping the Hammers in the Premier League, and they were back in form in Saturday’s crucial final 2-1 home win against Everton, keeping them two points clear of Tottenham in the drop zone.
Tomas Soucek celebrates goal with Jarrod Bowen
It was Soucek who scored the decisive first goal from a corner kick from Bowen, and with 12 minutes left he managed to tip a shot that looked destined for Tierno Barry’s goal over the bar to maintain a narrow lead.
And although Everton equalized with four minutes remaining, it was skipper Bowen who set up Callum Wilson for the stoppage-time winner that could ultimately keep West Ham in the Premier League, with Nuno praising the opposite figure after the game.
“I think David has left a legacy here at the club,” said the West Ham manager. “He brought success, he brought trophies, and he did it with Jarrod and Thomas and some of the guys who are still on the team.”
