[West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/everton-0-0-west-ham-half-time-at-goodison-park/) stepped it up in the second half after a very slow, steady, defensive typical away-side first half looking as if they’d just come for a point and a nil-nil.
However it suddenly looked as if the Hammers had an extra man. First to every loose ball, pressing, putting every Everton player under pressure, the Hammers moved forward and denied Everton the space they’d taken for granted in the first ’45.
There must have been something in the half time cuppa, West Ham looking more attacking after half time as Potter moved Soucek further forward and switching Kudus and Bowen.
This change led to the Hammers’ goal as Bowen worked really hard in from the left side, slipping the ball to Soucek who bent it beautifully inside the post. At this time, Ferguson and Soler had been waiting to come on, the striker being made to sit down as Potter changed his mind and gradually West Ham gave ground and started to sit back again.
Which didn’t work – eventually Everton’s endless crosses paid off- cannot really blame anyone for the goal, just a shame that West Ham couldn’t hold out for the three points.
Takeaways? One the positive side, Todibo looks better each time he plays. More in control, more forward movement, looking a natural first choice at centre back,. His energy faded at 80 minutes but he’s looking worth the money and a solid partner for Max Kilman now.
Mohammed Kudus put in a double shift defensively today. His covering work and tackling is first rate and the guy worked his socks off. There’s still work to do up front – he and Bowen are too isolated – but nobody can question his effort.
The system such as it is, still bores me. Just two up front is becoming Potter’s signature style. None of that “respect the point” rubbish – it makes for dull watching. Better to get a point against Moyes, so I’ll forgive Potter for boring the pants off everyone today, and look at this one as ‘a point won’ instead of two lost. Can’t imagine how I’d feel if we had lost.
But in the remaining games, surely there must be more to come. Potter is playing relegation-battle football when there’s no bottom three crisis.
Entertain us, sometime between now and the May season finale, please?