David Moyes speaks after the Premier League clash with West Ham United
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David Moyes applauds the supporters at full-time following the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United FC at Goodison Park on March 15, 2025
(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
David Moyes felt the benefit of his growing squad as his improving bench proved crucial to Everton rescuing a draw against West Ham United.
The Blues boss has been hindered with injuries to key players since his return in January, repeatedly having to turn to the academy to fill out his matchday squad. For the first time on Saturday he was able to name a squad of senior players without having to add a second goalkeeper to the bench.
The improving strength-in-depth made a difference as the late introduction of Youssef Chermiti, Tim Iroegbunam and Armando Broja provided a route back into the game.
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Moyes later acknowledged: “I thought that we were able to do something to try and change the game. I thought the subs did change the game for us a little bit. Tim and the two forwards gave us something else, or another impetus maybe just at the end to get something.
“So, yeah, we've not really had it, but we've been doing a decent job without having too many coming off the bench. We've had to find a way of getting results. I think today we've found a way of getting a result as well. It was great resilience with the players, they stuck at it and never gave up.”
While the three were not directly involved in Jake O’Brien’s late equaliser, they did provide a spark to Everton. Chermiti forced Alphonse Areola into a good save in the build up to the leveller and Moyes was pleased with the impact of a player who, like Broja, earned his first minutes under the new boss.
He said: “I'm still getting to know him and the truth is that we weren't sure of how long we would play Youssef or Broja, but I knew it couldn't be too long just with their levels, but I thought it was needed at the end. Youssef got two great strikes off, I think both were on target, which was good, nice and clean, so we're beginning to see a bit of him, but the truth is I've not really had a chance. To be fair, I don't think many Evertonians will have either because he's been injured for just about the whole season. And the same with Broja, so we're all just really getting to see them for the first time.”
Moyes ultimately believed a point was fair - though Carlos Alcaraz had a late chance to take all three. His disappointment was a sign of the growing expectations around the club, he added: “It was a tough game, very close and a draw was probably the right result in the end. We were probably better in the first-half without doing enough, we had one or two chances.
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"I thought West Ham had a couple of counter-attacks and were a threat. Second half, West Ham were better, certainly for the first 20, 30 minutes or so, whatever it was. And then I think once they scored, we started to come back into the game and we were maybe a bit unlucky not to get a winner at the right of the death.”