Watched the game live here in Canada and once again sat watching the boys in my Everton shirt. I have to say that your apprehensions around the game were well founded as West Ham arrived with four wins on the trot and confidence brimming. Their plan, sit back and absorb the pressure, which for the first 15 minutes was an incredible 85% possession rate for our boys in blue.

I would have to agree with your MotM pick of McCartney/Barry... they go together and were the rock on which the game was won.

In the first half we were just not making that last pass and Gerard Deulofeu was struggling to make a meaningful contribution. He did grow in the game but I always feel that he is one of those players who needs to make a great play at the start to build on. He is young and that will change as he grows as a player....let's hope we see that growth because he is a talented player.

My last comment will be about the return of Lukaku. It was almost written in the stars. Our team over the last few weeks has been a great team waiting to take off....much like the early season games. We needed a finisher and he arrived again today. Thankfully!

I believe that the team, and Seamus specifically, has been less willing to attack over the last little while and he starting to do that again.

A great win today and there is no doubt that Arsenal is there for the taking next week. COYB!

A win is a win, and although it was getting a bit fraught, the positives still remain. Being able to dominate teams in terms of possession and limiting their scoring chances offers a great platform. Hopefully Bobby will be able to add a few players for next season with a bit of game changing quality (or Barkley will get fit and start playing as he did pre-injury). Lukaku is a proven goal scorer, he came on and scored. The game plan paid off eventually.

It's funny reading the live forum. It's all doom and gloom, told you so, he's shit, he's useless, pretty much from 5 mins in. Games won in the last 5 minutes get 3 points.

For me watching football is almost painful. 90 minutes of gut wrenching tension. But that is also the appeal. It does excite. Sometimes it disappoints too, but generally I like to watch the whole game out before throwing in the towel and stating with absolute disgust that "Pienaar is utter Shite" and "Martinez has to have a look at himself". Game won, out-passed opposition, more shots, more corners. The pressure told in the end.

Thanks Ken - that quote alone made me laugh !

Haven't been to Goodison in years because so many happy memories of going with my parents and Aunty who were lifelong blues. Sadly, all three are no longer with me and it would be too emotionally painful to be there without them.

Ken - Your writing style captures beautifully the matchday experience and for that I sincerely thank you..

I suspect there are a lot out there who read your report and appreciate it but choose not to comment.

When you are no longer doing your report for TW you will be greatly missed.

Up until then it was a carbon copy of Spurs and Chelsea, lots of nice movement but no end product.

The pleasing thing for me is how refreshed Lukaku looked when he was on the pitch, it looked like the guy that was here in September and October, sharp and quick.

I particularly enjoyed the bit when a ball was heading out for a throw in towards the Family Enclosure but Lukaku burst to life with pace to keep it in then outstripped a West Ham player and put a good ball into the box, that was almost a chance out of nothing but what it did was tell me that Lukaku looked totally refreshed.

I did say that in some strange way we could use the injury he sustained at Anfield as an actual holiday for him to get his head sorted and come back looking shiny and new.
The Lukaku of late December and most of January looked so tired and jaded.
It's early days on his return but surely the target for him now is to smash the 15 goal mark.

Special mention today for McCarthy who was truly fantastic and I am struggling to find a better more effective defensive midfielder in the Premier League as good as McCarthy.
He gets about the pitch so well, its now easy to see just why Martinez wanted him so badly.

Pienaar and Stones also deserve praise for their performances.
Stones did well against potentially dangerous strikers and Pienaar was forever busy with the ball and searching for that elusive goal.

Baines too had a very good second half in my opinion.

Oh well on to next weeks Cup Final anyway...sorry I mean Quarter Final.

I don’t care what people say about RL ’s form before his injury we’ve definitely missed him, people tend to forget that he’s only a young boy & most of his goals were scored as a substitute at WBA.

Stones looks quality has absolutely all the attributes to become top class,he will make the odd rick but who doesn’t.

Last thing IF we are going to come up on the rails for 4th Arsenal look set to implode as others have pointed out next month is the key!

I hope he can go on a scoring run now, with a home match against Cardiff next and Swansea and Fulham after that, there is no reason why he cant add to his goal tally before March is out.

What Lukaku wants is what he got yesterday from Baines, a ball played in first time ripe and early so he can get a clear shooting chance, and the thing I love about Lukaku is just how sweetly he strikes a ball, its always the sign of a good striker when the ball whistles into the net crisply.

It was a typical Lukaku goal which reminded of the one's he got against Southampton and Villa or the many he got at West Brom last term.

If he gets 15 this season, thats two full season's in the Premier League he has scored a good total.

Regarding whether we can catch Arsenal, well the next month will decide that fate.

We have a selection of very winnable matches that if we are serious then we must go on a winning run, its not that difficult, West Ham had won 4 on the bounce before yesterday and they looked very limited.
Arsenal have some hard matches against Spurs and Chelsea so we can live in hope.

Michael is absolutely right, Ken, and I am one of those who always reads your report but don't often comment. As an ex-pat I get only get to about 3 or 4 games a season at Goodison but whichever way I've seen the game, you fill in lots of the gaps and give a really balanced view. Thanks for what you do, it's really appreciated.

How true your comment, "Strange how match day fans seem less interested in such things compared with the ToffeeWeb site.." Couldn't agree more.

I still like him as he still works so hard for the team and is always prepared to try something a bit different- his back heels are brilliant and are maybe one reason why he checks back as the defender goes with him and LB will move past them anticipating the back heel into space on the flank.

I think he deserves a bit more credit from some fans- look how Naismiths performances have improved since we recognised what he does rather than condemn him for what he can,t do.

Regardless of how well or not people think he is playing( and I think he is contributing a lot) I don't think he deserves any of the stick he has been getting on TW this weekend- any player who tries for the team like he does is alright by me!!

I'm quite amazed how much stick flies around at times. I noticed even young Stones was getting grief the other day & mark my words, he really is a quality player.

He reminds me of a young Tony Adams with more poise.

Have to agree, it wasn't exactly a thrill a minute but West Ham are a big, well organised unit and limiting scoring chances is their speciality. Their clean sheet record proves this.

On the plus side. Delboy, Stones, Lukaku, McGeady and Barkley got valuable competitive minutes into their legs and returned unscathed. This augurs well for the very crowded fixture list ahead,

Well said mate, not the first time Pullis has told it like it is. Comes in the same week as the bloke who took his job at Stoke defended the donkey Adams for what was a cowards stamp on Arsenal's Chiroud.

Manager's soon moan if they think ref's got it wrong, don't mind trying to con them at every opportunity. Pullis is an honourable man who should be congratulated.