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Memory Lane - Everton v West Ham

Lots of history in this fixture for students of Everton past and present.

School of Science versus Hammers Academy: Everton versus West Ham United

West Ham United according to Evertonia in December 1962 was formed in 1900. West Ham originally played in the dark blue colours of Oxford and then a Sky blue outfit but following a wager with some Aston Villa players in 1899 – who were the champions at the time – they adopted the famous Claret and Blue shirts. Up until 1919 the club played in the Southern League and then gained admission to the second tier of English Football.

In 1922-23 West Ham won promotion to the First Division and appeared in the first FA Cup final to be held at Wembley, unfortunately for the Hammers they lost to Bolton Wanderers (2-0) as David Jack scored twice for the Trotters in what became known as the White Horse final.

Everton fist entertained West Ham at Goodison Park for a First Division fixture on 22 March 1924 which The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury summarised the game on the Monday following:

There was a lot desultory play in the game at Goodison Park on Saturday, when Everton beat West Ham United by the odd goal in three. An end of the season atmosphere permeated the proceedings, and there were few incidents that aroused enthusiasm. West Ham led at the interval by a capital goal scored by Moore, and ten minutes remained to play when Chadwick gave Everton the lead with a penalty goal after Cock had equalised… There followed a description of the penalty:-

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Then happened one of those simple incidents, which sometimes have big results. The Everton left wing broke away, and Hampson after leaving his goal, decided that the distance was too far, but before he could return Troup shot, and the ball hit the foot of the far upright. Chadwick got the rebound, and from his shot, Bishop knocked the ball down with his elbow. A penalty kick followed and Chadwick easily converted. Thus Everton, in spite of some desperate play by West Ham, won rather luckily.

Everton: Harland: Raitt, Livingstone; Brown, McBain, Hart (captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup.
West Ham United: Hampson; Henderson, Young; Bishop, Kay, Cadwell; Edwards, Proctor, Campbell, Moore, Ruffell.

West Ham made a further seven visits to Goodison Park before suffering relegation in 1932. During those first eight visits, Everton won five and lost three games scoring nineteen goals and conceding eleven.

Everton lost a First Division match with West Ham at Goodison Park for the first time in September 1926 when goals by Moore and Watson with two helped the visitors to take both points in a three goals to nil victory. West Ham achieved their highest League position up to that point in their history as they ended the campaign in sixth place. Everton in contrast suffered one of their worst campaigns as they finished one place above the relegation places with only 34 points won from 42 matches.

The Toffees gained full revenge for that defeat the following season when on 22 October 1927 the Hammers were vanquished by a rampant Everton forward line which did not include William Ralph Dean. The Monday report in the Daily Courier described the events:-

Although Everton staggered the critics –not to speak of West Ham United –by defeating a side who affected championship aspirations by no fewer than seven goals to none at Goodison Park on Saturday, they could not really claim it as a “famous victory.”

There was only one side in it, for at no time did the “Hammers” get to grips. West Ham apparently, are too dainty a side for these mud-larks. Everton stalked on the heavy grounds as if they liked it.

Everton were without Dean and West Ham were without Hufton and Earle; but even so it was expected that the Londoners would make a close match of it. What happened was a debacle a rout, a serious comical exposition of football. Further spice is given to the tale and sorrows by recalling what West Ham's manager said in response to congratulations on his side attaining the premier position in the First Division table. “How they managed it I do not know.” Said he. Neither did any one of the many thousands of people at the match on Saturday, in which the Blues kept up their record of scoring in every League match this season.

The “Hammers” could not plead in extenuation of the result the absence of Hufton, England's goalkeeper, whom they procured from Sheffield United for only £300 for Baillie, who was born in the “village” more than did his bit. He could not be expected to stop the penalty goal and possibly only one of the other six. The wonder is more goals were not put past him for he had a weak pair of backs in front of him, and they were repeatedly sending him a “wire” to take the ball.

That big back, Henderson, does not seem up to his usual standard since his reappearance. Earle on international duty, was missed undoubtedly, but Everton managed quite well without Dean, also serving his country. One reason was because they adopted a new plan of campaign. The game was developed on the flanks, so that not so much depended upon White the ex-Southport player, as distributor and leader, although the young centre is coming along nicely in this class of football, and his goal each half should be a message of confidence for the future.

Again praise must be given unsparingly to Forshaw, who has a fascinating way with the ball, and as Critchley also curled out of his shell, this was a dandy right wing. Forshaw scored again, and so did Critchley with the pick of the basket. Troup did not spare himself and was not averse to taking a risk, and with Weldon, who scored quite a leisurely goal at the outset, the attack also developed strongly on this wing.

Henderson, in putting through his own goal, was unfortunate enough to add to the “Hammers” cup of bitterness. O'Donnell the penalty goal-scorer, (Critchley grassed for Penalty-Post and Mercury) was a stout fellow although in his impetuous way the ball sometimes went where it listed when he kicked. Cresswell again was a specialist in his department Taylor was largely a spectator. It is not to be denied that the “Hammers” have a deft forward line when the circumstances are favourable, and it is a feather in the cap of Hunter Hart, a really great centre half, that he was able to take the measure of Victor Watson, who was far below international standard. Yews and Ruffell are much better wingers than on this form and Vivian Gibbons, the “Hammers” amateur, tried hard when he had a rare chance. Their trouble was in the half-back and last lines.

Everton: Taylor, goal, Cresswell (captain) and O'Donnell, backs, Kelly, Hart, and Virr, half-backs, Critchley, Forshaw, White, Weldon, and Troup, forwards.
West Ham United: Ballie, goal, Henderson, and Hebden, backs, Collins, Barrett, and Cadwell, half-backs, Yews, Loughlin, Watson, Gibbons, and Ruffell, forwards.
Referee: Mr. Stott.

Eighteen months later, the reigning champions were struggling to recapture the form and more importantly the results which had won the club the title only 12 months earlier as West Ham left Goodison with maximum points after they had scored four goals without reply.

This defeat was the second of four consecutive home defeats for the Toffees and if the records are accurate the attendance of only 7,996 would appear to reflect the mood surrounding the club at the time, as the average gate for that season was a fairly healthy 29,512. The only victory for Everton in their final ten First Division matches of the campaign had been at Gigg Lane against Bury (1-2) where Dixie Dean had scored both goals.

Bury finished second from bottom of the table seven points behind the Toffees. Dixie Dean still managed 26 goals in his 29 League appearances and Everton won 28 points of their final tally of 38 with Dean in the side. The plight of the side in his absence served to highlight his importance and his true value to the club and the team.

The Daily Courier reflected on the West Ham debacle the following day:

Everton, in admitting defeat to West Ham United by four clear goals encountered one of those days when not a single player could produce his known form. On the other hand, West Ham had a day out and everything they did turned out well. If the score had been heavier Everton could not have grumbled, for their goal had several marvellous escapes. West Ham opened in confident manner and it came as no surprise when they recorded their first goal after nine minutes' play. Watson was the provider and Gibbins, the amateur centre, the scorer. Gibbins received from Norris and cut in to shoot hard and true, only for Davies to effect a brilliant save at the expense of a corner.

Watson took the corner cleverly, and Gibbins headed goalwards. There was nothing dangerous about the header, but to the consternation of the spectators Griffiths, who was standing in the goalmouth, could do no better than return the ball to Gibbons, who promptly accepted his chance to give West Ham a deserved lead. The second goal was also given away by a defender in an effort to clear his lines. Yews had broken through after eluding the Everton defenders, and shot goalwards, Kelly would have cleared nine times out of ten, but added to the discomfiture of the Everton camp, he simply turned the ball into his own goal, to make West Ham two goals up.

This shocked the Blues, and with the defence shaky West Ham were continually on the attack. It was therefore, not surprising to see them go further ahead at the 22 minutes, when Gibbins again netted. Yews made a good run down the wing, and after a half-hearted tackle by O'Donnell he centred to Gibbons, who made no mistake in heading the ball well out of Davies reach. Davies made a couple of brilliant saves before the interval, and only for his work and some over excitement by the West Ham vanguard, Everton would have been further in arrears.

The second half provided a similar state of affairs, although Everton did make more attacks on the visitor’s citadel. Gibbins registered his own third and his side's fourth goal 20 minutes after the restart but it was Earle who made the point possible. Earle and Watson took part in some pretty passing before Earle sent in a terrific drive which rebounded into play off the crossbar, leaving Gibbins, who was waiting on the spot little to do but pilot the ball into the net.

Play was lifeless after this, and there never seemed any likelihood of Everton reducing the arrears. Attwood, the ex-Walsall player, was unlucky in having to make his First Division debut in a match in which none of the home players could find his form. Troup was again, the pick of the line, while Critchley only came in patches, White and Easton had a lean afternoon.

The halves were all off, and it must be many a long day since they gave such an inept display. O'Donnell, was too prone to wander, and his tendency to dribble in front of his own goal gave the spectators many shocks. Davies was not at fault with any of the successful shots, but he was not quite so clean and confident as usual. One was left wondering how such artistes as Dunn, Ritchie, Weldon, and Forshaw, could be left out of the side. West Ham's “V” formation worked out well, and all their forwards advances were made in a decisive manner.

Everton:- Davies, goal, Common and O'Donnell, backs, Kelly, Griffiths, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Critchley, Easton, Attwood, White, and Troup, forwards.
West Ham United:- Hufton, goal, Barrett, and Earl, backs, Collins, Norris, and Cadwell, half-backs, Yews, Earle, V. Gibbins, Robson, and Watson, forwards.

West Ham also recorded a victory at Goodison Park (1-2) the following season (29/30) admittedly not by such a wide margin but a damaging blow to the Toffees, none-the-less as the club stared relegation full in the face for the first time in the club’s history. That defeat by West Ham had also come in a poor run of form for the Toffees as they had lost six consecutive League games. Everton did rally in the last five games of the campaign dropping just a single point and winning four games but the revival had arrived too late and they dropped out of the top-tier for the first time in the history of the club just one win short of safety.
Everton: Sagar; Williams, O'Donnell; White, Griffiths, Thomson; Stein, Martin, Dean, Johnson, Rigby

Everton returned to the top Division at the first time of asking and faced West Ham United at Goodison Park on 16 April 1932. This time it was the Hammers who were struggling at the wrong end of the table and Everton were attempting to add the First Division title to the Second Division title they had won in the previous campaign. 'Pilot' described the action in the Evening Express:

It was a life and death struggle at Goodison Park, where the potential champions, Everton, entertained West Ham, who are not exactly in a happy position in the League table. The Blues required five points from five matches to make sure of the championship, and the Hammers, who had already registered a victory over Everton this season, were struggling to avoid relegation. The Blues were once again at full strength, and in passing, I might mention that I do not anticipate many changes in the club's playing personnel next season. West Ham made drastic alterations, and three players whose usual positions are outside right were included in the attack.

It is interesting to note that two more Everton players will shortly embark on the sea of matrimony. I refer to Teddy Sagar and Charlie Gee, who are to be married shortly after the present season ends. Everton were out for a record, for if they came through the game undefeated they would have gone unbeaten for ten successive matches. Their previous best run was nine games, which was broken by today's opponents, West Ham.

Everton: Sagar, goal; Williams and Cresswell, backs; Clark, Gee and Thomson, Half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean (captain), Johnson and Stein, forwards.
West Ham United: Hufton, goal; Goodacre and Chalkley, backs; Norris, Garrett, and Cadwell, half-backs; Wood, Yews, Watson, Phillips, and Morton, forwards. Referee. Mr. J. H. Whittle, Worcester.

West Ham had been unable to garner enough points to save them from relegation and remained outside of the top-flight for nearly a quarter of a century. Everton did go on to secure the title for the fourth time in its history.

Everton did play West Ham in 1933 but on this occasion it was in the semi-final of the FA Cup as the second-division side stood in the way of Everton and a place at Wembley, as reported on 18 March 1933 in the Evening Express, Football Edition, by the Pilot:

Everton for Wembley! They beat West Ham 2-1 in the semi-final at Wolverhampton today, only after a rare tussle. Critchley, who had come in as sub for Geldard, put Everton in the final. His goal came after 83 minutes. Everton were 50 per cent. They lost the lead after 43 minutes when Victor Watson put West Ham level. It was a triumph over kick and rush tactics.

Everton: Sagar, goal; Cook and Cresswell, backs; Britton, White, and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean (captain), Johnson, and Stein forwards.
West Ham United: Watson (G.), goal; Chalkley and Walker, backs; Collins Barrett (captain), and Cadwell, half-backs; Wood, Pollard, Watson (V.), Wilson, and Morton, forwards. Referee Mr. E. Pinckston (Birmingham).

The next meeting between the two sides at Goodison Park for a League game came in the 1950s when West Ham visited Goodison on 12 April 1952 and were beaten (2-0) this was the first of three League meetings of the clubs in the early1950s all of which were Second Division games. Leslie Edwards of The Liverpool Daily Post describes the controversial penalty award that sealed the points for the Toffees

.

At Goodison Park on Saturday West Ham lost all their “stuffing” as a result of a decision which to my mind was as wrong as any could be. The West Ham captain Kinsell, playing a centre delivered by Farrell; mis-kicked and the ball shot across his body and against his left hand. Referee Leafe, of Nottingham could scarcely have been better-placed to see what happened but the decision was a penalty. Kinsell and other protested as strongly as they dare. Clinton scored from the spot and that was virtually the end of West Ham’s not inconsiderable chances of a point if not two.

Everton won by the same score six months later as Stork in the Daily Post reported.

West Ham have not won an away game this season, and if what we saw on Saturday is their normal game it is quite possible that they will go through the season without an away win. They gave the impression during the first half that defence was their main concern. That they were not more than two goals down at the interval was not entirely due to them. Everton made many openings but quite a lot were not accepted, in fact the first goal did not come until the 28th minute. Then it was a mistake in the United defence which enabled Harris to score Kinsell failed to collect an easy ball and Harris made most of his chance. It was one-way traffic right through this half with Everton playing the better football and making openings by the greatest of ease.

A

t the 40th minute Eglington from the centre forward position, slapped home Hickson’s pass. I expected Everton to run up a high score, but there must been a West Ham adviser in the United dressing room at half-time. The policy of defence was cast aside in favour of attack, and the Londoners were as much in charge afterwards as Everton had been in the first half. This proves that attack is the best form of defence. Had West Ham started as they finished a different story may have had to be told. There is no denying that they had Everton chasing a bit….
Everton: O'Neill; Moore, Lindsay; Farrell, Jones, Grant; Harris, Fielding, Hickson, Parker, Eglington

West Ham United won at Goodison Park (1-2) in March 1954 thus ending Everton’s thirteen match unbeaten League run Eddie Wainwright scored Everton’s consolation in front of 41,653 people, Jock Lindsay had missed a golden opportunity to rescue a point in the 88th minute when he missed the target with his penalty kick. Although the defeat had probably prevented Everton winning the Second Division title it didn’t prevent the club from gaining promotion to the top flight. West Ham would have to wait a little longer to regain their place in the First Division.
Everton: O'Neill; Donovan, Lindsay; Farrell, Jones, Lello; Wainwright, Fielding, Hickson, Parker, Eglington.

West Ham United returned to the top-flight in 1958 under the leadership of former player Ted Fenton, with the considerable input of player Malcolm Allison. The pair helped develop the style of the team with a keen eye on potential future stars already at the club’s academy.

The Hammers' first encounter with Everton at Goodison Park upon their return to the First Division on 15 November 1958 resulted in the first ever League draw between the two sides at the venue. John Dick and John Bond from the penalty spot scored for the Hammers, whilst Jimmy Harris and Eddie Thomas were on the scoresheet for Everton.
Everton: Dunlop; Parker, Bramwell; King, Jones, Harris; Harris, Thomas, Hickson, Collins, O'Hara

Malcolm Musgrove scored the only goal of the game at Goodison Park the following season but it would not be until the 1970s that West Ham United would leave victorious as the Blues went on a long unbeaten run against the Hammers on Merseyside. Ron Greenwood took up the reins at Upton Park in April 1961.

A week before the 1964 FA Cup final West Ham met Everton at Goodison Park in the final league fixture, with most of the Hammers supporters eyes on that upcoming event as they hoped to see their club win their first major trophy at Wembley. If the game at Wembley had have ended in a draw the West Ham fans faced another trip to Goodison Park as it had been chosen to host the replay. Everton won the First Division clash (2-0) with West Ham in what Evertonia described as a not very inspiring match, thanks to a double by Fred Pickering, who scored in each half. West Ham did indeed win their first trophy the following week as they beat young Howard Kendall’s Preston North End (3-2) in a high quality and exciting encounter at Wembley. Everton secured third place in the First Division and a place in the Fairs cup for the following campaign.

Everton recorded a big win against West Ham at Goodison Park on 25 February 1967, when World Cup winners Alan Ball and Ray Wilson of Everton and Geoff Hurst for West Ham were in the starting line-up at Goodison Park.

Three first-half goals from Derek Temple (9’), Alex Young (13’) and Johnny Morrissey (36’) and another goal early in the second-half from Jimmy Husband (49’) helped the Toffees secure the points at a cantor. Alex Young’s goal as described in the match-day programme some years later “The Golden Vision collected the ball just inside the Londoner’s half, ghosted through their defence then, having spotted goalkeeper Jim Standen off his line, stopped before chipping the ball over his head into the top corner of the net.”
Everton: West; Wright, Wilson; Hurst, Labone, Harvey; Young, Ball, Temple, Husband, Morrissey

An own goal from Howard Kendall (34’) shortly before half-time gave West Ham United their first victory at Goodison Park, since 1959, as the Hammers beat Everton (0-1) on 30 March 1971 only three days after the Toffees had lost to their local rivals in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, the result exemplified the disastrous month of March 1971 which in hindsight proved a more than significant turning point in Everton’s fortunes as they began a long unsuccessful run in League and cups.
Everton: Rankin; Wright, Newton; Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey; Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Johnson.

West Ham were victorious once again in November 1972 when goals from Clyde Best and Trevor Brooking earned the points for the visitors as Bernie ‘The Bolt’ Wright’s first and only goal for the Blues at Goodison had only been a consolation, Bernie’s other goal for Everton came at Hillsborough in March 1972.
Everton: Lawson; Scott, Newton; Kendall, Kenyon, Hurst; Wright, Darracott, Belfitt, Harvey, Connolly.

Ron Greenwood appointed John Lyall as his successor in 1974. Lyall’s first visit to Goodison as Manager of West Ham resulted in a draw (1-1) as Mike Lyons (58’) equalised Bobby Gould’s first-half goal (41’), this game also saw the final appearance of Joe Royle in an Everton jersey at Goodison Park. Too many draws in that campaign (74-75) for Everton wasted the many opportunities to become champions, however, for John Lyall and West Ham the season ended with the FA Cup adorning the Hammers’ trophy cabinet for the second time as they beat Fulham (2-0) at Wembley thanks to two goals for the late Alan Taylor.
Everton: Davies; Bernard, Seargent; Lyons, Kenyon, Clements; Buckley, Dobson, Pearson, Royle, Connolly.

West Ham scored twice at Goodison in 1976 as an own goal by Ken McNaught and a goal for Billy Bonds were not enough for the visitors as they lost to Everton (3-2) as the Blues scored via Bob Latchford, Mike Lyons and Andy King.
Everton: Davies; Darracott, Jones; Lyons, McNaught, Hamilton; King, Dobson, Latchford, Goodlass, Telfer

Relegation threatened West Ham travelled to Goodison Park on 18 February 1978 Duncan McKenzie gave Everton the lead but Derek Hales equalised for the visitors, in the second period Trevor Ross missed a penalty to raise the Hammers hopes of securing a vital point in their battle for survival but a goal twenty-minutes from time from Dave Thomas (70’) earned the home side all the points and consigned West Ham to defeat. West Ham were relegated from the top-flight as they lost their final home match of the season whilst QPR were securing a point at home to Leeds United which was the difference between the two London teams at the final reckoning.
Everton: Wood; Jones, Pejic; Lyons, Higgins, Ross; King, Dobson, Latchford, Mckenzie, Thomas.

In 1980 West Ham lifted the FA Cup for the third time in their history on this occasion as a Second Division team when they defeated much-fancied Arsenal (1-0) in the Final at Wembley thanks to a header from Trevor Brooking, incidentally Paul Allen became the youngest player to appear in the final taking the record off Howard Kendall who had held the record for sixteen years when he had been the youngest player in the FA Cup final of 1964. West Ham reached Wembley by virtue of defeating Everton (2-1) at the semi-final stage thanks to a late winner from Frank Lampard Senior at Elland Road.

The Hammers’ regained their place in the First Division the following season (80-81) as they won the Second Division, and on their return to Goodison Park in February 1982 the visitors took a point home from a goalless encounter on Merseyside. The Hammers also managed a victory in 1983 when a goal from Steve Walford (70’) was enough to secure maximum points for the visitors in the Toffees opening home match of the season.
Everton: Arnold; Harper, Bailey; Mountfield, Higgins, Richardson; Steven, Heath, Sharp, King, Sheedy.

Between that defeat for Everton and the start of the Premier League Everton recorded six consecutive League victories against the Hammers at Goodison Park, Everton scored twenty goals whilst conceding just three. Among the highlights for Everton during that winning sequence was a 4-0 victory in April 1987 as a first-half blitz from the Blues, swept the visitors away – the Hammers had finished the previous season in third place - as Everton honed in on the title. Wayne Clarke (19') opened the scoring and just three minutes later Peter Reid (22’) scored a rare league goal, his previous League goal had come over twelve months earlier at White Hart Lane. Gary Stevens (32’) and Dave Watson (38') completed the scoring for the soon-to-be champions.
Everton: Southall; Stevens, Power; Ratcliffe, Watson, Reid; Steven, Heath, Clarke, Harper, Sheedy.

West Ham suffered relegation in 1989 and Manager John Lyall was replaced by Billy Bonds.

Everton also recorded a four-nil victory in their final Football League meeting with West Ham United at Goodison Park on the 7 December 1991 when Everton had raced into a three goal lead by half-time as Tony Cottee (8'), Peter Beagrie (10'), Peter Beardsley (37') had all hit the target and a goal by Mo Johnston (53') early in the second-half, added to the entertainment for the Blues supporters in the 21,563 crowd, it was sweet revenge for the FA Cup exit the Toffees had endured at Upton Park earlier in the year. West Ham were relegated at the end of the campaign as they finished bottom of the table.
Everton: Southall; Jackson, Hinchcliffe; Ebbrell, Watson, Keown; Ward (Warzycha), Beardsley, Johnston, Cottee, Beagrie.

The first meeting between Everton and West Ham in the Premier League at Goodison Park took place on New Years’ Day 1994 and it was the visitors who won the points thanks to the only goal of the game scored by Tim Breaker (5’) after just five minutes, which left the Toffees in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table.
Everton: Southall; Holmes, Snodin; Ebbrell, Jackson, Ablett; Ward (Stuart), Horne, Cottee, Rideout, Beagrie.

Everton regained the upper-hand against West Ham at Goodison as they won the next six League meetings between the sides. The first Premier League victory for the Blues against West Ham at Goodison arrived on 1 November 1994 when Gary Ablett (54’) scored the only goal of the game. This win earned the Toffees their first three points of the ultimately successful FA Cup winning season it was also the last time that Mike Walker led his Everton side out at Goodison Park.
Everton: Southall; Jackson, Burrows; Parkinson, Watson, Ablett; Horne, Stuart (Limpar), Amokachi (Rideout), Ferguson, Durrant.

The highlight during the winning streak for the Blues at home to West Ham was undoubtedly the last home game of the 1998/99 season when Kevin Campbell scored a hat-trick for the Blues in a six goal to nil victory. Stephen Wood of The Times reported:

ONE of the car-park attendants at Everton had warned Kevin Campbell early in the day that if he did not score a hat-trick this time, he would not be allowed out of Goodison Park. Alas, a few hours and three goals later, Campbell, the Everton striker, was being given a hero's valediction.

There were smiles all round and Campbell, like a true con artist, played his part to perfection, shaking people's hands and patting children on the head before making good his getaway. The stewards, on behalf of the whole club, may regret not locking Campbell's car and hiding the keys. For Everton fans have a new centre forward to idolise, augmenting the long line of other swashbuckling players from Dixie Dean to Duncan Ferguson.

Campbell, however, may not be around to idolise for much longer. On loan from Trabzonspor, the Turkish club, Campbell has scored nine goals in seven matches to transform Everton's season and, in doing so, has helped them to avoid relegation from the FA Carling Premiership. With a bank overdraft running at around £20 million, the club is going to struggle to find anything like the £3 million needed to buy him.

Walter Smith, the manager, has promised to make a big effort to secure Campbell's services and there are bound to be some fraught meetings with Sir Phillip Carter, the chairman, over the next few weeks. Other clubs, West Ham United included, have been alerted to Campbell's feats in recent times. However, if there is anything that should sway the outcome in Everton's favour, it is Campbell's attitude. After Nottingham Forest foolishly sold him last summer, and after the Trabzonspor chairman racially abused him earlier this season, Campbell has realised that Everton could save his career. "Everton are in my heart now," he said."The predicament is getting to me, because I am as much in the dark as anyone. If I had the money, I'd lend it to Everton myself for them to buy me.''

One player who has convinced Smith that he has a future at Everton is Don Hutchison, who dictated the game, scoring one goal and providing two for Campbell and another for Jeffers. Campbell's third and a penalty from Michael Ball completed the scoring. By contrast, West Ham hardly managed an attempt. Harry Redknapp, their manager, consigned it all to a bad day, but West Ham carry the aura of a side that have already clocked off for their holidays.

Everton: Myhre; Weir, Ball; Short, Watson, Unsworth; Gemmill, Jeffers, Campbell, Dacourt, Hutchinson.

Since the six-game winning streak Everton have only lost the once to West Ham at Goodison Park in eleven Premier League games with the Blues winning five and West Ham earning a point on five occasions. Another big victory for the Blues arrived in September 2001 as Tomasz Radzinski made his full Everton debut as he had only come on as substitute in the previous home game against Liverpool. Paul Gascoigne was the main focus of the match reports as this article by Jonathan Northcroft of the Sunday Times explained.

THE end, or merely the beginning of the end? Three weeks ago, Walter Smith said something quite moving about Paul Gascoigne. Smith expressed not only his own wish for the midfielder but a truth which should touch any football fan who has been given any pleasure by Gazza down the years. It does not matter how you judge Gascoigne, old gladiators deserve to go out on their shields. "It would be good for him to finish his career playing," said Smith. "Rather than having to give up for other reasons."

Booze, cigarettes, stupidity. You could fill a book about Gascoigne. But if there was one consolation for the player yesterday, it was that Smith's noble hope might be realised. Gascoigne exited Goodison in tears after damaging his knee ligaments in a third-minute challenge with Frederic Kanouté.

"Hopefully he'll be out for two, or at maximum three weeks," said Smith. But his words were the same when Gascoigne suffered a similar injury last season and ended up absent for 11 months. Gascoigne's injury took the wind out of Everton's supporters but by half-time when their side led through a Kevin Campbell header, they had recovered. At the finish, with four more goals added, they were quite carried away.

Last week they chanted that Smith did not know what he was doing. Yesterday they sang how the manager has produced " the greatest team the world has ever seen".

Everton's second-half performance was full of a verve and technique previously thought to be dead at Goodison which quite demolished West Ham. As the minutes ebbed, Tomasz Radzinski completed their joy by taking the ball round Shaka Hislop and dinking it into the far corner for the fifth goal.

Radzinski departed to a standing ovation. Gascoigne also did as he limped from the arena after just eight minutes. He was on the field for only three of these, having gone down, fingers clenched grimly round the knee, after stretching into that challenge on Kanouté.

Crowds love Gascoigne as much for his enthusiasm as his skill yet, just as in the 1991 FA Cup final, his enemy was eagerness. Then he changed the course of his career when he snapped his cruciates lunging at Gary Charles.

Here his joy at being able to play again saw him begin the game charging after the ball like a dog in pursuit of a stick. Within minutes he leapt knee-high at Paolo di Canio. His challenge with Kanouté was also too urgent.

Gascoigne's replacement, Mark Pembridge, troubled Hislop from distance three times and seemed the likeliest first scorer until Campbell intervened. His goal was outstanding. Niclas Alexandersson bent in a cross and Campbell's glanced header, after muscling in front of his markers, was perfect.

West Ham at least made Everton work to take the lead but spent the second half actually helping their opponents. It was 2-0 when Don Hutchison inexplicably nipped in front of Hislop to steer Pembridge's free kick into his own net.

Everton's fourth goal came when Hislop spilled Steve Watson's low centre, allowing the wing-back to knock in the rebound. Their third was at least all their own work when Gravesen barrelled his way into the box before hitting a fine shot in off the posts.

Glenn Roeder declined to say what he spent an hour telling his players behind a locked dressing room door but spoke of "diabolical defending" and "letting the fans down".

Referee: Paul Durkin Att: 32,049 Position: 10th Full Debut: Radzinski
Everton: Gerrard; Watson, Xavier, Weir, Pistone; Alexandersson, Gascoigne (9' Pembridge (83' Hibbert)), Gravesen, Naysmith; Radzinski (83' Moore), Campbell. Subs not used: Simonsen, Stubbs.
Unavailable: Ferguson, Gemmill, (injured); Nyarko (loan)
West Ham Utd: Hislop, Winterburn (65' Soma), Dailly, Song, Schemmel, Courtois (77' Byrne), Carrick, Hutchison, Sinclair, Kanoute (79' Kitson), Di Canio. Subs not used Foxe, Forrest.

During the Premier League era, Everton have won 11, lost 2 and drawn 5 of the 18 matches played against West Ham at Goodison Park and have scored 35 whilst conceding 12, taking a total of 38 points out of a possible 54.

Last time, 1 March 2014, as reported on the BBC website By Aimee Lewis:

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score a late winner for Everton against a West Ham side that frustrated the hosts for the majority of the match.

Lukaku, making his first appearance following a month-long absence with an ankle injury, side-footed home Leighton Baines's cross in the last 10 minutes.

The hosts had monopolised possession, with Steven Naismith going close and Steven Pienaar hitting the woodwork. But stubborn West Ham defending kept the hosts at bay until Lukaku struck.

In a tale of two returning strikers it was Lukaku, rather than West Ham's Andy Carroll, who stole the show and kept alive his side's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season. Carroll, available again after serving a three-game suspension, was on the pitch for longer, replacing Carlton Cole in the 28th minute, but it was the 20-year-old Belgian who made his presence felt after coming on in the 59th minute.

His strike, only his second league goal in 11 games, not only reduced the gap between Everton and fifth-placed Tottenham to two points but also ended West Ham's five-match unbeaten run in the league. For possession and territory there was only one team in the match, but for all their dominance and neat passing the hosts were unable to break a West Ham defence that has kept 13 clean sheets this season, the most in the Premier League.

Everton's best chances in the first half fell to Naismith. The striker was unable to keep two headers on target early on but, midway through the half, forced West Ham goalkeeper Adrian into a reflex save at the near post. That, however, proved to be the home team's only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Gerard Deulofeu also went close, weaving between a number of West Ham defenders before going inches wide with a low shot from the edge of the box.

West Ham occasionally threatened on the counter-attack, and Deulofeu was called into action at the other end of the field to prevent Matt Taylor running through on goal. But even after the introduction of Carroll, the visitors were unable to muster a shot on target.

If the first half was a damp squib then at least Pienaar ensured the second half started with a bang, hitting the woodwork with a low shot across goal. The follow-up fell kindly for Deulofeu, but Adrian easily gathered the Spaniard's mis-hit half-volley.

Although this match would suggest otherwise, scoring has not been a problem for West Ham of late, with the Hammers hitting the net at least twice in each of their past four league matches. A palm-stinging save from Tim Howard kept out Carroll's ferocious first-time strike and, moments later, Kevin Nolan was inches wide with a cleverly-worked curling effort - but that was as good as it got for Sam Allardyce's side.

It was no surprise that Roberto Martinez turned to Lukaku for inspiration, and the club's top scorer made the most of his opportunity. The Belgian, on loan from Chelsea, could have added a second, but shot high with a first-time strike on the turn.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "Romelu is someone we have missed for a long time and it was a clinical touch.”He had a bit of a chest infection and I knew he would be more effective finishing the game rather than starting. "West Ham had an accumulation of bodies behind the ball, but the last few minutes become harder to defend with Rom with his freshness and power."

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: "Unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough in the end. Our chances in the final third we should have done a lot better with and those wasted moments could have been the turning point for us. "We never caused Everton too many problems because of our final ball and our final pass – they didn't put enough fear into their defenders."

Everton: 24 Howard; 23 Coleman, 03 Baines Booked; 18 Barry, 26 Stones, 15 Distin; 10 Deulofeu (McGeady), 16 McCarthy; 14 Naismith (Barkley), 21 Osman (Lukaku), 22 Pienaar
Subs: 01 Robles 02 Hibbert 07 McGeady 11 Mirallas 17 Lukaku 20 Barkley 36 Browning

West Ham Utd: 13 Adrià¡n; 20 Demel (Reid), 03 McCartney; 16 Noble, 19 Collins, 05 Tomkins Booked; 07 Jarvis (Diamé), 14 Taylor, 24 Cole (Carroll), 04 Nolan, 23 Downing Subs: 02 Reid, 08 Armero, 09 Carroll, 21 Diamé, 22 Jà¤à¤skelà¤inen, 26 Cole, 47 Nocerino

Ref: Jonathon Moss Att: 38,286

Everton versus West Ham United (Top-Flight games only):
PL W D L GF GA
55 35 11 9 112 43

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