West Ham conceded in stoppage time in their 1-1 draw to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, keeping the Hammers in 16th place.
The visitors took the lead in the 67th minute when Tomas Soucek found the bottom right corner beautifully after being teed up by Jarrod Bowen, making it the Czech’s seventh goal of the season.
The Hammers were unable to hold on to their lead however, with Jake O’Brien heading it in from close range in the 91st minute, earning the Toffees a draw in West Ham’s last-ever visit to Goodison Park.
The draw brings Graham Potter’s record at the club to three wins in ten now, with the Hammers also losing five and drawing two under the manager’s reign.
As mentioned in Potter’s pre-match interview, one of his main priorities was to improve things defensively, and this was evident in the game, with the Hammers preventing Everton from scoring until the dying minutes.
Going forward continues to be an issue for Potter’s side, however.
Late substitution frustrates Hammers fans
West Ham’s scoring woes under Potter haven’t been helped by the team selection at times, with the manager continuing to start with a back five at the expense of no natural striker leading the line.
Potter made three changes from the Hammers’ defeat to Newcastle last Monday, bringing Konsantinos Mavropanos, Emerson and Lucas Paqueta in for Aaron Cresswell, Ollie Scarles and Edson Alvarez.
Following Soucek’s opener it looked as though Evan Ferguson was preparing to come on, however the goal clearly swayed Potter’s decision and the striker was instead kept on the bench.
The Irishman did eventually come on but only for a matter of minutes, replacing Mohammed Kudus in the 92nd minute following Everton’s equaliser.
This decision caused frustration among West Ham supporters, who felt the striker could have come on earlier and perhaps helped the Hammers increase their lead:
Should’ve done this after Soucek scored like he was originally going to do
— lyftzylol (@lyftzylol) March 15, 2025
Most pointless loan ever?
— Nathan Warner (@NathanPatrick84) March 15, 2025
We put on a forward in injury time. Seriously?
— Julie Trudgill (@julie_trudgill) March 15, 2025
These reactions will come as no surprise as this makes it now just nine goals scored in nine league games for the Hammers since Potter has been in the dugout, highlighting how uninspiring the side have been in the final third.
West Ham will take a point away to an Everton side who are now unbeaten in nine league games, but Potter will have plenty to work on during the international break before a trip to Wolves on April 1.
