Rooney hat-trick signals start of new Toffees era
WAYNE Rooney netted a hattrick, including an incredible strike from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed former boss David Moyes’ West Ham 4-0 at Goodison Park, while incoming manager Sam Allardyce watched on from the stands.
Captain-for-the-night Rooney produced the sublime long-range effort, bringing back memories of his famous goal against West Ham for Manchester United in 2014, to complete his treble in the 66th minute.
The 32-year-old’s first came in the 18th minute as he headed in on the follow-up after his penalty was saved by Joe Hart — who had brought down Dominic Calvert-Lewin — and he slotted in his second 10 minutes later.
Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Lanzini’s spot-kick after Ashley Williams’ challenge on Diafra Sakho just before the hour mark, and, after Rooney’s outrageous effort from distance, Williams then added a header with 12 minutes of normal time to go.
It all made for a thoroughly miserable night for former Everton chief Moyes and a hugely satisfying one for Toffees caretaker manager David Unsworth, who celebrated only the second win of his temporary stint.
“It’s a great night, not for me but for the club,” Unsworth said.
“Every player was committed. I asked them to be men tonight. If you can stand up there and fight in times of trouble, that says a lot.
“Great hat-trick, great display from Wayne. He was captain for a reason. I’m delighted for the club. I took over when we were in the bottom three and we’ve got out of it in the six weeks.
“We expect more. The players have shown tonight that when they are confident, we can keep clean sheets and score goals. Goodison must be a fortress for the rest of the season if we are to finish in the top half.”
Allardyce, sat alongside Everton’s major shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright, will have taken great encouragement from what he saw hours after the club had announced he was to finalise terms on becoming their new manager.
The man who guided Sunderland and Crystal Palace to safety in the past two seasons is set to be confirmed as Everton boss with the Merseyside outfit 13th, this victory having moved them up from 17th and five points clear of the relegation zone.
West Ham remain 18th, are winless in seven and have taken one point from three under Moyes, who has now lost five out of five meetings with Everton since leaving them in 2013.