LETHAL EVERTON HAD THE EDGE, SAYS BILIC

SLAVEN BILIC had no excuses for the latest defeat in West Ham’s erratic season and said his players only have themselves to blame. West Ham had started to gather some momentum after a terrible start to the season, taking seven points from the last nine in the league and knocking Chelsea out of the EFL Cup. That sequence came to a juddering halt as goals from Romelu Lukaku — who scored for the ninth consecutive game against West Ham — and Ross Barkley secured Everton’s first Premier League success since September 17. West Ham created chances before Lukaku scored, the best of which fell to Pedro Obiang in the first half, but they had no answers after they fell behind and Bilic said: ‘Harsh? No. I can’t blame anyone other than us. It is not the referee or unluckiness. It was all 50-50. We just didn’t take it. ‘I am not saying they didn’t deserve it. They were more lethal or more mature. When they were offered something, they took it straightaway which we didn’t do when we created or they made mistakes. Credit to them, we knew they have a good side. At 2-0, it is more likely they are going to score the third.’ Ronald Koeman hailed Barkley, watched by England coach Sammy Lee, for producing ‘one of his best performances’. He added: ‘He was working hard, he was tackling, offensively he was important in the game. Adrian made an incredible save in the first half and Ross scored the second goal. He was really the player between the defence and the front to create, and that is what you like to see.’ Koeman also reaffirmed his admiration for Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney. Everton’s manager has made it clear he would like to sign Rooney if the chance comes up and he emphasised that point. ‘How likely is it? I don’t know, we can hope,’ said Koeman. ‘Maybe if it happens in the future I don’t know. Rooney is very welcome at Everton.’