So sweet for Moyes as Toffees come unstuck
WEST Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna’s header ended Everton manager Rafael Benitez’s 100 per cent home record as David Moyes got the better of his old Merseyside adversary in a 1-0 Premier League victory at Goodison Park.
The pair had previously met 15 times – 12 of those as managers on opposing sides of Stanley Park with Benitez then Liverpool boss – and Moyes had won just twice.
So this was a satisfying return to his old stomping ground for the Scot, with Ogbonna’s 74th-minute goal denying Benitez the chance to record Everton’s best start to a season since 1978-79.
The nature of the goal was somewhat familiar to all inside the ground as it came from a set-piece, a regular route to success during Moyes’ 11 years with the Toffees.
Since his first game back in charge at West Ham, his side have earned a reputation as dead-ball specialists – they have scored more (29), excluding penalties, than any other top-flight side.
There was a whiff of controversy as referee Stuart Attwell ruled Michail Antonio’s awkward challenge on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had earned a corner despite protests from the home team.
Having wasted a good start to the game, Moyes would have been relieved to have left with three points, which lifted West Ham back into the top six.
Everton, still without their two biggest attacking threats Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison due to injury, barely had a kick for the opening 20 minutes.
But, bizarrely, it was Benitez’s side who missed the best first-half opportunity when Alex Iwobi fluffed his lines.
Everton enjoyed more control after the break with Iwobi’s shot on the turn deflected behind and Salomon Rondon glancing wide.
However, the match turned on Antonio’s challenge on Pickford, with Ogbonna glancing home Declan Rice’s cross. ‘I want the team to challenge, I want the team to play wherever we go, get us a victory and I think today we did,’ said a delighted Moyes.
On his side’s prowess from setpieces, Moyes added: ‘Nowadays there is a modern trend for setpiece coaches and we want to try to be good. We want people who want to head the ball.’