Moyes achieves his first victory at Goodison Park since leaving Everton

On an unusually quiet New Year’s Day by normal Premier League standards, it’s fair to say that West Ham’s 1-0 win at Everton probably didn’t capture the imagination of many neutrals.

A cautious and tense match for the most part, West Ham finally claimed all three points in the later stages to give Moyes his first victory at Goodison Park since leaving Everton for Manchester United in 2013.

In the nearly eight years since then, not much has come out of the Moyes trail. But this was evidence that he seems to be on the right track with the Hammers and potentially enjoying the beginning of a reputational restoration.

His 2020-21 West Ham has plenty of creative talent, but the team and system remain focused on being solid at the rear. They certainly were on Friday.

Everton, who would have moved second with a win, managed just two shots on goal in the entire match, three fewer than their visitors, and Moyes’s men began to show increased attacking threat even after the hosts presented Andre Gomes and James Rodríguez from the Bank.

1 – West Ham manager David Moyes has scored his first victory at Goodison Park in five visits in all competitions since leaving Everton in 2013 (L4). Relief. pic.twitter.com/7b3e6uPdii

– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2021

OGBONNA FIDE COLOSSUS

It wasn’t really until the second half that the game started to open up and Everton seemed capable of potentially cutting through West Ham’s determined bottom line.

But even then, Angelo Ogbonna was colossal at the back, proving to be in the right place at the right time so often.

He made seven punts total, more than anyone else on the field, and also contributed a pair of interceptions.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled to prevail over the Italian, failing to register a shot on goal, and the English Premier League international’s goal drought increased to five games.

Ogbonna hasn’t always been a convincing defender during his time in England, but he was a prime example of just how imperious he can be.

LET’S GO TO YOURSELF

In his short time in the Premier League, Tomas Soucek’s all-round playing style has drawn fans.

While his distribution was occasionally a bit loose here, it’s clear why he’s such an important figure to West Ham.

Soucek scored the winning goal with an effort from a poacher in the later stages, his fifth in his last 10 Premier League games.

But he was an effective presence across the field.

No one on the court regained possession more often than Soucek (15), and Aaron Cresswell was the only West Ham player to improve on his 67 ball touches.

5 – Tomas Soucek is now West Ham United’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with five goals. Winner? pic.twitter.com/UidcjLCxhM

– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2021

CARLO’S PROBLEMS

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has faced Moyes more times in the Premier League without winning than against any other manager, drawing three and losing three of his six games.

Calvert-Lewin was always key if Ancelotti wanted to finally beat Moyes, but he didn’t.

Now with five league games without a goal, his form is a far cry from the streak that saw him score 11 in his first 11 games in competition this season.

When the substitute is a Cenk Tosun without a league goal since last January, while on loan at Crystal Palace, you have to worry about Everton’s first four chances.