Liverpool, England (AP) — Nuno Espirito Santo’s reign as West Ham coach got off to an encouragemental start after West Ham coach returned from a goal that led to an Everton 1-1 in the Premier League on Monday.
The Portuguese coach replaced Graham Potter on Saturday, seeing the defensive frailty on his side bare when he was late in the 18th minute.
James Garner crossed from the left and Michael Keene headed for the house, and the Hammers’ defense seemed dull. The head goal was Everton’s 361st place in the Premier League, next to Manchester United.
Toffee is undefeated at Dickinson Stadium on the new hill, but was unable to add the total and paid the price in the pulsating late.
West Ham became increasingly involved in the game, with captain Jarrod Bowen being equal after 20 minutes on a clinical left-foot strike. This was the first goal Everton recognized in that new ground.
“I just tried to get into the box, but I know what I’m going to do before the defenders do,” Bowen said.
“That’s a big point for us. It’s a fair outcome. It shows that the characters on the team are down 1-0. At halftime, it was just one goal and we knew that we were going to get our chance if we took it to 90 minutes.”
West Ham remained second from the bottom with four points in six games. Everton was 9th with eight.
“We didn’t take all three points,” Everton coach David Moes said. “It was a home game and an opportunity for us. There was a moment when we should have pushed the button a little more to score a second goal.”
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