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EVERTON v WEST HAM RECAP: Hammers pull off remarkable comeback over ten-man Toffees

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West Ham United kept their Champions League hopes alive with a stunning 3-2 victory over ten-man Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Hammers trailed 2-0 with just over 10 minutes to go but went on a frenzy, scoring three goals in quick succession to record a remarkable comeback.

The Toffees went ahead after just 13 minutes when Bryan Oviedo played a ball into the feet of Romelu Lukaku which prompted the Belgian to take a terrific first touch, spin off his marker, and fire across Adrian and inside the far post from an angle for his eighth goal in his past eight outings against the Hammers.

Everton lost winger Kevin Mirallas to a second yellow card in the 34th minute but that did not stop them from adding a second goal 11 minutes into the second half through Aaron Lennon who played a delightful one-two with Lukaku which resulted in him chesting down and slotting past Adrian.

Lukaku had the chance to wrap it up for the Toffees but saw his 69th-minute penalty saved by Adrian in what was a massive let-off for the visitors.

It appeared as though perhaps Roberto Martinez's side could hold on despite having one less player on the pitch but West Ham gave themselves hope in the 78th minute when Michail Antonio headed home Mark Noble's floated cross for his third goals in as many outings.

Slaven Bilic's men equalised three minutes later when substitute Diafra Sakho rose high in the area to nod in Dimitri Payet's whipped cross from the right before Sakho turned provider with a clever backheel for the French playmaker who prodded home the winner in the 90th minute.

The result has the East Londoners sitting fifth on the table, just a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, while Everton dropped to 12th as they continue to mix their form.


MATCH OVERVIEW

Everton: 2 (Romelu Lukaku 13', Aaron Lennon 56', red card: Kevin Mirallas 34')
West Ham United: 3 (Michail Antonio 78', Diafra Sakho 81', Dimitri Payet 90')
Goodison Park, Liverpool - 39,000


TALKING POINTS

- Should Martinez have played a more defensive formation after Lennon's goal? It may have cost Everton moving back into the to half of the table.

- Where to now for Bilic's Hammers? Playing with so much confidence. Is a top-four finish beyond them?



WHAT'S NEXT?

Everton next face Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend before tackling Arsenal in the league on March 19.

West Ham prepare for their cup fixture at Man Utd on Sunday prior to their league trip to Chelsea.



TWITTER INSIGHT


QUOTES CORNER

Everton boss Martinez on the Mirallas red card and the end result:

"We were presented with a very difficult game when Kevin had the red card but you look at the way we adapted, worked for each other, and we were the better team.

"You wouldn't know West Ham had an extra man."


West Ham's Bilic on the fightback:

"It was a great comeback, a great game. To do it like this is unbelievable. I said at half-time 'We are one down but we are going to do it. We have to be less sexy and more lethal in front of the box'.

"To come back like this nobody can deny we didn't deserve it. We showed our quality, we showed our stubbornness and we got a great win."




STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta

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Andrew Slevison
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