Romelu Lukaku continued his remarkable run of scoring against West Ham United as he netted the equaliser in Everton’s 1-1 draw at Upton Park.As the Blues visited the stadium for the final time in Premier League action, an evenly-fought contest saw the Hammers open the scoring through Manuel Lanzini.
But Lukaku latched onto a beautifully-weighted pass from Gerard Deulofeu and earned his side a share of the spoils.
Both sides could have won it, trading chances throughout, but ultimately had to settle for a point apiece.
An immaculately-observed minute’s silence preluded the game, as those inside the Boleyn Ground paid their respects to those we lost as part of Remembrance Day.
After the action kicked off, it was the hosts who had the first sniff at goal. With three minutes on the clock, Dimitri Payet fed Victor Moses, with the winger taking the chance on first time but shooting into the side netting.
Everton were very willing to come forward in numbers; a lovely turn presenting Ross Barkley with a chance on the corner of the box but his eventual shot was straight down the throat of Adrian, the West Ham keeper.
But the Hammers were seeing enough of the ball to be a threat themselves – Moses nodding over an Aaron Cresswell centre.
A quickly-taken free-kick after a foul on Lukaku sent Arouna Kone away but his shot was driven into the stands, before Cresswell’s curling effort was a fraction off target.
With both sides willing to attack, a goal was inevitable – but it was West Ham who got it. Moses saw a shot blocked, and when the rebound fell to Lanzini, he expertly curled the ball into the far corner on 30 minutes.
The Blues tried to respond quickly though; Kone and Ramiro Funes Mori were inches away from connecting with two dangerous Barkley set-piece deliveries.
Just before the break, the Toffees did find an equaliser - and it had shades of Sunderland about it. As in the Blues' previous outing, Deulofeu played an inch-perfect through ball for Lukaku, who rounded the keeper and rolled it home to make it 1-1.
That goal meant the Belgian striker became only the second Everton player to score in seven successive games against the same opponent, with only the legendary Dixie Dean doing so previously, albeit with the impressive note that he did so against three sides - Aston Villa, Bolton and Bury
The second half began with Barkley arrowing a free-kick off target as both sides tried to start off on the front foot.
In response, Lanzini fizzed a low drive from range that needed diverting around the post by Tim Howard.
Roberto Martinez made a change on 64 minutes as he took off Kone and introduced Kevin Mirallas to the fray.
However it was the Hammers who threatened next. A corner from the right found the head of Winston Reid, but the New Zealander nodded narrowly over the bar.
Neither side could wrestle possession and keep it, so the game became stretched, with Deulofeu seeing a shot from a tight angle deflected wide.
The Spaniard soon made way for Aaron Lennon, as Martinez looked to inject fresh pace and energy into the final 10 minutes.
Howard saved from Carl Jenkinson, while Lukaku steered a teasing Galloway cross inches past the post, as both sides pushed for a winner.
On came former Blue Nikica Jelavic for the closing stages, but neither side could find a late spark to conjure up a goal that would almost certainly have sealed victory.
EvertonFC
