West Ham 2-3 Everton: Lukaku Gets Debut Winner To Keep Toffees Unbeaten Run Going

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to grab an 85th minute winner for Everton, extending their unbeaten start to the season. It was heartbreak for West Ham and Mark Noble at Upton Park, as the Irons captain scored from the spot to give his side the lead for the second time, only to get sent off soon after. Leighton Baines scored two free kicks from near identical positions as the Toffees kept up their unbeaten record against the Hammers, with this result making it twelve consecutive games without defeat against their London opponents. Ravel Morrison's deflected drive had given West Ham the lead. The first significant chance had come after just five minutes when an Everton counter led to Jussi Jaaskelainen saving a Kevin Mirallas shot. On 31 minutes, the ball went out to Matt Jarvis on the left. The England winger cut inside, ghosted past two men and laid the ball to Ravel Morrison. The youngster was central, twenty yards out, and hit a shot that took a deflection off Phil Jagielka, wrong footing Tim Howard. Romelu Lukaku made his Everton debut, coming on at half time for Nicola Jelavic. James McCarthy also came on, for Steven Naismith. The Chelsea loanee nearly made an instant impact, turning away cutely from James Collins and playing in compatriot Mirallas but his cross was well defended by Reuben Reid. Lukaku was causing problems for West Ham as Everton took a stranglehold on possession and launched a constant assault on the Hammers penalty area. That pressure eventually led to Collins picking up a booking for fouling Barclay just after the hour mark, and from the free kick Baines struck the equaliser. While a nice hit, it was on Jaaskelainen's side. West Ham then won their penalty when Kevin Nolan was fouled by McCarthy, after good work from another sub Mladen Petric. Noble sent Howard the wrong way. Noble went from hero to villain when he fouled Barclay with ten minutes to play, picking up his second yellow. More bad news came for the Irons when Baines stepped up again to strike, this time going for the opposite corner with an unstoppable goal off the post. Barely two minutes later, Lukaku sealed a fine debut with the goal that gave Everton the lead for the first time in the game, bravely heading in a cross from eight yards out. Ricardo Vaz Te came closest to an equaliser but his header went wide, while a fine Reid tackle managed to stop Lukaku with the goal firmly in his sights in injury time. West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Rat, Morrison, Noble, Nolan (Taylor), Diame, Jarvis (Vaz Te), Maiga, Subs: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Collinson, Vaz Te, Taylor, Petric Booked: Morrison, Collins, Noble Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barry, Barkley, Osman (Oviedo), Naismith (McCarthy), Mirallas, Jelavic (Lukaku) Subs: Robles, Stones, Heitinga, Oviedo, Delofeu, McCarthy, Lukaku Booked: Barclay