Everton 1 - 1 West Ham United

Everton 1-1 West Ham: Toffees euro hopes hit

Updated: March 22, 2008, 3:41 PM ET

Everton's Champions League dreams were seriously damaged by Dean Ashton's equaliser for West Ham in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

But it could have been even worse for the Toffees.

In the dying minutes, 18-year-old Freddie Sears saw his stabbed shot hit a post and bounce along the line - and that is how close West Ham came to a deserved victory.

Everton had started with power and pace, Ayegbeni Yakubu scoring his 19th goal of the season early on. West Ham were poor at that stage and it seemed the home side would cruise it.

• Green disappointed with point

But West Ham, who had hit the bar through debutant James Tomkins, were the better side after the break.

Everton find themselves two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who can have no greater spur to win at Manchester United tomorrow than this misfortune to their neighbours.

West Ham have responded well to three 4-0 defeats in a week - with decent results against two sides above them in the table, beating Blackburn last week and now a point at Goodison.

The Hammers gave centre-back Tomkins his first start, and it was something of a baptism of fire against the power of Yakubu - even if the England Under-19s international could have scored inside five minutes.

For Everton, Tim Cahill returned after a hip injury - while teenager Victor Anichebe had also recovered from a similar injury to make only his ninth start of the campaign in place of hamstring victim Andrew Johnson.

Leighton Baines played on the left of midfield in the absence of Steven Pienaar, out with a muscle problem.

But it was Basildon-born Tomkins who almost made it a dream debut. He met Mark Noble's corner 12 yards out, and his looping header clattered against the bar.

But three minutes later, after Anton Ferdinand had lost out in the air to Anichebe, Tomkins was equally at fault when he was out-muscled by Yakubu midway inside West Ham's half.

The big Nigerian surged away and scored past Robert Green.

Cahill lasted just two more minutes, before suffering a recurrence of his injury. Manuel Fernandes replaced him.

Everton were searching for the second against a tepid, uncertain West Ham - and Yakubu was wrongly adjudged offside when he scored from just inside the box, the final pass actually coming off West Ham midfielder Scott Parker.

Everton had plenty of the ball and had West Ham on the back foot, with Anichebe and Yakubu causing problems.

But the Hammers had their chances.

Noble's low cross was mis-kicked by Mikel Arteta; the ball fell invitingly for Ashton on the six-yard line, but his shot went agonisingly the wrong side of Tim Howard's right-hand post.

Green made a brave save at the feet of Anichebe, when Yakubu had played him through four minutes from the break - but again West Ham could have equalised soon afterwards.

Ashton struck a low free-kick from 20 yards - and even though it deflected wickedly off Joleon Lescott, Howard made a remarkable save with his legs while going the wrong way.

Five minutes into the second period, Sears came on for Luis Boa Morte and was soon scampering around and unsettling defenders.

Everton still looked the most likely to get the next goal, though - and when Baines produced a run and cross, it took a fine Green save to halt Yakubu.

Ashton drove wide, and then Noble struck a free-kick over the bar.

Lee Carsley responded with a 25-yarder, when given too much space, but the effort flashed over. Then Green saved at Baines' feet after 65 minutes.

But three minutes later, West Ham got the goal.

Lucas Neill fired over a cross from the right, and Ashton rose above Phil Jagielka to send his header in off a post.

Freddie Ljungberg's pass then sent Sears in behind Lescott, but his shot from a tight angle was held by Howard.

After 80 minutes West Ham sent on Nolberto Solano for Ljungberg; then Spector replaced Parker.

When Sears robbed Jagielka on the edge of the box the teenager was on his way round Howard before the American goalkeeper just grabbed the ball.

Noble drove inches over the bar as West Ham put a fine passing move together; then Sears got away from Jagielka again, and this time saw his stabbed shot hit a post.

Green disappointed with point

Robert Green admitted West Ham were disappointed at having to settle for a 1-1 draw after a stirring fightback against Everton at Goodison Park.

Man-of-the-match Green said: 'After eight minutes it seemed like a good result.

'We carved out the better chances and played the better football - now we are walking off deeply disappointed with a point.

'It was a credit to the lads and everyone who has played today.'

'It (Sears' shot) was just half the width of the post (from going in),' said Green. 'Just unlucky for the lad.

'Freddie is sharp and is going to create havoc when legs are tiring and that is what he has done today.'

Leighton Baines admitted he would be closely watching tomorrow's game between city rivals Liverpool and Manchester United.

Everton travel to Anfield next weekend in what could prove to be a pivotal game in the chase for sixth spot.

Baines said: 'It's a big game now next week. Hopefully it will go in our favour tomorrow.'

The defender admitted they were disappointed not to have won the game and put more pressure on the Reds, saying: 'We are capable of winning all our games at home so it's disappointing not to take all three points.'

Leon Osman described the game as good preparation for the derby saying: 'It became 100 miles per hour out there today so it was good preparation.

'We were wanting three points but it wasn't to be. We will pick ourselves up for the next game.'

Hammers manager Alan Curbishley was also a little disappointed despite having to recover from conceding an early goal.

He also reserved praise for debutant defender James Tomkins and Sears.

Curbishley said: 'We had a dreadful start which has been a pattern of the recent games.

'But (Tomkins) got better and stronger as did the team and so we are sitting here a little bit disappointed. We had some decent chances.

'James started well, he tried to win the header and I think Yakubu rolled him. But he had an excellent game.

'Freddie was very lively and we could have got a couple of goals.

'Going one nil down after eight minutes you expect the worst. The second half we began to pass it a lot more and got forward but didn't get the winner.'