against West Ham as Everton came from behind to extend
their unbeaten Premier League run against the London club
to 15 matches with a 1-1 draw.
The Belgian striker added to his record of having netted in
every game he has played for Everton against West Ham to
earn Roberto Martinez's side a deserved point in the capital.
Manuel Lanzini's first goal at Upton Park put the hosts
ahead on the half-hour mark, but Lukaku's cool finish from
Gerard Deulofeu's defence-splitting pass levelled matters
before the break.
In an open game that both sides will feel they could have
won, West Ham suffered a double injury blow when Dimitri
Payet hobbled off before replacement Enner Valencia was
taken off on a stretcher.
Winston Reid planted a header over the crossbar and
Lukaku also spurned a late opening as Everton remained
unbeaten against West Ham in the top flight since 2007.
The hosts, who beat rivals Chelsea 2-1 last time out at
Upton Park, pressed forward in the second minute as Victor
Moses shot narrowly wide from inside the box, while Ross
Barkley - having brilliantly worked space for himself with a
clever flick - stung the palms of Adrian at the other end.
Arouna Kone was selfish in opting to go for goal in the 18th
minute when he had Lukaku in space, with the Ivorian’s shot
going well wide to compound his strike partner's frustration.
It was West Ham who threatened next and Aaron
Cresswell's neat effort with the outside of his right boot bent
just beyond Tim Howard's far post.
Then, after Deulofeu had been denied, the home side took
the lead when Lanzini collected a loose ball on the edge of
the area before sending a measured finish into the top-right
corner.
Everton were level before the interval, though, with
Deulofeu's perfectly weighted pass setting up Lukaku to
round the goalkeeper and stroke the ball home.
Payet was forced off injured early in the second half, with
Valencia coming on in his place. The Ecuador forward's
teasing 55th-minute cross was soon flicked behind for a
corner by John Stones.
There was further cause for concern on the West Ham bench
when Valencia himself went down injured and his game was
cut short after only 18 minutes on the pitch.
Reid, back in the West Ham side for the suspended James
Collins, headed over the crossbar from Mark Noble's 71st-
minute corner.
Everton put six past Sunderland last weekend, but they had
some defending to do in the final 10 minutes as Slaven
Bilic's side piled on the pressure.
However, it was Everton who almost snatched the points
when Lukaku got across his man at the near post to stab a
close-range shot just wide.
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