Everton 0-1 West Ham: player ratings, heroes, villains and man of the match

Everton suffered their first home defeat of the Premier League season with a 1-0 loss to West Ham United on Sunday.

A tight game was settled by Angelo Ogbonna’s 74th minute header at Goodison Park.

It meant the Toffees missed out on a chance to move into the top four.

The heroes

- Angelo Ogbonna: the centre-back showed the heart and desire required to head home and win his side all three points. Also helped his side keep a clean sheet with an important blocked from Alex Iwobi when things were level.

- Declan Rice: the England international was the lynchpin to the Hammers’ success. Clever passing on the ball and was industrious when out of possession. Man of the match.

- Michael Keane: the defender stepped up in Yerry Mina’s absence, making several crucial blocks in the second period. With Mina likely to be back in the side next week, Rafa Benitez now has to decided to drop either Keane or Ben Godfrey.

The villains

- Alex Iwobi: the forward missed a gilt-edged chance in the first half. From Demari Gray’s fine work down the right, the ball was cut back to Iwobi inside the area. However, he failed to make any sort of contact with his effort and swiped at thin air.

- Salomon Rondon: the striker’s still working up towards fitness but patience is wearing thin among Evertonians. Rondon was sloppy in possession at times when the Blues needed him to hold the ball up better.

- Jordan Pickford: the keeper was convinced he was fouled by Michail Antonio moments before West Ham’s match-winner. However, it looked a fair challenge for the ball then Pickford was caught in no-man’s land, making Ogbonna’s task of heading home all the easier.

Player ratings

Everton (4-4-1-1): Pickford 5, Coleman 6, Keane 7, Godfrey 6, Digne 6, Townsend 6, Doucoure 7, Allan 6, Iwobi 5 (Gordon 79), Gray 6, Rondon 4.

West Ham (4-3-3): Fabianski 6, Johnson 6, Zouma 7, Ogbonna 7, Creswell 6, Rice 8 , Soucek 6 (Dawson 79), Fornals 5, Benrahma 6 (Lanzini 87), Bowen 7 (Yarmolenko 90+3), Antonio 6.

What’s next for Everton

The Toffees have six days to rest up until they’re back in action.

Benitez’s men host Watford at Goodison Park on Saturday 23 October.

The Hornets were thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool in Claudio Ranieri’s first match in charge on Saturday.