Sublime Maupay strike gives Everton first win of season against West Ham

A first Premier League win of the season and the first goal for his new striker have lifted the gloom for Frank Lampard going into the international break. The Everton performance to defeat West Ham was industrious, littered with brief moments of quality, including Neal Maupay’s sublime winner, but little more. Lampard will not mind how the result arrived but he will be desperate for it to provide lift-off for Everton this season.

The minute’s silence was interrupted repeatedly by boos from home supporters. The away end’s rapid retort was a profane request to shut up, a sign of the lack of imagination in the back and forth to come from Everton and West Ham. Overall the atmosphere at Goodison Park was subdued for large parts as fans watched a side without their No 9, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is yet to feature this season, or Jordan Pickford, also injured. The fiery atmosphere that helped keep Everton in the league last season has been replaced with trepidation and fear. The fans arrived in hope rather than expectation and they were rewarded for their commitment.

There are nerves abounding at Goodison Park; every misplaced pass in the early stages was greeted with a mixture of sighs and groans. Supporters are fearful of a repeat of last year’s battle for survival. Hearts were pumping a little faster when Jarrod Bowen burst into the penalty area and sent a cross into the six-yard box. Everton’s captain, Conor Coady, got a toe on it before colliding with Asmir Begovic as they watched the ball bounce inches wide rather than into the back of the net.

Despite not scoring more than once in a game this season, there is no lack of attacking talent among the Everton ranks. Demarai Gray caused problems on both flanks; first he