Bowen swoops for West Ham to earn Nuno opening draw

Only 20 days after his sacking by Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo was back in a Premier League dugout and reminding himself why he returned so quickly. A revitalised West Ham earned a point at Everton, and deserved more after a fine second-half performance.

- Will Unwin

It is a green shoot of hope, which did not look forthcoming before the break when Everton held a lead thanks to Michael Keane’s header. West Ham equalised through a superb Jarrod Bowen strike and from then on were the most likely winners.

After a couple of days on the training ground with his new players, Nuno naturally focused on using his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Summer signing Soungoutou Magassa was given a full debut, in the hope he would provide the physicality and toughness so far lacking in the West Ham midfield.

If West Ham are at the design stage, Everton are a well-oiled and fully-functioning machine under David Moyes. Everyone in the system knows their role and performs it to the best of their capabilities. This helped the hosts dominate the early stages, controlling possession and being able to move the ball across the pitch as they looked to find gaps. Beto and Iliman Ndiaye had chances but sent their efforts straight at Alphonse Areola while Everton were on top.