Marouane Fellaini rescued Everton with a dramatic late equaliser in an action-packed 2-2 draw at home to West Ham.
Midfielder scores stoppage time equaliser for share of spoils
Marouane Fellaini rescued Everton with a dramatic late equaliser in an action-packed 2-2 draw at home to West Ham.
The Hammers were on course to record their first win in over five years against the Merseysiders when Jonathan Spector scored his first top-flight goal following a flowing break.
Luis Boa Morte latched onto Mark Noble's delightful throughball before pulling the ball back for the once goal-shy USA international to slot the ball into the back of the net for the fourth time in two months.
It might have been worse for the hosts after Frederic Piquionne, back in the side after recovering from dental surgery, struck the post with a fine header from Spector's excellent right-wing cross.
The hosts restored parity late in the second half thanks to substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's low volley from the edge of the area.
However, the game took another dramatic twist when with six minutes remaining Piquionne headed home Wayne's Bridge's superb cross.
The Hammers top scorer celebrated his goal with the away supporters, but having already been booked earlier in the game, referee Peter Walton had little option other than to send him off.
Avram Grant's 10 men looked tired and failed to hold on to the three points which would have lifted them out of the bottom three.
Fellaini found the bottom corner deep into stoppage time as the managers settled for the third straight draw between the sides.
The result was yet another blow for Grant, whose position has again been the subject of heavy speculation over the past week.
Encouragement
The Hammers gave their fans early encouragement as top scorer Piquionne, back in the side after recovering from dental surgery, burst into the area and fired over from a tight angle.
Noble went even closer moments later as he was picked out by Scott Parker on the 18-yard line but his chip just dipped over the bar.
Everton toughened up after those early scares and began to assert themselves more in midfield.
Fellaini exposed the Hammers defence when he played in Jermaine Beckford but the striker's flick back was cleared.
Beckford had an opportunity himself as he raced onto a through-ball from Mikel Arteta but Matthew Upson just did enough to break his stride and Robert Green blocked.
West Ham responded well and snatched the lead as Luis Boa Morte latched onto a Noble pass and squared for the onrushing Spector to slide home from the penalty spot.
It was a goal that lifted the Hammers and, with Parker instrumental, they dictated play for the rest of the first half.
Piquionne was inches away from adding a second as he rose to meet a Spector cross with a firm header that struck the far post and rolled across goal to safety.
Everton survived another scare before the interval as Boa Morte poked the ball past Tim Howard but was adjudged offside.
Everton boss David Moyes decided to change his attack by sending on Saha, fit again after a thigh strain, for Beckford at half-time.
The hosts enjoyed prolonged spells of possession as the second half got under way but were unable to prise open West Ham's hard-working defence.
Bridge, after a much-criticised debut last week following his loan move from Manchester City, seemed assured up against the threat of Seamus Coleman on the Everton right.
Saha appealed for a penalty after a challenge from James Tomkins but referee Peter
