By Ayo Kehinde
The race against relegation in the Premiership took a defining day for West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur as both team won their matches but with different result.
A stoppage-time goal from Callum Wilson handed West Ham United a 2-1 victory over Everton at London Stadium on Saturday, keeping the Hammers outside the English Premier League relegation places on goal difference from Tottenham Hotspur, who defeated relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers elsewhere.
The opening half was short on incident, with Thierno Barry’s speculative long-range attempt the sole effort to trouble either goalkeeper. The second half opened with greater urgency. Crysencio Summerville delivered from wide on the left and found Valentin Castellanos, whose close-range attempt was turned away by a sharp stop from Jordan Pickford.
West Ham took the lead moments later. Jarrod Bowen’s inswinging corner reached Tomas Soucek at the near post, and the Czech midfielder drove a firm header into the top of the net. The home side survived two scares before the hour, with Axel Disasi clearing off the line after Tim Iroegbunam ran in behind, and Soucek inadvertently diverting Barry’s header onto the crossbar.
Everton found their equaliser with two minutes of normal time remaining. West Ham struggled to deal with a delivery into the box, and James Tarkowski nodded the ball down for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who struck a volley beyond Mads Hermansen to level matters.
The contest was settled in the 92nd minute. Bowen pulled a delivery back across the face of goal and Wilson finished from close range, sparking scenes of jubilation among the home support and delivering a result that keeps West Ham out of the bottom three.
For Spurs, Substitute Joao Palhinha struck eight minutes from time to give the team 1-0 English Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, ending a run of 15 games without a win.
The Portuguese midfielder turned the ball home from inside the six-yard box in the 82nd minute, converting after Richarlison stabbed a Pedro Porro corner into his path, with Matt Doherty inadvertently playing him onside. It was Roberto De Zerbi’s first victory since taking charge at the club.
The three points, however, did not lift Spurs out of danger. West Ham United struck late to defeat Everton 2-1, leaving Tottenham in 18th place, two points below the safety line with four matches remaining.
The afternoon had looked bleak for the hosts. Knee injuries forced both Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons out of the contest, and goalkeeper Jose Sa was not seriously tested until the 69th minute, when he turned away a powerful Rodrigo Bentancur header. Simons had already squandered a good opportunity before his departure.
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky ensured the result held, producing a fine stop to palm a Joao Gomes free-kick away from the top-right corner in the 98th minute. Wolves, whose relegation to the Championship had been confirmed earlier in the week, remain at the foot of the table.
