Frank Lampard finally has the win he needed to silence the critics questioning his claims of progress.
For six weeks the Blues boss has faced scrutiny over whether he could build on Everton 's Premier League survival, doubters desperate to ignore the wider context of the challenge he faces at Goodison Park. While those on the outside pointed to the collection of just four points from the opening six league games, those in Royal Blue have acknowledged the steps forward that have been clear on the pitch.
Supporters know of the continuing injury nightmare he has faced, the size of the squad rebuild he needs to undertake and the constraints placed on him in the transfer market after years of miscalculated excess. And the fans who have backed Everton through the worst of the last 12 months have been able to see the vast improvement on the pitch - most notably in the stark contrast in performances and style from the Anfield Merseyside derby defeat in April to the entertaining draw earned against Liverpool at Goodison Park earlier this month.
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Yet even while the supporters have stayed with Lampard, others have sought to question the resilience of that backing, looking to create jeopardy that simply was not there. No-one is naïve - Lampard himself is aware football is a results game and there is no doubt the international break would have been harder to endure had Everton failed to secure a win from the first two months of this campaign. But thanks to Neal Maupay's thumping finish in the early stages of the second half that danger has not become a reality: Lampard has the win he needed to prove beyond doubt that progress has been made during this bizarre opening of the season, complicated by how far the transfer window seeped into it and stunted by the international break.
The victory over West Ham United was not pretty, nor was it comprehensive. It was a hard-won three points in a game between two sides desperate to avoid being the one left in the bottom three on the final whistle. They were separated by Maupay's moment of brilliance. On Saturday, Everton released a video from this week's training work at Finch Farm. It ended with a section of finishing practice, a drill in which some of the Blues' forwards, and Michael Keane, took turns in collecting the ball on the edge of the box before shooting. Maupay was among those taking part and his goal in the 53rd minute was an exact replica of what those players had been preparing for. As Alex Iwobi, once again at the centre of so much of Everton's positive work, played the ball into his feet the forward took a touch, turned and fired in from 18 yards. As he dived in joy, Goodison Park erupted and Everton moved up the league table to the lofty position of 13th.
The goal opened up what had been a drab game. Little of note happened in the first half, the biggest talking point coming before the game with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's absence despite hopes he would be fit enough to make the squad following the knee injury he suffered on the eve of the season. On the pitch, the most poignant moment of the opening 45 minutes was new captain Conor Coady's impressive clearance from a Jarrod Bowen ball across the face of goal. Michail Antonio, lurking behind, would otherwise have had an open goal.
After Maupay's first strike since his arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion there were chances at both ends. Antonio glanced a header into the arms of Asmir Begovic, standing in for the sidelined Jordan Pickford, before Demarai Gray flashed a ball across the six yard box, just too far in front of Maupay. Gray broke down the left and shot just wide on the hour mark before Said Benrahma hit the post. Iwobi struck just over the bar from long range and Begovic was forced into a late fingertip save from Bowen. But Everton saw out the game to move to five unbeaten in the Premier League.
When the final whistle went the crowd celebrated in stages, the referee's signal appearing to catch many by surprise. The win, however, while clearly needed by Everton, was not a shock to many of those who have closely followed the club's start to the season. Nor will it have been a surprise to Lampard, who has repeatedly said the performances so far have deserved greater rewards. When he went onto the pitch at the end he took the applause of all four stands. It was likely he would have received their backing whatever the result. But manager and supporters had stuck together through four draws and two defeats. It was only right they crowned this benchmark of progress by celebrating this first three points together.
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