Everton came back to life in caretaker boss David Unsworth’s last match in charge as Wayne Rooney struck a superb hat-trick in a 4-0 home victory over West Ham on Wednesday.
Rooney sensationally returned to form with a brace in the first half. The Hammers missed a penalty before the striker grabbed his hat-trick. Ashley Williams added a fourth as Unsworth signed off in style at Goodison Park.
Match Report
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly and showed renewed spirit and would soon hit the front through Rooney. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was brought down inside the box by Joe Hart from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s pass, and although Rooney’s spot-kick was saved, he recovered to head home on the rebound.
The Toffees were showing great confidence going forward against a lacklustre Irons, and soon made it 2-0 in the 28th minute. After teenager Tom Davies raided forward into the inside-right channel, his cross broke to Rooney, who slotted home with a low strike into a gaping net.
After the interval, the visitors nearly hit back as Aaron Cresswell broke forward after being fed in by Manuel Lanzini. He struck a powerful shot on target only to be denied by the woodwork.
Not long after a penalty was awarded in the 59th minute when Williams brought down Diafra Sakho. But Lanzini was denied from the spot by a good save from Jordan Pickford.
Everton made them pay for their misses when Rooney struck arguably a goal-of-the-season contender from inside his own half. After Hart came out of his box to clear from Calvert-Lewin, it broke to England’s record scorer, who sent in an unbelievable strike over the heads of Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna.
Unsworth’s men put the game to bed in the 78th minute when Williams headed home into the top corner from Sigurdsson’s sublime cross to make it 4-0 and seal the points on Merseyside.
Breakdown
Everton 4 West Ham 0
Rooney scores twice before HT
Lanzini sees penalty saved
Rooney nets long-range stunner
Williams header completes rout
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