Everton striker Romelu Lukaku’s added-time equaliser in the FA Cup tie against West Ham eased some of the mounting pressure on his manager Roberto Martinez.
The Belgium striker’s smart turn and finish earned a 1-1 draw and at the very least postponed another inquest into what is going wrong at Goodison Park.
Lukaku’s first in seven matches ended a four-game losing streak and ensured they live to fight another day in the competition after James Collins’ 56th-minute header had exposed the Toffees’ defensive Achilles heel – only QPR have conceded more in the Premier League this season.
West Ham were on the verge of their first victory in 15 attempts since 2007 against their perennial bogey side.
Everton’s current figures do not make for much better reading. They have won just once in the last 10 matches and their last clean sheet came against Europa League opponents Wolfsburg in late November immediately prior to their current slump.
The goal was the least Lukaku, in his first start in three matches, deserved.
It looked like the rest had done him some good as he twice forced Adrian to fumble shots, the West Ham goalkeeper recovering once to deny Kevin Mirallas on the rebound and then being bailed out by Winston Reid.
The Belgium striker also rolled an effort wide of the far post after he was picked out in the inside-left channel by an eye-of-the-needle pass from Ross Barkley.
The visitors were not without their chances with Stewart Downing, who drifted effectively across the pitch, forcing Joel Robles to tip over and Morgan Amalfitano firing wide.
West Ham sensed their chance and after defender Carl Jenkinson had driven through the left of Everton’s defence, only to be denied by a good, low near-post save by Robles, they took the lead. Sylvain Distin criminally lost Collins who headed home at the near post, but with just stoppage time left, Lukaku collected Bryan Oviedo’s low cross and fired home on the turn.
