Jarrod Bowen’s second-half goal helped Nuno Espirito Santo claim a point in his first game in charge of West Ham United as they battled back for a 1-1 draw at Everton.
Bowen levelled with a deflected curling effort at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the 65th minute, the first competitive goal Everton have conceded there since their move from Goodison Park.
Everton had deservedly edged ahead through Michael Keane’s 18th-minute header, but were unable to make their dominance count as West Ham – who appointed Nuno on Saturday – improved in the second half.
Their persistence was rewarded when El Hadji Malick Diouf’s lung-busting run down the left ended with a cross flicking through to Bowen, whose wicked strike took a touch off Keane on its way in.
The draw leaves West Ham 19th in the Premier League table on four points, while Everton moved up to ninth on eight points, despite making it four winless games in all competitions.
How the match unfolded
Everton forced Alphonse Areola into two early stops, with the West Ham goalkeeper comfortably keeping out Beto and Iliman Ndiaye’s efforts, but West Ham's set-piece problems soon came back to haunt them.
Areola was powerless as Keane brilliantly headed home James Garner’s follow-up cross after West Ham had only half-cleared the midfielder's initial corner.
Idrissa Gueye and Garner went close after half-time, though Jordan Pickford had to be alert after a slack Jake O'Brien header allowed Crysencio Summerville through one-on-one at the other end but the winger's shot was deflected wide by the Everton 'keeper.
That chance sparked West Ham into life and they deservedly levelled through Bowen’s deflected finish, with the winger slamming into Pickford's right-hand corner.
West Ham captain Bowen saw another chance robbed by a last-ditch James Tarkowski block, while Garner’s fierce shot was repelled by Areola late on, as both sides failed to find a winner.
Toffees come unstuck after the break
Everton needed a response after a derby defeat to Liverpool and their EFL Cup exit at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers and started on the front foot in the first half.
David Moyes, managing against his former club, will have been disappointed that Everton could not double their lead when on top, with Gueye firing just over from outside the penalty area.
However, Everton were forced to weather a West Ham storm and looked the more likely side to concede, despite having controlled the game for much of the contest.
Jack Grealish attempted to get his team back in charge as the clock ticked closer to full-time, but instead the Toffees were left disappointed with a third straight Premier League game without victory.
Moyes' side failed to truly test Areola with any of their three second-half shots on target, with the overriding feeling of frustration having allowed West Ham a way back into the game.
Their best chance in stoppage-time came from Grealish's offload to Garner, who could only sting the palms of Areola after driving through numerous defenders from just outside the box.
Moyes will need a more clinical showing on Sunday at home to Crystal Palace, who are the Premier League's only unbeaten side this season after beating Liverpool on Saturday.
Nuno off the mark but same problems persist
Nuno was dismissed by Nottingham Forest this month, but was thrown straight back into action on Merseyside just two days after replacing Graham Potter at West Ham.
There were early signs of the implementation of Nuno's counter-attacking style that brought so much success at Forest, evident when Summerville drove in from the left and crossed for Niclas Fullkrug, who miscued his shot.
However, the same defensive fragilities that have plagued West Ham this season were on show for Everton’s opener. Konstantinos Mavropanos failed to track Keane, who finished expertly after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had recycled back out for Garner to deliver.
But despite that early setback, West Ham looked the more threatening side in the forward areas, with Bowen and Fullkrug both seeing half-chances pass them by after their equaliser.
Diouf was another to impress down the left-hand side, powering down the touchline before his delightful delivery flicked off Keane and into the path of Bowen, who made no mistake.
Though unable to find a winner, Nuno will surely focus on the positives from this display, ahead of a trip to set-piece specialists and title contenders, Arsenal, on Saturday.
Club reports
Everton report | West Ham report
What the managers said
David Moyes: "We played some decent stuff at times, we got a goal but we couldn't get a second one which would have been all important.
"We did a lot of good things but we just couldn't quite craft a chance to get a second goal. Once we didn't get it, West Ham grew in confidence and belief that they could get something themselves which they did.
"Some good things and some not so good things but West Ham have talented players so it was always going to be a tough game for us."
Nuno Espirito Santo: "We have to build on that. Now it is about keeping it simple and trying to give the boys a good identity.
"We will get there in terms of identity and character but now it's keeping it simple. The clear message was how we have to approach the game. It is a tough place to come and Everton are a good team in a good moment."
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Key facts
Keane’s opener was Everton’s 361st headed goal in the Premier League – no team have scored more in the competition’s history (Man Utd also 361).
West Ham have conceded eight goals from corners in the Premier League this season, as many as they did in the whole of 2024/25.
Bowen became the first visiting player to score a Premier League goal at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. The West Ham captain has now been involved in 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games (eight goals and three assists).
West Ham have conceded seven headed goals in the Premier League this season, more than twice as many as any other side.