Only when the conversation turned to cakes did Manuel Pellegrini finally crack a smile. It had been a stressful afternoon but now the celebrations could begin. Had his players got him a present for his 65th birthday?
‘No… no cake,’ said West Ham’s manager. ‘The three goals were the cake!’
With that he was gone. For the first time this season, though, he was able to head for home content at a job well done. There are less stressful ways to spend a personal landmark but none would have brought this kind of rush.
PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 6: Kenny 6.