Zola’s prayers are answered

GIANFRANCO ZOLA arrived at Goodison Park is search of some divine inspiration and left with his prayers answered after West Ham finally demonstrated that they have a stomach for the fight they find themselves in at the bottom of the Premier League.

West Ham’s troubles looked set to continue after sub Yakubu thought he had won it for Everton when he scored, five minutes from time, to make it 2-1. But Araujo Ilan, another substitute, produced a bullet header 60 seconds later that brought Everton’s seven-match winning run at home to an end and gave West Ham and their under-pressure manager hope of avoiding the drop.

Zola had revealed on the eve of his side’s visit to Merseyside that he is deeply religious and would clearly welcome divine intervention to help the club in its current turmoil.