<p>West Ham United blew their chance to apply real pressure in the race for a Premier League top-four finish as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by an Everton side who maintained their European qualification hopes on Sunday.</p>.<p>Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 24th-minute goal proved decisive against a West Ham side who huffed and puffed but never really hit their stride on a crucial afternoon.</p>.<p>The closest West Ham came to an equaliser was when Vladimir Coufal's shot hit the post and Jarrod Bowen could not bundle in the rebound from point-blank range.</p>.<p>Everton hit the post late on through Josh King and they hung on for the win that keeps them in the frame for a European spot.</p>.<p>West Ham remained in fifth place with 58 points, five points behind fourth-placed Leicester City with three games remaining. Liverpool are only a point behind West Ham with a game in hand.</p>.<p>Everton are eighth with 55 points and have four games left.</p>.<p>"That was a tough shift," said Calvert-Lewin, who scored his 16th league goal of the season. "We worked hard and got away with the three points. It wasn't pretty but I think with the effort we put in we deserved it in the end."</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="http://Manchester United's Solskjaer happy to delay rivals Man City EPL title party Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/manchester-uniteds-solskjaer-happy-to-delay-rivals-man-city-epl-title-party-984317.html" target="_blank">Manchester United's Solskjaer happy to delay rivals Man City EPL title party</a></strong></p>.<p>With Leicester being surprisingly beaten by Newcastle United on Friday, West Ham could have moved to within two points of Brendan Rodgers' side with a victory.</p>.<p>West Ham's run-in also looks far more comfortable than Leicester's, so Sunday's clash at the London Stadium felt like a huge moment in the Hammers' audacious bid for Champions League qualification for the first time.</p>.<p>But David Moyes' team lacked spark against his former side Everton who clocked up an 11th away league win of the season, a total only bettered by Manchester City.</p>.<p>Everton began in confident fashion and took the lead when Ben Godfrey's pass split West Ham's defence open and Calvert-Lewin left Craig Dawson trailing before angling his shot past Lukasz Fabianski and into the net.</p>.<p>West Ham should have equalised before halftime when an unmarked Said Benrahma was picked out at the far post but he directed his header narrowly off target.</p>.<p>Everton sunk deeper in the second half to protect their lead and enjoyed a stroke of luck when Coufal's powerful drive cannoned off the inside of the post and across goal where an off-balance Bowen somehow failed to convert the rebound.</p>.<p>As West Ham pushed on they were caught on the break and Calvert-Lewin played in Seamus Coleman who looked certain to score until Jesse Lingard made a superb block.</p>.<p>King then should have wrapped up the points for Everton but he headed against the post from close range.</p>
<p>West Ham United blew their chance to apply real pressure in the race for a Premier League top-four finish as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by an Everton side who maintained their European qualification hopes on Sunday.</p>.<p>Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 24th-minute goal proved decisive against a West Ham side who huffed and puffed but never really hit their stride on a crucial afternoon.</p>.<p>The closest West Ham came to an equaliser was when Vladimir Coufal's shot hit the post and Jarrod Bowen could not bundle in the rebound from point-blank range.</p>.<p>Everton hit the post late on through Josh King and they hung on for the win that keeps them in the frame for a European spot.</p>.<p>West Ham remained in fifth place with 58 points, five points behind fourth-placed Leicester City with three games remaining. Liverpool are only a point behind West Ham with a game in hand.</p>.<p>Everton are eighth with 55 points and have four games left.</p>.<p>"That was a tough shift," said Calvert-Lewin, who scored his 16th league goal of the season. "We worked hard and got away with the three points. It wasn't pretty but I think with the effort we put in we deserved it in the end."</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="http://Manchester United's Solskjaer happy to delay rivals Man City EPL title party Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/manchester-uniteds-solskjaer-happy-to-delay-rivals-man-city-epl-title-party-984317.html" target="_blank">Manchester United's Solskjaer happy to delay rivals Man City EPL title party</a></strong></p>.<p>With Leicester being surprisingly beaten by Newcastle United on Friday, West Ham could have moved to within two points of Brendan Rodgers' side with a victory.</p>.<p>West Ham's run-in also looks far more comfortable than Leicester's, so Sunday's clash at the London Stadium felt like a huge moment in the Hammers' audacious bid for Champions League qualification for the first time.</p>.<p>But David Moyes' team lacked spark against his former side Everton who clocked up an 11th away league win of the season, a total only bettered by Manchester City.</p>.<p>Everton began in confident fashion and took the lead when Ben Godfrey's pass split West Ham's defence open and Calvert-Lewin left Craig Dawson trailing before angling his shot past Lukasz Fabianski and into the net.</p>.<p>West Ham should have equalised before halftime when an unmarked Said Benrahma was picked out at the far post but he directed his header narrowly off target.</p>.<p>Everton sunk deeper in the second half to protect their lead and enjoyed a stroke of luck when Coufal's powerful drive cannoned off the inside of the post and across goal where an off-balance Bowen somehow failed to convert the rebound.</p>.<p>As West Ham pushed on they were caught on the break and Calvert-Lewin played in Seamus Coleman who looked certain to score until Jesse Lingard made a superb block.</p>.<p>King then should have wrapped up the points for Everton but he headed against the post from close range.</p>