Everton stole a late win against West Ham who has suffered injury woes and consecutive losses in recent matches, including a loss during the week to Olympiakos.
Before kickoff, a minute’s silence of respect was paid to Kenwright and Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who both recently passed away.
After a stale first-half, Everton went ahead in the 51st minute through Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s low shot from the edge of the box.
“It’s been a very tough week for different reasons, a very sad week in many ways for many people,” Everton boss Sean Dyche said.
“Like I say it was befitting to get a result for the chairman, who sadly passed away, and his family. The underlying thing is that a lot of players that have spent a bit of time here and know the chairman and they’re sad as well as I am.
“The players knew [what it meant]. They know the depth of the chairman’s love for the club.”
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the goalscorer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin said:
“Nobody was prepared for what happened this week [the passing of Bill Kenwright] and it saddened everyone at the club and that one was for Bill.
“I know he would have been watching today very proud of us and more so proud of the way we won. We got the lead and then dug into a man, we worked so hard for each other and then to go over at the end, just the atmosphere, it was a very good day.”
Victory sees Everton move up to 15th, five points clear of the relegation places.
Player ratings
West Ham: Areola (7), Coufal (6), Zouma (6), Aguerd (6), Cresswell (6), Alvarez (6), Ward-Prowse (6), Bowen (6), Paqueta (7), Kudus (7), Antonio (5).
Subs: Benrahma (7), Soucek (6), Ings (n/a).
Everton: Pickford (8), Patterson (7), Tarkowski (8), Branthwaite (9), Mykolenko (7), Garner (7), Doucoure (7), McNeil (7), Onana (7), Harrison (7), Calvert-Lewin (8).
Subs: Chermiti (n/a)
Player of the match: Jarrad Branthwaite.
