Premier League: West Ham 1 Everton 1

West Ham blew a golden chance to move out of the bottom three after giving up the lead against Everton to keep the pressure on Avram Grant.

The east London club, hoping to build on their Boxing Day win over Fulham, looked to be heading for another victory after Tony Hibbert’s 16th-minute own-goal on Tuesday.

But poor defending helped Everton snare an equaliser through Seamus Coleman. The 1-1 result means that West Ham remain in the bottom three, with a must-win game against fellow strugglers Wolves looming on Saturday.

Upton Park is proving to be something of a bogey ground for Hibbert, as he also scored an own-goal on his last visit to east London last season.

Everton keeper Tim Howard failed to hold on to a powerful close-range header from James Tomkins and the rebound fell to Radoslav Kovac, whose overhead kick was turned into his own net by Hibbert.

West Ham were clearly buoyed by their opening strike and could have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Victor Obinna produced a great piece of skill to nutmeg Mikel Arteta and break free into the box, but fired his shot against the upright.

But the Hammers’ poor defending this season proved their downfall yet again as Coleman brought Everton level on 42 minutes.

Mikel Arteta sprayed the ball out to Tim Cahill, who put a deep cross into the box.

West Ham substitute Jonathan Spector failed to mark his man and Coleman had the easy task of knocking the ball past Robert Green from close-range.

West Ham’s star performer this season Scott Parker did his best to put the home side back into the lead on the stroke of half-time when he broke free of the Everton defence and tried an audacious lob that beat Tim Howard in the Everton goal, but flew inches over the bar.

Carlton Cole, hero for the Hammers in their Boxing Day (December 25) win over Fulham, blew a great chance to restore their lead on 70 minutes.

Obinna played a great ball into the path of Fred Sears on the right flank.

The young winger crossed for Cole, who should have hit the target but instead dragged his shot well wide of the goal.

Marouane Fellaini had a late chance to win the game for Everton on 80 minutes when his close-range header produced a superb save from Robert Green.

Cahill also thought he had secured all three points when he had the ball in the West Ham net, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.