Robert Green admitted West Ham were disappointed at having to settle for a 1-1 draw after a stirring fightback against Everton at Goodison.Ayegbeni Yakubu fired the Toffees ahead in the eighth minute with his 19th goal of the season.

But Dean Ashton headed the Hammers level from Lucas Neill's cross and Freddie Sears might have won the game, hitting a post in the dying minutes after being sent clear.

Man-of-the-match Green told Setanta Sports 1: "After eight minutes it seemed like a good result.

"We carved out the better chances and played the better football - now we are walking off deeply disappointed with a point.

"It was a credit to the lads and everyone who has played today."

"It (Sears' shot) was just half the width of the post (from going in)," said Green. "Just unlucky for the lad.

"Freddie is sharp and is going to create havoc when legs are tiring and that is what he has done today."

Leighton Baines admitted he would be closely watching Sunday's game between city rivals Liverpool and Manchester United.

Everton travel to Anfield next weekend in what could prove to be a pivotal game in the chase for sixth spot.

Baines said: "It's a big game now next week. Hopefully it will go in our favour tomorrow."

The defender admitted they were disappointed not to have won the game and put more pressure on the Reds, saying: "We are capable of winning all our games at home so it's disappointing not to take all three points."

Leon Osman described the game as good preparation for the derby saying: "It became 100 miles per hour out there today so it was good preparation.

"We were wanting three points but it wasn't to be. We will pick ourselves up for the next game."

Hammers manager Alan Curbishley was also a little disappointed despite having to recover from conceding an early goal.

He also reserved praise for debutant defender James Tomkins and Sears.

Curbishley said: "We had a dreadful start which has been a pattern of the recent games.

"But (Tomkins) got better and stronger as did the team and so we are sitting here a little bit disappointed. We had some decent chances.

"James started well, he tried to win the header and I think Yakubu rolled him. But he had an excellent game.

"Freddie was very lively and we could have got a couple of goals.

"Going one nil down after eight minutes you expect the worst. The second half we began to pass it a lot more and got forward but didn't get the winner."

Everton boss David Moyes said: "I am disappointed we didn't take all three points.

"We played okay in the first half, and I thought the second goal should have counted. But you have to give credit to West Ham - they kept going and made it hard for us."

Moyes refused to dwell on the race for fourth place, saying: "I am really enjoying being in fifth, because the boys have done so well being there.

"We'll gather our thoughts over the weekend, get the players back and start thinking about it [the derby]."

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