Good season, bad week. David Moyes, the Everton manager, pointed out after this draw that it was a point gained since nearby sides lost ground. But, after this result and the defeat by Fulham in the previous match, the sense lurks that next weekend’s derby at Anfield is a must-win but won’t win.

Still, Uefa should be happy that the quest for Champions League qualification can provoke such passions. It almost feels not like a consolation but a proper competition for clubs disenfranchised by the usual suspects’ stranglehold on the top spots. For teams such as Everton, fourth really is the new first: pots of money and the chance to hang out with the cooler, bigger kids.

Or maybe this is a reflection on how devalued the Uefa Cup, the prize for finishing fifth, has become. Whatever, West Ham United are most unlikely to reach Europe, giving Alan Curbishley the perfect excuse to hand out work experience. “I did decide a couple of weeks ago that we were in a bit of no man’s land, mid-table,” the manager said. “So why not give one or two [youngsters] a chance?”

Against Blackburn Rovers on his debut the previous week, Freddie Sears came off the bench to score the winner. On Saturday, he came off the bench and hit the inside of the post in the 89th minute.

He invigorated West Ham, outplayed in the first half and behind to Yakubu Ayegbeni’s goal but dominant in the second period and buoyed by Dean Ashton’s sharp headed equaliser. Three factors helped Sears: he replaced the irrelevant Luis Boa Morte; he faced Phil Jagielka, the hapless centre back; and his partner up front was Ashton, who produced a performance of strength and subtlety reminiscent of the displays that earned him an England call-up before injuries retarded his progress.

Another week, another 18-year-old debutant: James Tomkins at centre back. He hit the bar with a header in the first five minutes, was at fault for Everton’s goal, then had a solid showing thereafter.

Everton would probably have won easily but for an erroneous offside decision after 15 minutes that cancelled out another Yakubu strike – giving Moyes, like West Ham’s greenhorns, cause to reflect on the fine margin between glory and gloom.

Everton (4-4-2): T Howard 7 – P Neville 7, P Jagielka 3, J Lescott 5, L Baines 6 – M Arteta 5, T Cahill 5 (sub: M Fernandes, 11min 6), L Carsley 6, L Osman 5 – V Anichebe 5, Yakubu Ayegbeni 6.
Substitutes not used: S Wessels, A Hibbert, T Gravesen, Nuno Valente.
Next: Liverpool (a).

West Ham United (4-4-1-1): R Green 7 – L Neill 7, J Tomkins 6, A Ferdinand 6, G McCartney 6 – F Ljungberg 7 (sub: N Solano, 80), S Parker 7 (sub: J Spector, 82), H Mullins 5, M Noble 7 – L Boa Morte 3 (sub: F Sears, 50 7) – D Ashton 8.
Substitutes not used: J Walker, C Cole.
Next: Sunderland (a).