Frank Lampard saluted "a win that has been a little while coming" as resolute Everton's progression under the manager was rewarded with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United at Goodison Park.

Neal Maupay's first goal for the Club eight minutes into the second half proved the difference in a Blues performance that was once again full of spirit, hard graft and work-rate.

Unlike their other six Premier League matches of 2022/23 - when Everton did not get a victory they deserved - three points were cemented at the Grand Old Lady as Lampard's side moved up to 13th in the table.

A second clean sheet on the bounce also means the Blues now have the joint-second best defensive record in the top-flight, having conceded just six goals in seven matches.

Lampard pinpointed that as the platform behind his team's encouraging start to the campaign, with an added touch of attacking quality proving the difference against the Hammers.

"It's a win that has been a little while coming," said Lampard, who also praised keeper Asmir Begovic for a top-class save to deny Maxwel Cornet three minutes from time.

"We probably have deserved it somewhere this season already but it hadn't come. We have been hard to beat recently but we haven't had that clinical edge in front of goal but today we had that.

"It feels like a win that is deserved because it was coming. We are working for it and the lads are owning it. The new players are settling in well. We are playing a different shape to what we were and today we showed little bits and we will get better. The big thing is the three points to give confidence going into the international break.

"It was amazing to stay up like we did last year but we knew we needed to be more stable defensively in this league.

"The players who are coming in and the ones who are coming in are doing well. We are far from the finished article but not conceding too many goals is something we should be proud of."

Having gone close to bagging the winner in the Merseyside derby two weeks ago, Maupay was not to be denied this time, grabbing his first Everton goal since his summer move from Brighton & Hove Albion when he collected Alex Iwobi's pass, spun Declan Rice and sent a pinpoint finish from the edge of the box past Lukasz Fabianski.

"It's a fantastic goal," added Lampard. "A goalscorer's goal. The first touch is clinical and it's not easy to keep it tight and get your shot away. You rely on that feeling of a striker and we maybe draw that game if Neal isn't there.

"Asmir was top-drawer, too. I said beforehand that he's a first-choice goalkeeper and he showed why with that save at the end. He's a quality keeper and has proved that today."