Much of Everton's success this season has been predicated on their incredible away form, as their showings at Hill Dickinson have been up and down throughout the year.
The Blues' 25 away points are tied with Manchester United and Chelsea for the third most in the Premier League, just behind Manchester United (31) and Arsenal (32). That fact, along with Everton's continued push for a European position, had many feeling good heading into today's match against West Ham.
The problem is that the Hammers also had something to play for as they tussle with Tottenham for the final relegation spot as the season winds to a close. The 2-1 win at home will do a lot to help them stay in the Premier League.
Neither side looked like they needed anything out of this match as it began, though, as the first half featured a lot of half-chances, but nothing really terribly concerning on either side.
The lack of Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite didn't seem to hurt Everton too much in the first frame, although there's a case to be made that their absence was immediately felt early in the second half.
That's when the hosts took the lead in the 51st minute with a Tomas Soucek goal, a glancing header from the midfielder off a Jarrod Bowen corner that Jordan Pickford couldn't get his hands on. This led to West Ham not only taking the lead but building a four-point gap between them and Spurs in the table.
David Moyes brought on Tyrique George and Tim Iroegbunam a few minutes later as Everton pushed for an equalizer.
Thierno Barry hit the crossbar in the 77th minute, making sure the Hammers were aware that the Blues were coming.
But then, just 11 minutes later, Everton finally found the goal, as Vitalii Mykolenko sent in a cross that was headed away by West Ham, but well to James Tarkowski for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who smashed it past Mads Hermansen to equalize.
It looked like Everton's away form magic was striking again until, just four minutes later, substitute Callum Wilson struck a second past Pickford in stoppage time to give the hosts the lead again for good.
As good as Everton have been in their travels this season, they weren't able to find another moment of brilliance in this one.
The loss drops the Toffees to 11th in the table, still just two points behind Bournemouth, who currently sit in 7th and hold the final guaranteed (at the moment) European spot. They'll host Manchester City, who are fighting for a league title, in nine days.
West Ham moved out of the relegation zone, two points clear of Spurs, despite Tottenham's win over Wolves. The Hammers travel to Brentford next Saturday.
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