One step forward, two steps back; there is no denying this was a desperately disappointing result against a side that always seem to do us at home. That's bad enough, but, like last season, the result was a travesty as the Hammers deserved something from a game they dominated for long periods. Everton's goals came against the run of play and picking the ball from the net seemed to be the only thing Rob Green had to do all afternoon.

But, we lost and undid the good work of mid-week, been dumped back into the trouble zone and also, once gain, surely given the fragile confidence a knock. So what went wrong?

Well, I've been defending Gianfranco Zola this season but questions need to be asked about his team selection here. It was desperately embarrassing watching the MOTD2 team purring like my cat Morrissey when he jumps onto my bed at night, over the skills of Allesandro Diamanti - a man whose posterior was warming the bench for almost an hour. Diamanti wasn't thought worth a place in the mid-week win over Villa either and it's just difficult to see why he isn't starting.

On the other hand, Mark Noble hasn't looked up to pace all season but had his best game for the Irons in their mid-week victory and his reward is to be dropped to the bench in place of Jiminez, a man who looks like he is going to be one of those people who spends so long adjusting to the pace of the Premiership that his presence may end up with him plying his trade in the Championship instead. If the Chilean made any telling contribution at all before he was replaced by the sparkling Italian then I simply didn't see it.

The loss of Carlton Cole was keenly felt - but then isn't this what has worried every West Ham fan since the start of the season? - but Hines and Franco looked likely to break the deadlock early on and were certainly worth a goal or two between them after the Hammers had pulled the game back to 2-1. Most Hammers fans were concerned at the lack of strike options up front but I'd have to say we look in better shape than last season as Franco looks a decent squad addition.

Everton's goal had come against the run of play and the only thing you can say about it was that it was at least inevitable considering the way recent results have gone at Upton Park against the Toffee's. It was Cahill who held the ball up for Saha to strike home sweetly in the 26th minute past a bemused Green who never even moved. The only comment I would make is that it shows that top class goal-scoring can win matches on its own. Everton did seem to take confidence from the lead and pushed the Hammers back for a while and Saha went close with a header from the corner as the Boleyn Ground became hushed.

After the break though, the home side came more into the game although it was a little odd to understand why the half-time substitution was of the hard-working Collison; Stanislas coming on in what seemed to be some tactical ploy. I'll admit I couldn't see what the tactic was - feel free to write and tell me, I'm always willing to learn - but there is no doubt the pressure increased as did the noise of the crowd. West Ham's sickening reward for their enterprise was to go two goals behind five minutes after the introduction of Diamanti, Dan Gosling drilling home on 64 minutes after Green blocked his original shot and Spector had gone sprawling in attempting to tackle back.

But there was barely time to consider if the Hammers could hit back when they actually had. Diamanti's pass was picked up by Stanislas whose clip past the keeper didn't appear to be strong enough before Everton's Hibbert decided to clear it into his own net rather than over the bar. It was no more than the Hammers deserved and they then set about trying to get something late on from the match as they had against Arsenal and Aston Villa in their last two games.

Diamanti was in sparkling form and came close with a free kick - he's worth his place alone for the number of kicks he gets on target - when Howard saved superbly. Hines went close on several occasions and a number of attacks were scrambled away as the crowd roared the Hammers on. This time though, it wasn't enough and the loss of at least a point ensured the Hammers would be looking at an uncomfortable table during the international break.

On such things can seasons turn; a result today would have meant an unbeaten run of four matches, a mid(ish) table place and a confidence building two weeks leading up to what could be crucial games against Hull and Burnley but it wasn't to be and those games are now starting to look vital. Diamanti must surely start those games now, it's not recorded what the Italian thinks about being left out of the starting line-up but it must be frustrating for the player and he must surely ask what it is he isn't doing that makes the manager not pick him. It smacks of something odd; after all, Zola wanted the player and paid a lot of money for him - allegedly it was why he had to sell Collins - and every time the Italian has played he has looked dangerous, so why is he being left out? Is it to accommodate Zola's diamond formation that never works for us while the 4-4-2 does?

He has his critics but the fans haven't turned on Zola yet but rest assured, strange decisions that cause us to lose again at home are now concerning many. You've got a free week Gianfranco, sit down and talk it over with Steve Clarke and get it sorted....err quickly!