The Hammers had been plunged into crisis after crashing to a sixth successive Barclays Premier League defeat against Stoke nine days ago.

That result left them above the relegation zone only on points difference and, with Zola apparently at odds with the club's owners, his position seemed uncertain.

But the Italian vowed to fight on to save the Hammers' top-flight status and his players showed plenty of spirit to claim a battling 2-2 draw at Goodison Park yesterday.

"It was fantastic," said Zola of the mood in the dressing room after substitute Ilan equalised with a superb header with three minutes remaining. "I am going to get drunk tonight!"

Everton, who had been looking to maintain their late European push with an eighth consecutive win, twice led through Diniyar Bilyaletidnov and Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Manuel da Costa cancelled out the opener after team-mate Mido had earlier missed a penalty and Ilan responded immediately after Yakubu looked to have won it with a powerful 85th-minute header.

It was no more than the visitors deserved for their spirited showing in the second half.

Zola felt his players had shown the qualities and determination needed to beat the drop and was pleased with how they put all the negative headlines surrounding the club aside.

He said: "We don't want to focus on anything other than the football.

"Other things we cannot stop - people want to give opinions - but we are 100% focused on the field.

"It is a difficult situation but, despite all the difficulties, we don't want to stop fighting.

"That is what we said to each other before the game. We said no matter what, we will fight until the end."

The major downside for West Ham was a booking for the outstanding Scott Parker, who will miss two games through suspension.

Zola said: "Obviously we are going to miss him but I am sure, with this spirit, everyone will work harder to make sure his absence is not too big."

Everton boss David Moyes conceded a draw was probably a fair result.

The Toffees could have had a penalty in the second half when Da Costa appeared to trip Louis Saha but Moyes admitted his team were lucky not to have earlier been reduced to 10 men.

Sylvain Distin was only shown a yellow card for fouling Carlton Cole for the penalty Tim Howard saved from Mido when he had been the last man.

Moyes said: "We are disappointed to be 2-1 up and throw it away in the last three or four minutes, but the game was tight.

"We didn't play well enough to merit more but sometimes when you don't play great you hope to win it, and it looked like we had done that late on.

"I could say I am hard done by not getting the penalty kick - the decision was a poor one - but I also have to say on another day Sylvain Distin could have been sent off."