No new manager bounce after Watkins goal

Everton 0 – 1 Aston Villa

David Moyes came up short in his first test as the new Everton manager as Aston Villa stole all the points from Goodison Park with a sharp strike from Watkins following a loose ball from Jarrad Branthwaite.

And there were no real surprises in Moyes’s first team selection, with the addition of Martin Sherif from the U21s on the bench remaining an unused sub. 

A number of senior players were missing through injury, including Armando Broja, with no more news on his damaged ankle. Dwight McNeil is still injured while James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Youssef Chermiti are back in training but have yet to make the subs bench.

Everton kicked off but avoided the long punt upfield, although they still surrendered possession. Onana strode forward and took the fist shot, deflecting off Tarkowski for an early corner headed clear strongly by Young. But somehow the ball fell to Rogers and he was able to test Pickford, who parried for another corner. 

Tarkowski headed the second corner behind; Harrison headed clear the third. But it was gifted to Onana again and he shot wide. Not a wholly auspicious start. Everton tried to build down the right but it broke down and Everton allowed the Villa players to storm forward, Tieleman’s shot was blocked brilliantly by Tarkowski – and it needed to be. 

Onana took out Gana for an early yellow card. Villa threatened to shoot again as Everton struggled to break out until Ndiaye found Doucocure but Calvert-Lewin had strayed offside. Ndiaye was rewarded with a free-kick when he seemed to have run into trouble, playing more centrally. 

Young’s free-kick was very poor, easily cleared. Harrison and Doucoure linked well down the right, his cross deflected for an Everton corner, taken by Harrison. It came out to Gueye whose sliced volley struck a defender on its way wide. 

Young made a horrible error playing the ball perfectly for Watkins but he turned the ball wide of both Pickford and the goal. What a let-off! 

Mangala intercepted a ponderous build by Villa, but Everton could not build anything themselves. Harrison gave Villa another corner, but it was defended well.

There was very little pressing when Villa had the ball, which was most of the time. Good work by Branthwaite foiled a quick Villa counter and the ball was played up to Calvert-Lewin, who controlled it well off his chest but scuffed the shot wide from a broadening angle.

A good spell of determined play roused the crowd momentarily but Everton could not keep possession. Villa countered Mykolenko stopping Rogers but Young then fouled Tielemans for a threatening set-piece from Lucas Digne… straight into the jumping Everton wall. 

A deep and somewhat wayward cross from Mykolenko was put behind by Digne, Harrison’s corner not too bad but The Blues were offside when it was recycled. 

A quick move started by Young saw Mykolenko cross behind the line but Docucoure’s smart fick didn’t have enough pace to beat Martinez. Villa countered, Kamara forcing a low save from Pickford. Another horrid giveaway needed firm rearguard action to stop Villa from profiting. 

A long ball up the right wing saw Calvert-Lewin battling with two defenders. Young forced another corner but it was cleared. A stuttering move saw the ball drop to Calvert-Lewin 8 yards out but his awkward shot boobled toward the line where it was easily cleared. 

At the other end, Rodgers drove in but the shot was blocked, falling to Ramsey who had to score… but his shot flashed inches wide and the half ended goalless.

Harrison concedeed an early free-kick after the restart, Mykolenko heading it out. The throw-in came through to Ramsey who scooped it over the bar. Mings tripped and caught  Calvert-Lewin as he advanced on the ball but nothing in it really. 

Some great pressing high up almost paid off but a loose ball played back by Branthwaite set Villa going and Waltkins simply slotted home under Pickford. 

Gana was booked for a poor challenge on Kamara, then Onana held back Mangala for what should have been his second yellow card but inexplicably not.

Ndiaye got forward and put in a good cross but Calvert-Lewin was the wrong side of not one but two defenders. The corner was whipped in straight to Martinez with lots of wrestling in the goal area. 

Everton tried to respond but balls played backward from advanced positions did not help. Harrison was replaced by Lindstrom just before the hour mark.

Ndiaye and Doucoure combined well to force a corner which sailed over everyone as Calvert-Lewin was dragged down and Lindstrom pushed just enough to stop him making contact.  VAR? Still on half-time, apparently. 

Digne forced a corner off Tarkowski, Tielemans playing it short and losing it. Everton tried to break but Doucure’s pass forward was easily stopped and they were finding it harder now to fashion a meaningful strike while Villa could counter at will. 

When they did have the ball, the build was painfully slow and went all around the houses, Ndiaye battling manfully and winning a corner, although he expected a free-kick. The ball in caused havoc in the crowd but nobody could get a boot on it before it was recycled back in but Branthwaite could not get a clear shot on it. 

More Blues possession, but it broke down again and Villa almost broke.  Tarkowski tried to get Mykolenko around the back with a deep diagonal ball that the Ukranian could not control. It was scrappy and shapeless.

Finally, a better move saw Mykolenko’s cross force a corner but it was defended away as Moyes rang a couple of interesting late changes. A deep free-kick for a foul on Gana saw the big men up but Mykolenko’s ball in was overhit as the game moved into its final stages. 

A turnover fell to Beto but his control was abysmal as he tried to advance. More terrible turnovers ensued with the ball lost just too easily. Into time added on (4 minutes) but Everton struggled until Mangal dug out a shot that deflected into Martinez’s hands. 

A tremendous chance did finally come, a quick ball in by Lindstrom, but Calvert-Lewin, completely incapable of measuring or mastering the bounce of the ball, could only spoon it over the bar.  Calvert-Lewin had at least looked interested in this game but he is just such a poor finisher.