Season › 2016-17 › News
U23s beaten by title rivals City
David Unsworth's men could have gone nine points clear of their hosts in the table and taken a huge step towards securing the Premier League 2 title with just four games left to play had they won.
Unfortunately, second-half goals from Ambrose, Diaz and Sancho earned what ended up being a comfortable win for second-placed City.
Had Everton managed a win, it would have represented a significant triumph for the Blues over a City development setup that has vastly superior resources and funding.
“Everyone is looking forward to the game,” Unsworth's assistant John Ebbrell told evertonfc.com before-hand. “Obviously, they are second and we are top so we want to put on a positive performance, win the game and that will put Monday's loss to Portsmouth behind us then.
“Our last performance in the league [a 2-0 home win over Southampton] was excellent. It was a very good team performance - good passing, good movement and we worked for each other. It was a joy to watch.
“We want to go to Manchester City now and do something similar, make that statement that we can play well against the best teams in the league and, ultimately, win the game.
“It's another test for us. Regardless of what situation or scenario you are in, the key thing is to maximise what you have and perform at your best. Friday will be no different, apart from there being a bit more of an edge to the game because of the importance of it.”
Reader Comments (75)
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2 Posted 03/03/2017 at 07:45:53
Needs some of the stars back into the team that started in the Cup.
3 Posted 03/03/2017 at 07:52:00
4 Posted 03/03/2017 at 08:06:01
5 Posted 03/03/2017 at 08:17:46
6 Posted 03/03/2017 at 08:49:47
7 Posted 03/03/2017 at 09:05:27
They have the ability and belief in themselves to go for the win. Good luck lads.
8 Posted 03/03/2017 at 09:38:10
A very exciting time for the Blues, and let's hope we can bring 6-7 of them through. I was at the last game and they played some great football, the one that stood out for me was the left back (Antonee Robinson) I know it's a step from this level to Premier League, but he looks like the real deal.
3 points tonight and we're within touching distance. COYB
9 Posted 03/03/2017 at 10:41:41
10 Posted 03/03/2017 at 11:08:06
Terry I've just read on the official EFC website that they have a blog on there during the match with a free link to watch the match also at the same time.
11 Posted 03/03/2017 at 11:10:28
"Follow the action from tonight's game via our blog on Evertonfc.com, which will also include a link to watch the game live for free."
Starts at 7pm as stated above by TW.
13 Posted 03/03/2017 at 12:40:09
14 Posted 03/03/2017 at 13:40:48
15 Posted 03/03/2017 at 14:08:17
C'mon you Blues – a message of intent for the future.
16 Posted 03/03/2017 at 15:03:43
Can we not just focus on our excellent U23 side who like someone has said contains a lot of local lads. It will be a great boost to the club if we can win this title as it will show other young players that Everton is a great place to come to develop and make it into the first team.
17 Posted 03/03/2017 at 16:23:32
Let's not forget that the team will be short of Davies, Holgate, Browning, Jones, Connolly, Calvert-Lewin, Dyson, Grant, and Evans (possibly more). All either involved with the first team or on loan.
Good luck to the lads and Unsy for tonight's game.
18 Posted 03/03/2017 at 18:33:24
Man City, with their money and sweetheart deal with a leading private school, are hoovering up talent in the North-West. We'll do well to win. COYB.
19 Posted 03/03/2017 at 18:40:24
Maybe because he signed in good faith, on the back of the (now-realised) mistake of other people in signing him and putting his career on hold?
20 Posted 03/03/2017 at 18:43:09
Subs: Hunt, Foulds, Broadhead, Henen, Sambou.
21 Posted 03/03/2017 at 18:53:28
live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo2K2dzW40Q
22 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:01:32
23 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:02:08
24 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:04:49
25 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:06:15
26 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:19:15
Working perfectly.
27 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:21:29
28 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:23:10
Can anybody watching give the score as it is happening? Thanks in advance.
29 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:28:14
Too bad I don't have Facebook anymore. :P
30 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:29:25
31 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:30:29
32 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:31:15
">Link
33 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:31:20
34 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:34:00
35 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:34:10
36 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:40:26
37 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:46:26
The match won't work on my iPad because FB are that outdated in their tech (the dumb gits), their stream depends on Flash.
Any excuse to ridicule Zuckerbergs tawdry site though.. :)
38 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:47:24
39 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:48:02
40 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:53:48
Antonee Robinson our star man in first half for me.
41 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:57:15
And yes, Robinson did good so far!
42 Posted 03/03/2017 at 19:58:52
Bit disappointed in Liam Walsh tonight, he can't seem to get into the game.
43 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:04:21
44 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:09:02
Give us the score when / if it happens.
45 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:09:11
46 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:09:49
47 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:10:21
48 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:13:33
49 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:14:42
50 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:15:06
51 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:15:17
52 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:16:30
53 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:17:21
54 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:18:01
55 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:19:52
56 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:22:36
57 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:22:56
58 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:23:53
59 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:24:33
60 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:24:36
61 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:24:44
62 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:26:56
63 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:29:26
64 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:29:57
65 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:30:37
66 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:31:22
67 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:31:59
68 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:32:49
69 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:34:53
70 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:35:21
71 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:41:27
72 Posted 03/03/2017 at 20:54:15
Couldn't keep the ball or find a pass. Not a great performance.
73 Posted 03/03/2017 at 21:04:24
Late rally too late, and in some ways we got picked off and punished for losing concentration and tempo.
No team is perfect and I really hope despite the set back tonight, EFC U23s, can still win this league, as they have worked like Trojans, and provided a great release in terms of hope and optimism for the future of our club, this season.
Step up next week, and win, and now for Spurs.
74 Posted 03/03/2017 at 21:59:41
I don't want to hear, though, from David Unsworth about making fully formed human beings as well as footballers. I want to see fully formed footballers, thank you.
The biggest step that Everton as a club, through all levels, must take is to learn how to nail down victories, to instil and sustain that most difficult of habits: repeated victory, especially when it matters. We've failed at it for far too long.
We do too much talking about ourselves and what we're going to do, too much about the RS, too much about restoring former glories. Instead, we must deliver – again and again and again. We should shut up and act.
75 Posted 04/03/2017 at 09:38:31
Keep the faith!
76 Posted 05/03/2017 at 09:33:39
I just do.
Always have, always will.
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1 Posted 03/03/2017 at 06:30:38