Will finishing well mean starting well?

Huddersfield Town 0 - 2 Everton

Having spent four years as scholars at the University of Huddersfield several years ago, upon their first appearance back in the top flight, Gaz and I were always going to head to to West Yorkshire for a day and night out in our old home, and what an enjoyable trip it was too. We brought with us Ritchie, who also studied in nearby Leeds back in the day, and a friend from work Andrew, for what was an excellent win for the Blue boys.

Departing at around 10am with a few pick ups on route, we made good time on the M62 and were at the hotel for about midday. We settled on The Warehouse for food and pre-match football as we watched Liverpool and Stoke toil to a goalless draw.

On we walked to John Smith's Stadium and, after a bit of a queue, we made it into the ground just in time for kick off, Everton, looking smart in all purple, attacking to the opposite end in the first half with Nikola Vlasic the only change for the recently frustrating Yannick Bolasie.

Everton began strongly with Nikola Vlasic forcing a corner kick within the first minute, but after that initial burst it became rather huff and puff for Everton in what became a sluggish encounter in which neither side were able to get a foothold in the game. Huddersfield Town threatened briefly when Terrence Mongolia blazed over when he should have done a lot better, but otherwise it was poor from both teams in a game lacking any real quality, so much so that I could not see anything happening and with 10 minutes to go until the break I decided to make a run for it and queue for a beer.

Typically enough Everton then went and scored in what must have only been two minutes after I left my seat. I couldn't see us even getting out of our half at that stage, let alone score a goal, and a good one it was too, Theo Walcott searching, and finding, Cenk Tosun with an excellent pass which the Turk despatched clinically with a surprise drive into the far corner. An excellent goal of real quality in a game which offered none.

The rest of the lads eventually congregated and we enjoyed a beer at the break, bumping into a few familiar faces. It says a lot about our current supporter unrest that the goal was greeted with chants of "Fuck off, Sam Allardyce".

Back to our seats for the second half and if Everton were lethargic and cumbersome first half, we were anything but in the second and really stepped up a few gears in a dominant display and could have put the game to bed long before Idrissa Gueye's well-struck 77th-minute goal. Nikola Vlasic and Seamus Coleman both could have scored whereas Jordan Pickford was very much a spectator throughout, however, Gueye's strike ensured it was party time in the away end in the last five minutes. We then took that party into the night, and what a laugh we had too. Great to re-live our youth somewhat though I don't recall sampling quite that much Jaegermeister as a student.

We're experiencing a strange end to a difficult season. It's great to see us finish strongly. I think a settled back line has really helped us push on and had we not missed so many chances at Burnley in the cold winter we would still be in with a shot at Europe. In any other season, such a strong finish could be a very good catalyst to hit the ground running with pre-season and start the next season well, however, with so much managerial and player uncertainty, you feel it might well count for nothing come August once we are over with what will surely be a very busy summer.

I hope if nothing else the remaining players will somehow clasp some confidence and a winning mentality from these final games. Time will tell if this proves to be the case.

Player ratings

Pickford: Won't have had many quieter games than that in his fledgling career to date. 6

Baines: Nice assist for our second goal and stuck at his task well. 7

Jagielka: He, along with Michael Keane, kept us solid and organised throughout. Good to see them both communicating well with the team. 7

Keane: See Jagielka. 7

Coleman: Might have done better with a few opportunities, but like his fellow defenders, stuck to his task well. 7

Gueye: Took his goal well and it was nice to see him celebrate it with his teammates both on the pitch and on the sidelines. Otherwise was solid in the midfield, if a touch wasteful with his passing. 7

Schneiderlin: It was good for Morgan to get out there and play in a game which he probably could have sat out of with injury. He was hobbling a bit throughout so he did well to last the duration. The crowd even sung his name towards the end which, even if done so in irony, is a far cry from getting booked onto the pitch against Crystal Palace. Good on him for sticking at it and contributing when it would have been easier to wilt. 7

Rooney: Had an effective hour or so before being replaced by the more energetic Tom Davies. 7

Vlasic: Nice to see him get game time and he did okay too. I hope he retains his place for next weekend game against Southampton. 6

Walcott: My Man of the Match. One great assist and he gave the full-back a torrid game. It was good, and dare I say, brave, tactics by Sam to leave Theo high up the pitch throughout the second half as it effectively diminished their left-side full-back threat as Huddersfield Town couldn't risk pushing on enough down that flank. Two Man of the Match performances in a row for Theo, and with the unfortunate injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, could this present an opportunity for Theo to make the World Cup squad? He's certainly giving himself a chance. 7

Tosun: Lead the line well and took his goal expertly but my, after about an hour, he was absolutely spent. Looking forward to seeing a fully fit Cenk raring to go next season. 6

Davies (for Rooney): Buzzed around. 6

Niasse (for Tosun): Did ever so well and his tenacity forced our second goal. Well done, Oumar. 7

Funes Mori (for Vlasic): Helped shore up the back line. 6

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