10-man Everton hang on for narrow win at Huddersfield

Why does Silva persist with 4-2-3-1 even though it’s not working for the player’s we have got??

If Davies proves ineffectual, I hope McCarthy gets a crack in the second half. My specs are extremely UN-rose-tinted when it comes to the guy, but if Gueye does end up leaving, it would help if we actually knew what he can do.

I think it might be a pretty open game. Huddersfield have nothing to lose. Strap yourselves in lads.

I’d have put Baines in centre mid. I’m convinced he can play there for the rest of his career.

But what do I know. I’m no expert like Marco.

I am also very disappointed that Gueye has been left out. Huddersfield are strong in MF but weak up front. Personally I would have gone with 3 at the back and a stronger MF (with Gueye in or at least benigeme).

I too think the midfield we have chosen is not strong enough and Huddersfield will out-battle us in the centre of the park . We will lose possession too much in important areas and they will be creating chances from it.

I think it is another 3-2 sort of a game, hopefully the 3 is for us this time !

I guess we'll find out how we do without Gana in the middle. If we manage to keep possession and get it to click up front it might not matter so much.

The team look compact again as they did up to and including that Analfield defeat, strangling the space and time for Huddersfield to play in or through.

Interesting that Gomes continues to be employed deeper whilst Tom Davies has the licence to go box to box - and it paid off with the stress-busting goal in the opening 3 minutes. Good play between Bernard and Davies and good determination by Richarlison to get the goal.

A special mention for Tosun. What a difference a true centre forward can make as the focal point for the attack. He is battling for everything and not giving their backline a moment's respite.

He has also displayed some nice touches and link up play.

All good so far, but this is Everton. We need a second goal to give us a safety margin.

Oh hell

Some much needed fight and cussedness which has been lacking since the start of December won us the 3 points tonight.

That should be a given and an absolute minimum.

And did I hear in-commentary that Silva hasn't given the squad a day off since the festive season?

Admirable on one hand, suspect on another, if true.

At least thats 3 points towards the 10 we need.

I would hope we can take heart from the effort and use that to put together a good performance against an erratic Wolves side, at home.

Digne showed a total lack of good instinct with his posistioning to get sent off, defenders must be able to defend it's what they exist for.

Hope Baines is ok for Wolves. I missed his injury. Anyone know what it was?

Wolves will be tough, but for now it’s nice to have won away, clean sheet and with 10 men.

The team started like a house on fire, got a goal and stopped playing on the front foot, but football is easy when it’s easy, so when it’s not, you just have to keep battling and they definitely did that tonight.

Huddersfield might not be far, but Everton’s away support is fantastic, fantastically unique, it’s one of the few things that makes our club so special, right now.

Things are bad at Everton right now let’s not be clouding our judgements.

We are a pretty shit team with no real cohesion and we managed to scrape the win tonight because we came up against the worst top flight team since Derby County in 2007/08.

Aesthetically pleasing performances are not needed at this time.

Give me more of what we saw tonight, the stomach for the fight and determination to keep what we held with Richarlison's goal, in adversity. The pretty stuff can wait.

And Jay @ 39 and others still wanting the mythical 40 points to, I presume, be safe from the spectre of relegation this season.

Don't look at Everton and our remaining fixtures in isolation. Take a look at what seven teams from Newcastle down are averaging per game points wise.

Stop fretting and scaremongering. The 'R' word ain't happening...[caveat added] this season.

Yes, good solid defending by Kenny and not doing silly things with the ball. A defender should be able to defend first and foremost, he should show Kenny's performance to Digne.

I believe though this is not enough for Silva and the continental way, Kenny at some point will have to prove he's hybrid defender/winger to Silva.

I called for Silva to go because he didn't seem capable of this. I was confident we would win tonight, for no other reason than it is the Everton way. Also, I decided not to try and win back the Southampton losses.

Results like this buy time and can just sometimes tip things the right way. I want to be wrong about him so much.

Maybe it's because Duncan understands us and hasn't got much time for some of this continental stuff that goes nowhere very slowly?

Players win matches; managers lose them.

I suspect Kenwright might have had something to do with Dunc's longevity as a coach at EFC. I've got no proof of this, just a feeling.

I do like the thought of his no-nonesence approach at the training ground though.

I have not changed my mind and doubt if I ever will, we have another chancer, bullshitter of an inept manager in charge of our beloved Club.

This charlatan wasn't even born when I first started supporting over 50 years ago, yet somehow with very poor credentials gets the job!

Yes, he is not the first, but hopefully will be the last, we have suffered long enough, it's time the Board grew a pair, which is why I think Marcel brands has been elevated at such an early juncture in his time with us to the Board.

I believe they will 'tolerate' Silva till the summer and, by mutual consent, part ways. I am hoping that the next 'occupant' will be a man, and not a mouse, full of Fantasy Football theories that he doesn't know how to implement or get across to the players in his charge!

That 'result' tonight may have just saved him from the Hangman's Noose, but only temporarily.

It would be good to go into the derby on the back of some good results and improved confidence.

We needed that win and Tosun and Davies deserve a mention.
We really do make it hard for ourselves. Huddersfield were very poor and it just goes to show where we are at present.

The top six are of course miles away, as usual, and there seems no way we can catch up. We will just have to hope for another two or three good windows, getting good recruits and ditching some deadwood, and Silva either shapes up or is shipped out.

All is not lost! The lads showed good grit tonight.

Could this be his plan B???

As it worked out, he played Richarlison out of position up front in place of our orthodox Number 9 and Tosun was never given another run.

Small moments can blow a developing team off course and I believe that was one.

If all our players had the willingness of those lads, we'd be higher up the table.

The one game suspension for Digne may do him some good, just bad timing for Baines to get injured.

On tonight's result, yes we won... but too little, too late for me: If I could have had a choice, I would rather have lost tonight and won on Saturday — especially with the cup draw.

Sorry for my pessimistic view but I just cannot excited about beating fucking Huddersfield away by a goal.

Looking at other results, I think that at this time of the year it is always difficult to predict the expected results, and all teams are inconsistent. A perfect example is Burnley who we thrashed a few weeks ago, and yet they drew with Man Utd, and should have won.

However I am only interested in Everton and, even if it was a crappy game, it is always good to win. Same again against Wolves.

ps: I wish we could sign Mooy before the deadline.

While the "legend" and his lamentable patron suck us dry, we will remain feeble and amateur. How, in the name of God, have this pair not been run out of town?

I don't see anyone getting 'carried away' with either the victory or performance. I certainly haven't in any of my posts in this thread.

I think there is more an expression of relief. I really don't understand why you wrote that comment, or addressed it specifically to me.

Me? I'll celebrate any and every Everton victory no matter how it comes, or whoever the opposition is, in whatever competition, at any time of the season.

I recommend such an attitude to other Blues who seemingly struggle to take pleasure in the same.

I've backed this kid before. He's 20 years old. Let that sink in for a minute.

I think he'll develop into a very, very good player if we allow him time to do so. I like the kid. I really hope he does well.

And on this Gueye thing, he's good as gone. Too much smoke, there has to be fire. I absolutely loved watching that kid play, and I think we will miss him. Best of luck in Paris, Gana.

And last note! For all the criticism of Pickford I read, I simply do not, nor ever have, understood it. He's a great keeper in my opinion and he saved us 3 points this evening – of that, I have no doubt.

We are still not playing like a team and we rely on one or two individuals to raise their game.

Pickford made a couple of great saves.
Davies looked assured and passed the ball well. Tosen linked up well and put a shift in.

Looking forward to Saturday now.

I don't believe anyone isn't "happy" with the win, but posts cautioning about being overly happy by winning a game where we looked decidedly average, certainly seems reasonable.

I'm happy! But if someone comes on and says we looked shit, and there's still a hell of a lot of issues to address, they won't get a big argument from me.

Digne, rightly dropped, showed he was still in the dressing room and was reminiscent of Alec Cleland

The attitude was right and endeavour was there but post sending off Silva had them withdraw a touch too much and we just booted the ball clear bar one dribble from Davies and long ball from Bernard.

The players will have fed off it more than the fans. It should given them a touch of confidence. I'm relieved not to have dropped any more points.

Moshiri, has been our benefactor and should have been our 'saviour' but, because of his naivety, he has also been sucked into the lesser scheme of things, at great expense.

I do believe that Moshiri, who, let's face it, can't be a mug, unless he's a crook (pardon the inevitable association) or a money launderer(!), must surely realise this by now, I believe, come the Summer, which is why Brands is now a Board Member we'll witness major changes. If not, I give up, Andy!

I am not claiming for one moment that we are now a good team but good teams get results any way they can when not playing well. I think most if not all of us would have settled for 1-0 before kick off.

We really need to get behind the team on Saturday, and not on their backs, for what should be a tough game against Wolves.

We did enough, and probably would have done the job a little more comfortably had Baines not got injured and Digne introduced. The lad switched off but having made the error, at least he managed to trip the striker before he got to the box. In a way he (Digne) took one for the team.

A win is a win, and I'll take it all day long. Good to see Davies play so well, also Zouma, Keane, Pickford, Baines and Tosun. The midfield operated well without Gueye until fatigue settled-in and Mooy came on to give them the upper hand. Still it was a tonic after such a shitshow in the Isle of Dogs.

I was so incensed about Digne's fouls at Millwall, I never even considered the viewpoint of him taking one for the team.

Although his back was to the player at the center of the pitch, and he still fucked up royally, you are correct in that he took one for the team.

If he doesn't get sent off, Huddersfield are most likely level at that point.

Of course Jordan was a brick wall tonight, so he probably would have made a save. But Digne did actually do the right thing after screwing up. He has to take the man down really.

Should other Evertonians follow my lead, they would be dismayed. The tempo of our game and our players fitness plus technical standards were so far behind, I could cry.

Kenny, Coleman, Davies, Pickford and Baines did particularly well.

I hate to disagree but after an early goal we surrendered the high ground to Huddersfield after about 20 minutes. Huddersfield took over way before Digne was sent off.

What was worrying was Andy Hinchcliffe saying Silva hasn't given them a day off since Xmas. If that's true, it's no wonder they look knackered.

We are by no means out of the woods yet, but it was good to watch us battle for every ball, playing with tempo and pressing the opposition (at least when we had 11 men on the pitch). Those qualities should be evident every week, but they have sadly been missing since the derby.

We have 14 more games to go, and have 33 points. If our players can be arsed I'd like to think they have a minimum of 55 in mind before the season ends.

"Nurse, more tablets please!"

"Nurse, more tablets please!"

I really do despair at the stupid worries people have that we will not be playing Premier League football next season.

Let me help you. There are 3 clubs out there who are really poor. We all think we are bad, but there are 3 clubs much much worse: Huddersfield, Cardiff and Fulham.

Let me spell out how poor:

Huddersfield are 9 points worse than this stage last season, when they finished on 37 points.
Fulham replaced West Brom. They are 9 points worse off than West Brom were.
Cardiff replaced Stoke. They are 7 points worse off than Stoke were this time last season.

At the moment, all three clubs are unlikely to even reach 30 points let alone 40. 40 points for safety is becoming a myth. 37 is certain safety these days and this season it is lower than that.

Even if you want something more simple. Cardiff need 14 points from 14 games to match us where we are now. This is after 19 from 24.

So stop all this crap about being worried about relegation. If that is the only thing in your life that is making you worried – be very grateful and find something that may happen to make you worried.

I did not see what happened to Baines. He got injured? Too, bad... I would have liked him to have a couple of games.

We were better than Huddersfield so we deserved to win.

Good to see Tosun bouncing back, and good to see Tom Davis playing again.

I think Bernard was doing good, he actually made some good defensive interferences today.

Good 3 points, I did not expect that.

Huddersfield aren't quite as dreadful as their record suggests – they play hard, they're decently coached... they just have zero firepower and if you can't score goals in this league, your prospects for survival are pretty hopeless.

Quite happy to see Baines given another start, but bummed that he had to come off injured. With him out injured and Digne suspended, we pretty much have to look to Kenny or Galloway to cover the left-back position. Both are capable but neither can match the two that are out in that position.

Hopefully the battle, and clean sheet, will provide that grit and determination that has been so lacking to turn this season around.

IMO, Silva has until March (before the dreaded derby). We failed in the Cup, but now we have won a game and follow with Wolves, Cardiff and Watford (as well as Man City, but – even with their loss today at Newcastle – I wouldn't judge a manager's position on a game against this Man City side).

Wolves, Cardiff and Watford: an absolute minimum of 5 points (for Silva to still be manager for the derby)

Nice to see Baines stepping up, again, and a great shame if he's now missing for a spell. With Digne now out vs Wolves will Kenny get a start at left back?

Has anyone else noticed Coleman appears to be getting a bit of form back? He wasn't the worst vs Millwall and I thought he had a half-decent game, tonight. Not the Seamus of old but a huge improvement on recent games.

Someone mentioned Keane as having a great game; well he was okay in the air but his passing was woeful; one of his misplaced passes led to a Huddersfield break from which they went close.

Finally, a mention for Tom Davies who grafted for 90 minutes and also set up the goal.

When Tosun arrived last season, I thought that he looked like the real #9 that we were missing. After a long barren spell, he looked the part again today. He deserves to start a few more games to see if he can find his old form.

I thought that too many of our players looked knackered towards the end. Being in shape requires training hard and resting properly. I would hope that Silva understands that.

The lad needs to be encouraged to play HIS game and not overly worry about being a "defensive" midfielder.

Davies had a good game? Really? Just no care for the ball. Sigurdsson, Gomes, Bernard, Tosun... they were all just as bad. It would come at them and fly off in random directions.

But when we score early like that, it's all about game management. My mind always goes back to 2009 and the FA Cup Final where Saha scored almost from the start. I was so happy... until I realized the Master Muppet Moyes would try (and fail) to sit on that lead.

God, I hate that man with a vengeance. Why do people on here keep talking about him? Oh shit... guess I just did too!

Were we at the same game? I thought Davies put in a really mature shift and brought much needed mobility to the midfield. Was it a coincidence that Gomes had his best game for weeks?

Upfront Tosun, although he lacks a bit of pace, played a real centre forwards game; he held the ball up well and brought others into the game. A certain starter for Saturday.

Bernard was good in flashes and played a part in the build up to the goal. He also put himself about, defensively.

Of your five I'd agree that Sigurdsson never really got going and his shooting was way off the pace.

All things considered it was a competent all round performance that got us, together with a couple of outstanding Pickford saves and a little bit of determination, the three points.

We, and I include myself, are quick to criticise but tonight they did what was required and that was to get something out of the game.

Davies was good, as was Gomes. I don't think we'll miss Gana too much, he is a poster boy for donkey footballers everywhere; great at running and tackling, but then he has to be as his atrocious passing gets him into trouble so, so often.

A happy Wednesday. Up the blues! 👆😁

Davies had a good game. Gomes had the least impact last night than in any game he has played for us.

Cenk Tosun led the line like a good old-fashioned centre forward and caused the defence plenty of problems and was kicked around the pitch when they couldn't stop him. He had a fire in his belly that neither Richarlison or DCL has shown on the role in recent weeks. One of his best games for us I thought.

Huddersfield may be the worst team in the Premier League but you can only play to beat what's on front of you. The boys did good. Don't knock it. Enjoy it when Everton won, and save the vitriol for when we lose and maybe deserve it.

Do we have a back 4 for the weekend; who's to be shoehorned into LB if Baines doesn't make it or will Jags return to Back 3 (as Mina is also injured). That won't be pretty.

I don't think he meant to bring him down, more a tangle of legs. Digne has been very good this season, he made some bad decisions at Milwall but lets cut him some slack.

A very good win away against a desperate team with a new manager 'bounce'. I'll take those 3 points and clean sheet every day of the week.

A tough game against Wolves but if we beat them then we'd likely be in 7th.

Huddersfield might not be a very good team but when they played at Goodison earlier in the season they stopped and started the game with niggly fouls and falling down at the least thing, not a team to play or let the opposition play, so will never be involved in an open game of football, so to me, a very welcome victory.

Could that be about to happen again? If it does, it means we need to win away, albeit against sides we should be beating, and get some big results against the top 6, albeit on home turf.

Last night's game was not one for the purists. The only thing that mattered was 3 points,. They are in the bag. The battling display should give us all hope that the players do actually care.

Let's hope for a big 3 months, an upturn in fortunes, some good results against the top 6 and that we can finish the season off with something to build on over the summer that can allow us to really get in amongst the top 6.

Some will shoot me down for this but I'm glad Digne will be suspended. He should of been dropped weeks ago. He often tires around the 70 minute mark. As a result he gets caught positionally and gives daft fouls away. The millwall goal proved that.

I also think we need to realise that Gana Gueye is also a liability. He gives the ball away needlessly and then loses his discipline and goes chasing the ball, this often leaves us exposed through the middle time and time again. Getting £40m for him and replacing him with a disciplined 'enforcer' or a more athletic/powerful player like Doucure would be an improvement IMO.

Last night we had more discipline in Davies who picked his forward runs more intelligently. Having Tosun upfront is a plus (his finishing 1 vs 1 is deadly). There is still a lot of work to be done, players, manager and coaches, lets wait until maybe next season before we talk about Silva in or Silva out.

Stability is required now.

I'd sooner hark back to Martinez's last season with the two semi-final's.

It's all about being in the mix to win competitions. As it looks likely we'll stay up this season our next big game is in the League Cup, many months from now.

While there were a fair few promising performances overall nothing's really changed. Too many wrong decisions, too many lapses of concentration and not enough consistency or creativity.

Last night wasn't greatly different, apart from a bit more determination from the likes of Davies, Tosun, a good cameo from Kenny, than previous games.

Possibly we were expecting too much from Silva, I don't know. Personally I was, and that has really affected my opinion of him so far.

I hope your optimism until the end of the season turns out to be correct, I really do, however, from what I have witnessed so far I expect things to remain as is.

Glad to see Tosun and Davies do well – at least they put some effort in and look like they want to win. Sigurdsson is the one who needs benching most for me. Huddersfield were bad but he still couldn't make any impact on the game really.

Truth is, of course, that the opposition were garbage and you would be hard pressed to find (Pickford excepted) too many above average in our team.

But a win is a win is a win and we now stand a reasonable chance of finishing top half. There's exciting for you!

So no, I'm not saying it was great. I'm not saying this season would be great if we repeated it. I'm saying that if we did repeat it, and comfortably got 7th, then we could build on it and maybe do something next season.

Koeman, for me, made a massive error that summer. He was far too ambitious in trying to rip it all up and spent a load of cash and expected his tactical acumen to get us into the top 6. He thought too much of himself. He should have built on what he had. The side was solid enough in defence and him and Walsh should have spent that summer getting in 3 decent forwards, and not much else.

I suspect that if we delivered a similar second half of the season, then Brands is more likely to ensure we keep what we have and carefully build on it, with one or two careful additions. He will certainly not repeat what happened that summer when we went all "football manager" in the transfer market.

Speaking of the market, has anyone got any good rumours, there's barely 24 hours left and I hear we do have money to spend and that we are looking to sign someone.

Moronic comment if ever I saw one!

First all the players were older than me, then all the referees were older than me and then it was the managers. Most have since gone and I think Roy is the last one. When he goes I'm done!!

Apologies to Pastor Niemöller

The laws of probability will ensure that, every now and then, a team will get lucky and win, despite terrible form.

Let's just see if EFC can put 2 wins together and beat Wolverhampton at home. Wolves are showing form at the moment, and a victory would help Silva's case... but I'm not very optimistic.

What a time to be a blue.

We will limp through to the end of this season and hang on to our premier league status, sign a few players in the summer and by November we will be struggling in the lower half, the club will make the decision to remove Marco Silva; hopefully we will then get a decent manager.

It may sound elitist but I do not think we should not be struggling along with some of the "smaller" clubs, particularly with the backing we have and of course our large base of supporters.