U18s start with a win over Blackburn

Michael Kenrick Saturday, 12 September, 2020 4comments | Jump to most recent

U18s 2 - 1 Blackburn

Everton's young Blues recovered from a shock early goal against to come back and win their first U18 Premier League game of the season at Finch Farm.

The goals came from Sean McAllister and Charlie Whitaker before and after the break, respectively.

After a nervy and tentative start that brought the shock of falling behind to a goal from a Blackburn defender inside the opening 120 seconds, Everton rained in 20 shots on their opponent's goal but were denied time and again by a combination of sound 'keeping and last-ditch defending.

McAllister eventually headed beyond the keeper to bring Everton on terms in firt-half stoppage time.

Whitaker replaced Cannon 7 minutes after the break and duly completed the turnaround, climbing to meet McAllister's delivery and divert past the goalkeeper to secure a fine 3 points for the start of their league campaign.

Everton U18s: Leban, Higgins, Small, Welch, Thompson, Butterfield, Price [Y], McAllister (86' Mills}, Cannon (52' Whitaker), Warrington, Kouyate. Subs not Used: Stewart, Kristensen, Lowey.

Reader Comments (4)

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Minik Hansen
1 Posted 13/09/2020 at 01:41:32

Baines gets the coaching role at the adademy, and then this happens. ;-)

Phill Thompson
2 Posted 13/09/2020 at 08:31:53

It sounds like we dominated the game but not the usual bag load of goals we've had in the past.

I would assume that the starting line up is close to Tait's preferred 11. Thompson and Welch have played together as centre-backs in the friendlies with Small regularly at left back. Higgins has been with the U23s recently playing full games at right back.

It looks like 4-4-2 with Kouyate or Cannon starting up front, although players like Lewis Warrington and Isaac Price have played wide as part of a 3. A good balance of 5 1st years 6 2nd years starting. Once a few of the older U23s players move on, I'd expect a few of these to move up to the U23s.

Steve Ferns
3 Posted 14/09/2020 at 19:29:10

Phill I saw Kouyate on the highlights. It was only the goals so couldn't glean too much from it.

Phill Thompson
4 Posted 14/09/2020 at 22:44:21

Steve, yeah our usual crap when it comes to showing highlights, long range shots of the goals, close up of them hugging, which at least is useful in getting to know faces.

Only things I gleaned were a decent cross from Liam Higgins to pick out McAllister for the 1st goal, heâ€˜s made the right-back spot his own, similar development to John. McAllister prominent again crossing for the 2nd and he seems to be the key midfielder at the moment.

Whitaker popping up and scoring again, his 3rd of late, not bad as he's really a midfielder despite coming on for the injured Cannon.

We've got some tall guys in midfield!

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