It was, almost literally, on the hour. There were 63 minutes on the clock when Seamus Coleman beat the offside trap and was sent down the right channel by Alex Iwobi, seemingly with nothing on as Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil jogged forward some 10 yards outside the penalty area.
A moment later, the ball had flashed across the face of goal and rippled the side-netting on the far side of Illan Meslier’s net sparking Goodison Park into an eruption of a mixture of joy and sheer relief. Because up to that point, this had been a game of frustrating “nearlies”; of poor decision-making in the final third and a succession of poor deliveries from the flanks mixed with close calls in the opponents’ six-yard box where the goalkeeper, Max Wöber and Weston McKennie had ensured that the game was goalless at the halfway stage.
As an occasionally fractious and increasingly nervy contest moved into it’s final half hour, it was clear that the hosts needed something different and Sean Dyche was readying Demarai Gray, still the Toffees’ top scorer this season, to come on and provide that alternative option up front.
As it turned out, it was the skipper who provided a "different" moment out of the blue, a glorious slice of opportunism and serendipity to ultimately settle the game and it wasn’t until the matches involving the other two clubs occupying the bottom three coming into the weekend, Southampton and Bournemouth, had concluded that the importance of this victory was underlined.
The implications of this fixture weighed heavily in the build-up, with Monday’s disappointing showing at Anfield and unsettling memories of the last three relegation “six-pointers” in which Everton had been involved against Wolves, Southampton and West Ham still fresh in the memory.
Leeds had gone to Old Trafford and surged into a 2-0 lead behind an early goal by emerging young talent Wilfried Gnonto and although they were eventually pegged back by Manchester United and lost the return fixture at Elland Road a few days later, their energy, pace and movement meant that they could have posed plenty of problems for an Everton defence that has looked very ragged at times this season, especially in these kinds of games down at the foot of the table.
It needed a big performance in terms of heart, determination and defensive solidity even if the quality was often lacking and there were a few too many nerve-shredding slip-ups outside the box in the second half that could have let Leeds in.
In the final reckoning, though, there was no doubt who deserved the points. Coleman suffocated Gnonto's threat, Leeds failed to register a shot on target and with more clinical finishing the hosts might have repeated last season’s 3-0 win under Frank Lampard. Dyche, again having to make do without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, ultimately found a way to grind out the points.
With Ellis Simms having struggled leading the line alone at Anfield, Dyche turned to the more experienced Maupay and charged the ex-Brighton man with making a nuisance of himself in aerial duels with Leeds’s central defensive duo of Robin Koch and Wöber. It inadvertently had the effect of forcing the latter off at half time with a shoulder injury following a challenge with Maupay in only the fifth minute that yielded Everton’s first chance of the game.
The Belgian spurned what was a decent opening by dragging a weak shot well off target but there was an energy and purpose about the Toffees that had been conspicuous by its absence against Liverpool and an assuredness progressing the ball up the pitch that was sorely lacking in the final weeks of Frank Lampard’s tenure.
With the long ball to the forward line an unreliable outlet, Everton concentrated on working the ball out to the flanks to get crosses into box early, a strategy that involved Vitalii Mykolenko getting forward on the overlap a lot more than has been the case lately and, sometimes for the better but all too often for the worse, the ball being worked to the industrious but erratic McNeil to sling balls into the area.
The Ukrainian went down in the box amid vain appeals for a penalty in the 18th minute and a mistake by Meslier three minutes later when he dropped the ball on the 18-yard line should have been punished but McNeil elected not to shoot and Amadou Onana was robbed of the ball as he tried to engineer space for an effort of his own from 10 yards out.
Idrissa Gueye then popped up on the right flank where he collected a pass from Alex Iwobi and cut it back for Onana but the midfielder skied a first-time shot into the Park End. And when McNeil curled a corner to the back post eight minutes before half-time, Tarkowski looked to replicate his goalscoring feat against Arsenal a fortnight ago but Meslier was equal to his header, batting it away from the top corner with two hands.
Prior to that, Meslier had had to be at his best to deny James Tarkowski the opener from a corner, Wöber had headed out from under his own bar to deny Conor Coady and McKennie had cleared a Neal Maupay header off the line.
A skirmish on the touchline then erupted as McNeil and Tyler Adams squared up to each other and melée ensured that saw the Everton winger shoved into the advertising hoardings but a couple of yellow cards for each team was the only result.
Leeds, meanwhile, had seen their best chance passed up by Bamford who air-kicked a cross by McKennie, managed their only effort on goal in first-half stoppage time as Crysencio Summerville headed narrowly over Pickford’s crossbar.
The visitors were markedly better after the break but it was Everton who continued to carve out the better openings, their lack of an effective striker and reliable creative presence in forward areas painfully evident.
McNeil tried a cushioned volley that ended up being a pass that eluded Maupay in the box five minutes after the restart, the Frenchman failed to work the goalkeeper with a shot on the turn eight minutes later and Mykolenko had another effort comfortably saved before Coleman broke the deadlock in stunning fashion.
Tarkowski met a McNeil corner with a near-post run but couldn’t keep the ball down while Onana was forced off with a knock with 17 minutes to go and Everton began to be pegged back by an increasingly desperate Leeds side.
Jack Harrison wasted two promising set-piece opportunities, however, by depositing the ball straight out of play on both occasions and the Yorkshiremen weren’t able to muster a decent goalscoring chance while Everton really should have killed the game in the 88th minute.
Simms, on for Maupay with a much more productive outing than was the case last Monday, did superbly to loft the ball over the top for Doucouré to gallop towards the Leeds box but rather than gamble with a left-foot shot, he tried to bring it back into his right and it ended up getting caught under his feet and it was hacked clear.
Then Doucouré dribbled past two players and cut the ball back from the right for substitute Tom Davies but his shot was blocked and Gueye volleyed the rebound wide before referee Andy Madley blew for full-time after four minutes of added time.
With all three teams that had begun the day in the bottom three of the Premier League winning on the same day for the first time in eight years — Southampton won, improbably, at Chelsea while Bournemouth’s win at Wolves ensures the Midlanders are still in trouble — this was a massive victory for Everton.
It vaults the Toffees out of the relegation zone and into 16th place with another home game to come next weekend against Aston Villa but with 20th place just three points below, the day’s results served as a reminder that the margin for error might yet be worryingly narrow.
The focus for Dyche will remain, however, on simply picking up points and safety will take care of itself. With his second win in three games since succeeding Frank Lampard, the new manager is doing just that and with each win, confidence and belief in the group will grow.
Reader Comments (42)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()
3 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:13:10
4 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:18:18
As the well-known saying goes: "Goals win Games".
5 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:29:52
It wasn't great but we haven't been great for a long time. It was a thorough professional performance though, and it's been a long time since we have really seen one of those.
6 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:47:22
Not sure what he offers for €30M+. Looks far too large an outlay to me.
7 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:48:48
If only we could make it 3 out of 4!
8 Posted 18/02/2023 at 22:54:09
I agree it's starting to look much more professional, Tony – and I think, despite the lack of real quality up front, we're seeing signs of good football too.
This is not alehouse football at all. In fact, it's some of the best football we've played in a while.
With Calvert-Lewin we'd have won about 3-0 today. But Simms looks like he might have enough about him to stand in. Maupay and Gray will make their contributions and I'm looking forward to seeing Garner and Patterson too in the run in.
9 Posted 18/02/2023 at 23:06:20
Beat Top of the League Arsenal and now fellow strugglers Leeds at Goodison.
Never would have happened under Lampard... Big shout out for Sean Dyche. Keep her lit, Sean!
10 Posted 18/02/2023 at 23:36:59
The chances we create I'm sure that the player Kenwright knocked back may well have put a couple of them away.
11 Posted 18/02/2023 at 23:58:04
12 Posted 18/02/2023 at 00:16:09
Thinking about how I saw the match from my seat in the Main Stand and the players' performances.
Pickford was commanding in the box. He took control.
Tarkowski was awesome in defence even if his distribution was questionable.
Mykolenko was solid.
Onana continues to demonstrate what he can become.
Gueye does his thing. He was great today.
The team dominated them in my opinion. We mostly had control of the game.
Seamus, well, who cares if he meant it or not. He nearly broke the net and equally nearly caused me an injury, which I would gladly have taken.
McNeil was a constant threat. Despite the initial questioning over him, watch that space. Give him something to aim for and he will be a good player. Very good performance.
This might not be agreed by everyone, but my Man of the Match was Maupay. He worked incredibly hard and chased everything. Talk about hard work to put pressure on the opposition.
Seamus rightfully takes the plaudits and we gave him them at the end.
Absolutely made up. Villa next then onto The Emirates.
13 Posted 19/02/2023 at 01:42:03
The pace of the ball will always tell you if it's meant or not, as do targets, of which he had none to aim at, hence the shot.
Karma also for the Leeds goalie who should have been booked following the FIRst-half fracas.
Onto Villa, I'll be there with my little man who's never seen us be a half-decent team, he never says No though when I ask him if he wants to go to the game. He's born with what we all have.
14 Posted 19/02/2023 at 06:38:00
Everton seem to like the lone striker idea, even as far back in time as Latchford, Yakubu, and more recently Lukaku. Other teams and even the England national team prefer goal-scoring partnerships to lone strikers.
15 Posted 19/02/2023 at 08:14:30
But our Achilles Heel is clear for all to see, with 4 experienced centre-backs on the bench and hardly any striking options. On today's showing, we remain desperate to get Calvert-Lewin back in the team even though Maupay and young Simms did okay and look that they can take on some of the work load.
However, if we manage to survive, I do hope we have a proper sort out at the end of the season and start next season with a more balanced squad. In the meantime, well done and thank you to the new management team.
16 Posted 19/02/2023 at 08:44:21
Kick-off and time flew by, not much in the way of chances being created. Leeds played it out okay but their final ball was dreadful, easy to see why they are in the relegation flight. The Blues looked far stronger but the absence of Calvert-Lewin left Maupay to turn in a battling performance but not much of a threat.
As the game wore on I wondered if any one could hit a barn door and thought it was going to come from a set piece, I still shudder from the memory of Twarkowski header hitting the post and then Liverpool scored from the breakaway. Funny but I think they have a poorer team than us except for the front men, they have got them out of jail all season, but with us its the very reason we are where we are.
But I looked up and almost threw my biscuit at the screen as Coleman raced forward with no-one to centre it to – I was shouting for Maupay and McNeil to get forward... then it was in the net. What? How... Yes! what a strike... everyone seemed to look around in stunned shock, then Goodison erupted!
Little tears of joy and a huge smile, I was so happy. Simms was on, looking more mobile and getting stuck in, lovely ball into the path of Doucoure with only the keeper to beat – he completely stuffed it up.
Oh for a striker who can finish, we would have been well ahead, but we are where we are, 3 points, deserved. Next week, I think Villa will be a different proposition – they looked good against the Gunners, racing to a 2 goal lead, but some excellent finishing meant that they lost.
I hope we are able to keep Fortress Goodison in place for the rest of the season and that somehow, someway, one of our strikers hits a purple patch. God knows it's due. Well done Blues.
Final word, the fans at the game were brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A few times during the game, the cameras focused on 4 empty seats and didn't say a word. Its obvious the media aren't backing the board either.
17 Posted 19/02/2023 at 10:28:03
Our failing was we didn't get enough players in the danger zones with commitment. With our lack of recognised strikers, our best chance to score is to crowd the box and feed off scraps if we can. Not pretty, I know, but can be effective.
I'm sure Dyche is more aware of this than me and will be working on the midfielders reluctance to get forward.
More shooting practice at Finch Farm probably wouldn't go amiss either!
18 Posted 19/02/2023 at 10:40:11
Simms put a marvellous first time cross for Doucoure late-on and two-nil would have reflected our dominance.
We are still a work-in-progress but there are signs of togetherness that were missing just a few weeks ago.
Leeds look a shambles.
19 Posted 19/02/2023 at 12:12:26
McNeil, for all his detractors, hit some great balls into the box that unfortunately had not been anticipated by the "attacking" players.
Hard work, spirit and a great finish pulled us through.
Ellis Simms showed some flashes that he can do a job for us if given a run. Great ball for Doucoure who should have buried the chance and calmed our nerves.
6 points out of 9 for Sean Dyche as manager. Keep the momentum going and we can be safe.
21 Posted 19/02/2023 at 19:00:10
22 Posted 19/02/2023 at 19:03:55
23 Posted 19/02/2023 at 19:23:14
24 Posted 19/02/2023 at 21:12:38
If we go down I will forever blame our wonderful tight Chairman for continuing last summer as he has always done, ie majoring on the health of his back pocket rather than the the team. That and many other things I might add. He and his acolytes have got to go this summer. At least that would be the start of getting back to good governance at Everton as we can't go on as before.
25 Posted 19/02/2023 at 23:05:57
26 Posted 19/02/2023 at 23:22:38
The Board didn't turn up. I missed that. Gosh how do they dare turn up the next game having been at Anfield during the week? Completely lost the plot.
27 Posted 19/02/2023 at 23:33:18
But we do. Every week. They should.
How can they look us in the eye and accuse us of what they have alleged when they don't attend the match?
I doubt they will be at Goodison on Saturday unlike thousands of dedicated supporters., But I bet they will be at Arsenal on 1 March.
As I will be along with the travelling blue army..
Sorry for the rant.
28 Posted 20/02/2023 at 07:23:12
They should attend. They must attend. Get off their high horses and have the guts to put themselves in front of the supporters. Earn and gain some respect.
By not turning out to watch the team they direct, they put shame on themselves.
29 Posted 20/02/2023 at 07:30:00
Hopefully this is right.
30 Posted 20/02/2023 at 07:55:00
They (the board) have really offended me and all of those dedicated Evertonians, so I'm getting even more emotive than usual.
We put the miles in and make the effort, yet they can't be arsed to show up at Goodison, at the club they own and run.
But turn up at Anfield and probably the Emirates accepting hospitality, it just winds me up. And I don't get wound up easily.
I'm going to have to apologise again.
We are not going to physically attack them. We might shout at them, but with reason. If I'd have been worried about being shouted at by my mother, I'd have rarely gone home. But I did!!
31 Posted 20/02/2023 at 12:53:07
One side point. Simms has made two telling contributions with impressively perceptive passes - the first in that dreadful defeat against Brighton which lead to our penalty and the second through to Doucoure on Saturday who should have done better with the opportunity - strikes me that, at the very least, Simms can possibly make an impact coming off the bench to contribute to a game that is getting stretched.
32 Posted 20/02/2023 at 14:00:32
33 Posted 20/02/2023 at 15:07:53
We have many under-performing players — he is not one of them.
34 Posted 20/02/2023 at 15:36:53
35 Posted 20/02/2023 at 17:40:02
I am not discarding Onana completely, more that I don't see the value in what was spent on him.
If you look at his stats reel at the moment, he has a good physique, and well, that's about all he has at present. He is 22 this year, so he should be a good proportion of the way to what he will become.
He seems to have been bought for potential more than anything, but it's looking like a big punt on potential, when you consider how much €30M means to us this season.
And that is potential judged on matches in the French league, which is a few notches below Premier League level.
.
36 Posted 20/02/2023 at 17:54:55
The Onana fee isn't quite what it seems. It's paid over the life of the contract which creates some kind of accounting win – enhanced further if the value of the players rises.
He's one of the few in the squad who could progress to Champions League football – we need more like that. So should be a good signing overall – and I like what I see from a young guy still settling in.
However, generally I agree with your sentiment. I don't believe we should spend more than about 㿀M on any player. With most in the ٣M to 㾻M category.
37 Posted 20/02/2023 at 17:58:54
And our players kept their nerve very well in a crucial "6-pointer" game, though we fans were getting a bit anxious, because after some very good chances we were wondering where our goal might come, if there would be any.
And then our captain Seamus Coleman showed every Everton player how to score when he blasted in the winner from the far right and above all from a near-impossible angle. What a stupendous strike that was and fittingly at the Gwladys Street end!
Yes, a marvellous win and very important 3 points. Still Everton´s journey to safety remains a tough one. But with Sean Dyche and his coaching staff, Everton are getting their performances in good balance and they have surely instilled a reborn fighting spirit in all our players. Hopefully these can carry us through.
38 Posted 20/02/2023 at 18:12:36
He is not a Champions League player at the moment, looking at his stats, and he is not a World Cup-level player either judging by his performances for Belgium a couple of months ago.
I am all for spending a lot of money, as long as you get a lot of player.
39 Posted 20/02/2023 at 18:58:38
Seamus sprints. Seamus looks across. Reaches the ball. Shoots and scores.
If that goal had been scored by Roberto Carlos, Cafu or any of the current crop of wonder kids, it would be going world wide on YouTube and the kid would be on his way to Real Madrid.
Brilliant, Seamus. Just brilliant.
40 Posted 20/02/2023 at 20:25:59
I struggle to recall the last time I saw that from an attacking player; Gordon now and then.
41 Posted 20/02/2023 at 21:13:53
See the space, see the ball - Go!
None of this playing to orders, holding your shape, playing the percentage ball...all worthy concepts - in their right place.
The proper footballer (he of the brain) knows when to just go for it.
Remember that clip of Jelavic taken from behind the goal...'Just 'kin hit it' said the camera guy - so he did.
42 Posted 20/02/2023 at 21:31:07
It's actually a good example of how managers and tactics can impact a team and its performance. Imagine if the full backs were under instruction to not do that, due to the slight risk of vacating that area of the pitch for a few seconds. Result on Saturday - 0-0.
43 Posted 20/02/2023 at 21:35:11
44 Posted 21/02/2023 at 03:27:21
If we're judging Onana on his stats for Everton then it's worth bearing in mind those stats are skewed by playing in an atrocious side until the last few games - in particular a hopelessly badly organised midfield.
Onana most certainly has the ability (and genuine interest from Arsenal and Chelsea suggests others agree) but he's new to the country and only 21. It will take a little while for him to deliver consistently. However, unless we're prepared give players like him 18 months to develop with us, we'll never see anyone of true Champions League quality on the books.
We don't have enough money to buy them if they're ready made.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
How to get rid of these ads and support TW
2 Posted 18/02/2023 at 21:36:04
Onana is some player. He's young and will develop and improve, hopefully with us, but he certainly can't shoot. Docoure's left and McNeil's right are clearly not to be trusted, even when 1 on 1 with the keeper. Add Maupay, Gana, Davies, Iwobi and Mykolenko to that list. All at least had shots today; none looked likely to dirty the keeper's gloves.
We won though, and what a goal. I'll give Seamus the benefit of the doubt and say he meant it, knowing a cross wasn't on. In that case, it was some improvisation.