Another quick turnaround for the blues, as a match versus Coventry at the Hill Dickinson awaits David Moyes’ side. Feeling a sense of Deja Vu here, as we look back to the last match the blues played, beating Newcastle 1-0, away at St James’ Park.
A much tougher battle for Everton on Monday, compared to the Carabao Cup clash in which Matthias Jassle’s side were played off the park in a 3-1 defeat. However, Everton still played an impressive match, grinding out to get the 3 points. The first highlight of the evening belonged to Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes who, on his 100th appearance for the club, skipped past O’Brien before curling a cross turned shot just past Jordan Pickford’s left hand post. After that though, Everton had almost turned this game into a home match, with multiple promising attacks coming through Tyrique George who had sustained his place in the starting lineup following an impressive performance in midweek, partnered with Jack Grealish’s suspension. Everton’s first real chance though, came in the 24th minute as Jarrad Branthwaite’s knockdown fell into the path of Thierno Barry, who made a real hash of the attempt, a wild swing at the ball meant no real connection, making it easy for Osula to do enough to deny the Toffees an opener. Ex Everton man Andy Hinchcliffe had this to say on commentary, “This is what you get with Barry. You get goals but also big chances missed. It’s a wild swing at the ball with no real composure”. Just before halftime, Joelinton had a speculative effort, which didn’t really trouble England’s number one, but on another day could’ve easily flown into that top corner! Everton’s final chance of the half belonged to teenager Harrison Armstrong, who sliced his first time effort from the edge of the area, sending it past Hornicek’s left hand side. Then, 4 minutes into the second half, Everton and Thierno Barry finally capitalised on a big chance. Garner took a short free kick in the 49th minute, reminiscent of the routine we saw Beto capitalise upon to open the scoring vs Liverpool in that famous final Goodison derby. Dewsbury-Hall was on the end of that Garner pass, the former threading a pinpoint pass to Tyrique George on the left of the box, who saw his attempt on goal squirm under the Newcastle keeper, before Thierno Barry was, of course, there to tap home to give Everton the lead vs the Geordies. There was a lengthy VAR check for a foul on Fabian Schar, who made a complete meal out of an outstretched arm from Thierno. No chance! Anthony Elanga, who was poor on the night, had an effort cleared off the line by James Tarkowski in the 66th minute, and that’s all Newcastle created until the 90th minute, when Yoanne Wissa’s attempt on goal was expertly saved by the Mackem between Everton’s posts, who seemed to have potentially gambled on the direction of the effort early, but managed to save it with an outstretched right foot! Dynamite. 8 minutes of stoppage time were to be played, in which 75th minute Newcastle substitute Jacob Ramsey was booked for a challenge on Hayden Hackney in the 96th minute. Then, in a complete headloss moment, the former Villa man caught the ankle of Armstrong, resulting in a second yellow, less than 2 minutes after receiving his first! Ramsey trudged down the tunnel under the watchful eye of the few Newcastle fans left in the ground, following a brief melee between the two sets of players, would it be Everton Vs Newcastle without a bit of a brawl? A really solid Everton performance though, it has to be said, as the blues kept Newcastle out all game, not really giving them much chance to get back into this game. The 3 points picked up propelled us up into 7th place and, with 3 points on Friday, Everton could leapfrog their close rivals Liverpool, and position themselves in 5th, joint on points with Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea.
Now, to get those 3 points, Everton will have to defeat Premier League returners, Coventry City. The Sky Blues are currently sitting 16th in the table (above Man United!), managed by former Everton boss, Frank Lampard. Lampard’s side have had a somewhat mixed opening 9 games of the season, losing 6 games, drawing none and winning 3. Looking deeper into one of those wins, Coventry beat Sunderland last Saturday, in a truly dominant performance, keeping Regis Le Bris’ side rooted to the foot of the table. Sakamoto scored his first Premier League goal, before Awoniyi made it 2-0 in the 37th minute, Rudoni piled on the misery for the Mackems, making it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Sunderland did score in the 67th minute, however Enzo Le Fee’s penalty ultimately meant nothing more than a consolation. Like I say, a mixed start for Coventry, but they have proven that they aren’t likely to be pushovers in this Friday night Fixture, away at Everton. Lampard will have a point to prove on his return to the club, his first time managing against the Toffees after his sacking in January 2023 (almost 4 years ago?!). You’d say Coventry are the underdogs heading into this game, however that’s just where Frank Lampard’s sides tend to prefer to be, on the back foot with a point to prove, almost a ‘never say die’ mentality, just cast your mind back to that comeback over Palace at Goodison!
TEAM NEWS
For once, there are no fresh injury concerns for Everton.
Let’s address the elephant in the room though, Everton must make a fresh decision regarding on loan Man City winger, Jack Grealish. Grealish is still facing an in-house suspension, and as it stands, it is not clear whether he will be a part of Moyes’ squad for this fixture.
As for Coventry, Aurele Amenda misses out with a calf injury, Haji Wright with a thigh injury, Josh Eccles has an ankle injury and Luke Woolfenden won’t be available through a knee injury.
Frank Onyeka and Bobby Thomas will also face fitness checks with muscle and calf injuries respectively.
ONE TO WATCH (EVERTON)
Let’s hope this week’s ones to watch are both more successful than last week’s predictions (Hayden Hackney who didn’t start, and Malick Thiaw who played zero minutes.)
It was bold of me to assume Hackney was going to play anyway, far too many forward passes for David Moyes’ liking. And smiling?! What’s that all about??
Anyway, a couple of impressive back to back performances haven’t made this easy to select one player. This week, I’m going to select Vitaly Mykolenko as my one to watch. Partially because it’s virtually impossible for him to not play, but mainly because he was especially solid at St James’ Park, doing well to keep Anthony Elanga silent for most of the night, one of his finest Everton performances.
ONE TO WATCH (COVENTRY)
I’m not going to pretend that I’ve watched loads of Coventry games this season, but it’s impossible to avoid the fact that Jack Rudoni is a quality player for Lampard’s side, and will be a player that is likely to give Everton something to think about on Friday night.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We should see a very similar, if not exactly the same lineup vs Coventry, especially since every player played well. In an ideal world, Thierno Barry will convert all the chances that he gets, but I wouldn’t bank on that happening. But, as it was said on Monday Night Football, Barry will get chances, miss one and then go and score the next one. So, with that in mind, how’s this game gonna go? I think 3 points again for the Blues, with Everton having just too much quality for Coventry. I hope. Final prediction, Everton 3-1 Coventry. Mykolenko scores his first Everton goal since 2025 in the 33rd minute, Barry makes it 2-0 just before halftime. Coventry come out of the blocks firing in the second half, halving the deficit in the 48th through Rudoni, before Barry gets his second in the 83rd to put the game to bed for the hosts. Could it happen? In theory, yes. Will it happen? Well, no, probably not.
Hopefully another 3 points before the international break, UTFT!
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