Everton rue missed opportunities as Dyche and Company concede late and gift Southampton their first win of the Premier League season.
Everton were on the road to Southampton off the back of a 1-1 draw, a point which kept a good run unbeaten in the league alive. There were a couple of changes to the eleven for Everton, as Mangala and Lindstrom were introduced into the starting eleven. Beto remained on the bench for the match after his goal against Fulham, and rather surprisingly, Michael Keane once again kept his spot in the eleven as his good run of form in the side continues.
The first half was an evenly matched slow burn, as both sides really struggled to get ahold of the match and create opportunities. The 11th minutes saw one of Everton’s best moments of the half go begging however, with the phase of play beginning with Dwight McNeil. He won the ball off Downes and played the ball to Calvert-Lewin. The striker found himself in a good spot in the Southampton box but was unable to get a shot away and the move petered out in non-dramatic fashion.
Southampton absolutely controlled possession in the first half, but it was comfortable for Everton in their shape defensively. Not only in the first half but throughout the match Mangala and Gueye partnered very well to control the action in the middle of the pitch, where the game was predominantly played. The backline pairing of Keane and Tarkowski playing inside of Young and Mykolenko did well, save for a Tarkowski yellow in the 24th minute.
Southampton’s biggest chance of the half came in the 41st minute, as Downes started a counter with a long ball over the top to Archer. Archer was one on one with Ashley Young as the only man to beat before reaching Pickford. As he has done recently, the 39 year-old full back did outstandingly to put off the pacey attacker and he could only drag his shot wide. 0-0 at halftime in a half both sides would likely rather soon forget.
The first 15 minutes came and went in the second half, really with more of the same action from the first half with Michael Keane being shown a yellow-card to boot. Southampton made two changes as did Everton, bringing on Harrison and beto for Ndiaye and a flailing DCL. Maybe without coincidence, the introduction of Beto livened up the Everton attack rather quickly. It was only seven minutes after that Everton nearly took the lead.
A brilliant cross came into the back post and Michael Keane met the ball about as well as you could ask. It was a brilliant header down into the bottom corner which unfortunately produced an even better save from Ramsdale in goal to keep it level. 12 minutes later and this time it was Harrison’s turn to nearly put the blues ahead. McNeil once again created brilliantly and crossed in, Harrison was one on one with Ramsdale and looked nailed onto score. Unfortunately, his lofted effort dribbled agonizingly wide much to the disappointment of the toffees.
Five minutes later, Everton unfortunately came out on the wrong side of the moment of the match. A cross came in that was headed back across goal by Tarkowski, the ball was pacey but Beto rose quickly and delivered a thundering header that smacked off the cross bar, desperately close to putting the visitors ahead. Unfortunately, Southampton countered quickly, Everton were caught out, and the wing was swamped as mykolenko found himself out of position. Adam Armstrong received a pass into the box and fired past Pickford to give Southampton a genuinely undeserved advantage.
Beto would go onto score in halftime, a clinical finish one on one, but was ruled offside by a sliver to deny Everton a point. Dyche set the team up to win, Everton got chances, dominated Xg and shots, but in the end could not clean their plate. It has been a problem for a number of years now, and it is a match Everton should have won 3-0. Despite a good midfield performance, a sterling cameo from Beto, and Lindstrom’s best performance yet in an Everton shirt, the blues fell on the road. Next up is a trip to London to face the Hammers, hopefully some clinical finishing will find Dyche and company on the road.
UTFT!
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