Everton v Stoke City: Blues snatch the points in a blizzard
Thanks to a brace from Cenk Tosun, Everton took all three points at the Bet365 Stadium in a match played in surreal conditions.
After a miserable run on the road of late, Everton finally stopped the rot and won away from Goodison Park. This was a really important victory over a Stoke City side that were desperately in need of the points.
With his third and fourth league goals of the season Tosun underlined his growing importance to the Blues’ cause.
He is becoming the centre forward that Everton hoped for when they splashed out for the Turkey international in January.
With the snow coming down Stoke had themselves begun the match in lively fashion looking like they were determined to dictate the match. But the game began to change when Stoke’s Charlie Adam was sent off.
Everton tried to take control and press for the opening goal. Eventually they did score through Tosun. But Stoke were not disheartened and they continued to offer a threat themselves.
The Toffees looked fairly comfortable though until from a set-piece, likely to be their best chance of a goal, Stoke equalised.
This season Everton have a tendency to capitulate when they have been pegged back, as the game at Burnley two weeks ago underlined.
Not this time though as the Blues came back and re-took the lead. Again Tosun was on hand to eventually put the ball in the back of the net.
And despite a nervy last few minutes Everton held on to secure their first away win in the Premier League since beating Newcastle United in December.
So what can we read from this much-needed win away?
I think it will be a significant morale booster for the team after having endured so many horrendous defeats on their travels.
Especially so because after taking the lead the Blues again surrendered it as they have so often. Psychologically to recover from that setback and go on and win the game just might prove a turning point.
Although Everton did concede they weren’t constantly providing the opposition with chances due to lapses in concentration and sloppy individual mistakes.
And with Tosun proving to be an increasingly effective striker, Everton also offer a goal threat up front, something that was conspicuously absent most of the season.
Wisper it but just maybe we are seeing something approaching the team that Evertonians thought they had at the start of this campaign.
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It’s also no coincidence that the recent upturn in form has come with the return of stalwart defenders Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka.
Although there is much talk of signing another left back, Baines still looks a class act in that position albeit perhaps not with the same pace and zip of old.
And Jagielka remains a commanding and consistent defender at centre half, replacing him will also prove difficult.
Although I think Mason Holgate is a very promising player in that position and should have the chance to partner Michael Keane long-term.
Coleman, a real fans favourite, is also back and showing no ill effects from his double leg break of a year ago. That commitment, drive and energy is a welcome sight at right back.
Next: Sigurdsson to return sooner?
All of this bodes well for the immediate future. It’s to be hoped Everton can now build on these two important wins and look forward again with a little ‘nil satis nisi optimism’ to next season.
Just the small matter of Manchester City next weekend!