After a hard-fought game Everton eventually overcame Cardiff City 1-0 at Goodison Park this afternoon.
This was not a sparkling performance from Everton who had to work hard to break down a very determined and resilient Cardiff side who had clearly come for a point.
The Toffees were certainly not at their best and laboured to create any decent openings despite having plenty of possession.
It was one of those typical Premier League matches where a struggling team arrives on your patch with a very clear defensive game plan and asks can you break us down?
Everton had exactly that task in front of them this afternoon. And to their credit they answered that question positively finally finding their way through a packed Cardiff defence for the only goal of the game.
That goal was scored by the player who is at this moment of the season certainly the Blues best; Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The Icelandic international has been superb for most of the season, masterminding and driving Everton’s attacks and scoring regularly throughout the campaign.
His seventh goal of the season could also prove a particularly valuable one as the season progresses giving the Toffees a vital three points with several tough away games coming up.
In the first half despite all their possession, Everton had not really created any clear-cut chances and it had been a frustrating opening 45 minutes.
The Toffees were better and upped the tempo of their play at the beginning of the second half. And after several near-misses, following Theo Walcott’s effort, Sigurdsson finally got the breakthrough with a calm finish.
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Everton pressed for more goals but Cardiff continued to defend resolutely and prevented the Blues scoring again, even creating a few late opportunities of their own.
On an afternoon which will have frustrated supporters hoping for a goal fest, the Toffees did what was required of them by winning.
These sort of games are the bread and butter fixtures that good teams have to win even when they are below their best if they are to underline their potential to be a successful side.
Next up the Toffees have the small task of trying to win at Anfield in a Merseyside derby for the first time since the end of the last century!