Everton throw away two points
Once again having done the hard work, Everton were pegged back right at the death and had to settle for an immensely frustrating 2-2 draw against Newcastle United last night at Goodison Park.
It really is quite a skill that Everton have almost casually mastered, being able always to find new ways to drop points in the Premier League! It’s quite incredible how often this kind of thing happens to the Toffees.
They’ve managed it once more last night. Having established a comfortable 2 goal lead courtesy of strikes from Moise Kean and then Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Magpies mugged us and were somehow able to net twice with seconds left to escape with a totally undeserved draw.
This was yet another match where Everton have conceded goals during one of those inexplicable periods of endless injury-time added by these wonderful referees in the Premier League.
And the reason once again was more slack defending at set-pieces. Honestly how often have we had to write that over these past few seasons?
Why can’t these players ever seem to maintain their concentration late in games and clear balls sent into the box? And Jordan Pickford had another of his now regular brain scrambling moments to contribute to the disaster. I really think it’s time to give Jonas Lossl a go.
Although having said all that, Everton also exhibited that other failing, an ability to finish sides off. They should have added more than two goals and missed some great chances to put the match right out of sight.
Perhaps fatigue did play a part, some of these players do look like they are on their last legs and really need a break from the relentless pace of matches in England’s top flight.
Carlo Ancelotti took off Kean and Bernard again late on, which puzzled me. I’m getting a little bit worried by some of the manager’s substitutions, which seem strange, overly cautious and defensive. He is fixated with Seamus Coleman, who also came on and did nothing.
The Blues forwards had put in a great performance with Kean and Calvert-Lewin dovetailing well and looking a real threat together up front, only to be let down by that brainless defensive effort right at the death.
In fact Kean had by far his best match since joining the club in such fanfare last summer and at last he managed to open his Everton account with a 30th minute goal.
Then in the second period Calvert-Lewin was able to add a second, continuing his excellent form and the Blues had almost total control of the game.
They were still dominating an injury hit Newcastle team as injury-time closed in, until those substitutions. Even then, the Magpies hadn’t been much of a threat and didn’t look likely to score until their own substitute Florian Lejeune grabbed his late strikes.
The irony of this game is that the Toffees showed all the quality and footballing ability, while Newcastle had the mental strength, nerve and determination to salvage a point from a match in which they were totally outclassed. If Everton could only put those things together they would be much farther forward in their development.
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So two important points dropped again and without wanting to sound like a cliche, this will feel like a defeat for the players and for manager Ancelotti. A great chance to close the gap on fifth-placed Manchester United, has been missed.
The Italian must be tearing his hair out dealing with this set of footballers, and what is left of it will probably be turning greyer faster than ever before after games like this!
On the positive side, at least Kean has scored and showed a glimpse of what Everton fans have been waiting to see since August from the former Juventus starlet. Now let’s hope he can kick on from this and start regularly finding the back of the net for the Blues, assuming he gets game time.
Well Everton now have nearly two weeks to get this result out of their system, recover and recuperate before their next Premier League fixture, away at Watford on the 1st February.