Well I predicted a 2-0 win for Everton, but in the end the Blues couldn’t add to Micheal Keane’s headed goal and had to settle for a narrow and nervy 1-0 victory over Norwich City yesterday night.
It was not a very good game at all, but in truth Everton just needed the points to get their still unlikely charge for a European place going.
Although with Sheffield United slipping, there might still be a chance of claiming a European place. It was also important to get that first win under the belt since the Premier League restart.
So after not winning in four games, the Blues secured a first win since beating Crystal Palace at Goodison Park back in February.
Carlo Ancelotti picked essentially the same team that played Liverpool on Sunday, as I thought he would, apart from dropping Anthony Gordon for Bernard instead of Alex Iwobi. As it happened, Iwobi had a good game so I’m more than happy to have been proved wrong on that one!
The Blues boss is continuing to impart his thinking to the team and his commitment to establishing the defensive solidity of side, is clearly fundamental to this approach.
As they so often do, the Toffees started this game slowly and seemed a little rusty and perhaps tired after their efforts against Liverpool.
And it was Norwich who made more of the few chances being created in a pretty sterile first half. The Canaries actually hit the post and Jordan Pickford had to make a few smart saves to keep the match scoreless at halftime.
Everton improved after the break while maintaining their shape and began to get more control of the game as their superior quality began to show.
Several half chances came and went before Everton won a corner and Lucas Digne swung in a good ball which Keane met firmly with his head to power in a goal.
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Iwobi had a few good moments and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was likely without ever really threatening in front of goal. But the Toffees looked a little tired, which is probably a reflection of the fact it’s still only the team’s second game back and they played on Sunday while tehir opponents had a bit more recovery time.
The Blues should though have added to this lead and squandered several more opportunities to get that second. They didn’t, but in the end despite a late Norwich rally it was enough for Ancelotti’s men to take all the points back to Merseyside.
So basically job done and an important and valuable three points were in the bag. Hopefully Everton can continue to improve their performances as their fitness increases in the next few weeks.
Next up for Ancelotti’s men after a weekend break for the return of the FA Cup, is a home game against high-flying Leicester City.