Everton v Manchester City Review: five talking points

Emotions run high for Ukrainian players as Everton defence fall at last hurdle

2. Ukraine emotion as Everton defence nearly hold out

There was overriding emotion before and during the game for the current situation taking place in Ukraine, this Premier League game more than any other felt the support more as each team had a Ukrainian national in their side.

Vitalii Mykolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko had an emotional embrace before the game and Zinchenko was in tears as he took his place on the bench while Mykolenko was also an Everton substitute, as you can see below:

Both sides showed their support with Everton players all having a Ukrainian flag draped over them as they came out and City players all wore t-shirts with the words ‘No War’ and the Ukrainian flag on them.

Everton fans had paid for a banner, which subsequently the club subsidised all of the cost, which was displayed in the Glawdys Street end showing their support for Mykolenko and his country.

During the game while warming up both the Ukrainian players were seen talking to each other and one can only imagine what they were discussing.

As it was neither player was required in a tense and combative battle in which both managers were unwilling to make defensive changes the longer the game did not have a goal.

Mykolenko could well have started this game as we pushed for in our preview of the match, however Kenny produced a performance more akin to his Leeds display rather than the inadequate one at Southampton in the last game. Kenny in fact had one of Everton’s best and first chance when his left foot shot fired into the side netting in the first half.

Once again Keane and Mason Holgate’s inconsistencies showed up again as both produced good performances until the Foden goal as Silva’s cross deflected off Holgate and wrong footed Keane. Before that goal in the 82nd minute they had held pretty firm as City once again persisted without a central striker on the pitch.

Seamus Coleman had another decent game at Goodison and up until the dying moments of the game City attacked most down the other flank showing how they perceived Coleman as much harder to breakdown.

Jordon Pickford was in great form once again and in the second half he had to repel a number of City efforts. One double save especially halfway through the second half showed why the England international does not give his place up easily and he deserved a clean sheet for his performance.

No doubt some tweaks will be made against Boreham Wood in the week, but for the Spurs game next Monday night it wouldn’t be a surprise if Lampard stayed with the same back four if Ben Godfrey is not ready.

However if someone put in a very good display in the FA Cup tie it could be enough to persuade Lampard to keep them in after the abject away performances from the back four recently.