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Leicester City 1 Everton 2: Toffees finally end away day blues

By Matt Townsend

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate and Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton celebrate to fans following the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton at The King Power Stadium on May 8, 2022 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate and Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton celebrate to fans following the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton at The King Power Stadium on May 8, 2022 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images) /
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That was a massive result this afternoon as Everton won away from Goodison Park for the first time since August as they beat Leicester 2-1 at the Kingpower Stadium.

Going into the match today Everton had enjoyed a good weekend with other results going their way after Burnley were beaten by Aston Villa yesterday.

That together with Leeds facing Arsenal in a tough away fixture at the same time this afternoon, gave the Blues a great chance to move clear of the relegation zone.

And it was also important for the Toffees’ to continue the momentum after their fine win over Chelsea last weekend.

That also followed another one nil victory at Goodison Park over Manchester United in their previous home Premier League game.

Now, Everton have gained three big wins including at last, a win on the road! Whisper it but has this team turned a corner?

It’s still a real knife edge situation and the Blues’ need to maintain their recent fine form and the hard work and discipline we have seen in these three wins.

Going into today’s match the Toffees’ hadn’t won away from the Grand Old Lady since they collected three points at Brighton back on the 28th August.

Frank Lampard’s team included once again a player who has become in a very short amount of time a key player in Lampard’s side: Vitalii Mykolenko.

The Ukrainian left-back has been outstanding in recent weeks as he settles into English football. Today he had another fine game and scored a superb opening goal.

That goal after five minutes gave Everton a lead that they held for barely five more minutes before Leicester City equalised following a defensive mistake to get themselves back into the match.

It was a competive game and both sides had good chances with Abdoulaye Doucoure going close for Everton.

Unlike in past games away from home as has been the case for far too long the Blues’ didn’t buckle and restored their lead through an unlikely source in Mason Holgate.

The oft-criticised defender came up with a goal that might turn out to be critical for final the outcome of this dreadful season.

In the second half the home team were generally on top and put Everton’s goal under pressure. Once again, Jordan Pickford was excellent pulling off more good saves after his stupendous performance last weekend.

Keeping the England number one this summer should be right at the top of Lampard’s list of things to do.

His man-of-the-match effort secured what could be a priceless three points in this scrap to avoid the drop.

With Leeds losing at Arsenal too, it has been a good weekend for Everton, apart from Liverpool maanging to get a draw at Spurs!

I wrote a while ago that I felt picking up points away from home would be crucial to the battle for survival. Finally, this afternoon the Toffees’ have done just that.

Now, they need to carry this on next when they face relegated Watford on Wednesday night. Three more points there would put Everton in a much stronger place.