Jack Grealish controls the ball during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026
Jack Grealish controls the ball during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026
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Everton overcame Ipswich Town 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday to ensure they went into the first international break of the season undefeated after seven matches in all competitions. It’s a remarkable achievement from David Moyes, who after a shambolic end to the transfer window was left with a squad of just 18 outfield players - with 16 of them currently fit given that Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl are injured - containing a single striker, left-back and right-back.
But while the Blues deserved their victory over Ipswich, which made it nine points from a possible 15 in the Premier League, and followed their Carabao Cup third-round win at home to Wolves, their profligacy in front of goal could have cost them dearly.
Moyes’ men produced an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.24 from their 21 shots but only got two efforts on target.
Brennan Johnson was the player most guilty, missing their best chance (0.6 xG) and their second best (0.217 xG) opportunity. Thankfully, Thierno Barry got his second Premier League goal of the season – he now has five in all competitions, although a sixth was ruled out after VAR advised referee Stuart Attwell go over to consult the pitchside monitor as Johnson, of all people, was stood in an offside position and was deemed to be interfering with play – and the home defence held out.
Everton xG map against Ipswich Town
Everton xG map against Ipswich Town
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Everton will have been encouraged by Jack Grealish, having returned on loan from Manchester City, getting back into the swing of things. Following on from his start in the 1-0 victory over Wolves three nights earlier, the 31-year-old made his first Premier League start since the 1-0 success at his first club Aston Villa on January 18 when he picked up the stress fracture injury in his left foot that ended his first season on Merseyside.
Jack Grealish's touches in the final third in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
Jack Grealish's touches in the final third in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
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The Blues got the first £100million English footballer in possession in attacking areas and they know if they can give him plenty of the ball in good positions then he will make things happen. Grealish created five chances – nobody else on the pitch fashioned more than two – so it’s no surprise that their attacks focused down the left side.
Where Everton attacked in their 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
Where Everton attacked in their 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who scored eight goals and produced six assists last season and has already off the mark this term with the opening strike in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in Everton’s first game, linked up nicely with Grealish and naturally gravitates towards the left side of the pitch. The 28-year-old probably does this even more with Grealish back in the side because he makes smart runs and knows he’ll get the ball.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's touches in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's touches in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
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Dewsbury-Hall was heavily involved with 65 touches and he took a match-high six shot attempts, although with an xG of 0.37, he failed to test Christian Walton, who was making his first Premier League appearance of the season in goal for Ipswich, so better shot selection is required. The lessons are obvious for the Blues, they have to be more ruthless in front of goal and it’s as simple as that.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's shots in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's shots in Everton's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town
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As Moyes himself declared in his post-match press conference: “We had big chances to go further in front. We didn’t.
“We started quite well, got the goal and looked as though we were going to be fine. Once the player got sent off, I thought we should have gone on and scored more.
“Statistically, we’ve been making much more chances. I think today we had 21 shots but only two on target, so, that’s not any good, but the 21 shots is very good because our attempts on goal in all our games has been much, more higher than it’s [previously] been.
“We’re attempting to play in a way where we can get more chances, try and produce more opportunities. In the main, I think we have but we’ve not been taking them.
“Thierno missed a great headed chance in the first half and then in the second half, Kiernan missed a great headed chance at the back post. Brennan had a chance and Tyler Dibling did really well, forcing a good save and there were another couple of chances as well.
“We’ve been doing a lot of good things but I’d have liked to have been better today if I could have.”