Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Everton could only draw with Hull City in the end, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s second-half display was extremely encouraging.
The Toffees played out a 2-2 draw with the Tigers at the MKM Stadium and have moved up to fifth in the Premier League table amid other results.
Everton dominated the ball and had more chances than their opponents, as was perhaps to be expected given how Hull play. But unfortunately, David Moyes’ side were not clinical. And there was also some uncharacteristically poor defending.
There is a sense for some fans that this game was a missed opportunity.
That may well be the case. But at least Everton did have Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall finishing the game in fine fettle.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave his best performance for Everton since opening game
With Thierno Barry being the only striker at the club, there is a lot of pressure on the Frenchman to score goals. So, it is important for other players to chip in.
Dewsbury-Hall is a player lots of people feel can help share the load – last season, he scored eight goals in the Premier League and also laid on six assists.
Before Sunday, he had only scored one goal this season, against Crystal Palace on the opening day.
He didn’t have the greatest start to the game against Hull, but in the second-half he was a different player. Dewsbury-Hall was the one looking to make things happen for Everton, dropping slightly deeper to get on the ball more.
But he still took up dangerous positions, as he showed to score Everton’s equaliser when he ghosted in at the back post to meet Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross.
He then showed fantastic awareness to turn the ball over for Everton and created an opening for Barry to score Everton’s second.
Sofascore data shows he completed 48/55 (87%) passes against Hull, and also had 78 touches, showing he was heavily involved – only James Garner, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane had more.
In total, four of the passes he executed were classed as ‘key’, and he also created two ‘big’ chances one of which was for Barry to score. Dewsbury-Hall was also very industrious, contesting 17 duels in the game, winning 12. No player in the game drew more fouls than him either.
Dewsbury-Hall vs Hull
Minutes played – 90+
Goals – 1
Assists – 1
Touches – 78
Passes completed – 48/55 (87%)
Key passes – 4
Duels won – 12/17 (71%)
Fouls won – 3
Defensive contributions – 3
He was basically back to being his influential self, and Everton have missed that in recent weeks. Undoubtedly, he’s had a lukewarm start to the season. Several of his metrics have still been quite good, but fans know Dewsbury-Hall hasn’t shown the level we all know he can.
But there was no denying how good he was in that second-half and arguably it was the biggest plus of the day for Moyes. To have Dewsbury-Hall showing his best level again was important and Everton now need to see it more often.