Iliman Ndiaye of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s second goal. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
The growing tide of optimism at Everton increased this week with the win over Brighton & Hove Albion and the midweek Carabao Cup win over Mansfield. The on field improvements have been matched by the arrival of long time target Tyler Dibling. With only a couple of days to go before the transfer window closes, the final pieces of the puzzle will be put in place and the team will have an international break before they return to action against Aston Villa.
First, the team needed to head to the West Midlands for a match against Wolves. Having been winless in six Premier League meetings with Wolves between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 campaigns (D1 L5), Everton remained unbeaten in both matches last term (W1 D1). It should be noted that Everton have conceded one goal or less in their last 13 matches on the road which is a record only bettered by Manchester City.
Team News
Beto started up front for Everton in place of Thierno Barry, while left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko returned to the starting XI after injury. Tim Iroegbunam, who started the Brighton game, drops to the bench where he sat next to new signing Tyler Dibling.
Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had been the subject of two bids from Newcastle United, sat this one out. Vitor Pereira said that the Norway striker was being treated for a minor knock but we know that isn’t true! Jackson Tchatchoua, a £10.8m signing from Hellas Verona, made his first Premier League start.
Match Report
Michael Oliver was the man in the middle wearing a striking pink shirt. Very nice, Michael. Everton kicked off and were immediately putting Wolves under pressure. A delayed offside on Beto allowed Wolves to counter and Arias got the first shot on goal which was easily handled by Pickford.
Jack Grealish was being booed by the Wolves fans for his connection to Villa but that didn’t stop him from linking well with Mykolenko and Garner. The first corner for the Blues created huge problems for Jose Sa. Everton were buzzing around the box and when Mykolenko delivered a lovely ball which was headed back across the goal by Grealish with Beto getting the goal with his head.
Beto scoring his side’s first goal. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Wolves tried to get back into it and started to control the ball but the Everton pressure was making it difficult. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was caught on the ball and was forced to take down the Wolves player which earned him the game’s first yellow card.
Everton started to control the play and their passing was quick and the distribution was coming down both wings. Beto tried to get in the back but he couldn’t get a shot away. Wolves were being outplayed but a quick move down the right and a quick ball from Marshall Munetsi was met by Hwang who slammed it into the top of Pickford’s net.
Hee Chan Hwang of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates scoring his team’s first goal. Wolves via Getty Images)
Wolves were buoyed by the goal and pushed forward as Everton tried to sort out themselves. Wolves were throwing themselves about and Vitor Perreira was jumping up and down trying to push his team forward. Ndiaye was hauled down with no call from Oliver.
A lovely one two between Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall had Wolves scrambling and when Grealish put KDH into the open, his cutback was met by Ndiaye and he scored his second of the season. A lovely goal with some quality play from Everton including a beautiful step over dummy by Beto.
Iliman Ndiaye of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s second goal. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Three minutes of additional time was announced and neither team could muster up anything of note. The reain was teeming down as the teams headed into the tunnel for a cup of tea to warm their insides.
First half stats from FotMob
First half stats from FotMob
The rain continued to pelt down as the teams prepared to start the second half. Everton had the ball in the back of the net in the first minute but Ndiaye was called offside immediately. A long shot by Joao Gomes was well wide. The Wolves fans were getting frustrated by the slow buildup from their team. Wolves did set Buena on his way but Garner made a great sliding tackle to snuff out the chance.
Grealish then drove forward and his feed into Dewsbury-Hall was measured and the shot was a dart that found the top corner of the Wolves goal. What a shot! It is Grealish’s fourth assist of the season and Dewsbury-Hall’s first goal since joining the Blues.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton celebrates after scoring their 3rd goal. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The Evertonians were in full voice as they belted out “Marching Down The Goodison Road”. Wolves were struggling to make anything work which led Vitor Perreira to make three switches to his side. Tchatchoua, Andre and Arias were off with Rodrigo Gomes, Bellegarde and Lopez entering the match.
Everton were enjoying themselves and were spreading the ball around the pitch. Silky skills from Iliman Ndiaye were well received by his adoring fans. A nice cross to Bueno saw Ndiaye catch him in the box but no call was made by either Oliver or VAR.
Wolves were starting to assert themselves but Everton’s defense was standing firm. Michael Keane made a couple of important clearances. Everton brought on Barry and Iroegbunam to repalce Gueye and Beto. Wolves made another two changes to try and stem the tide.
Ndiaye drew a foul and the resulting free kick was delivered by Garner and O’Brien’s glancing header went well wide. Wolves looked like they were going nowhere but another quick ball into the box was met by Rodrigo Gomes and the Molineux crowd was back in the match as the ball flew past Pickford into the net.
Rodrigo Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates scoring his team’s second goal. Via Getty Images)
The last ten minutes would be a challenge for Everton as Wolves pressed for a tying goal. Everton were starting to look leggy as Wolves continued to push forward. Jake O’Brien was required to head the ball for a corner which then needed a good block from Keane. Dewsbury-Hall then drew a foul which gave the Blues a chance to breathe. Garner delivered and Iroegbunam’s shot was blocked.
Grealish was withdrawn with Charly Alcaraz coming on with two minutes to play. Everton were slowing down the play as six minutes of additional time was shown on the board. The game was disjointed as both teams struggled to control the ball. Wolves had the ball around the box and when Bellegarde took a shot, Pickford could only palm the ball away. It went straight to Rodrigo Gomes who should have scored but his shot went wide of the far post.
Ndiaye was withdrawn with Seamus Coleman coming on to make it a back five with one minute to go. Alcaraz had his pocket picked but there was no damage done. Another free kick for Everton chewed up more time as the Evertonians started whistling which cued Michael Oliver to blow his whistle and end the match.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s third goal. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Everton’s Man of the Match
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: From the first minute of the match, KDH was all over the pitch and was linking up beautifully with both Grealish and Ndiaye. His ability to see the pass and to work tirelessly at both ends of the pitch. Everton’s third goal and KDH’s first for the club was taken beautifully and gave no chance to Jose Sa. It has to be said that Ndiaye, Grealish and Garner all had very good games but it was KDH who was knitting it all together.
Instant Reaction
The new dawn continues to grow. Another professional win for the Blues who go into the international break in 5th place. This is shaping up like the first time that Moyes joined the club. A rescue from relegation in his first few months and then a fast start to the next season.
The quality of attacking play is at another level with the arrival of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Creativity is now on show for Everton. Their linkup play with Mykolenko on the left and Ndiaye on the right made it difficult for Wolves to know from where the attack was coming. The first two goals were beautifully created. The fluidity of the play saw Ndiaye and Grealish popping up on both sides which we have not seen for a long time. The addition of Tyler Dibling will be another rise in quality and our attacking play now has a cutting edge from which any striker will benefit.
It is interesting how David Moyes is handling the striker selection. So far, Beto and Barry have been sharing the role with Beto getting the nod today after he came on as a sub in the Carabao Cup and scored the second goal. There is still lots of talk about adding another striker with Chermitti ready to be sent out on loan. The question is whether the potential new signing will usurp both Beto and Barry and be first on the team sheet. The signing of Thierno Barry for £27m was a significant outlay and giving him chances to grow and learn as a player is so important.
0 Comments