Everton’s final game of the season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as Sunderland visited our new home for the first time. Only one point separated the teams at kickoff as Sunderland have had an excellent season considering this was their first Premier League season in nine years.
The sun was shining down on the faithful as the teams walked out to the sound of Z Cars. A large banner of Bradley Lowery was unveiled in the buildup and it was warmly received. Bradley would have been 15 if he would not have been taken
so early by cancer.
Team News
Moyes stuck with the team that drew with Palace last week. Seamus Coleman was on the bench for the final time at home in an Everton shirt.
Match Report
The kickoff saw Pickford slam a long ball that Beto could not get to the ball. Everton were pressing high up the pitch but Sunderland were getting on the ball in the early moments. A great ball by Rohl into the middle but Beto could not get it under control and Roefs picked up the loose ball. Moments later, Rohl was taken down by Mukiele which gave Garner a chance to deliver the free kick but Roefs punched it clear.
Sunderland broke forward but some nice defending shut the door on Angulo. Sunderland were pressuring Everton who seemed quite passive in their defending as the Black Cats searched for a first goal. I was all a bit scrappy and neither team could keep the ball for long enough to make an impact. Alderete pulled up with an apparent hip injury which forced him to leave and be replaced by Luke O’Nien.
Tim Iroegbunam went in on Mandava and received a yellow for his efforts. Everton finally broke out and a promising attack came to nothing as Beto’s layoff was poor. Everton got on the ball for a sustained period of possession which led to a long shot from Garner that was easily saved. A long throw from Mykolenko was headed on goal by Tarkowski but Roefs got a finger on it. The chances were coming.
More good possession led to a cross from KDH, but Beto could only get a glancing header that went wide of the post. The Toffee’s efforts were rewarded when Merlin Rohl broke inside and drove a low ball goalward and when the ball hit Xhaka, the ball went into the Sunderland goal. Another lead to protect as the supporters cheered their heroes.
Three minutes of additional time was announced as Sunderland tried to get a quick response. Some good defending by Mykolenko snuffed out the only chance as the whistle was blown to end the half.
Sunderland got the second half underway. Pickford was under pressure early when he failed to clearly punch the ball clear. The scrambling start continued when O’Brien could not keep up with Angulo and was given a yellow card for pulling back the winger. Beto kept the ball nicely and dribbled through a couple of players which was appreciated by the Evertonians present.
It all got a little heated when Beto was tackled and was not given a free kick. Sunderland were then given a free kick which had Moyes jumping up and down on the sideline. Iroegbunam then appeared to handle the ball but it was outside the box so no VAR to mess it up. Everton were struggling to get going in the half. Pickford had to tip the ball over the bar when a cross was sliced and headed toward’s Pickford’s goal.
A quick breakout from a Sunderland corner was worked nicely by KDH, but Ndiaye’s pass to Beto was too close to the keeper. Everton then paid the price when O’Brien tried a layoff that went all wrong and Brobbey pushed Tarkowski off the ball and slid the ball past Pickford. All tied up and another lead lost.
Hume was withdrawn for Talbi as Everton pushed forward. Another nice breakout saw Ndiaye cut inside but his shot was blocked. The crowd responded and when O’Brien headed a ball across the Sunderland six yard box, it was Roefs who punched the ball away with Beto ready to pounce. Everton were buzzing around the Black Cats goal
Moyes made a double change with Iroegbunam and Beto being withdrawn for George and Barry. It was George who was quickly into the action and a nice one two with KDH needed a sliding defensive tackle to prevent another chance. Everton were the more likely to score when LeBriss made three changes with Angulo, Brobbey and Sidiki being replaced by Rigg, Isidor and Diarra.
An errant pass from Pickford put Everton on the back foot and when the ball went wide to Rigg, no one in Blue wanted to put in a tackle and Le Fée the ball off Ndiaye and into the Everton net. The Sunderland fans went bonkers and the Everton fans expressed their fury.
With six minutes to go Everton tried to get the ball forward. George drilled a ball into the box and O’Brien thumped a header which hit Roefs and went over the bar. It should have been a goal. Sunderland counter attacked and they should have finished it off but Diarra held onto the ball and allowed Everton to get back and snuff out the chance.
Merlin Rohl was replaced by McNeil and Seamus came on to say farewell as he replaced O’Brien. The crowd welcomed him with open arms and a nice rendition of ‘60 Grand’. The board was raised and it had a number six on it. When Sunderland drilled the ball across the Everton box, Coleman left it and Isidor was there to slam the ball into the net and finish off the game.
The match was done and when the final whistle was blown, the Black Cats celebrated and the Evertonians booed.
Everton’s Man of the Match
Merlin Rohl: The young German has had to be patient and with Idrissa Gueye on the treatment table, that chance finally arrived. Today, his presence throughout the match competing for every ball and driving the team forward was one of the few positives on the day. His goal was a perfect example as he was willing to take the chance when it presented itself. There is a player in there and each game seems to show glimpses of what the future holds for our team.
Instant Reaction
A sad end to a day that saw Everton sit in 8th place at one point but they end the day in 11th. Another lead disappears and a day that held so much promise, ended with so much disappointment. The usual end of the season walkabout by the team had so few fans left in the stadium that spoke volumes about where Evertonians stood.
Everton have struggled defensively in the past few weeks. The once impenetrable James Tarkowski has been under the microscope and today’s performance will not slow those criticisms. The Sunderland goal was an error by O’Brien but the inability of Tarkowski to manage Brobbey was obvious. Tarks was pushed off the ball and the goal was scored. At 34, his presence on the pitch is fading and our defensive record in the second half of the season is a testament to that fact.
The final home match for Seamus saw him come on for the last ten minutes. His error on the final goal needs to be quickly forgotten and the million memories of “Sixty Grand Seamus” have to be remembered and celebrated. There has not been a more professional player to put on an Everton shirt for many years. Thank you, Seamus!
This was the 19th match at our new home on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey. A switch to a new venue has been challenging for many teams and this move did not got without issue. Everton recorded a home Premier League record of 6 wins, 5 draws, and 8 losses. 52,500 fans filled the stadium and have seen some great moments. We had one more win this year compared to our last at Goodison. Both are not good enough and although it is an incredible stadium, it is not our fortress and that needs to change.
An emotional day for many as tributes were paid to Bradley Lowery and Michael Jones at the 15th and 26th minute respectively. Everton has always been connected to the community in a very meaningful way and these important moments pay tributes to the real heroes.
