After a strong start to the season, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s waning performances seemed to reflect in Everton’s results on the pitch, especially in the defeats against Manchester City and Tottenham and the draw
away at Sunderland.
But the Blues’ summer signing from Chelsea roared back into form against Fulham in the last game before the international break. The versatile midfielder was unfortunate to not have a goal in that game with a marginal offside call going against Thierno Barry before he laid on a peach of a corner for Michael Keane to head home the Toffees’ second and kill off the game.
Then last night the 27-year-old sparkled again for ten-man Everton, scoring the game’s only goal at Manchester United and thwarting the home side time and again in the 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
Speaking after the game, the former Leicester City player said –
“It was a rollercoaster game. I will sleep well tonight, put it that way. I’m so genuinely happy for the lads considering how hard they all worked. It was a fantastic performance where we just gritted away, got a goal and showed that spirit. I’m so thankful we got all three points.”
The Blues were reduced to ten men after just thirteen minutes following a spat between teammates Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane, with the ensuing fisticuffs resulting in the former getting sent off by referee Tony Harrington.
“It was just a moment of madness. It was obviously avoidable. All I can say is Idrissa apologised to us all at half-time and said his piece. That’s all he can do and we move on from it.
“The reaction from the lads after it was unbelievable, top tier. We could’ve easily crumbled, gone in on ourselves and lost the game comfortably, but it probably made us grow even more as a team.
“The manager just said he would deal with the situation another time and it was just about keeping to the plan that we had. He just wanted us to continue what we were doing and focus on the things we can change.”
His goal was a thing of beauty, with James Garner finding Dewsbury-Hall in the inside left channel where he bounced off two tackles to curl a shot in, with United goalkeeper Senne Lammens getting a hand to it but unable to prevent the goal.
“I found myself in a little pocket, Jimmy [James Garner] found me and I thought to myself that I was going to swing it on my right. I can’t say I’ve done that many times on my right foot. I didn’t even know I had that in my locker, but I’ll take it.”
Dewsbury-Hall also thanked the very vocal Everton traveling support who made themselves heard loudly and often throughout the game for helping him settle in.
“I’ve absolutely loved it since arriving. I always said for me to leave my old club, it would have to be an exciting project. I think Everton is the perfect example of that with their new stadium and new ownership.
“I want to be part of this group that’s going to take the club forward. I can’t thank the fans enough for the way they have treated me and my family since I’ve been here. It makes me want to run through brick walls for them.”
