Everton lined up late on Saturday afternoon away to Tottenham Hotspur surprisingly without Merlin Rohl who has looked good so far with this energy, enthusiasm and lung-busting runs. He is apparently nursing a slight injury.
The team was as below, with a statement of faith by manager David Moyes in Brennan Johnson facing the club he left just eight months ago. Also in the starting line-up and guaranteed a warm welcome given his longstanding connection with the actually successful north London team,
Arsenal, was Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Neither Jack Grealish nor Hayden Hackney were selected from the start despite both having very impactful substitute appearances last weekend. Less welcome was the sight of two goalkeepers on the bench! It maybe a sign of the lack of depth in the squad but I struggle to fathom how a place on the bench for another youngster other than Braiden Graham would be a bad thing?
The game itself got under way and the Blues quickly became trapped in their own half. Mistakes were almost costly, Thierno Barry’s loose control setting up an attack which Vitaliy Mykolenko twice defended heroically.
Van Hecke blazed over the bar soon after, Jarrad Branthwaite made a great block and Spurs were finding space with ease and the runs from deep were not being tracked by Everton. One way traffic till around the 14th minute.
Everton’s first shot was another chance for Ainsley Maitland-Niles after 15 minutes but left footed this time and just yards wide.
Ex-Liverpool full back Robertson tried to catch Jordan Pickford out at his near post unsuccessfully and at the other end James Garner’s 45th minute free kick produced a routine save for Kinsky, half-time 0-0.
Most exciting piece of action by the Toffees was in the 49th minute and saw Tyrique George have a great run down the left and Barry’s header from the cross hit Kinsky in the face and go out for a corner with the goalie scrambling.
The left side was proving to be the strongest for the Blues and after a Barry/ George combination, Mykolenko’s long throw saw Barry’s header deflected for a corner, followed quickly by a powerful George drive which was blocked.
Biggest chance came in the 65th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was presented with a golden opportunity after a terrible pass by goalkeeper Kinsky. KDH was neither alert or accurate enough and the game’s biggest chance went begging.
After 74 minutes, Dewsbury-Hall did do well to set up Johnson from 15 yards out but he skied his shot disappointingly wide of the angle.
Some good blocks by Branthwaite and Harrison Armstrong as Spurs’ pressure mounted but all that resilience was almost undone when a poor kick out from Pickford two minutes from time allowed Bergval to set himself for a shot which Pickford thankfully pushed wide.
Another towering clearing header from Branthwaite before, in the last minute, substitutes Hackney and Grealish set up Dewsbury-Hall for a shot deflected wide. Score ended 0-0.
In conclusion, not the greatest performance but another point on the board and establishing a first goalless draw at Spurs’ stadium, Spurs made a great contribution to that also!
Also, Jordan Pickford celebrated his 100th Premier League clean sheet, congratulations to him! Performance ratings below:
Jordan Pickford 6
Not much to do (it was Spurs after all) but he got away with a poor kick and did most things well. Distribution generally not great
Ainsley Maitland-Niles 6.5
At times had little protection against fast wingers and defensively he was occasionally uncomfortable but his use of the ball was measured and clever and he got into some good attacking positions
James Tarkowski 6.5
Did quite well against a lively attack, played Spurs onside for one chance but organised and rallied his teammates well
Jarrad Branthwaite 8
Almost back to his best. Some great interceptions and blocks and his distribution was very good.
Vitalii Mykolenko 8.5
Best performance for years from the Ukrainian, several telling blocks, up against Savio and some strong runs from deep. His long throws seem to have gained an extra yard or two also and he got into some decent attacking positions.
James Garner 6.5
Along with his teammates he was too easily by-passed in the first half but was instrumental in the good things the Blues did in the second half. Looked much fitter than last week and some good interceptions and passing.
Harrison Armstrong 6
He didn’t have a great first half to be honest but he grew into the game and was influential in the second half. Never gave up or let his head drop.
Brennan Johnson 4
That’s a generous 4 as he had a poor game defensively, frankly he can’t defend very well and offensively his touch crossing and passing wasn’t good at all. The miss after being set up by KDH was his last chance and he blew it. He needs to find himself again.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 5.5
I don’t think he has been anywhere near the KDH of last season. I don’t know why and yet even when he’s not at his best he is key to the way we play. Some good passages, just not consistent and he knew he blew the chance to give us all 3 points
Tyrique George 7.5
I was amongst many to be surprised at seeing him make way before the ineffective Johnson. Some of his runs were great, occasionally he got caught in possession but the only reason for that was all the attacks were down the left hand side and Spurs double-teamed him. Unlucky to come off after 64 minutes!
Thierno Barry 6.5
Had to battle on his own and never gave up. Some chances came his way and he got them on target or deflected for a corner. Needed a bit more luck and a lot more support
Sub Jack Grealish 6.5
Did what Jack does well, gain and keep control and win free-kicks. Clearly getting near full match sharpness.
Sub Hayden Hackney 6
Shoe-horned into a right wing berth after Johnson was hooked. Did OK and the right side looked more solid
Sub Jake O’Brien 6.5
He gets an extra half point for going back into “right back prison” without a murmur. Some good clearances and shrugged off some of Spurs attackers by using his frame well and contributed to the rearguard spirit.
