Match Review - Sheffield United 0 Everton 1 - Everton win without Richarlison!

If ever there was a game that represented the traditional "banana skin", this was it. Sheffield United - no wins and 2 points after 14 games. Everton - missing Digne, Allan, Rodriguez and Richarlison, and dumped out of the Carabao Cup in midweek in a game where I thought the players looked visibly jaded.

Add to that the fact that we still haven't won a game without Richarlison since we signed him and that the incentive was there for Everton to go 2nd with a win after other results earlier in the day, and we were in prime "doing an Everton" territory.

Carlo Ancelotti chose to revert to the back 4 which served him so well in the games against Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal, with Mason Holgate coming back into the team in place of Seamus Coleman. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Anthony Gordon given a start on the left hand side, rather than Bernard who I had expected to see instead.

The first half passed by relatively uneventfully, with very few chances for both teams - having your 3 most creative players missing was never going to be conducive to a fast flowing, attacking performance from Everton. We huffed and puffed, with Iwobi being the one who I felt tried to drive us forward the most, but with very little bite in the final third.

Our best chance of the first half fell to Dominic Calvert-Lewin - the man you would want it to fall to - and I actually felt he should have done better. That might be harsh and I'd like to see it again, but having done all of the hard work superbly well by picking a long ball out of the air on his chest, he took his shot on the volley and fired it just wide of the far post. I was disappointed in his finish as I thought he had time to take a touch or even just let the ball bounce in order to steady himself. Either way he should have hit the target, especially given the form he has been in.

The second half was very much more of the same - Everton controlling the play up the the final third but without the urgency and cutting edge to fashion a clear cut chance. As the half progressed it became more and more evidence that if the game was to be won it was only going to be by the odd goal.

It was frustrating to watch if I'm honest. I couldn't help but feel that had we had our most creative players on the pitch we'd have had the game won by half time, such was the lack of threat and quality on show from Sheffield United.

Once the manager made the changes, Bernard and Coleman in particular, I felt the game begin to shift in our favour. Bernard was much more involved that the unfortunate Anthony Gordon, who found it difficult on his return to the starting 11. He brought that little bit of experience and quality that we know he is capable of but more often than not eludes him.

Similarly on the other side of the pitch I thought the decision to bring Coleman on for Keane was a good one. It gave us a second attacking threat on the right hand side and Coleman's drive and determination to win was of great value. Our goal came during a period in the game in which we had Sheffield United pinned back, with Coleman delivering a couple of dangerous balls into the box which they struggled to deal with. For all the things Mason Holgate does well he just doesn't give you what Seamus can going forward.

One of said dangerous balls resulted in Chris Basham only being able to head the ball up the in air, with landing at the foot of Bernard. This was where Bernard demonstrated the quality he has and perhaps the reason why he had been brought on for Gordon, as he cushioned a perfectly weighted volleyed pass to Doucoure inside the penalty area, who then laid off for Sigurdsson to slot home the winner

It was one of the only real moments of quality in the game and was enough to see off Sheffield United and earn Everton their 4th win in a row in the league.

My overriding feeling after the game was one of relief if the truth be told. This game had all the hallmarks of a disaster waiting to happen for Everton, but the players did a professional job in difficult circumstances and in the absence of arguably our 4 best players.

In a year that has been unlike any other in all walks of life, this Premier League season has been no different. That we are 2nd in the table going into the final game of 2020 - without, in my view, having reached our full potential as a team yet - is testament to the fact that this season is going to throw up many weird and wonderful things. It is up to us to try and take advantage of it and so far we are doing just that.

Being able to win when not playing well is something all successful sides need to be able to do. Tonight was an example of us being far from our best but taking the spoils nonetheless. If we can continue to pick up points in the way that we have whilst Digne, Allan, Rodriguez, Richarlison and even Gbamin are out of the side, when these 5 players are back fit and available who knows what we could go on to achieve.

Positive - The Substitutions Worked!

Regular readers will know I've been pretty scathing about the strength of our squad and the quality of the players coming off the bench in previous blogs. It is for that reason that I wanted to single them out for some praise tonight. Credit where credit is due, I thought all 3 substitutions played their part in us taking home the points tonight.

Bernard and Coleman I felt carried us forward and increased the intensity of our attacking play - which we had been crying out for throughout the game. When Gomes came on he actually brought an element of calmness which we needed once we went in front, putting his foot on the ball, keeping possession and winning fouls at the right times.

I still think that if we really want to go places this season then reinforcements will be needed in the January transfer window, but it was refreshing for once to see the squad players come in and make an impact.

Negative - Sheffield United

Not a negative on our part - we are 2nd after all - but I'm sorry to say Sheffield United are one of the poorest Premier League sides I can ever remember seeing. I wouldn't begrudge them staying up at all given the connection to Everton through Jagielka and Calvert-Lewin, but it's easy to see how and why they are now 15 league games without a win. It's a long way back for them from this point.

Suppose it kind of serves them right for spending all that money on Brewster.

Player Ratings

Pickford - 6 - virtually nothing to do, distribution generally good

Godfrey - 8 - the more I see of the lad the more I think he's the second best left back in Premier League history (behind Leighton Baines of course)

Holgate - 6 - defended well as usual but was disappointed with him in possession, gave the ball away a lot

Keane - 7 - had a good game until he was substituted for the more attacking Coleman

Mina - 8 - MOTM, thought he was excellent today, dealt with everything he faced with ease

Davies - 7 - did ok, stuck to his task of shielding the back 4 and did it well

Doucoure - 7 - sometimes sloppy with the ball but the legs in midfield we have craved for so long

Sigurdsson - 6 - thought he had a poor game overall and set piece deliveries were abysmal, but scored the winner

Iwobi - 7 - one of our better performers, if he had an end product he'd be dangerous

Gordon - 5 - difficult night for him and wasn't really involved, hooked early in second half

Calvert-Lewin - 7 - not a lot of service again tonight, but worked hard as always and hold up play outstanding

Bernard - 7 - actually got involved and made an impact for once, lovely lay off in the build up to the goal

Coleman - 7 - tried to get forward and force the issue, goal came from period of sustained pressure which led from his crosses into the box

Gomes - 6 - much improved performance from midweek, both kept and carried the ball in the right moments