MY TERRIERS STILL UNDERDOGS
JORDAN PICKFORD admits Everton must sort out their defending at corners if they are to prevent a promising start to the season turning sour.
The Toffees conceded their fourth goal from corners this season and went off to boos from the home crowd.
Everton’s defenders are still adapting to new boss Marco Silva’s preference for zonal marking at corner-kicks and, though they are still unbeaten, they have won just one of their opening four games.
This time it was Philip Billing making use of the gaps in their defence to head a 33rd-minute corner past Pickford for Huddersfield’s second goal of the campaign.
“Everyone has got their own different ways that they like to set up from a corner,” said England keeper Pickford. “The main thing is not to concede but we have conceded too many. It’s cost us four points in the last three games and we need to sort it out.
“The manager is massive on offensive set-plays too and we have scored a couple of goals that way. If we can keep scoring and stop conceding, that’s how you win games.”
Dominic Calvert-lewin, on the mark twice in midweek in the League Cup win over Rotherham, hauled Everton level just 87 seconds after going behind, glancing home Lucas Digne’s cross for his first Premier League goal of the season.
But in a game of few chances, Silva’s side lacked creativity in the final third in the absence of the suspended Richarlison.
It showed there are some teething problems for Everton’s new style of football under the Portuguese boss.
“We all know how to play football. I think with the gaffer’s way of playing football – good football, good on the eye – we have the ability to do it,” said Pickford. “We have just got to HUDDERSFIELD boss David Wagner claims it will be even harder to keep the Terriers in the top flight this season.
Wagner’s side are five points worse off than they were at this stage last year and must battle for survival against rivals who have heavily outspent them in the transfer market.
The Terriers boss, whose dogs of war finished four points clear of the trust ourselves to do it and, if we do, it will be easier.”
Everton are confident their summer signing Bernard, out with a muscle problem, will be fit to feature against West Ham after the international break.
And they will also hope fellow new recruits Yerry Mina, their £28million defender, and Andre Gomes, the midfielder on loan from Barcelona, can make their debuts against the struggling Hammers at Goodison on September 16.
Silva knows his Everton side won’t click until he has his full relegation slots last term, said: “To stay up would be the third title in a row for our football club, there is no doubt about that.
“But we are the underdogs again. We accept this role but it doesn’t mean we can’t prove everybody wrong again.”
Wagner (right) added: “I can’t influence what other clubs will do but I think that this season is harder. The quality and the competition we face is better than last season.” squad available to him, although he will have to do without England defender Phil Jagielka for around a month after he underwent a minor knee operation.
“It is clear that when you have everyone ready to work every day, then you will be stronger,” the Everton boss said.
“It isn’t the best for me but it is something I expected since we finished in the transfer market on the last day.”