Unsworth’s Toffees won’t stick together
NO MATTER who takes charge of this Everton side, they will have a massive job on their hands on this evidence.
The Toffees surrendered three goals in 20 minutes as they crashed out of Europe last night.
All the focus is on whether caretaker manager David Unsworth is the right man to replace Ronald Koeman or whether they should appoint an outsider to save their season.
But this is a squad without confidence and looking like they lack the mental strength needed to turn this disastrous season around, not to mention missing the presence of Romelu Lukaku to fi nish off the few chances they create.
Bertrand Traore, Houssem Aouar and former Manchester United man Memphis Depay scored the goals as Everton departed the Europa League with two group games to go.
A bad night was made worse by Morgan Schneiderlin’s foolish red card and, more worryingly, Cuco Martina leaving the stadium on a stretcher before being taken to hospital after suffering a neck injury.
“The mentality must be stronger and we must have the courage to be strong when we go behind and stick together,” said Unsworth.
“We can’t have players playing as individuals and making silly mistakes, we have to remain positive and stay together.”
An impressive showing here would have done no harm for Unsworth’s job prospects, with the likes of Sam Allardyce and Burnley manager Sean Dyche also under consideration, but he now accepts Sunday’s Premier League clash with Watford is his final chance to land the job.
Lyon started the more positive side with Traore and Nabil Fekir forcing saves from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford before attention turned to the well- being of Martina.
The full- back had fallen hard on the back of his head and neck after going up for a challenge and appeared to be out cold for a few moments when he hit the fl oor.
On reports that Martina had problems with the feeling in his legs, Unsworth said: “I’m not too sure, the report from the doctor was that he was complaining of pains in his neck and he was concussed.
“He has gone straight to hospital for X- rays and scans so we wish him all the best.”
Gylfi Sigurdsson had Everton’s only real chance of the half but he fluffed it on another uninspiring night for the £ 45million signing, albeit in an unfamiliar lone striker role.
Idrissa Gueye came closer after the break, when he had a low strike saved by Anthony Lopes. But in the 68th minute, the hosts were in front when Tanguy Ndombele played in Traore and he rounded Pickford before slotting home.
Substitute Aouar scored a second in the 76th minute after cute build- up play from Depay. And then Schneiderlin was sent off for a second bookable offence when, frustrated after a bad touch, he tripped Maxwel Cornet.
The suffering was complete when Depay got on the scoresheet himself with two minutes to go as he headed Jordan Ferri’s cross past Pickford.
Everton are now out of the Europa League, out of the Carabao Cup and in the Premier League’s relegation zone – and it is only November 3.