EUROPA LEAGUE STOP THE VIOLENCE
Koeman hits out but Hajduk thugs can’t spoil Everton’s night
The latest chapter of the everton revolution was not televised after broadcasters decided against snapping up the rights to this europa League play-off.
They might have missed a trick, as the hosts put themselves in a prime position to make the tournament proper in an entertaining affair held up briefly by crowd trouble.
First-half goals from Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye ensured everton take a healthy lead to Croatia for the second leg. But Ronald Koeman was furious at his side’s failure to kill the tie after their failure to add to their tally. And he blasted their drop in pace after half-time.
‘I’m really happy about the first half and really unhappy about the second,’ the manager said. ‘I think we lost a big opportunity to score more goals and to decide qualification.
‘The way we dropped the tempo, I don’t think it was about being tired. I don’t think our opponent made it more difficult, it was us. hajduk had two or three chances and we were lucky.’
Keane’s opener, his first goal for the club, sparked unrest among the 1,500 away fans, who attempted to storm the everton supporters in the Park end.
With bottles and seats thrown by the visiting contingent, police and stewards stepped in and a ball boy was dragged to safety.
The ugly scenes held up the game for four minutes before order was restored. ‘I’m disappointed but it’s not my job,’ Koeman said of the trouble. ‘We need it to stop.’
Returning hero Wayne Rooney put in another lively performance following his goalscoring Premier League start on Saturday, setting up Gueye for the second with a smart through-ball.
The game came too early for Gylfi Sigurdsson, everton’s club record £45million signing from Swansea City, brought in to create similar chances.
his spark would have been welcome in a lacklustre second period with new keeper Jordan Pickford called into action to prevent the suddenly lively visitors grabbing an away goal.
Koeman was impressed. ‘I’m really happy (with Pickford),’ he said. ‘It’s a fourth clean sheet in a row and that’s really positive. he was the one who played for 90 minutes on a high level.’
The evening was also notable for the inclusion of winger Aaron Lennon on the everton bench.
The former Leeds man was detained under the Mental health Act in April but returned for pre- season training. Lennon’s last appearance was in February and it is to be hoped his next one is not far off.
‘he is part of the squad,’ said Koeman. ‘he is always working hard. I am pleased that he is back. We had some injury concerns and he was part of the team.’