ASH, BANG WALLOPED

Williams fights & scores but Everton crash

RONALD KOEMAN admitted “maybe I am in a crisis” before last night’s game.

There’s no maybe about it after he saw Everton slump to their sixth defeat in 10 games.

Craig Shakespeare was sacked at Leicester for less and the pressure is undoubtedly building on Koeman.

The Blues boss claims he still has the backing of the board and few chairmen are as supportive as Bill Kenwright.

But even the impresario’s patience must be wearing thin with Koeman starring in his own version of Brewster’s Millions, having blown £150m to take Everton backwards.

Their season is disintegrating and they could be out of Europe before the Christmas lights are switched on, standing rockbottom of Group E with just one point at the halfway stage.

The only small positive from this latest reverse was the fight, literally in Ashley Williams’ case, shown by the players and they are going to need more of it to end this slump and save Koeman’s job.

Williams, who sparked a melee when he shoved over Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes, thought he had earned Everton a point when he headed home, only for Bertrand Traore to break Blue hearts with a backheeled winner.

Despite Everton’s desperate need for a win, Koeman made five changes as he rested players for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.

Leighton Baines, Idrissa Gueye and Gylfi Sigurdsson started on the bench, while Wayne Rooney had the night off. Everton seemed to take their cue from Koeman’s team selection and could not have looked more dozy if they were tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle.

They barely touched the ball as Lyon took advantage of their lethargy to seize control.

Former Manchester United winger Memphis Depay slipped in Fernando Marcal on the left for Mason Holgate to cut him down in a suicidal challenge. Skipper Nabil Fekir dispatched the penalty beyond Jordan Pickford after six minutes.

Williams shoved Lopes out of play as he caught the ball to spark a melee involving 19 players. Even some

Everton fans tried to get involved before order was restored and Williams and

Traore booked.

Williams thought he had his revenge on 69 minutes when he headed home Sigurdsson’s freekick. But Lyon sub

Maxwel Cornet crossed for Traore to backheel a cheeky winner.

BRAWL OVER NOW Williams sparked a big bust-up when he shoved the Lyon goalkeeper