Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THEO’S VILLA KILLER
Late Walcott leveller leaves Smith’s side staring at drop
FOR Aston Villa, fate could hardly have been crueller.
Clinging desperately on to what appeared a huge victory at Goodison – and with it their Premier League status – they conceded an equaliser three agonising minutes from time, in the most painful manner possible.
When Andre Gomes sent in a hopeful cross to the far post, substitute Theo Walcott’s header back across goal crossed the line despite the desperate attempts of defender Ezri Konsa to clear it. The goal, confirmed by goalline technology, levelled the scores and left Villa staring into the abyss.
It was the home side’s only attempt on target all game – Konsa had opened the scoring for the visitors on 72 minutes.
Villa had even spurned a gilt-edged chance to double their lead and secure those three precious points – when Jack Grealish crossed for Anwar El Ghazi just four yards out.
But somehow he managed to turn the ball wide.
It seems an ominous moment for a team who struggle to score goals, but must now – at the bare minimum – take a point from Arsenal in their next match, then beat West Ham in the final game, to stand any chance of staying up. Even then, the Hammers could deny them.
Given Konsa’s stab from close range, after a simple set-piece delivery from Conor Hourihane, was for Villa their single shot on target, it may already be too late for Dean Smith’s side.
They have not recorded two consecutive wins since October, scoring just five goals in eight matches since the Premier League restarted in June. Those are the statistics of a side who seem doomed, and especially one who could muster so few attempts on target in a game they had to win.
This was a dire contest, because Everton, who have had desperate struggles of their own since the restart, also lacked invention and ambition. Some moan about face masks, but at least they allow you to yawn discreetly.
There have been 328 days between the Premier League meetings of these two sides this season, the first game, which Villa won 2-0 way back in August, when a virus was something you picked up on an exotic holiday.
This time, the Toffees had a single point from their last three games, something that has had their fans calling for change and manager Carlo Ancelotti scouring the European transfer market.
The Italian had promised a passionate response from his team, but instead he got an insipid performance, summed up by the fact that even the goal they scored required goalline tech to confirm it as Konsa’s attempt to clear the ball came up short.
Villa wanted it more but not badly enough, as they capitulated so late on under Toffees pressure. Such moments define seasons.