EMI PORT IN A STORM
STEVEN GERRARD hailed his Aston Villa players for standing up to the challenge of a fired-up Everton.
Villa’s credentials – and their grit – were thoroughly tested as they came up against a team buoyed by the interim appointment of Toffees’ legend Duncan Ferguson.
Disgraceful scenes after Emi Buendia’s strike saw his Villa team-mates Lucas Digne and Matty Cash struck by objects thrown from the crowd – including what appeared to be a Lucozade bottle and a number of coins.
Merseyside police made an arrest later, by then
Gerrard had seen his men secure all three points on his first managerial visit to a ground where he is unlikely to ever be a popular figure.
On the reception he got, the Villa boss said: “I expected that and I’m totally fine with it, it’s no problem.
“I always try and make it about my players and, when the change of management happened in the week, we knew it was always going to be coming our way and we would maybe have to win a game played a different way.
“We predicted Duncan would go and put more petrol on the fire, I knew that he’d be urging them on and demanding more from them.
“They went more direct, they challenged us more, they had more opportunities, but in the main, I think to stand up to what Everton threw at us, we certainly deserved to come away as winners.”
With the game being about a pair of Liverpool and Everton legends facing off in the dugout, it was little surprise to see no shortage of commitment on the pitch.
But, while both sides impressed in application, it was an inability to combine it with quality that made the first half a difficult watch.
Buendia was a rare exception to the rule, the Argentine twice showing clever touches to work space as a No.10 – albeit before dragging his subsequent shots.
But Villa were otherwise struggling to get the ball down and play, particularly the returning Digne, who seemed to be the focus of the Everton press early doors.
Much to the delight of home fans who booed his every touch, the Frenchman’s mistake led to the hosts’ best chance of the half.
Unfortunately, an overhit pass from Abdoulaye Doucoure denied Richarlison a free run on goal after he had helped dispossess his former team-mate on the halfway line. That
was about as good as it got for the Toffees in the opening period, and they were fortunate that Ollie Watkins did not make more of two decent chances that quickly followed.
However, their luck ran out moments before half-time when Buendia nipped to the front post to send an arced header beyond the desperate dive of Jordan Pickford.
Judging by an improved secondhalf showing, Ferguson had clearly reminded his players of their responsibilities during the break.
And they began creating greater chances thanks to a more direct approach that saw Villa defensive rock Tyrone Mings targeted with aerial bombardment.
Route one almost provided rewards, with Emiliano Martinez keeping out a Ben Godfrey header and Yerry Mina twice heading narrowly wide of the mark.
But the best chance of all came courtesy of a slick passage of play that saw Anthony Gordon whip a fine, low ball in only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to
uncharacteristically poke his effort over the bar.
Although Everton failed to secure the point that their second-half flurry arguably merited, their improvement left Ferguson (below) satisfied enough.
The Toffees interim boss said: “I think you could see the effort they put in, they gave me everything and that’s all you can ask for. I cannot fault one of those players out there for their effort, absolutely not.”
The Scot also showed his support for the fans who stayed behind to express discontent over the running of the club, and added: “Fans, for me, can protest and say what they want, because it’s their club at the end of the day.
“They’ve got a right to support that club in any way, shape or form they want.
“I know how sick they are, believe me, I’m gutted as much as them.”