Timid Everton sink to new low
Already eliminated and now embarrassed. On this evidence even Lloyds of London are unlikely to be able to salvage David Unsworth’s stricken job application.
On a day when plans for a £300 million stadium gathered momentum, it is the short-tomedium-term recovery of an ailing football operation that is now of greater concern.
True, there was nothing riding on the outcome, and the inconvenience of this inconsequential fixture was underlined by the nine changes to the Everton starting line-up from their last Premier League outing.
But it was the manner of this dreadful result that will have damaged Unsworth the most.
Even the interim manager described it as “unacceptable”. Everton were simply swept aside by an organised Atalanta team who, until last night, had failed to win away from home this season.
This 5-1 reversal represented Everton’s heaviest defeat since they conceded five at Benfica in 2009. It has been an excruciating Europa League campaign, the worst endured by an English club.
Cuco Martina, one of those suffering from ring-rust early on, was exposed as Atalanta penetrated down the Everton left to open the scoring with their first attacking sortie in the 12th minute.
Timothy Castagne dashed beyond him and embarrassingly made light work of Michael Keane’s attempt to halt his progress before squaring for Bryan Cristante to score. A series of misplaced passes, hurried clearances and over-hit crosses contributed to the incoherent pattern of Everton’s play as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team comfortably picked them off.
For all their failings the hosts should have drawn level before the interval. Kevin Mirallas, Sandro and Tom Davies, all had opportunities but errant finishing and misfortune conspired against them.
Joel Robles’ heroics were also not enough. The goalkeeper was outstanding, saving Alejandro Gomez’s penalty, on an evening that could have been considerably worse.
The ubiquitous Cristante headed a second goal in the 63rd minute and, while Sandro briefly raised hopes of a revival with fine finish in the 71st minute, substitute Robin Gosen’s restored the Italians’ twogoal advantage in the 86th minute.
The former Cardiff City forward Andreas Cornelius confirmed Atalanta’s supremacy on a woeful evening for Everton by adding a fourth in the 88th minute and a fifth in injury time.
Time seems to be running out for Unsworth, whose last task in his current role might be to send out the side at Southampton on Sunday.
Wayne Rooney incredibly claimed the side is improving under Unsworth. “There’s been a change of manager, it’s been a positive change in terms of performances, tonight aside,” Rooney said. “You can see that on the pitch. We have to keep trying to pick up points in the Premier League and try and climb up the league.
“It’s down to the board. That’s their decision [whether to appoint Unsworth permanently]. Since David Unsworth has come in, there has been a great atmosphere amongst the players, some positive results and the players are enjoying day-to-day training, so the board have got a decision to make and I am sure they are working on it.
“There’s nothing much more to add. We wanted to win the game, we haven’t and that has hurt us.” Everton