BARRY LEADSWAY
Veteran midfielder scores in his 600th Premier League match as Everton stay second
HE always gives the impression of being irritated; hands shoved in his pockets, brow constantly furrowed, a lecture for one of his players never far away.
Everton’s squad have quickly discovered that Ronald Koeman is not easily pleased but, in the 45nd minute of Middlesbrough’s visit to Goodison Park yesterday, the iceman melted, punched the air and beamed his delight. Everton were rampant and their manager could not contain his glee.
No wonder. What had threatened momentarily to be a game ruined by a poor refereeing decision became, in the blink of an eye, Everton’s fourth win from five matches — a victory that keeps them in second place.
Romelu Lukaku’s strike was the one that cracked Koeman’s veneer but, before that, he had seen Gareth Barry mark his 600th Premier League appearance with a rare goal and Seamus Coleman show he has captured his swagger with a moment of individual brilliance. There is a long way to go in this campaign but Everton have built firm foundations from which to attack. And while Middlesbrough were spirited and benefited from Lee Mason’s generosity, ultimately they could not live with Koeman’s team.
It had all started so sedately. Middlesbrough had a couple of half chances in the opening exchanges but they were nothing to unduly trouble the home side, whose progress under Koeman in these first couple of months has been rapid.
If anything, Everton looked the side most likely to open the scoring and Ross Bark ley, whose performance at Sunderland last Monday was wretched, was desperate to make amends, stinging the palms of goalkeeper Victor Valdes with a thumping left-footed drive after he had run on to a pass from Lukaku.
Then, though, the game exploded in a moment of controversy in the 21st minute.
There seemed little danger when George Friend, Middlesbrough’s captain, hoisted a cross into the area but everything changed as Alvaro Negredo came to challenge Maarten Stekelenburg.
The Everton goalkeeper had his eye on the cross and, just when it seemed he would gather it comfortably, Neg redo headed his left arm, the ball bounced out and, as Stekelenburg fell to the ground, he watched in bewilderment as it rolled into the Gwladys Street net.
But as everyone waited for a whistle, it never arrived. Lee Mason would not entertain Everton’s increasingly vociferous pleas for a foul, telling Barry and Barkley Stekelenburg had “dropped it”; when Stekelenburg continued the protest, his misery was exacerbated with a booking.
Goodison Park can become a dangerous arena, however, when the home fans feel they have been wronged and, suddenly, the mood changed. Every Everton tackle was met with a growl, every attack was roared a little louder. Those in blue began to feed off the anger and the game changed.
Within three minutes they were level. When Middlesbrough failed to deal with a corner, Barry was in the right place at the right time to sweep a left-footed drive beyond the stranded Valdes to make his landmark day in an appropriate manner. ‘It has been a bright start by everyone,’ said Barry. We need to set our targets high.’ Now they had a platform from which to attack, there was to be no stopping Everton. Barkley went close with another left-footed drive after he had slalomed into the area, Yannick Bolaise’s header went over the bar and Lukaku had the swagger of a striker who wanted to get in on the action. The goal which gave Everton the lead, though, came from an unexpected source but its quality was outstanding. Coleman, whose form had tailed off under previous boss Roberto Martinez, reminded everyone of his ability, dancing in from the right, skipping past Daniel Ayala before finishing calmly with his left foot.
Once they had control of the game, they were never going to relinquish their advantage and, much to Koeman’s delight, three points were effectively secured in the final action before time, when Bolaise’s cross from the right deceived everyone and skidded past Valdes, with Lukaku getting the slightest of touches to claim the goal.
Just as they had done at Sunderland, Everton had wrapped things up in the blink of an eye and it was a shame for Koeman that half-time arrived when it did; the break checked their momentum and allowed Middlesbrough to reorganise.
There was to be no more scoring and that ensured Koeman retreated back into his shell, barking and scowling. Inside he will have been delighted. He could not fail to be.