Tale of two strikers leaves toothless Toffees singing the Blues
GIVEN that Everton against Aston Villa is the most played fixture in English domestic history, perhaps it’s no surprise we saw two teams depressingly familiar with each other’s game.
Yet if that delivered the story of a contest often mired in a mediocre contest of attrition, the outcome was ultimately a tale of two strikers – one seemingly lost indefinitely, the other rediscovered.
Ollie Watkins had spent the first part of this season labouring so badly that his departure from Aston Villa had seemed inevitable, especially amid perhaps mischievous speculation of a difficult relationship with his manager Steven Gerrard.
One goal in his first 12 games before Gerrard departed hinted at a player at odds with himself, never mind his manager.
Yet since that sacking, it has been a total transformation, a centre-forward who has found not only his goalscoring touch again but perhaps himself once more.
Since the appointment of Unai Emery, he has scored seven in 12 games, hitting the net in his last five games now, the first Villa player to score in five successive league games since Paul Rideout in 1985.
He is up there with the best right now. Here at Goodison, he was the difference.
Yes, his goal which turned the entire contest was from the penalty spot – expertly delivered, it has to be said – but he was the constant threat in a game which otherwise possessed little in terms of that sort of excitement.
Watkins occupied Everton’s two centre-halves with his energy and movement, forcing a couple of fine saves from Jordan Pickford on his 350th club career appearance, and forcing the home side to sit deep.
In contrast, at the other end there was no such nuisance, nothing to trouble the Villa backline, let alone torment them as Watkins did.
There was no out-ball, no aerial threat until James Tarkowski and Conor Coady were able to venture forward for a rare set piece.
That was because Dominic Calvert-lewin is still sidelined by what was described as a small problem with a hamstring injury that forced him off after an hour during Sean Dyche’s first game in charge at Goodison.
That afternoon he had been superb, troubling an Arsenal defence which had seemed imperious all season to that point, providing a thrust and focal point which suggested
Watkins troubled Everton with his energy and movement. In contrast, at the other end, there was nothing to trouble the Villa backline
Dyche would have no problem steering his new side clear of the relegation zone.
Yet his absence leaves that prospect lingering, despite an important win here last week against fellow strugglers Leeds.
The truth is, Everton have little as an alternative to him.
Neal Maupay is a totally different forward, busy and energetic, but his game is not leading the line.
He showed that with a couple of tame efforts on goal as Dwight Mcneil delivered some telling crosses in the first hour that demanded a finish from a centre-forward.
You could almost picture
Calvert-lewin licking his lips as he provided it.
Yet he was not on the bench, and the prospect of a return seems as far away as ever.
Dyche has spoken vaguely of needing to “rebuild” his body, getting him stronger and fitter to cope with the all-round demands of the Premier League, of looking at the long term, rather than a short-term fix. Yet as Everton now sit back in the bottom three, there seems nothing beyond the grim shortterm reality of that situation. If they can’t score goals, then they will go down. So Calvert-lewin’s return cannot come too soon. Watkins shows the value of a real centreforward. Villa themselves looked candidates for relegation up until November, but his return to form has transformed them more into European hopefuls.
If Villa had always looked to have a touch more quality, then Everton created the better chances here.
You don’t stay up on expected goals, though, and when substitute Emiliano Buendia produced a touch of brilliance for a late second, it served to starkly emphasise what the Blues are patently missing.
They only had two attacking players on their bench, and five defenders.
Until Calvert-lewin makes it three, you fear Everton will wallow in the relegation mire.