Lawrence the driving force in comeback
SAMBA DRUMS were played on the pitch before kick-off at Goodison Park.
But it was their brilliant Brazilian duo of Bernard and Richarlison who brought the beat that Everton’s revival under Carlo Ancelotti continues to be in tune to.
They were superb goals in a solid showing sprinkled with some shaky patches. But the Toffees are now seventh in the Premier
League table – ahead of Manchester United and Wolves.
That was unthinkable when they were thumped 5-2 by neighbours Liverpool before Christmas in Marco Silva’s final game in charge, which left them in the relegation zone.
But first under caretaker Duncan Ferguson and now in the hands of serial winner Ancelotti they have turned their season around.
The Italian’s fifth league win came thanks to a beautiful volley from Bernard, then a rip-roaring run and finish from Richarlison before Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the goal his performance deserved.
The strikes from the Brazilians came either side of a Jordan Pickford howler which gifted Christian Benteke a rare goal.
In fact, it was a rare goal for Palace. They are without a win in seven league games and have scored just 23 this season – the lowest total in the division.
Roy Hodgson admitted it is something they will have to address ahead of a crucial run of games which sees them face Newcastle, Brighton, Watford and Bournemouth. The Eagles boss, however, will not be using the 14-day break to take his players on a training camp.
He said: “I am concerned about the lack of goals but if we continue to play like that and create chances then they will come.
“We have a good break now. We aren’t taking the players away.
“They will get some time off but they will all have individual fitness programmes to do and we hope they come back refreshed.
“It’s important that they come back fit and ready for the last 12 games.”
As for Everton, there were moments throughout the match which shows Ancelotti’s work is still very much in progress.
But there is certainly plenty of development to be seen already.
This side was often questioned about their character after failing to win one game in 18 months under Silva when they had fallen behind in the league.
But last week at Watford they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
And here when Benteke scored and Palace piled on some pressure, the home side didn’t buckle.
They got themselves reorganised and they got back ahead to secure the three points.
It all seems to be going in the right direction so far in the hands of Ancelotti.
He joked that he may now finally be a magician after turning the Toffees’ season around so far that they are now in real contention for a European place.
And it was a magical finish which put them in front here in the 18th minute. Patrick van Aanholt hitting the post with a deflected strike certainly
shook the
Everton players into life. Theo Walcott then shuffled into space to deliver a fine cross that was met by a Bernard volley that beat Vicente Guaita.
Walcott’s assist was added to his winning goal from last week at Watford.
But not long after he was hobbling off with a leg injury.
Unfortunately that has summed up the England ace’s career to date.
There was some comedy in the moment he was taken off though as replacement Djibril Sidibe had to run back down the tunnel as he had forgotten to put one of his socks on.
Ancelotti didn’t see the funny side as he was worried his team were down to 10 men.
Benteke put Palace level in the 51st minute when he nodded the ball down to Wilfried Zaha who returned it to the Belgian to take strike.
But the angle was too tight and Pickford should never have allowed the ball to go under him.
Remarkably that was Benteke’s first goal of the season for Palace.
Everton were shaken and a Van Aanholt corner caused mayhem and almost found its way into the net moments later.
But then a clearance was superbly kept in play by Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison charged on to it.
The nimble samba star had Palace defender Gary Cahill twisting and turning before he burst past and then fired low into the bottom corner with just over half an hour to go.
Moments later Pickford made up for his earlier error by denying Benteke a second with a save from point-blank range, the Belgian’s header bouncing off England’s No. 1.
Calvert-Lewin got the third late on when he tapped home after a Richarlison header from Lucas Digne’s corner came off the bar, securing the three points for Everton.
TOM LAWRENCE’S explosive winner gave Derby their first away win in the Championship since the summer.
Prior to Lawrence sealing victory in the 80th minute, you had to go back to August 5 for the last time the Rams had won on the road.
Swansea fell a goal down to Martyn Waghorn, turned things around with two goals in two minutes through Yan Dhanda and Kyle Naughton, but then got caught by two counter-attacks.
The first gave Duane Holmes the chance to half-volley in for 2-2, the second ended with Lawrence firing past Freddie Woodman.
Derby boss Phillip Cocu claimed he was delighted with his side’s character.
He said: “Everybody knew the away games have been an issue and then we conceded two goals in two minutes.
“To get back the belief that we could win the game again isn’t easy, so I’ve got a lot of respect for the team.”
It was Lawrence’s shot in the eighth minute that Woodman tipped on to the post, Waghorn swept in the rebound.
Swansea brought Dhanda off the bench at the interval and he struck a superb 25-yard drive for the equaliser.
Naughton made it 2-1 moments later getting on the end of a cross.
But Holmes and then Lawrence turned things around to give Derby the three points.
Swans boss Steve Cooper said: “We shot ourselves in the foot really. I think we’ve given the three points to Derby.”