Plucky Pickford is floored by El Ghazi
ANWAR EL GHAZI left Everton’s hopes of European football next season in tatters with a second-half peach.
The Dutchman beat Jordan Pickford with a curling effort to move Villa in to the top 10.
Defeat was a harsh on the hosts, and Dominic Calvertlewin – scorer of their goal – and Jordan Pickford particularly.
The Goodison Park striker delivered more compelling evidence why he can play a starring role in Gareth Southgate’s Euro squad this summer.
England’s boss watched on as Calvert-lewin expertly headed his 20th club goal of the season – his 24th in total.
The 24-year-old is enjoying his best ever campaign in an Everton shirt and his effort cancelled out Ollie Watkins opener for Villa.
With Watkins also on a mission to impress Southgate in the final weeks of the season the Villa striker did his cause no harm – especially with Euro bosses able to pick 26-man squads.
The £28million former Brentford star was a constant threat with his pace and energy, even leaving pacy defensive duo Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey struggling to contain him.
But they were both eclipsed by a brave show from Pickford, who stopped Villa from being out of sight before the late kick in the teeth.
It is Everton’s home form that has cost them this season and they have now lost a club-record eight games at home.
Any pre-match nerves weren’t helped when James Rodriguez pulled out after being injured in the warm-up.
And when they slipped behind to a Watkins goal after 13 minutes it looked like another sticky night for the Toffees.
Dean Smith’s side pressed high and hard but their opener was a gift from Holgate.
Realising he couldn’t play
Everton ....................... 1 Aston Villa .................. 2 out from the back, the defender turned towards his own goal but was mugged by Watkins who recovered from a slip to slide the ball past Pickford.
It proved the catalyst for a quick response from Everton who levelled through a trademark Calvert-lewin header six minutes later.
Lucas Digne’s corner to the back post was perfect for Calvertlewin who cleverly lost marker Ross Barkley to power a header home.
Villa, though, were a constant threat on the break and looked as if they’d score every time they burst forward.
Bertrand Traore was acrobatically thwarted by Pickford who clawed out his curling shot after blocking the Villa attacker’s first effort.
Carlo Ancelotti’s half-time talk made sure Everton stopped the flow of chances after the break as they looked for the win.
Richarlison twice tested Martinez as the clock ticked on but then came El Ghazi’s suckerpunch, an unstoppable curler that left Pickford deflated.