Blues overcome stubborn Blades and return to winning ways

Match Report: Sheffield United 0 – 1 Everton

By Matt Townsend: On The Banks Of The Royal Blue Mersey Reporter

Everton bounced back from their Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat on Wednesday by beating Sheffield United 1-0 at Brammall in the Premier League last night.
This was certainly no classic. It was a game in which a tired, injury hit Toffees’ side battled against a struggling but hard-working home team desperate for points in their relegation battle.

Carlo Ancelotti made one significant change to his team bringing in Anthony Gordon on the left in place of Richarlison who was forced to sit out the game because of concussion rules.

His side lined up in a sort of 4-5-1 formation with Dominic Calvert-Lewin playing as the lone centre-forward.

The manager also went back to a backline of Mason Holgate, Micheal Keane, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey. Once again, they were solid and strong, although admittedly the Blades weren’t facing a very dangerous attack.

Everton had the better of a dour first half and could have taken the lead with Alex Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin and Gylfi Sigurdsson all going close.

But the half ended goalless and in the second period the Blues’ looked increasingly tired and couldn’t put much good football together with neither team threatening much.
Ancelotti decided to make a few changes and brought on Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes to try and add a bit more creativity to the team.

But although they did give a bit more impetus to the side it still seemed the game was destined to finish without a goal. Then Everton finally broke the deadlock with ten minutes to go.

After some fine play around the United box, Abdoulaye Doucoure teed up Sigurdsson and the Iceland international fired home into the bottom corner.

It was fitting that Sigurdsson should score the goal as he was probably the Blues’ best player on the night.

The home side huffed and puffed but they never really looked like finding an equaliser as the Toffees’ defence held firm.

So, Everton had secured a fourth straight Premier League win and are up to second in the table. Next as the games come thick and fast, is a visit form Manchester City tomorrow night.