Everton and Aston Villa played out a scrappy goalless draw at Goodison Park, as Sean Dyche’s Toffees continue to battle relegation.
Abdoulaye Doucoure looked to had hit a 88th minute winner for verton as he broke forward on a fast counter-attack, but the midfielder’s goal was chalked offside.
Villa meanwhile dominated the game but were repeatedly denied by Jordan Pickford on multiple occasions, although Jhon Duran flicked their closest chance wide across the goal in the 87th minute.
Everton now sit one point above the relegation zone whilst Villa remain third after they were leapfrogged by Manchester City yesterday (13 January), following Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens completed comeback win at Newcastle.
After a sluggish goalless draw at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup last weekend, Everton began this tricky league clash with more passion and a series of free-kicks which came to nothing.
Villa eventually found their first chance of the game from a 13th minute attack as Moussa Diaby played Ollie Watkins forward, but the England forward could only hit his shot low into Pickford’s arms.
That warning sparked Everton into life again but Amadou Onana’s 17th minute through ball evaded Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and was scooped up by Villa goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez.
Villa swiftly responded by winning a corner from which Leon Bailey swung a cross across to Alex Moreno on the edge of the box, which left the full-back unmarked to rifle into the far-right bottom corner beyond Pickford’s grasp.
Video-Assistant Referee (VAR) however adjudged Bailey offside in the buildup following a four minute delay, and chalked off what would of been Moreno’s second league goal of the season.
Pickford shortly afterwards denied Watkins and Bailey in quick succession as Villa continued to push for the opening goal.
Everton however refused to give in but wasted their own chance from a 37th minute corner, as James Tarkowski headed Jack Harrison’s cross wide.
Martinez ultimately kept Villa in the game at half-time after he blocked a counter-attack shot from Calvert-Lewin and James Garner’s follow-up attempt.
Momentum continued to sway between both teams once the second half began as Watkins and John McGinn saw shots denied for Villa around the hour mark.
Everton almost punished Villa’s wasteful end product in the 61st minute, as Harrison’s cross was flicked wide of the bottom-right corner by Arnaut Danjuma.
Tensions meanwhile soared as Everton dug deep defensively which led to emotions spilling over repeatedly, with Tarkowski, Clement Lenglet and Youri Tielemans amongst those booked.
Villa however looked the braver team more likely to score but substitute, Duran saw a 74th minute header saved by Pickford.
Pickford soon came to Everton’s rescue on repeated occasions as he blocked Matty Cash’s shot in the 85th minute, although he needed Seamus Coleman’s block to keep McGinn out on the follow-up.
Duran two minutes flicked Cash’s cross wide across goal from which Everton quickly broke forward on the counter-attack, only for Doucoure’s strike into an empty net to be ruled offside as he immediately began to celebarate.
Everton ultimately clung on for to snatch a point which saw them move one point above the relegation zone but stay 17th in the table.
What’s Next?
Everton will host Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Wednesday 17 January in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off in their Third Round replay in the 2023-24 FA Cup.
Aston Villa now head off on their winter break until Friday 26 January, when Unai Emery’s Villains face a tough FA Cup Fourth Round trip to Chelsea at 7:45pm GMT.
Teams
Everton: Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Amadou Onana, James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma (McNeil 63′), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Beto 64′)
Substitutes: Joao Virginia, Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Andre Gomes, Dwight McNeil, Lewis Dobbin, Youssef Chermiti, Beto
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos (Cash 74′), Clement Lenglet, Alex Moreno, Leon Bailey (Duran 64′), Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn (Zaniolo 89′), Moussa Diaby (Tielemans 64′), Ollie Watkins
Substitutes: Filip Marschall, Tyreik Wright, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans, Nicolo Zaniolo, Jhon Duran, Leander Dendoncker, Tim Iroegbunam
Referee – David Coote
Leave a Reply