Holgate shows strikers how it’s done
Mason Holgate wasn’t even supposed to be playing in this game but after a late call-up – out of position – when Donny van de Beek was injured in the pre-match warm-up he scored Everton's first goal against Premier League opposition within the regulation 90 minutes for more than 10 hours, showing goal shy frontmen Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison how it’s done. Other than Alex Iwobi’s winner against Newcastle United a full nine minutes into stoppage time, the Blues had drawn a blank ever since Anthony Gordon’s hairline deflection went in off a Richarlison shot to seal a 3-0 win over Leeds United back on February 12.
Given that Frank Lampard had started with a 4-1 romp against Brentford in the FA Cup to enjoy the biggest-ever margin of victory for an Everton manager in his first game in charge and followed that up with the aforementioned success against the West Yorkshire side, it’s looked increasingly concerning with how his side have gone from feast to famine in the scoring stakes. Such toothlessness up front can’t have helped the Blues in deflating defeats in recent weeks when heads have dropped as soon as encouraging starts to matches have been undone with what almost seems a ‘first goal wins’ scenario.
