Nine permanent Everton managers have put their faith in Séamus Coleman in the 14 years since his £60,000 arrival from Sligo Rovers. Sean Dyche is the latest to reap the reward of David Moyes’s bargain purchase, and of Coleman’s enduring standards, after the 34-year-old decided a relegation scrap against Leeds with one flash of inspiration.
The Everton captain conjured a stupendous finish from near the touchline to deceive the stranded goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, and lift his club out of the relegation zone at the expense of Leeds.
Coleman was too busy with a post-match altercation with Wilfried Gnonto to immediately celebrate on the final whistle, but the significance of the result was not lost on the veteran defender as he headed down the tunnel. He exited with a clenched-fist salute and a roar to the crowd and Everton, for the second successive home game under Dyche, departed with three precious points.
Victory was slender but merited. Leeds, under the caretaker management of Michael Skubala, look in serious trouble. They lacked urgency, conviction and fight. Everton had the edge but not of the cutting variety until their tireless captain seized responsibility.
“I don’t need to say too much about Séamus,” said Dyche. “But he has had a lot of managers here and every one has played him. They know what a great player he is. I’m not worried about age as long as you’ve got an edge and he has. It was a fantastic finish and a fantastic win.”
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Skubala, without a win in his three matches and now presiding over a team without victory in 10 Premier League games, said: “Without the ball we were strong, but we needed to be better with the ball. We battled quite well, but did not create enough.”
Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Christian Atsu, the former Everton player who died in the earthquake in Turkey aged 31. Everton players wore black armbands in tribute.
Everton comfortably contained Leeds and controlled much of the play. The overall quality from the teams was poor, but the hosts had enough opportunities to have led by half-time with their improved set-piece prowess under the new manager evident again.
Everton’s first clear opening fell to Dwight McNeil after Meslier dropped a Conor Coady long ball under pressure from Amadou Onana. McNeil had to take the shot first time with his right foot. He attempted a pass to Onana instead, enabling Junior Firpo to make one of several well-timed interceptions.
Onana skied a good chance at the end of a rare incisive attack involving Alex Iwobi and Idrissa Gana Gueye. The McNeil deep corner and James Tarkowski back-post header routine, decisive in the defeat of Arsenal, increased the pressure. The former Burnley pair combined to create a close-range header for Coady, whose flick was cleared off the line by Max Wöber.
Neal Maupay, leading Everton’s attack in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, had his follow-up also blocked on the line, this time by Weston McKennie. Another Tarkowski header from a McNeil corner was destined for the top corner until Meslier produced a fine save at full stretch.
McNeil, Tyler Adams and Abdoulaye Doucouré were booked after a melee sparked by the Everton winger’s angry reaction to a tackle from the Leeds midfielder. The game needed the needle. It also desperately needed an injection of quality befitting the importance of the occasion. Step forward Coleman.
Leeds had shown necessary improvement after the restart, their intensity and commitment to attack finally stretching the defence while also leaving them vulnerable to a counterattack. The breakthrough owed everything to the defender’s ingenuity, however.
Coleman spotted a gap in the defence and sprinted through to collect Iwobi’s searching pass towards the touchline. There appeared little danger as Robin Koch set off in pursuit but, spotting Meslier standing on the edge of the six-yard box, Coleman crashed a shot behind the keeper and into the far corner from an implausible angle.
“Illan has been caught off his line,” Skubala said. “He has been a top player for us but maybe he needs to look at his positioning.” Leeds offered little in response. Doucouré should have banished the late nerves but messed up when played through on goal by Ellis Simms.
Everton preserved their lead with few genuine scares and, thanks to Coleman, have renewed hope.
