Everton 1 Sheff Utd 0
The Toffees welcomed already relegated Sheff Utd to Goodison Park. Sean Dyche had been awarded the manager of the month award as he had steered his side clear of the bottom three, guaranteeing their Premier League safety.
It meant that their last home game of the season was a much more relaxed affair. As the sun beat down, they immediately looked to get after The Blades. Calvert-Lewin did well to set up Doucoure but his effort was blocked and Trusty almost headed the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.
This sums up life as a Sheff Utd keeper this season. Not only is it hard enough to try and keep clean sheets when you are facing more shots than a Man Utd defence, even your own defenders are trying to put the ball in the back of the net every week.
The physical presence of Calvert-Lewin seemed a constant problem for the visitors. As he chased a ball down in the box, he was forced wide taking it around the keeper. He did well to lift it over Foderingham for Doucoure to head into an empty net from two yards out.
Credit: @PrRupertsTower
Goodison Park erupted as The Blades conceded their 101st goal of the season, a new and very unwanted Premier League record. Fans of The Toffees were expecting the floodgates to open now their side had broken the deadlock.
It all kicked off on the halfway line when Calvert-Lewin seemed to say something to wind up Robinson. The defender shoved him to the floor but the referee only saw it worthy of a yellow card, something which Dyche was bemused by.
Having created nothing of note in the first half, just before the interval Brooks had a sight of goal but drilled his shot straight at Pickford who parried it away. It was a warning to The Toffees that with such a slender lead, the visitors were still very much in this game.
Sheff Utd seemed to have more attacking intent in the second half and a cross from Robinson picked out Brereton Diaz at the back post. As he looked to head the ball down, it hit Young on the head and went over the crossbar. Unbelievably, the referee awarded a goal kick.
Everton huffed and puffed in the second half but only wayward efforts from Garner and Chermiti came close to troubling Foderingham in the visitors’ goal. Both sides struggled to create any clear cut chances as they seemed to cancel each other out.
The Toffees held on for all three points giving Goodison Park that feel-good factor for their last game at Goodison Park this season. While the club have put a dampener on things by announcing that they will have to sell players in the summer to make ends meet, they will still be a top-flight side.
Everton also have a new ground to look forward to, although you have to wonder what calibre of players will be playing there if they are looking to cash in on their big names. That is next season’s problem however and the fans could enjoy a winning end to their home campaign.
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