Everton 1-0 Leeds: Coleman catches Meslier out with cross shot to earn Toffees vital three points

When Everton captain Seamus Coleman described Leeds United’s visit as a ‘six points’ in his program notes, not even he could have guessed that he would end up the match winner.

Coleman did his main job as a right-back extremely well, keeping exciting Leeds winger Wilfred Gnonto quiet, but the bonus was also scoring an outstanding goal, his first since last February against the same opponents.

As a result, Everton left the relegation zone, and Leeds fell into it. Gnonto was not happy in the end, taking on Coleman, with Leeds caretaker boss Michael Skubala among those separating them.

Coleman was fired up all afternoon and his club should be thankful for that.

The decisive moment came on 64 minutes, when the 34-year-old showed plenty of willingness and decent spin to chase down Alex Iwobi’s long ball down the right.

Everton picked up a vital three points in a fiery last-table clash against Leeds at Goodison Park

Seamus Coleman sweetly struck the ball from the baseline and caught Illan Meslier on goal.

Tempers flared between the two sides late in the first half, with four players receiving yellow cards.

Coleman got to the ball before defender Robin Koch and kept driving. With Koch and goalkeeper Illan Meslier anticipating a cross, the Irishman fired into the net from a sharp angle with Meslier helpless having strayed a few yards from his line. “Seamus has had many managers at Everton and they have all played him and said that he is a great professional,” new boss Sean Dyche said. “His age is not relevant as long as he has that advantage and it was a fantastic run and a match-winning finish.”

‘The victory reinforced the work we are trying to do with the players. It’s about finding that balance between defending solidly and having the freedom to play ourselves. We want to play effective football and I think it was today.”

While Dyche was feted after a second successive 1-0 home win, Leeds fans will be eager for their board to find a manager who wants to replace Jesse Marsch.

Skubala has been holding the fort while several candidates turned down a move to Elland Road, but this was a flat performance without a shot on target.

If there are no changes, he will be back on the bench for another big relegation battle against Southampton next Saturday. “At the moment I’m planning to train on Monday,” he said. ‘Illan was caught out of line with him. He has saved us points this season, but he wasn’t in a position for that. In general, I thought we fought well without the ball, but we didn’t create enough.”

As for Coleman, who maintained his record of not losing a game when scoring, he was adamant about his ambitious finish.

“I guess everyone was expecting the cross but the way my hip felt I couldn’t get my leg around him so I thought I would have a chance because I knew he would be anticipating the cross,” she said.

‘Luckily I caught it well, I wouldn’t catch it like that if I tried it again another 10 times. We got what we deserved.

A minute of applause for former Everton player Christian Atsu, who died in the earthquake in Turkey, reminded everyone that there are more important things in life. But no quarter was given on the pitch.

Everton spent the first half as the dominant team while at the same time showing why they are the lowest scorer in the division. Twice no one made it to the end of Dwight McNeil’s crosses and then dawdled and engaged Amadou Onana as Meslier’s spill looked like the perfect shooting opportunity.

Everton came closest to taking the lead in the first half when Weston McKennie cleared Neil Maupay’s effort from the line.

It was a frustrating afternoon for managerless Leeds with Patrick Bamford and company failing to break through the Everton defence.

Goodison Park observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Everton footballer Christian Atsu, who died in the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Everton fans have continued their longstanding protests against the club’s property at Goodison Park.

Max Wober, who later left with a shoulder injury, and Weston McKennie cleared the line on the same attack from Conor Coady and Neal Maupay and when James Tarkowski headed in from another set piece, Meslier saved.

The tension was evident when a skirmish between McNeil and Tyler Adams turned into a melee. McNeil was pushed and guarded by a butler to protect him from further. Referee Andy Madley turned to VAR to help him determine what had happened and both original leads plus Abdoulaye Doucoure were booked.

Wober did not reappear in the second half, and Leeds sent Rasmus Kristensen in his place. Brenden Aaronson was introduced after an hour. It was still Everton who were pressing, with Meslier saving Maupay and Vitalii Mykolenko. Having seen his forwards fail, Coleman took matters into his own hands. Dyche sent out powerful center forward Ellis Simms for an added physical presence to protect the lead.

Leeds rarely seemed to force a change despite record signing Georginio Rutter being introduced with 12 minutes remaining.

Everton would have had a second if Doucoure had arranged his feet better when he went through the goal.