Everton 1-0 Sheffield United: Abdoulaye Doucoure heads Toffees to victory at Goodison Park… with Sean Dyche’s resurgent side now unbeaten in their last five Premier League games
- Abdoulaye Doucoure headed home to give Everton victory at Goodison Park
- Sean Dyche’s side have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games
- Would a Man United player make the Arsenal team? Listen to the It all starts! podcast
Sunbeams beamed along the banks of the Mersey and the beer flowed smoothly down L4. This match had virtually nothing going for it, but that in itself made for a glorious afternoon at Goodison Park.
For now, at least, the days of nail-biting, anxiety-inducing games to end the season are over.
Last year, survival in the Premier League was only confirmed after a victory over Bournemouth on the final day. The year before it was the victory against Crystal Palace in the last home game.
But thanks to Sean Dyche’s steady leadership, Everton came into this match with safety already in the bag – despite being deducted by eight points.
There are only 19 league games left to play in this grand old stadium, so this could well have been the last stress-free day here.
Everton’s resurgent streak continued with a 1–0 win over Sheffield United at Goodison Park
Abdoulaye Doucoure headed home from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross to give the Toffees the lead
The goal marked the 31-year-old’s seventh league goal of the season, taking him top of the club’s goalscoring chart.
The Everton fans were still in good spirits – as were the traveling Sheffield United faithful who have not yet given up on their relegated side – and there were no signs of players treating this as a friendly, especially when Blades captain Jack Robinson collided with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, the Toffees kept up their good form as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s first-half goal sent them on their way to a fifth win in their last seven.
Dyche, still undefeated in his lucky tracksuit, seems an odd omission from the Manager of the Year shortlist published this week.
His side, whose back four had a combined age of 125 here, defended with a steel that has eluded Sheffield United all season – they have conceded a record 101 goals – and took their chance when it came.
Doucouré was the goalscorer. The impressive Malian earlier missed a golden opportunity after Calvert-Lewin sent a pass towards him, but Blades keeper Wes Foderingham smothered the ball.
Sean Dyche is a strange omission from the Manager of the Season shortlist given what he has done despite two points deductions
A similar situation occurred with the goal when Calvert-Lewin put it on the plate after Doucoure’s header.
Chris Wilder’s side hardly threatened early on, but grew into the game after the break and Jordan Pickford had to make a few stops.
Like most of the year at Sheffield United, it wasn’t enough.