Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Missed Opportunity in First Half Highlights Tense Match Against Aston Villa

The match commenced with a missed opportunity from Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the first half, where he failed to capitalize on a one-on-one situation with Martinez. This costly miss turned out to be significant as the teams battled through a match that was often tense and filled with competitive spirit. Despite the lack of goals, many fans viewed the draw as a positive outcome against a team that is currently vying for European qualification, showcasing Everton’s resilience against a formidable opponent.

In this encounter, third-placed Aston Villa emerged as our first adversary at Goodison Park since the New Year. With the Blues eager to return to winning ways, the challenge ahead appeared formidable, given Aston Villa’s strong performance this season.

There were two pieces of good news for the Blues: the potential three-match suspension for Dominic Calvert-Lewin was overturned, following a controversial red card issued by Craig Pawson during the Crystal Palace match. Thankfully, reason prevailed, and the decision was reversed. More crucially, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s anticipated return to the midfield was a welcome boost, especially with Idrissa Gan Gueye away on international duty in the AFCON Cup and Dwight McNeil likely sidelined until the FA Cup replay on Wednesday. This left room for Doucoure to potentially make an impact off the bench.

Captain Seamus Coleman commented this week on the positive influence that manager Sean Dyche and his staff are having on the team. He stated, “When the manager came in, it was exciting to see his approach. He embodies old-school values, which are immensely beneficial: principles around the club, training methods, and mutual respect among players. It resonates with me, and it’s gratifying to see these values return. The players are starting to truly buy into his philosophy. It’s about fitting in or being left out. There’s a noticeable determination and grit among the squad, and the credit for that goes to the manager and his coaching team.”

Coleman, who played in a club-record 355th Premier League game, was celebrated by a large banner unfurled by fans in the Upper Gwladys. Both Dyche and the Everton faithful were hopeful that this determination would be matched by an aggressive performance against a high-flying Villa side. Dyche entrusted a starting eleven that included: Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman (c), James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko, Jack Harrison, James Garner, Amadou Onana, Arnaut Danjuma, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Aston Villa arrived at Goodison Park boasting five consecutive Premier League victories over Everton. However, the Blues had previously eliminated them from the Carabao Cup on their home turf back in September. Under the guidance of Spanish head coach Unai Emery, Villa has become one of the most improved teams in the league, maintaining their form from last season and signaling serious ambitions for Champions League qualification come May.

Former Everton defender Lucas Digne was unavailable due to injury, and with Bertrand Traore away on international duty, Emery was hoping that both Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres, who had recently returned to training after minor injuries, would be fit to face an Everton side he anticipated would provide a challenging contest.

Determined to secure a win that would propel them to the top of the table, Emery named his strongest available lineup: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Moreno, Luiz, Kamara, Bailey, McGinn (c), Diaby, and Watkins.

On a chilly, yet bearable afternoon, David Coote served as the match referee.

Both teams wore black armbands in memory of former Everton chairman Peter Johnson, who passed away earlier in the week. The club held a modest tribute for the last chairman to witness the team lift a trophy.

Good work and perseverance from Harrison earned the Blues their first corner, but Martinez quickly claimed the inswinging set piece. Harrison then created the first genuine chance of the match, delivering a cross that reached Danjuma, who was unable to convert it into a shot on goal. Martinez sustained an injury in a collision with Onana after a risky play at the back, and despite it being a 50-50 challenge, the referee deemed a foul had been committed by the Belgian midfielder.

McGinn was fortunate not to receive at least a yellow card for a late challenge on Doucoure, which led to Seamus Coleman having a discussion with Unai Emery that concluded amicably. Villa then conceded a free kick just outside the area, but Garner’s shot hit the wall, allowing the visitors to clear the ball to halfway. A clever pass from Branthwaite found Danjuma in space for a cross, but Villa managed to clear their lines, with the Blues applying pressure during the opening ten minutes.

The first genuine Villa attack saw Pickford alertly save a shot from Watkins at a tight angle. Moments later, Mykolenko cleared a cross from Moreno. Villa won a corner after Tarkowski deflected a McGinn cross behind. Following a short corner, with some Everton defenders appealing for offside, the ball found Moreno, who struck a powerful low shot into the bottom corner, giving the visitors a lead in the 18th minute against the run of play. VAR reviewed the incident for offside, and after what felt like an eternity, the decision favored the Blues, and the score remained level.

Moreno won a second Villa corner off Coleman’s chest, but a combination of Branthwaite and Onana cleared the ball before McGinn went down, and the referee awarded Villa a free kick. Villa managed to weather the early Everton possession and pressure, and they began to see more of the ball. Coleman took no risks, clearing the ball into the Main Stand as Pickford raced out of goal to intercept a ball played by McGinn for Moreno.

Pickford made an exceptional stop, diving low to his left to deny Bailey, resulting in a corner for the visitors. The Blues defended the corner, but the atmosphere was tense, and the home crowd grew anxious as Villa began to exploit gaps in the Everton midfield.

As the half-hour mark approached, Tarkowski was struck in the face by an elbow from Watkins, who received a booking for the challenge that caused a cut above the eye of the ever-present Blues defender. Tarkowski quickly returned to the field after receiving treatment. A strong tackle by Garner in midfield won the ball, allowing Danjuma a chance to break free, but his shot was deflected for a corner, which ended in a foul on Luiz by DCL.

Moreno required treatment for a bloody nose before Everton could take a free kick for a foul on Harrison by Kamara. Villa cleared the free kick, after which Garner inadvertently fouled Onana by smashing a loose ball directly at him. Watkins supported Coleman to capitalize on a long ball from Martinez, but the Blues captain returned to defend, leading to a counter-attack as Danjuma set up DCL, whose disappointing shot was saved by Martinez, who then recovered to deflect Garner’s follow-up behind for a corner that ultimately did not yield results.

With two injury stoppages and VAR’s involvement, the fourth official indicated a minimum of eight added minutes. Everton pushed hard to end the half on a positive note, but Moreno went down theatrically to win a free kick from Coleman, who had initially cleared the first cross, with Watkins ruled offside on the follow-up.

Both teams went into halftime with the score locked at 0-0, with both goalkeepers having made one crucial save each and VAR ruling in favor of the Blues for a change.

Half Time: 0-0

Neither manager made any personnel changes for the second half, although Beto was seen warming up on the touchline as Mykolenko and Tarkowski cleared their lines. Carlos received a booking for petulantly throwing the ball away. Tarkowski and Mykolenko clashed while going for the same ball, with the Ukrainian appearing to suffer the most and requiring attention for a head injury. He briefly left the field, returning with a bandage around his head while Coleman pressed forward on the right.

Garner was struck in the face by Diaby, giving the Blues a chance to send a ball into the Villa area from Harrison, which sailed harmlessly through to Martinez—a missed opportunity for the Blues. A Villa break saw Branthwaite successfully stymie Bailey, and Garner’s excellent block denied Watkins at the cost of a corner, which Onana headed clear. McGinn then bent a shot wide of the target after a Villa counter-attack that saw Tarkowski flatten Diaby with a hard tackle.

Danjuma’s shot went wide around the hour mark as the Blues countered, and Beto prepared to enter the fray. Pickford made a quick save from Kamara’s shot following a Villa corner. Beto replaced Calvert-Lewin in the 63rd minute, while Dwight McNeil came on for Danjuma, prompting Villa to respond with Duran and Tielemans replacing Bailey and Diaby, respectively.

With less than 25 minutes remaining and genuine chances becoming scarce, it was increasingly evident that a moment of brilliance or a costly mistake could decide the match. A stoppage occurred in the 68th minute when Onana was injured in a sensitive area and needed a moment to recover. Pickford crossed the halfway line to send a free kick into the Villa area for Tarkowski, who appeared to be manhandled by Carlos before clattering into Moreno with a robust challenge that led to a reaction from several Villa players. The referee issued a yellow card to Tarkowski, which he and Seamus Coleman protested vehemently, while Lenglet also received a card for his involvement in the scuffle.

Villa made a third substitution in the 73rd minute, with Cash replacing Carlos, likely to safeguard against further bookings. The atmosphere was heating up, and Tielemans received a yellow card for a foul that led to McNeil delivering a cross that was once again too easily collected by Martinez. As the final quarter-hour of regular time approached, it was clear that at least another five minutes would be added, and tensions were high as both sides sought a decisive moment.

Pickford dove to punch clear a cross as Villa pressed forward again, while Branthwaite cleared a cross from Tielemans to initiate a counter-attack. Doucoure’s shot was blocked and cleared as the final minutes ticked away. With less than ten minutes to go, both teams searched for a winning goal. An exceptional challenge from Vitalii Mykolenko thwarted Villa’s attempt to take the lead after Moreno delivered a low cross into the area, with Cash looking set to score before Seamus Coleman intervened to clear the ball to midfield.

Watkins played a ball wide to Cash, who crossed into the Everton area, but Duran failed to make sufficient contact, and the ball went wide. Villa, employing a high line, survived a close call as Doucoure received a pass and unleashed a shot past Martinez, only for the offside flag to be raised. Villa then made another substitution, bringing Zaniolo on for McGinn.

As expected, at least seven additional minutes were announced, and Villa saw a header go wide before a timely intervention by Lenglet prevented a ball from reaching Beto. A late cross from Onana was again too simple for Martinez to handle, and a shot from Onana soared over the crossbar, ultimately failing to trouble the Villa keeper in the last effort to break the stalemate.

Full Time: 0-0

The post Everton 0-0 Aston Villa appeared first on GrandOldTeam.

Source