U21s beaten by leaders Sunderland

, 7 March, 29comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton's second string were in action at the Stadium of Light this evening but went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat in a game illuminated from the Blues' perspective by a lovely free kick goal by Kieran Dowell.

The Blues started the more attacking of the two sides but after Ola Toivonen had rattled the crossbar with a powerful header, the Swede nodded in the opener after his wayward shot had been cleared straight back to him by Joe Williams.

And Everton fell 2-0 behind almost immediately afterwards with slack defending from another corner and the ball was turned in from close range.

Courtney Duffus should have halved the deficit when he rounded the goalkeeper Pickford off a terrific through-ball from Williams but he fired into the side-netting.

After Williams curled a decent effort over, Mandron smacked an effort off the bar for the home side as they threatened to increase their lead.

Dowell forced a diving save from Pickford as the Blues pushed for a way back into the game before half time.

They got a lifeline a couple of minutes later, though, when Duffus missed with an overhead kick trying to meet a cross by Harry Charsley and the ball bounced off defender Tom Robson into the goal.

And Duffus came close to equalising in first-half stoppage time but his diving header hit Brady's arm on the line and somehow wasn't given as a penalty.

Everton attacked from the off in the second half and Charsley went agonisingly close when he hammered a volley off the post from a tight angle.

Toivinen, meanwhile, had a good chance to make it 3-1 but headed straight at Griffiths.

Pickford missed a deep Galloway cross, Jones centred but Rodriguez’s shot was cleared off the line

Jones was involved again as he picked up Williams’s pass on the overlap but his cross was put behind

Everton had been on top for most of the second period but Sunderland extended their lead with a quick attack that ended with Greenwood playing Toivinen in and he curled past Griffiths.

Rodriguez had a chance to curt the lead again but couldn’t beat the first man and Mattioni then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal

Dyson then headed inches wide of the post from a corner

Dowell got the Blues back into it five minutes from time with a brilliant curling free kick from just outside the box.

Everton had a great chance deep into stoppage time but Galloway planted a header well wide with the goal gaping in front of him.

Live coverage available on BT Sport and on NBCSN in the US.

Everton: Griffiths, Mattioni, Pennington, Holgate, Galloway, Davies, Williams {c}, Charsley, Dowell, C. Duffus, Rodriguez
Subs: Hewelt, Jones, Dyson, Evans, Foulds.

 

Reader Comments (29)

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Patrick Murphy
1 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:31:10
A little bit fortunate there as Everton halve the deficit via an own goal 2-1 to Sunderland a couple of minutes to half-time. Everton almost equalise on the stroke of half-time with possible claims for hand-ball and a penalty to the blues but alas it remains 2-1 to Sunderland at the break.
Paul Thompson
2 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:38:35
Really enjoyed that first half despite the scoreline. Sunderland a much bigger, stronger side, but we have a lot of skill on the ball.
Patrick Murphy
3 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:42:54
Paul (2) The Stadium of Light pitch isn't helping Everton either it is pretty sticky and heavy in parts. There are a few decent performances and some reasonable passing but similar to the first-team the lads seem to lack something. The number four for Everton looks like he might be a good player but is having a bad day at the office with some of his passing.
John Francis
4 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:48:42
You couldn’t make it up. U21s lose 2 goals to set pieces. Having said that they look good going forward.

Now where have I heard that before???

Dave Abrahams
5 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:51:53
Patrick (3) the No 4 is Davies, and as you say, he is working hard but things are not coming off for him.

Their first goal, the female linesperson missed a blatant tug on Galloway but gave a corner from which Sunderland scored; she was looking right at the incident.

Sunderland have hit the bar twice with good efforts but I don’t think we are out of it yet.

John Francis
6 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:52:11
I am liking the industry of Duffus and Rodriguez looks the part, also young Davies is busy.
Sue Brown
7 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:52:25
Yes I enjoyed that first half, some decent performances from the lads, but their 1st goal was reminiscent of the senior squad....from a corner.
John Austin
8 Posted 07/03/2016 at 20:52:40
"Slack defending from a corner..." Now where have we seen that before? COYB
Paul Thompson
9 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:06:35
Surprised Charsley taken off. Thought he was our best player first half.
John Francis
10 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:16:05
They are playing really well.
Paul Thompson
11 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:21:24
Lovely goal from Sunderland – the goalscorer looks about 10 years older than our lads! We’ve missed a hatful of chances.
Mike Oates
12 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:23:34
3-1 down, poor play by Holgate, weak in tackle and far too slow. The lad just was burnt off for pace by their full back after our corner, we retained possession but then he lost out in 50:50 ball, and didn’t have the pace to follow his man.
Mike Oates
13 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:26:57
Holgate was poor in the tackle and has no pace to catch his attacker up, but still a good finish. I'm concerned whether Holgate has the pace to be a Premier League player.
Patrick Murphy
14 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:31:00
Come on lads you can still rescue this 3-2 Sunderland.
Sue Brown
15 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:31:53
Nice free kick there from Dowell, c'mon lads!
Frank Wade
16 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:32:53
Super free kick by Kieran Dowell. Just coming to this late. Are these games often televised/streamed?
Dennis Ng
17 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:45:07
Very good opportunity missed at the end by Galloway. I guess even the U21s don't practice heading LOL
Paul Thompson
18 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:47:40
A lot of encouragement there for the future against a very experienced Sunderland side. The guy who scored two for them – Toivenen – has 45 Swedish caps! On the other hand, the best player on the pitch was Greenwood, their young winger.

A lot of our lads are very skilful – Davies, Holgate, Williams – but look a bit lightweight for the senior ranks at the moment. We made and missed a lot of chances and though Leandro and Duffus are quick, mobile players, I couldn't see evidence they are or will be ready. I liked Charsley, who was taken off and his replacement Gethin Jones looked handy.

Dowell actually didn't do that much, but the free kick was exquisite and he could be given a spot on the senior subs bench. Our senior pro – Mattioni – did well and could be a potential back up for Coleman. Galloway was all over the pitch and showed he will never make a striker!

Rob Halligan
19 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:49:03
Live on BT Sport, Frank. They show regular U21 games.
David Chait
20 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:49:35
Enjoyable game to watch. These kids have quite some skills.. Do well can teach the pros how to take a corner and was a stand out, especially first half but went quite when Jones took his position and he shifted somewhere else. Davies looked good in central midfield. Leandro played well as number 10.

Galloway on the other hand as the first teamer was actually poor and was responsible for missing a sitter at the death in front of goal. We’ve seen him enough to know he can play but tonight nothing went for him. Can think of another chance he just had to head back across goal and we had 2 open players. But he wasn't the only guilty player of missing sitters.. Don’t know how Dyson missed within 20 secs of being on.

Can say the enterprise to create the goals was first class and credit here goes to Davies, Dowell, Jones and Leandro...

John Dean
21 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:49:49
First one I’ve seen on BT Sport. Some clubs show the games live on their TV channels but we don’t have that luxury. I thought Dowell was our best forward player (the commentators kept crediting Charsley with all Dowell’s good work in the first half).

Pennington still looks our best young centre-half; you could see why Roberto is resting Galloway. Williams and Davies ran the game and we missed a load of chances.

What game where the commentators watching? Their comments were based on what the scoreline said should have been happening and not what was happening.

Dave Abrahams
22 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:51:10
Paul (11) they mentioned the Sunderland scorer of the third goal, he is a Swedish International with 45 caps, yes 45 caps.

Everton did well in the second half and missed three good chances from Galloway, Rodriguez and Callum Dyson, to be fair to Dyson it was his first touch having just come.

A great free kick from Dowell got us back into the game but we couldn’t get what would have been a deserved equaliser. When Dowell gets the ball he shows his class, but drifts in and out of the game a lot, he is only 18 so has plenty of time to learn.

Frank Wade
23 Posted 07/03/2016 at 21:51:15
In fairness to Galloway, I think the Sunderland defender at the near post got a slight touch to deflect the ball, which made the chance that bit harder and he couldn't adjust.

Thanks Rob, will look out for these games in future.

Ray Roche
24 Posted 07/03/2016 at 22:33:57
Quite enjoyed seeing our young players. I thought Leandro looked skillfull with quick feet and a good head on him, Pennington was also good and looks like he could make the grade.

Davies, Dowell and Williams played well and Mattioni certainly impressed me, he looked head and shoulders above most of the players on the field. I’d like to see him on the bench, I’m sure he could do a job if Coleman wasn’t available.

Harold Matthews
25 Posted 07/03/2016 at 00:05:48
Sunderland have a very strong academy. Can't remember his name but the guy who oversees everything switched from Everton to Sunderland not too long ago. I often wondered why.
Harold Matthews
26 Posted 08/03/2016 at 07:48:37
With so many lads on loan, we looked a real mixed bag but showed a fine attitude throughout and probably should have won.

Mattioni and Jones hardly put a foot wrong. They performed at a different level throughout and should be training with the first team.

Leandro was nowhere near match fit but will struggle to make the grade. Not short of skill or intelligence, he'll need to up his strength and workrate or he won't even get a loan placement. I'm rooting for the lad but injuries have hampered his progress and he was hobbling when subbed.

Dowell, who had a quiet game, hit a freekick our senior boys can only dream about and Davies, Williams, Galloway, Charsley and Pennington worked their socks off.

Late sub Evans is definitely our lad for the future.

David Chait
27 Posted 08/03/2016 at 08:30:09
Evans was good when he came on.. Real talent! Put it on a plate for Galloway right at the end.
Liam Reilly
28 Posted 08/03/2016 at 10:00:35
Bad night for Galloway, involved in their first two goals then completely misses the overhead kick that's credited above to Duffus, that the defender allows to ricochet off him into their goal. Then he misses a sitter at the end also, albeit may have got a slight deflection on route.

Our Brazilian right back Mattioni looked good although I'd swear he knew he was on TV with some of his Hollywood balls and Dowell, Davies and Rodriguez also had some nice touches.

Very similar to the first team in that they dominated the game but got hit with sucker punches and looks like they also have to score 3 or 4 to get points.

Harold Matthews
29 Posted 08/03/2016 at 14:02:36
Yes Liam, Galloway works hard but is not progressing. Still unable to deal with anything coming from his right, he remains the most one-footed player on our books and his coaches should be doing something about it.

Williams and Davies displayed great energy and determination and Jones showed the benefit of loan moves. The Australian born 20-year-old is a certain future Welsh international and it was good to see him operating without fault in his favoured midfield role. A serious player indeed.


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