Signs of life from Everton as they thwart Sheffield United

We must retain Richarlison and we must allow André Gomes to get forwards.

Great Richarlison headed goal from a superb Sigurdsson free-kick. Branthwaite came good after several passes straight to the opposition while under no pressure.

Why can't the team do this consistently? To remain in 11th place, we now have to beat Bournemouth by the same number of goals or more than Southampton beat Sheffield Utd or lose by less than one more if Southampton loses.

Should make for a couple of interesting games. I hope our team actually does turn up for the game again so that we finish the season on a positive note.

Gomes linked play up well and although it looked scrappy from both teams at times, for me we shaded it by creating more chances. As usual, Pickford went from sublime to ridiculous with another adrenalin overdose. Keane was solid again at the back, and Branthwaite handled himself well. Great header from Richarlison.

Ancelotti must be as confused as the rest of us with in-and-out performances but, if we at least finish off with a resounding win on Sunday, he'll have an opportunity to decide who stays and who goes to build for next season's European charge.

Also, Digne needs to stop giving away free-kicks in really dangerous positions. He has done that a few times this season and it gives the opposition a chance to hurt us.

I felt Gomes and Keane were exceptional and Davies never stopped trying to break up their attacks. I just wish he wouldn't give the ball away 30 yards from our goal about 5 times a game.

Finally, the playing out from the back is pitiful to watch; we often had throw-ins or possession in line with their penalty area but still contrived to get the ball back to Pickford... it may keep possession but won't create an opportunity.

Davies will probably get plenty of stick for giving the ball away in our own half, but credit him for having a bit of youthful endeavour and not just playing the easy sideways pass.

Defence looks very solid, particularly Keane who deserves a lot of credit for recovering from some sticky periods over the last few years when a lot of people would have binned him off.

Walcott still infuriates me (sorry, there's got to be one), plays a peach of a cross to the back stick for Calvert-Lewin but follows that with 3 or 4 nothing crosses/passes when in similarly promising positions. I really want him to succeed because he's clearly got the ability, but something upstairs just switches off most of the time.

I thought that too about Gomes. He looked very fit and sharp and his demeanour looked very much more switched on. He is a confidence player and maybe his last period against Villa has given him a lift and he is starting to believe in himself again. I think he is a super player when on song and for me he was the difference yesterday as he gave us control in the middle.

I have been very critical of Sigurdsson and, in fairness, he was way better than usual whilst Tom had a decent game too.

Very much better.

I agree with you ref Baldock. Amazing how some referees miss this kind of thing. Frankly, I thought the ref on this occasion was absolute crap. So damn inconsistent and whistle happy.

What Everton are lacking is 'Composure' in the final third. I am a big fan of Calvert-Lewin but right now his anticipation seems to be shot to pieces – either he is 1-2 yards slower or 1-2 yards further ahead.

The good thing is that he is getting himself into excellent positions... but, after the Premier League restarted, I have counted 8-10 guilt-edged opportunities that he has squandered. A top Premier League striker would have put away at least 50% of those chances.

Hopefully, he can quickly pull himself out of the rut he finds himself in. He needs a goal desperately – if he gets that in the final game of the season, that will be a huge relief for him, and help bring back some self-confidence.

The next season is looming and will be upon the players and the fans very soon, so they need to exit this season on a high.

That's our issue at the moment. Recent results have left us as fans so short of anything to believe in that this was like winning the FA Cup.

If it proves to be the springboard we need, then I am even happier. There were a lot of plusses. COYB — don't let us down on Sunday.

I watched Ancelotti's post match presser after the game. He had trouble containing his enthusiasm about young Branthwaite. Also, he had some interesting things to say about Sigurdsson, Richarlison, & Calvert-Lewin.

For my part, I had given up completely on Sigurddson but he put in a good shift. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back amongst the goals against Bournemouth.

I think he didn't look and hit it where he expected Calvert-Lewin to be but, having started the move out of position on the right, Calvert-Lewin was miles back.

I think that's part of our issue, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin go wandering out of frustration, seeking the ball, so when we do cross, no-one is there. Cottee or Lineker would lap that up but then they wouldn't have done a Calvert-Lewin and started the whole move.

More pleasing was the display by our young Jarrad Branthwaite. Added to Anthony Gordon, it's great to ease young players into the first team, from the academy.

One or two players every year would be a great return, and should be something we should aspire to. Luckily we have a safe pair of hands in Carlo.

Last night a 4-2-3-1 gave particularly Gomes the shape he needs to play effectively. Sigurdsson played between the lines, allowing quick transitional play through the lines and Gomes had time and space to spray the ball around and even had a shot, must be his first since his goal vs Wolves last season.

I'm just surprised Ancelotti hadn't realised this weeks ago !

Last night's performance reminded me of some of the games in the final weeks of last season when Silva found a system which suited the players at his disposal. The home wins against Chelsea, Manchester Utd and Arsenal plus the away win at West Ham Utd saw the players believing in themselves and a collective team effort masking the deficiencies of individuals. But the same period also saw us lose badly at Fulham, a team heading for relegation.

It is interesting to note the six players at the front of last night's starting eleven were all regulars last season. I guess most if not all of them will be there two months from now, augmented hopefully by a Gana Gueye type of player to strengthen midfield. Such a player will help improve our consistency and move us into the top half of the table.

The win was down to hard graft and attacking Sheffield Utd and bending their rigid shape out of its comfort zone. Taking a few risks for a change and having the zest and energy to win the ball back with rapidity.

Wasn't it good to see Sigurdsson puffing like a turbulent Icelandic volcano when he came off. When he works that hard, things happen for him. The assist for Richarlison's goal was a great set-piece cross in.

The formation change and the work rate allowed Gomes to shine. He is a Rolls-Royce player when the midfield are winning battles, that performance promises a lot more to come from him next season. Especially with one or two quality midfield additions.

Richiarlison is a match-winning player, indispensable for us.

Branthwaite is 18 just. How can a centre-back be that good at 18? Someone said Rio Ferdinand was, so there you go. Also, I hope he doesn't get slagged off when the inevitable odd mistake comes along. He's one to encourage and support.

When Albrighton of Leicester gets the ball in the attacking third all their players know what is going to happen next – it's going in the box and they react accordingly.

I would just like to see it more often because, if he can put say 8 crosses in during a game, a 25% strike rate gets us two goals.

I agree. Ancelotti is a shrewd Manager who can change the formations of his team from match to match and even throughout a game. He is able to coach players individually to adapt to these formations and improve in their performance in the position allocated.

Of course some of the players are not tactically aware and technically able throughout a game, but they are all heading in the right direction. There have been setbacks, such as in the of Bernard, who prior to the break was one of the most improved players and really benefited from Ancelottis coaching, but now seems to have personal issues. Calvert Lewin has also gone back a bit, the break and a long season seem to have taken there toll in him. Overall in my opinion they all will feel they have benefited from Ancelotti tenure so far in their knowledge and individual performance objectives.

During the Summer I expect Ancelotti to do more work and pre-season to have a different purpose about it. Players will continue to improve and there will be additions to the squad in terms of fine tuning the team to make it more resilient and more adaptable. In my opinion existing players will still have a role to play and there will be a lot more rotation in the playing team according to the opposition. There will be more of a blend in youth and aged players.

Everton will become less predictable, more adaptable and more motivated/challenging. Each players will have a good understanding of the objectives of the team and what their role in obtaining those objectives. Everton will also be a overall fitter team.

This is the first season Ancelotti has finished outside the top six of any League he has Managed in. Everton have never consistently beaten teams in the lower half of the Premier League for twenty years, They have always lost some games to lower half oppositions and been inconsistent in performances against top half teams. I expect the mid table pattern of two results and a loss , a glass ceiling at Everton for over twenty years, to be shattered last.