Match Report

80% of the King Power Stadium was empty save for a lone steward in the middle of the home end. The final whistle had blown 20 minutes ago yet hundreds of ecstatic Everton fans were still bouncing in the away section, belting out Spirit Of The Blues on repeat with no desire to leave.

Ask anyone who has travelled to watch the Toffees in any era of living memory and they will no doubt say they have never seen anything like it. This was an unprecedented show of support from a fanbase that has already gone beyond the call of duty to mobilise its passion and do as much as anyone to drag this club to a position where Premier League survival is now eminently achievable.

The travelling Blues had endured an utterly miserable season up to this point — ever-presents had only witnessed one victory, way back in August, only three draws, no points since December and some of the most cautious, dreary and ineffective performances on the road in memory under Rafael Benitez.

Today, carrying through the terrific atmosphere that helped propel the team to a priceless win over Chelsea and the unprecedented send-off given to the players at Finch Farm yesterday, Everton’s away contingent brought their magnificent support and their voices to the King Power Stadium, out-sung the home supporters for 90-plus minutes, and witnessed a victory whose importance could be huge in the final reckoning.

On the pitch, Frank Lampard delivered his first away points since taking charge at the end of January and the players drew on more of their own resolve and desire to save themselves to get their noses in front in this match against a talented Leicester City side and then hold on to claim a deserved win.

It wasn’t perfect and it required another outstanding performance from Jordan Pickford in the second half but there was yet more evidence that Lampard has got to grips with job he inherited, the way to get the most out of the players at his disposal and the best approach to setting them out.

Today he persisted with the formation he deployed against Chelsea, one that was fairly brave given its lack of success in prior games, and though the mix-up between two of his centre-backs contributed to Leicester’s equaliser, his wing-backs, Vitalii Mykolenko and Alex Iwobi, responded with excellent displays and the team, as a whole, looked a lot more like a proper outfit — dangerous on the counter-attack rather than rabbits in the headlights, committed and effective in midfield and dogged in defence when they needed to be, even after the familiar sight of Yerry Mina departing the fray early because of injury.

Mykolenko, in particular, produced a moment of sheer magic with just five minutes on the clock to put the Toffees ahead with an audacious but sumptuous volley off Iwobi’s centre and while he was forced off by injury himself in the second half, it’s unlikely he will ever forget the moment he added the attacking output to his increasingly outstanding defensive work in recent weeks.

Everton had to survive a scare with barely two minutes on the clock, however, in a moment that, had it gone the other way, might have completely changed the direction of this contest. Patson Daka was probably sure he had opened the scoring with barely two minutes on the clock when he beat Pickford with a shot that was destined for the empty net until Mina made a goal-saving intervention by sliding across to divert the ball behind.

Four minutes later, it was Everton who got off to the perfect start. Iwobi's cross from the right sailed invitingly to Mykolenko in space just outside the penalty area and he caught it sweetly, lasering it back across Kasper Schmeichel and inside the far post before wheeling away in unbridled celebration.

And, in a minute of play that, again, might have proved pivotal on another day, it was almost 2-0 at one end before it became 1-1 at the other. Doucouré broke forward, found Demarai Gray down the left and when he squared it, Doucouré arrived to try and guide it past Schmeichel. The Dane got an instinctive hand to it but the ball spun underneath him and was dribbling over the line via the post when he pounced on it just in time.

Unfortunately, on the Foxes’ next attack Daka capitalised on a mixup between Seamus Coleman and Yerry Mina to equalise for the home side. The Irishman needlessly collided with the Colombian as he tried to deal with a bouncing ball and Daka stole in to grab it and fire past the stranded Jordan Pickford in the 11th minute.

Mina was replaced by Michael Keane with just 18 minutes gone when he felt a twinge in his calf but alongside Mason Holgate, who insisted on playing despite illness, the substitute provided a seamless transition and the Blues reclaimed the lead on the half-hour mark. Gray's corner found Richarlison who headed goal-wards, Schmeichel parried it on the line and Mason Holgate powered in the rebound with a purposeful header.

Everton were uncomfortably open at times and nagging memories of what happened at Newcastle in February tugged at the consciousness but this time the Blues carried a constant threat on the break. Nevertheless, it was Leicester who had the only real chance for the remainder of the first half when Pickford saved low from Kelechi Iheanacho.

The pattern continued in the second period, with Jonny Evans booked for an ugly stamp on Richarlison before blocking an effort from Anthony Gordon while Nampalys Mendy forced the save of the game from Pickford.

The midfielder's bending, 25-yard shot in the 64th minute was heading for the top corner when Pickford turned it around the upright with a one-handed save at full stretch.

Mykolenko's afternoon was cut short by injury shortly afterwards but Pickford was called into action almost immediately. Daka headed the ball across goal to substitute Harvey Barnes but Pickford foiled him with a point-blank save to bundle it behind.

Barnes then unleashed a fierce drive that Pickford palmed behind and Iheanacho tried his luck from distance but the keeper was there again to gather the awkwardly-bouncing shot well

Everton had their moments on the break where they threatened to increase their lead but, typified by Iwobi's seemingly endless energy, spent the majority of the closing stages in an effective low block where they frustrated their hosts until a final whistle that was greeted with gusto by that unrivalled away contingent who milked the occasion for all it was worth.

Having started last Sunday five points adrift of safety and with many fearing the worst, Everton finished this weekend a point clear of the drop zone still with a game in hand on Burnley and Leeds United who were both beaten and lost a key player to injury and suspension respectively.

The Blues have gone from a situation that was just about in their hands a week ago to being in the driving seat now but there is no room for complacency and both the supporters and players will need to maintain their intensity until the job is done beyond doubt.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

The travelling Blues fans helped Everton to secure only their second win on the road this season as Frank Lampard's gameplans are finally having the desired effect.

Everton took to the field unchanged from last week's victory over Chelsea last weekend and got things going at the King Power Stadium, with 3,339 Everton fans making plenty of noise.

Iheanacho was allowed to run through the Everton defence and play in Daka but Pickford was out like greased lightning to smother his shot at the expense of a corner that was cleared.

Iheanacho then got behind the Everton defence and forced another good save from Pickford before the flag finally went up for offside.

Good Everton pressure forced a couple of throw-ins and Iwobi crossed nicely from the second for Vitalliy Mykolenko to volley it beautifully past Schmeichel into the far corner for a fantastic start, his first goal for Everton.

Another Foxes ball in from Dewsbury-Hall could have easily been diverted past Pickford but he gathered the ball confidently. Doucoure broke out from the back and played a good pass to Gray who crossed in back to him and Doucoure's first-time shot seemed to beat Schmeichel somehow but then bobbled on the line and off the post for him to grasp.

However, on the clearance, a nothing ball fooled Mina and Coleman, who together conspired to mess up completely by both trying to head the high bouncing ball, letting Daka in behind to score a soft stupid giveaway goal that rather spoiled things.

Amartey was then granted acres of space to have a crack, which he did, inches over Pickford's bar. Mina had some problem that saw the game halted and Keane switched on after just 17 minutes.

15 minutes of uneventful midfield stalemate followed until Gordon forced a corner off Fofana. Gray's ball in was good, Richarlison heading it goalwards; that was parried into the ground by Schmeichel and bounced up nicely for Holgate to head into the net.

Everton had to be alert in their defending, Keane making a number of key interceptions, but Ihenacho nevertheless getting a shot off that was easy for Pickford to stop.

More confusion in the Everton defence between Keane and Holgate almost let in Dewsbury-Hall but his shot screwed wide of the post. Gordon had a good chance to release Iwobi for a run down the wing but his pass was poor and easily intercepted.

Everton continued to resist the home side's attempts to break through, assisted by every one of those Blues fans present, singing non-stop Spirit of the Blues as a continuous accompaniment, forcing some home boos in response at the break.

Play resumed with The Foxes pushing hard for another equalizer while Everton looked to tighten their defence to hold firm against the persistent attacks. Richarlison got free but Evans stod on his foot, causing intense pain and anguish that the Brazilian would soon recover from.

In defence, Iwobi was remarkable in his determination, while Everton continued to fashion some attacks, Gordon breaking right but taking too long to shoot and seeing his effort blocked.

Everton had a good spell of possession but Gordon was playing far too deep and eventually Gray wasted the build-up, wellying a shot over the bar.

Another very mature spell of midfield possession ended with Gordon's poor attempt at a return ball that was very easily intercepted. He tried another clever pass that was also intercepted as the Blues otherwise denied The Foxes any real chances until Mendy launched an excellent strike that Pickford watched all the way and tipped around the post.

Gray did well until taken out by Castagne as Vardy replaced Mendy. From the free-kick, Holgate sent a looping header over the bar.

Leicester should have scored but for a brilliant save by Pickford to deny a very good strike from Barnes after a great cross from Ihenacho was headed back in by Daka. From the second corner, Vardy lashed one well off target across goal.

Barnes worked space for himself and struck another fine shot that Pickford pushed expertly away from his goal.

Everton appeared to have created a great chance when Gordon overlapped on the right but Richarlison could not convert the low cutback. Allan replaced Gray as Evans fouled Gordon again.

Gordon's free-kick was all-too-easily defended away. The kid is still not producing very much by way of end-product. At the other end, Everton kept their shape and discipline well to deny the home side any clear chances. Ademola Lookman replaced the lively Daka from Dakar.

Inheacho resorted to a long strike that was an easy take of Pickford. Barnes then had a free header he placed just wide of the Everton goal. Gordon worked his way forward and crossed toward Rondon, but the ball was not high enough to avoid an intervening defender.

The Blues fans kept up their tremendous singing all the way through the second half, and it resounded around the King Power Stadium as they sensed a tremendous win approaching on the road.

Richarlison relieved the pressure, drawing a silly foul and a yellow card for Amartey as the not-so-faithful Leicester fans left in droves to another fantastic rendition of Spirit of the Blues.

Into added time and Gordon was fouled by Tielemans. At the other end, a Vardy header was gathered well by Pickford, with the seconds ticking away to a massively celebrated final whistle from Craig Pawson.

Kick-off: 2pm, Sunday, 8 May 2022

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Fofana [Y:90+4'], Evans, Amartey [Y:88'], Castagne, Mendy [Y:47'] (66' Vardy), Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Perez (46' Barnes), Iheanacho, Daka (80' Lookman).
Subs not Used: Ward, Söyüncü, Thomas, Choudhury, Soumare, Albrighton.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (c), Holgate, Mina (18' Keane), Mykolenko (66' Kenny), Doucoure, Delph, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray (74' Rondon) Richarlison.
Subs not Used: Begovic, Allan, Calvert-Lewin, Gomes, Dele, Welch.

Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: Lee Mason

Michael Kenrick

Everton United

What a weekend of football for Everton! Never in my many years of supporting Everton can I remember a weekend when all scores throughout the league have gone in Everton’s favour in every plausible way. With the way Saturday’s results went, you sensed Everton had an opportunity, and boy did they take it. What an effort. What a performance. What a day.

Gaz was due to pick me up at about 9am…and rocked up at about 8.20am. I wasn’t quite ready but wasn’t complaining and was out of the door by 8.30am and on the early road to Leicester. The journey was plain-sailing. Quiet road, good chat, and we parked up near the King Power stadium at around 11am.

It’s been about eight years since I last visited Leicester City and I can’t really recall a lot about pubs local to the stadium and what their policy is on accommodating away supporters. It mattered not as we pretty much crossed the road and right in front of us was a pub, The Counting House, with several Evertonians already mingling outside. We got a table inside, had some lunch and chewed the fat for a couple of hours. Over time the pub got pretty busy both inside and outside with the atmosphere bubbling away. Our fans were well up for this!

We made our way to the stadium pretty early and had a drink in the concourse. It was a little noisy, and got noisier and noisier as more and more Evertonians arrived, and when we went to our seats at about 2.45pm the atmosphere was really pumping.

The teams took to the field, and our fans got right behind the players and gave them a heroes welcome. Unchanged from the win against Chelsea, we attacked towards the opposite goal to where we were sat.

While we were ahead on six minutes, we could easily have been behind after two minutes when Patson Daka rounded Jordan Pickford but saw his goal-bound shot cleared just short of the goal line by Yerry Mina. Shortly after, Jordan Pickford made a good alert save also, though the offside flag had already gone up, I think against Kelechi Iheanacho.

It was time to have an attack of our own but nobody expected what would follow. Alex Iwobi did very well down the right flank and put the ball across to the edge of the penalty area where Vitalii Mykolenko had advanced. It was one of them balls where you had to have a crack, and our Ukrainian did. I even remember thinking as he shaped to shoot - well he’s not going to score, but you might as well have a crack. Blimey, nobody could have expected a finish like that. Our angle of it was perfect. It was beautifully placed and zipped into the corner. Everton ahead and it was that sort of celebration where you hugged everyone and anyone in sight. An incredible moment. Everton ahead. Everton fighting tough. Results going for Everton.

The joy was short-lived of course, as Everton did a bit of an Everton and contributed to their own downfall in gifting an equaliser to Leicester City. Mason Holgate did well to get a block-tackle in on Iheanacho, though this ultimately caused a bit of confusion between Yerry Mina and Seamus Coleman who collided in trying to clear the ball. This left Daka through on goal and he finished well past Jordan Pickford. It was very frustrating, all that good work undone by a poor mistake, doubly so when you remembered that Abdoulaye Doucoure had nearly scored at the other end just moments earlier.

And frustration merged into concern when play was stopped for Yerry Mina to leave the field injured. Michael Keane replaced, and did very well in his place.

Indeed Michael was a little bit involved with our winning goal from a Demarai Gray corner kick as he attracted a lot of attention in the penalty area from Leicester City defenders. I’d actually thought he’d won the initial header but it turned out to be Richarlison. It was hard to see what exactly happened, and I haven’t seen it since, but the ball went in. The players wheeled away celebrating, and the fans went nuts…again. None of us knew who had scored the goal until it was listed on the big screen. I thought Richarlison had scored it but it turned out to be Mason Holgate. A couple of unlikely goalscoring heroes this afternoon. A lot had been made of Leicester City’s appalling record of conceding from set-pieces this season, so it was refreshing to see Everton take head and take advantage.

The following 10 minutes or so as we approached half time were the most amazing I have witnessed over the years watching Everton home and away. Several renditions of Spirit of the Blues were belted out by the away contingent in what was a very special atmosphere. We arrived at half time unscathed and in great spirits. Half way there, could we see it out?

Yes, of course we did, but boy did the lads have to work for it. They were willed on every step of the way by our passionate fans. The atmosphere was something else, I can’t emphasise it enough. Life could have been made a lot easier with better finishing and/or decision making, one particular moment when Anthony Gordon tried to pull the ball back for Richarlison when maybe he should have shot springs to mind. We got into plenty of good positions but couldn’t capitalise.

It was just as well we were determined, dogged and disciplined defensively, as just like the Chelsea game, we were not going to be denied. All defenders stood up and were counted, particularly Alex Iwobi who stuck to his task and showed exceptional poise on the ball also. Fabian Delph and Abdoulaye Doucoure combined well in midfield, and Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon both dug in and helped their full backs. Jonjoe Kenny also came off the bench for the stricken Vitalii Mykolenko, and also performed brilliantly and didn’t let anyone down.

But as with the Chelsea game again, special mention has to go to our outstanding goalkeeper, who is in the form of his life. He repelled Leicester City with a string of top drawer saves which more than helped preserve the precious points. The pick of the bunch, or at least certainly the most spectacular, was when he pounced to his left to tip Nampalys Mendy’s drive around the post at full stretch. It was a great effort from Mendy and an incredible save from Jordan.

He also then twice denied Ashley Barnes, once from close range, the other also a drive from distance, this a lot lower than Mendy’s, but Jordan got down very well to save. Ashley Barnes did come close again to levelling the scores in the latter stages of the game and this time he did beat Jordan, but also beat the far post with his header. Everton defended stoically and repelled all six of Leicester City’s corner kicks as pressure really cranked up. No mean feat given we scored from our solitary one.

It felt like Leicester City threw all they had at Everton, and were exasperated to see everything repelled. In the closing few minutes they lost their discipline entirely and picked up two stupid yellow cards and allowed Everton to run the clock down, much to the delight of our outstanding supporters.

Because we played our part too. How bullishly Evertonians have got behind our club in recent weeks has been exceptional. We have refused to go down with a whimper, and the backing the players got was the best I’ve ever witnessed from Evertonians. The scenes at full time were incredible. You never wanted it to end. You could see how much it meant to all the players and staff.

And if we can keep pushing forward and steer ourselves out of this mess, the future feels a lot brighter. We went probably as low as we can go this season under Rafael Benitez. Maybe it took that to make us realise how precious our club is to us. For the first time I can probably ever remember, all the supporters are united. We are all behind Frank Lampard and his team. We are all behind the players. We are all in this together.

Everton are united. Survive, and we could be on to something special.

Player ratings:

Jordan Pickford: I really wanted to give man of the match to Alex Iwobi, but when I think about it, Jordan was flawless, and I can’t justify giving it to anyone but he. He’s in the form of his life and has contributed towards us winning six vital points more so than anyone else in the team. Outstanding Jordan, well done. 10

Vitalii Mykolenko: What a brilliant goal he scored and nobody expected that. He also operated rigorously in defence and showed good use of the ball moving up the pitch. Let’s hope his injury is just cramp and he’s raring to go for Watford. 8

Mason Holgate: It’s great to see Mason chip in with a winning goal, and he also defended his box very well. 8

Yerry Mina: Well. He made one great goal-saving intervention, made a big mistake for Leicester City’s goal, and then limped off injured…hopefully its not a serious injury. 6

Seamus Coleman: While he was also at fault for Leicester City’s goal, his contribution throughout the game was very good and he lead the players well. 7

Alex Iwobi: Alex has been titled a lot of things during his Everton career, but I don’t recall “brave” being one of them. Brave he was though. There was one 50/50 ball he probably could have been gutsier with, but otherwise he put in an incredible shift at right wing back, stuck at his task well, and also used the ball very intelligently…including an assist. A fantastic shift from a player who has become an unlikely hero under Frank Lampard. 9

Fabian Delph: He was exceptional in the first half. In the second he tired a bit probably but got through the 90 minutes and helped contain the Foxes. 8

Abdoulaye Doucoure: Its great to get Abdoulaye back to his best.. His energy and work rate is currently a key cog in the team. 8

Demarai Gray: He was crafty on the ball and put in quite a shift before he was substituted. Nice to see him play a part in our winning goal also by putting a good corner kick into the box. 8

Anthony Gordon: A bit hit and miss, more miss than hit in and around the penalty area, but regardless he worked ever so hard, kept on going and made a good contribution to the win. 7

Richarlison: He gave everything as always, and made things difficult for Leicester City as the game rolled on. There was a funny moment after the game when a blue flair was thrown onto the pitch just next to him and was smoking away and he looked at it and laughed back at the crowd as if to say “I’m not touching that mate”. 8

Substitutes:

Michael Keane: Given he was thrown into the game unexpectedly, I thought he coped ever so well and marshalled our back line brilliantly. 8

Jonjoe Kenny: Jonjoe also excelled after coming into the game at left back in testing circumstances. He got involved straight away and performed admirably. 8

Salomon Rondon: He was good nuisance value, and certainly helped give Everton the opportunity to play the ball deep into the corner as we stretched the game out to get over the line. 6

Paul Traill

Match Preview

Everton travel to the East Midlands for the first of their remaining three away fixtures knowing that they will likely need to pick up points on the road if they are to drag themselves out of the relegation zone.

The Blues have made Goodison Park a fortress in recent weeks under Frank Lampard where the backing of the club's vociferous support has helped propel them to three wins and a draw since mid-March but have failed to pick up a single point away from home since December.

Everton have come close under Lampard and led at Burnley before individual errors and a touch of bad luck conspired to condemn them to a 3-2 defeat but the manager will be hoping to finally build some of that momentum off another rousing win at Goodison.

Last Sunday's victory over Chelsea brought the Toffees to within two points of both Burnley and Leeds United who had played a game more heading into the weekend and now would be the ideal moment for Everton to win consecutive fixtures for the first time since September.

Lampard is hopeful of being able to pick from almost the same available players as last Sunday when he takes his side to the King Power Stadium this weekend.

The Everton boss explained that there were "a couple of little niggles" in the team after the win over Chelsea, with Richarlison still feeling the effects of a knock he picked up at Anfield in the Merseyside derby a fortnight ago.

"Richy's got a bit of a sore ankle from when he twisted it at Liverpool," Lampard said in his press conference ahead of the clash with Leicester. Hopefully he will be fine."

The manager indicated that while Ben Godfrey and Donny van de Beek are still ruled out, André Gomes is fit again after missing the last couple of games with a soft-tissue problem.

"Ben's not fit," Lampard said of the defender who was forced to pull out the derby when he strained a thigh muscle. "Hopefully he will be training with us in the middle of next week."

Assuming Richarlison is passed fit, it gives Lampard the chance to name an unchanged side, albeit perhaps with a more conventional back four, which would see Yerry Mina playing back-to-back games for the first time since he returned from his latest injury lay-off.

The Colombian was omitted from the side that faced Liverpool in the Merseyside derby after only three days' rest but a full week's recuperation this time should enable him to feature.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to be available but has not been risked in the last couple of games as the club manages his gradual recovery from a serious thigh injury and it would be a surprise to see him named on the bench again for this one.

For their part, Leicester have an almost clean bill of health, with only Wilfried Ndidi and Ryan Bertrand ruled out with long-term injuries. They were, however, involved in European Conference League action in Rome on Thursday evening and Everton will, no doubt, be hoping that the Foxes' travels and the psychological effects of defeat to AS Roma will work in their favour.

Brendan Rodgers' men were beaten 3-1 at Tottenham last time out but, as they showed at Goodison Park last month, however, they are a talented team and since losing at home to Spurs in the reverse fixture back in January, they're unbeaten in five Premier League games at home.

While Lampard betrayed some naïveté in his first few away games as Everton boss, there is evidence that in recent weeks he has got the measure of the squad he inherited and made them a lot harder to beat, particularly on their travels.

A repeat of the defensive solidity and posture that he and his players adopted at Anfield and against Chelsea last time out would afford them the platform from which try and hurt Leicester on the break while safe-guarding against the predatory threat of Jamie Vardy who is expected to play after missing the match against Everton on Merseyside through injury.

With Burnley hosting Aston Villa 24 hours earlier, the Blues will know how at least one of their rivals in the relegation dogfight will have fared this weekend while Leeds are at Arsenal at the same time.

As Lampard has said, though, he and his players need only be concerned with themselves. It goes without saying that a repeat of last season's win at the King Power would be massive for Everton.

Kick-off: 2pm, Sunday, 8 May, 2022
Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: Lee Mason
Last Time: Leicester City 0 - 2 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Mykolenko, Delph, Doucouré, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Richarlison

Lyndon Lloyd

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