Surely the day can’t get any worse

Everton 1 - 3 West Ham Utd

Up at 5:50 am, put the dogs out to pump ship and gather breakfast, lunch and dinner together before leaving for Taunton. As usual, a magnificent turnout of 70 die-hards some who had already driven for getting on three hours to pick up the coach!

Ten minutes in and it was 4 inches of snow restricting the motorway to two lanes. We got through that with only minor delays and rocked up at Keele services still with time to spare. Then the trouble started! 

We had already had problems with the doors of the coach failing to close and now they had totally given up. After around 20 minutes, it was becoming apparent that, if we were to get to the match, it wasn’t going to be on this coach.

In times of crisis, someone has to step up and take charge – enter Mike Williams, no relation, long-standing committee member of West Country Blues, ticket and travel secretary, and a man with (clearly) excellent communication and organisation skills. Within a further half-hour, we had a replacement coach – a double-decker – so quite how Mike found one going spare complete with driver, I do not know.

Anyway, we piled on board and off we went. After a while, someone realised there was no loo on this coach and we still had an hour and a half or so to go. Legs were crossed (I congratulated myself on having pumped ship at the services) and the grandson of a lad sitting opposite me was suffering. He must have been around 8 years old and granddad gave him sound advice:

“When you get off the coach stand in the park, point yourself at the stadium opposite (you know where!!) and let it all go!" Classic stuff and what a well-behaved young man he was.

No time for a beer with the ToffeeWebbers at the Harlech – we got to our seats at 14:50! For only the second time in my 62 years as a fan, I was in the Upper Bullens and it perfectly illustrates why we have to move to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Nuff said!!

We started well for 10 minutes and, as they came into the game, our first touch was awful. I can only think that this was nerves as it is such a basic skill. McNeil, who I really liked last season, was not in the game at all and seemed to be wandering around aimlessly.

Harrison looked very busy but does not have the pace to get beyond his man, so checks back rather than driving for the line, which results in him being surrounded by three men and of course he loses the ball.

Once we settled down, I thought we were playing decent enough. Onana in my opinion was passing the ball well, looking to move it forward, as was the mostly excellent Garner. Beto was battling well and unsettling their defence whilst also looking ungainly and not particularly controlled.

The penalty was ridiculous – no one around me thought he should be taking it – Doucouré or Garner should surely have taken responsibility and it was no surprise to see him miss. He redeemed himself with a very good headed goal off an equally good cross from Garner.

It all fell apart when they equalised and we chased a winner at the expense of leaving ourselves wide open. People moan about Sean Dyche shutting up shop and this might be why – we are more likely to offer up decent chances to the opposition than we are to score again?

Their first goal was a good header, similar to some we have scored ourselves. Their second was one of those that the player will never score again, and their third was a result of committing everyone forward in search of a point. Unnecessary boos at the end, I thought – it was a good game to watch, gut-wrenching to lose but the players gave their all against a team 8th in the Premier League table.

To heap more misery on us, we had a thorough soaking on the walk back to the coach and I finally got home at 23:20 after a pretty miserable day. Hoping for better when I travel for the Burnley game. 

My ratings are below; thanks again to Mike Williams for ensuring we did not miss the game — top man, Mike!!

Pickford: not much he could do about the goals, 6

Godfrey: solid defensively but so limited going forward, 6

Tarkowski: tried to move forward with the ball whenever he could and rock solid, 7

Branthwaite: given a tough finale by Antonio but played well, 8

Mykolenko: same as Godfrey, 6

McNeil: better second half but overall poor, crossing awful, 3

Harrison: crossing appalling, 3

Garner:  mostly very good, a few stray passes and at fault for their third, 8

Onana: played well, 7

Doucouré: getting back to form, 7

Beto: missed some, poor penalty, scored, tried hard, no long-term answer but I do like his application, 7

Thoughts for next week: we need Seamus Coleman back to provide some threat down the right. Need to have bodies in midfield and give our wingers a break as they are not in the zone. I’d play a midfield of Onana and Gana (if fit) with Gomes, Doucouré and Garner ahead of them and Beto up front. No width but we don’t have much anyway and at least this team would clog up the midfield. Sean Dyche has to stay for now at least.

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