Lyndon Lloyd and Michael Kenrick 22/09/2024 22comments  |  Jump to last
Everton U21s 4 - 3 Sunderland U21s

Jarrad Branthwaite played the whole game and Nathan Patterson completed an hour after lining up for Everton's Under-21s against Sunderland for their Premier League 2 clash on Sunday afternoon.

Both senior players were able to use a game that turned into a real ding-dong seven-goal battle to make significant progress along the path of recovery to match fitness after operations have seen them both sidelined for months. 

Branthwaite, in particular, has been a huge miss in the first team's defence and the fact that he came through 90 minutes will come as a massive boon to Sean Dyche and his team as they prepare for back-to-back home games against Crystal Palace and Newcastle before the next international break.

Patterson, meanwhile, can add a much-needed option at right-back where Seamus Coleman's season has already been disrupted by injury, Roman Dixon has been overlooked in the past two Premier League games on the grounds of his inexperience and Ashley Young has been needed on the other side of defence to cover for Vitalii Mykolenko's illness.

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It's not clear yet whether either player will be deemed ready to play any part against Palace next weekend — Branthwaite would appear to have the stronger case — but it would be realistic to expect them both to be ready for the clash with the Magpies, assuming they continue to feel no reaction in training. 

For today's U21s game, Paul Tait did not have Harrison Armstrong or Dixon at his disposal after both travelled with the senior squad to Leicester City, a situation that is likely to continue while Dyche's options are limited by injury.  

Everton had to play catch-up as Sunderland twice took the lead, with Omari Benjamin equalising first inside two minutes, then Charlie Whitaker levelling after the break with a penalty when Sunderland had scored again just before half-time.  

Everton took the lead when Benjamin scored his second but this time Sunderland came back to make it 3-3.  

The scoring was not over, however, as substitute Jack Butler popped up with the crucial winner just a couple of minutes from the end. 

Everton U21s: G Pickford, N Patterson (61' Butler), Heath, Samuels-Smith, Branthwaite, Moonan, Benjamin, Butterfield [Y:37'], Sherif (18' Barker), Bates, (82' J Patterson [Y:90+4']), Whitaker (82' Beaumont-Clark)

Subs not Used: Barnsley

 

Reader Comments (22)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 22/09/2024 at 10:10:21
No pre-match details that I can find but this one is not likely to be streamed live as there are so-called 'Super Sunday' fabulous Premier League games on telly at the same time and the powers that be wouldn't want such trifles as this to tempt you away from watching Sky's unmissable coverage.
Mike Hayes
2 Posted 22/09/2024 at 12:32:46
Pity they don't show it on the YouTube channel - they did a few U21 games like that last season?

Fingers crossed they both have a good game and are ready for Palace.

Robert Tressell
3 Posted 22/09/2024 at 12:40:53
Could be a very significant moment for us. With these two back and some below par players like Mykolenko and Tarkowski recovering fitness, it bodes much better
Brent Stephens
4 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:25:56
Blues are a goal down.

Good long-range shot, unmarked.

Brent Stephens
5 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:27:42
Benjamin scores close range from good work and cross by Heath on left.
Brent Stephens
6 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:32:01
Branthwaite limping.
Tony Abrahams
7 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:42:10
Off a tackle or do you think it’s a muscle strain, Brent?
Brent Stephens
8 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:42:55
Defence all over the place to concede a second.
Brent Stephens
9 Posted 22/09/2024 at 15:50:16
I don't know, Tony, but I didn't see a tackle of any sort.
Tony Abrahams
10 Posted 22/09/2024 at 16:13:37
Okay Brent, but he’s still playing?
Brent Stephens
11 Posted 22/09/2024 at 16:23:06
He saw the half out, Tony. I had to leave then.
Jeff Armstrong
12 Posted 22/09/2024 at 16:26:21
Branthwaite still playing, Patterson got 65 minutes

There’s updates by Joe Thomas (Echo reporter)on X

Dave Abrahams
13 Posted 22/09/2024 at 16:56:58
Everton won 4-3 with another goal from Benjamin and two from Whittaker, one a penalty and the other the winner after Sunderland had made it 3-3.
Hugh Jenkins
14 Posted 22/09/2024 at 18:31:07
I see that Jarrad came through the full 90 minutes for the U21 game today. Hopefully back in the first team very soon.
Sam Hoare
15 Posted 22/09/2024 at 18:38:24
Good news. Though I think we should be wary of expecting Jarrad Branthwaite to come back in and fix our defense single-handedly.

And as for Patterson, I don't think Dyche was keen on him even when he was fit and ready.

Brent Stephens
16 Posted 22/09/2024 at 18:50:40
Patterson was easily beaten several times just in the first half I watched.
Tony Abrahams
17 Posted 22/09/2024 at 19:12:56
I like Whitaker, but think he his another player who has had a lot of injury problems.

Hopefully he gets a good run of games before getting himself out on loan in January, now he has just turned 21.

Dave Abrahams
18 Posted 22/09/2024 at 19:21:39
At post (13), I read wrong information:

Whitaker had been subbed by the time we scored the fourth goal; it was Butler who got the goal as Michael pointed out in his report of the game.

Frank Wolfe
19 Posted 23/09/2024 at 04:57:14
Good news but I'd be wary of rushing players back in even in our current situation.

Hope they can make the squad for the next game and maybe get some time off the bench.

Edward Rogers
20 Posted 23/09/2024 at 08:16:06
An awful amount of expectation and pressure on young Jarrad's shoulders. Big test/season for the lad, hopefully us supporters will do just that support him.
Danny O'Neill
21 Posted 23/09/2024 at 08:38:22
Get him on the pitch on Saturday. We have other players coming back too.
James MacGlashan
23 Posted 25/09/2024 at 11:39:05
Isn't Patterson better further forward? I don't think he is a true defender.

I remember watching Stones for us and thinking he should be in midfield. I'm no Guardiola like but just saying.

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