Match Report

Everton powered into a 2-0 lead for the third time this season but managed to see it out on this occasion with a professional performance on the road against newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

Iliman Ndiaye struck in the 17th minute to give the Toffees the lead after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had fluffed his lines once again in a one-on-one situation and Michael Keane doubled the advantage with a terrific finish later in the first half.

Where Sean Dyche’s men caved from such a strong position against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, this time they ground out the points, keeping a second successive clean sheet and putting some daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

Jarrad Branthwaite returned to full training earlier in the week but was, sensibly, withheld from the squad for the trip to East Anglia, allowing Keane to continue his partnership with James Tarkowski at centre half.

Vitalii Mykolenko made a welcome return at left-back while Ashley Young resumed full-back duties on the opposite side and Idrissa Gueye was chosen in the middle alongside Abdoulaye Doucouré, somewhat harshly at the expense of Orel Mangala.

Everton were unable to assert control on the game from the first whistle and they probably should have been a goal down after just five minutes when Kieran McKenna’s side successfully played around the Blues’ press and carved out a gilt-edged chance.

Wes Burns was played in down the Tractor Boys’ right flank, he cut the ball back invitingly for Jack Clarke but with the goal at his mercy he made a mess of the contact and failed to hit the target.

Two minutes later, an even better chance fell to Calvert-Lewin at the other end when he easily intercepted a weak pass from Kalvin Phillips leaving him with just Arijenet Muric to beat but his shot deflected off the keeper and behind.

Not long after that, Ndiaye turned his man impressively and laid it across to Dwight McNeil but, inexplicably, he took a touch to set himself when a first-time strike was there for the taking and Clarke nipped across him to take it off him as he belatedly pulled the trigger.

When Ipswich played themselves into trouble again just past the quarter-hour mark, though, it led to Everton taking the lead. Muric could only side-foot the ball over his own byline and when the resulting corner ended up with Jack Harrison, neither Dara O’Shea nor Burns could deal with his deep cross.

Burns dallied on O’Shea’s header and Ndiaye seized the loose ball, cutting onto his right foot and rifling a shot high into the net to make it 1-0.

Calvert-Lewin forced a one-handed save from Muric when he swivelled onto McNeil’s pass as the visitors pressed for a second but it looked as though they were going to be pegged back midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty by referee Michael Oliver.

Omari Hutchison’s free-kick after he had been chopped down in full flight by Keane had ended up with a corner for the home side that Everton only half cleared. When the ball ended up back in their box, McNeil was robbed trying to dribble his way out and Clarke went down, apparently fouled by the Blues’ forward.

Video Assistant Referee, Graham Scott, eventually advised Oliver to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor and the correct decision — that Clarke had slipped and kicked McNeil’s foot — was reached, with the penalty overturned.

Despite the scare, Everton remained the likelier of the two sides to add to the scoreline, and after McNeil’s shot had hit Calvert-Lewin on its way towards goal, Dyche’s side won another corner when Cameron Burgess was forced to glance Harrison’s cross behind.

That set-piece was worked short, Tarkowski’s header back into the six-yard box was only cleared to McNeil on the edge of the area and after ghosting away from two men with some lovely footwork, he found Keane who belted home a marvellous effort from a very tight angle.

The half ended with direct free-kick opportunities for both teams, Phillips floating his effort over the crossbar and Young’s curling harmlessly into Muric’s arms after Harrison had been fouled.

The first 15 minutes of the second period saw Everton continue to have the upper hand but without them being able to make that dominance pay. Again lacking sufficient numbers in support, Calvert-Lewin’s square cross was cut out by Burgess, the striker then toed Doucoure’s prodded pass wide from close range with his weaker left foot while Ndiaye couldn’t capitalise on another Ipswich slip in midfield when his shot lacked power and Muric made the save low to his right.

McNeil had one more effort saved after Everton counter-attacked on the hour mark which ushered in a final half hour where Ipswich assumed the upper hand but, despite much huffing and puffing, they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Indeed, it was the Blues who should have wrapped things up late on but Calvert-Lewin again shot too close to Muric with just the keeper to beat. 

The in-form Liam Delap had an effort of his own blocked and then rattled a shot over, Hutchison’s strike was deflected narrowly past the far post and Conor Chaplin finally had the hosts’ first shot on target 10 minutes from time when he met a bobbling corner but could only fire straight at Jordan Pickford.

Apart from a low Jack Taylor shot that the England keeper saved with an out-stretched glove as the game ticked into stoppage time, that was as close as Ipswich came to scoring and Everton comfortably saw out their first away victory in 10 months.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton put in an excellent performance at Portman Road to secure heir first away win of the season with a fine win over Ipswich Town.

Sean Dyche has had to revert to his old guard favourites for this one as the relentless injury problems limit his selection options with Chermiti, Broja, Iroegbunam, Garner, and Branthwaite either injured or not sufficiently recovered from long-term injury.

There's two places on the bench for goalkeepers but none for Jesper Lindstrom, with Everton playing in Spurs colours. The home side kicked off but Davis fell heavily inside 10 seconds and the age was halted.

Everton got possession but Mykolenko's punt up the wing was poor. Still Everton worked it forward and Gana won an early corner. McNeil's delivery was good but Doucure needlessly pushed Muric. Ipswich made a quick break, Jack Clarke on the penalty spot, shafted his shot high and wide. 

Calvert-Lewin did brilliantly to rob a defender but was of course hopeless in the one-on-one with Muric. Nevertheless, Everton continued to push forward but  Mykolenko overhit his cross. Harrison rescued it and Ndiaye put it on a plate for McNeil but he wanted an extra touch rather than hitting it first time and a defender took it off his toe. 

Tarkowski slid in very strongly on Hutchinson but got the ball and was not punished. Tarkowski then complained about Delap pushing him off the pitch. Everton were gifted another corner which flew over Keane and Tarkowski.

After good work by McNeil and Harrison, Iliman Ndiaye pounced on a ball that Ipswich were struggling to clear and he fairly belted it into the Ipswich net, with the benefit of a slight deflection, to give Everton the lead. 

Everton kept possession well to keep the home side under the cosh. McNeil fed a lovely ball to Calvert-Lewin who got a poorly directed shot off that was never going to beat Muric. Young delivered a brilliant ball straight up to Calvert-Lewin but it was put out for a corner that almost beat Muric. 

Keane blundered into Hutchinson and gave away a dangerous free-kick that was blocked before going out for a corner to Ipswich, the first pressure Everton had to withstand. Clarke dribbled in and went to shoot but kicked McNeil's leg... penalty? Hmmm. Ref says Yes — but wasn't this identical to Calvert-Lewin against Newcastle???  

VAR Graham Scott invited Micheal Oliver to review it on the monitor ... and amazingly they were consistent!! It was ruled out!!! 

Calvert-Lewin ran out of space wide left. But Everton had surely had the better of the game so far. However, they seemed to be allowing Ipswich to have more of the ball, Keane giving them a corner, intercepted at the near post.

A breakout was the result, with Calvert-Lewin winning a corner at the other end. But nothing came from it and NcNeil's shot hit Calvert-Lewin for a goal kick. 

A speculative cross from Harrison saw Burgess head it behind for another Everton corner. It seemed to be cleared but came through from McNeil to Michael Keane, who, from an impossible angle, smashed it into the roof of the net! Unbelievable strike by the big galloot!!! 

Everton managed the last few minutes well enough until a mistake by Doucoure led to Gueye fouling Delap just outside the dee, Phillips spooning it over the bar as 6 minutes were added on.

As Everton worked the ball upfield, Phillips fouled Harrison for a decent free-kick that Young shot goalward — perhaps he should have gone for the near post? Everton saw out the added time to go off at he break with a very nice two-goal lead. 

Everton looked to take a degree of control through some unaccustomed high possession numbers as the home side struggled to see much of the ball. Calvert-Lewin tried to counter but his cross to Ducoure was cut out. But Town's passing was poor, giving Everton the ball repeatedly. 

Doucoure gifted the ball in to Calvert-Lewin's feet and he turned well enough but shot feebly well wide of the near post. Great supply, shockingly poor finishing from the Everton No 9. 

Ndiaye picked up a loose ball and ran at goal but his shot was saved low down by Muric. Ipswich were almost invited to have a go a couple of times as Everton eschewed the press in favour of waiting for a mistake.

It was nearly an hour gone before Ipswich got their first corner of the second half, but Everton broke and Ndiaye fed a lovely ball to the feet of Calvert-Lewin but what exactly he was trying to do with the ball wasn't clear. He wasn't trying to shoot despite the keeper being flat on his face. 

Some changes by McKenna seemed to embolden the home side as Everton looked to lock in 3 points, but it led to more nervy moments. Mykolenko did well to win the ball but Everton failed to keep the ball on the counter as Ipswich were given more and more of it and almost invited to attack.

Ndiaye was lively and his trickery won Everon another free-kick left of the area, swung in by McNeil and it fell to Dcucoure but he could not fashion a shot. Ipswich countered at speed and Delap fired just inches over Pickford's bar. 

Stupid play by Everton out from the back saw the easy turnover and Hutchinson fizzed a shot just past the far post. From the corner, Burgess headed into the roof of Pickford's net as Ipswich came closer and closer to scoring. 

Another Ipswich corner and Chaplin fired it straight at Pickford – their first attempt on target as Everton defended deeper and deeper, with Mangala on for Ndiaye. A dangerous free-kick was headed clear, the last stages of the game played almost completely in Everton's half.

Calvert-Lewin drew a foul on half-way to relieve the pressure. Young then delivered a brilliant ball right onto Calvert-Lewin's head and it bounced off toward the corner flag!

Everton got forward but Calvert-Lewin then stood on the ball and lost it, giving Ipswich possession again as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes. Taylor was allowed to advance and test Pickford at the near post with 4 minutes added and Evertin holding on to their 2-goal lead. 

Hutchinson's cross was headed well over by Taylor, who was then booked for an overly aggressive challenge on Young. 

Perhaps fittingly, another beautiful ball was played through directly to Calvert-Lewin's feet with only goalkeeper Muric to beat… but there is no need to describe what happened to the last kick of the game!

Ipswich Town: Muric, O'Shea (63' H Clarke), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Phillips (71' Taylor [Y:90']), Burns (63' Chaplin), Hutchinson, J Clarke (71' Szmodics), Delap (79' Hirst).

Subs not Used: Walton, Townsend, Ogbene,  Broadhead.

Everton: Pickford, Young, Keane [Y:24'], Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gana, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye (81' Mangala), McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs not Used: Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Beto, O'Brien, Coleman, Armstrong, Dixon.

Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Graham Scott

Attendance: 29,862

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

With the penultimate international break of the year out of the way, Everton are back in action this weekend as they travel to Portman Road for the first time in 23 years to take on Ipswich Town.

Though Sean Dyche and his men will be hoping to pull away from the lower reaches of the Premier league table in the coming weeks, as things stand this is another early season six-pointer against a side that has managed four draws since returning to the top flight, but has yet to register a league victory.

The Blues were no doubt hoping to welcome Jarrad Branthwaite back to the fold for this one, but it looks as though it will come perhaps a week too soon for the defender Dyche’s comments in his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm today.

Branthwaite returned to full training this week, but it seems as though he might not be risked given that his previous comeback from surgery resulted in an almost immediate setback with a minor quad injury.

There was more encouraging news from Dyche where Vitalii Mykolenko is concerned and he looks set to be passed fit to face the Tractor Boys.

Seamus Coleman is also in contention for a return which will come as a huge boost given that Nathan Patterson is still being managed on a patient rehabilitation and match fitness program aimed at getting him completely ready for a return to senior action.

In midfield, however, two fresh injury problems have reared their heads. James Garner, who filled in so ably at right back against Newcastle last time out has suffered a recurrence of the back injury that hampered him in late 2022 and Tim Iroegbunam has a stress fracture in his foot that looks like likely to sideline him for a number of weeks.

Thankfully, Dyche still has options in that part of the field with Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gueye both available to compete for a spot with Abdoulaye Doucouré.

in terms of the forward areas, Iliman Ndiaye and looks to have shaken off the knock that forced him off in Senegal’s first Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi over the break.

He came on as a second substitute in the return fixture against the Southern Africans and looks set to be available for Everton on Saturday .

Ipswich won many admirers last season as they gained promotion from the championship, playing an expansive and possession-based style under Kieran McKenna.

The Northern Irishman has not wavered from those principles now that he is managing his team in the Premier League, but it remains to be seen if he has the quality to keep the East Anglian club up this season.

In Liam Delap, he has a potent marksman who is already turned heads with his goal return so far, and he will be the chief danger man that Everton will need to contain if they want to come away with a victory this weekend.

In a similar fashion to Burnley last season and Southampton this season, Ipswich are committed to a passing game that starts with playing the ball out from the back, which is a tactic that Everton can look to exploit with their pressing game and hopefully cause problems early on that might yield an early goal, just as it did against the Clarets last season and what was Everton’s last away win since last December.

Certainly, having dropped so many points already this season and not won away from Goodison Park for so long, this really is a game that Everton should be doing everything they can to win.

It promises to be a tricky assignment, however, against a newly-promoted side in front of their own fans who will feel that the fragile Blues are there to be got at themselves.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 19 October, 2024
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Graham Scott
Last Time: Ipswich Town 0 - 0 Everton (October 2001)

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Mangala, Doucouré, Harrison, Ndiaye, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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