This afternoon we took on Stoke. To save me typing, here’s the team;
? | Team news is in! Here's our XI and subs to face @stokecity. Your thoughts, Blues? #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/E3aHjW1mI4
— Everton (@Everton) August 27, 2016
Firstly, thoughts go out to the fan in the Park End who took ill and required the services of medics.
Quite a slow start to this one, but once we finally woke up, midway in the first half, Ashley Williams had a header cleared off the line.
Following this, Everton turned the pressure on Stoke, and it was pressure that was kept up until half time, at which point the game was still tied at 0-0.
The first half had Kevin Mirallas looking like a totally different player from the one that stagnated like a puddle under a week old bin bag in the back yard during our three year Martinez sentence.
Should’ve been 3-0 up at this point.
On to the second half, Everton initially appeared to keep the pressure on with Barkley going close. A couple of moments later and, shock, horror, penalty to Everton! Baines stepped up to take and put us 1-0 up although it was not the clearest cut penalty as it went in off Given but they all count. Stoke hit the bar soon after.
Everton’s first substitution comes on 68′ with Kone replacing Mirallas. A bit of action from Stoke, then Funes Mori on for Barkley. With five minutes to go, Tom Davies replaces Bolasie and Barry gets a yellow card.
Everton win the game by one goal, but I he the feeling RoKoe will want to see us seeing games off better than this. But good play for large parts from the blues.