The Opposition's Local Media Match Reports

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http://www.southwales-eveningpost.c...emier-League/story-27829835-detail/story.html

Swansea City held by Everton after a goalless Premier League draw


By Sport_Steve | Posted: September 19, 2015


SWANSEA City claimed a hard-earned point after an action-packed goalless draw with Everton at the Liberty.

Both sides could have claimed all there points in a match Everton probably edged in terms of chances.

And neither settled for a draw before the final whistle.

There was late drama as Kevin Mirallas was sent off for a crude stamp on substitute Modou Barrow in injury-time just minutes after being introduced himself.


From the free-kick Federico Fernandez’s back post header was controlled by Ki Sung-Yeung before the South Korean swivelled and sent the ball into the stand.

That summed up the afternoon as Swansea and Everton both failed to find the finishing touch.

Everton came close on several occasions in the first half, with Brendan Galloway turning away from Fernandez and Kyle Naughton before dragging his shot wide five minutes after the restart.

Lukaku also missed the target with only Fabianksi to beat, while the ball fizzed along the Swansea goal-line on more than one occasion, with no-one able to supply a final touch.

At the other end, Jefferson Montero forced Tim Howard to tip over just past the hour and a well-hit Bafetimbi Gomis effort was beaten away by the American.


Swansea’s best opportunities fell to Gomis, who three times might have put Swansea ahead in the opening 45 minutes.

First his acrobatic effort from a Naughton cross was held by Howard.

A minute later the French forward charged on to a misplaced Gareth Barry header, but it his shot dribbled wide.

And just before half-time Gomis twisted and turned on the corner of the area before seeing a fizzing attempt blocked.
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http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/s...exit_Capital_One_Cup_after_Everton_fightback/


Reading FC exit Capital One Cup after Everton fightback


Reading FC bowed out of the Capital One Cup after Everton staged a second-half comeback to run out 2-1 winners at the Madejski Stadium.

Royals led at the break through Nick Blackman's seventh goal of the season but second-half strikes from Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu ensured the visitors progressed.

It was a valiant effort from a much-changed Reading side but in the end, the visitors' superiority shone through.

Steve Clarke had promised to ring the changes and he stuck to that plan as he made eight changes from the side that won at Bristol City.


Paolo Hurtado, Alex Fernandez, Lucas Piazon and Ola John were handed full debuts, whilst Ali Al-Habsi, Jake Cooper, Aaron Tshibola and Andrew Taylor were also recalled.

Blackman was one of only three players to retain his place in the starting XI and he went close with the first opportunity of the game after 11 minutes.

It was fizzed with pace at Joel Robles but the Everton keeper managed to turn it away and over the crossbar.

Everton were enjoying a lot of the ball and Cooper had to be alert to block Arouna Kone's effort from the edge of the box.

Piazon was at the centre of a lot of Reading's attacking play and he linked up with Hurtado midway through the half before slipping in Blackman.

The striker tried to slide the ball past Robles but the keeper was out quickly to block Blackman's effort.

But the in-form forward didn't have to wait long to notch his seventh goal of the campaign, when he put Reading ahead in the 36th minute.

Good work by Taylor and Piazon released John down the left-hand side, and his cross was met at the far post by Blackman.

Reading looked a threat whenever they went forward in the first half and were good value for their lead at half-time.

But the second-half was all Everton and the Premier League side showed their superiority as they dominated proceedings.

Despite the possession they enjoyed, it was Clarke's men that were the architects of their own downfall as two mistakes gifted Everton the goals they needed to turn the game around.


Fernandez failed to properly head clear a corner and Barkley was on hand to fire home a sumptuous volley from 15 yards out in the 62nd minute.

Eleven minutes later and the turnaround as complete when Deulofeu's free-kick beat Al-Habsi from 25 yards.

The goalkeeper got his hand to it but parried it onto the post and in, instead of wide of the goal.

It was slightly harsh on Royals, who battled well throughout but they struggled to create any chances of note in the second period.

The closest Clarke's men came in the final stages was a Danny Williams effort that went high and wide.

Reading: Al-Habsi; Gunter, Hector, Cooper, Taylor; Tshibola, John (Williams '77), Piazon, Fernandez, Hurtado (McCleary '65); Blackman. Subs not used: Bond, McShane, Norwood, Obita, Cox.

Everton: Robles, Funes Mori, Stones (Galloway '48), Jagielka, Lennon, McCarthy, Osman, Barkley, Deulofeu, Kone (Barry '45), Lukaku. Subs not used: Howard, Gibson, Browning, Rodrigues, Naismith.

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Referee: Darren Treleaven

Attendance: 19, 435.
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http://www.expressandstar.com/sport...ier-league-west-bromwich-albion-v-everton-15/

September 29, 2015 7:59 am
Albion 2 Everton 3 - Report and Pictures

This was undoubtedly entertainment - just not in a way Albion would have wanted.


After some frustrating games at the Hawthorns to this point, the Baggies were involved in what is best described as a horror, rather than a thriller, as they contrived to blow a two-goal lead and lose to Everton.

It was a former Albion favourite, Romelu Lukaku, who played the starring role as he started and finished the Toffees dramatic second half comeback, after goals from Saido Berahino and Craig Dawson had put the hosts two to the good either side of half-time.

Lukaku gave Everton hope with a header, provided the pass for Arouna Kone to level and then, through what was almost sheer bloody-mindedness, bundled home the winner and leave Baggies head coach Tony Pulis shaking his head with disbelief.

Pulis made nine changes from the side which lost 3-0 at Norwich in the Capital One Cup last Wednesday.

Dawson and Jonas Olsson were the only two to survive - the latter due to a calf injury which forced Gareth McAuley to sit out.

Much as they had against Southampton in their previous home game, Albion made a bright start, without seriously testing visiting keeper Tim Howard aside from a James Morrison drive, which was straight at the American.

Too often, it was the final ball letting the Baggies down with a Darren Fletcher cross, after a great turn from the skipper, floating too far ahead of Salomon Rondon at the far post.

Everton’s first real threatening moment, 20 minutes in, came after James Morrison’s cross failed to beat the first man and the Toffees broke, only for Ross Barkley to run into the imposing figure of Olsson as he looked to break into the box.

It would not be the only nervy moment for the hosts, who lost Olsson to a suspected groin injury just past the midway point of the first half.

Barkley whistled a low free-kick from the right flank through a host of bodies with none making a touch.

The England international was then guilty of missing the half’s biggest chance, scuffing Deulofeu’s cross wide from ten yards, a miss all the more more galling for Barkley as it was he who had begun the move with a delightful turn.


Yet Albion, struggling to create, were able to count on some incredibly sloppy defending to break the deadlock four minutes before the break.

Howard, looking to start a quick attack, rolled the ball out but after Mori had been robbed by Dawson, Gareth Barrypassed straight to Morrison, who slid a through ball for Berahino to lift over the advancing keeper.

Compared to what had come before, it was a moment of stark clinicity from a player whose rehabilitation, following his deadline day outburst, continues apace.

Just four minutes remained in the half after his strike yet Everton might have levelled, Tyias Browning heading over from a corner while Chester, on for Olsson, was forced to clear from under the shadow of his own crossbar after James McCarthy sent a low cross fizzing across the face of goal.

Albion had a great chance to extend their lead in the opening minutes of the second half after the lively Morrison ran at the Everton defence. His shot was blocked but the loose ball ran to McClean, who sent his shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

Another chance went begging when Baggies skipper Darren Fletcher couldn’t direct Jonny Evans’ cross on target from four yards out.

It mattered not, as the ball was poked out for the corner from which Dawson met Brunt’s delivery to put the hosts two up and seemingly set fair for a comfortable three points.

Yet just 60 seconds later Everton were back in it as Lukaku rose above Chester to head home Deulofeu’s cross.

The former Baggies loanee failed to get the right connection on another headed soon after but the warning signs were clear to Albion as the rejuvenated visitors pressed forward in search of a leveller.

Brunt showed quick awareness to clear behind as Lukaku again looked to burst through, while Barkley sent a free-kick fizzing into the wall.

A perfectly timed challenge from Mori prevented Berahino from likely making restoring Albion’s breathing space just as the striker had been about to pull the trigger ten yards out.

It proved a pivotal moment as Lukaku, transformed by the goal, slid Kone to level with a shot into the bottom corner from eight yards out - the substitute being adjudged to be just onside by the assistant referee.

Six minutes from time, Lukaku had the final word as he pounced on more hesitation in the Baggies backline to get between Dawson and Chester and poke home another Deulofeu cross.
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...and a video report of West Brom fan post match reaction:
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport...fans-vent-frustration-at-3-2-loss-to-everton/
 

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...o-be-sunderland-s-transfer-priority-1-7547355
Chris Young analysis: Defenders surely have to be Sunderland’s transfer priority

In his grand unveiling as Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce brushed aside questions on whether he had been promised a transfer swag bag by Ellis Short.

Let’s face it though, it would be naive in the extreme to believe the topic of transfer reinforcements had barely been mentioned between the pair when they held discussions over the vacancy at the Stadium of Light a month ago.

Despite the eight signings made by Sunderland during the summer, there were clearly still deficiencies in the squad left at Dick Advocaat’s disposal on September 1 and Allardyce will have known that as he contemplated leaving the deck-chair of his Spanish villa.

Allardyce will surely have stressed the magnitude of entering the market in January, for a window which could be meteoric in determining whether Sunderland pocket the loot from the Premier League’s new television deal next season, or are playing a painful game of Championship cost-cutting.


Even in his opening few weeks at the helm, Allardyce has been open to attacking options available on the Bosman market, with Chinedu Obasi joining (and then leaving) on trial.

But it is defensive, not offensive, reinforcements which are so badly, badly needed in January – and have been throughout these opening 11 games, which have seen Sunderland breached on a frightening 25 occasions.

The only specialist left-back in Sunderland’s squad, Patrick van Aanholt, has been a defensive liability all season.

The wing-back role at Goodison Park yesterday suited him much more, where he was a livewire going forwards – hitting the post inside the opening four minutes and then delivering the cross from which Steven Fletcher headed home his third in four games.

But even further forwards, van Aanholt switched off; nowhere near Gerard Deulofeu as he raced through for Everton’s opener, albeit Billy Jones was equally to blame for his lack of awareness over the impressive ex-Barcelona man.

Sunderland, similarly need a fresh face in central defence.

John O’Shea and Younes Kaboul have both been culpable on more than one occasion this season, yet they are by far the best options available to Allardyce.

With the pair both on the treatment table yesterday... crikey, it was harrowing stuff for both Sebastian Coates and Wes Brown, particularly the latter, whose five months without competitive action were brutally exposed by the excellent Romelu Lukaku.

Brown continually tried to get in front of Lukaku and nick the ball ahead of him, but he neither had the sharpness nor strength to do it.

Perhaps Brown’s rust played a part in Allardyce’s decision to throw a curve ball and include Jones in a three-man central defence, while recalling van Aanholt to the starting XI after a four-game absence.

Doubtless, there will be plenty of micro-analysis on Sunderland this week and Allardyce’s decision to try a 5-3-2 set-up, for which the Black Cats provided a dossier-full of ammunition after a Goodison Park butchering.

But sometimes, formations are irrelevant.

Sometimes, wins or defeats are purely down to players being exceptionally good or rank bad.

Defensively, Sunderland fell firmly into the latter category yesterday.

No manager can legislate for the individual blunders, huge gaps or horrifying lapses in concentration which saw Everton run riot, particularly in a devastating second half period after Sunderland had turned around a two-goal deficit.

The performance won’t necessarily have been an eye-opener for Allardyce, yet for a manager who has prided himself on his teams being defensively resolute, it showed the magnitude of the task he faces to inject some solidity into Sunderland’s ranks.

But while the formation wasn’t necessarily to blame, was there enough for Allardyce to persist with it, or does he have to confine it to the recycle bin?

Going forwards, Sunderland looked as dangerous as they have done during Allardyce’s reign, with attacking trio Jermain Defoe, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson all a threat, particularly on the counter-attack.

Whether the incentive of a new contract is motivating Fletcher or he’s simply enjoying a run of confidence after three goals in four games, the Scot looks a far more potent and accomplished figure, and linked up excellently with Defoe, who took his goal like the arch-poacher he is.

If Allardyce can make the 5-3-2 sufficiently resilient to leave three players high up the pitch, then there’s plenty to persevere with.

But when Defoe first signed in January, Poyet’s initial instinct was to use the England international in a similar set-up. Sunderland lost at Spurs and then drew with Championship Fulham in the FA Cup.

Equally, the brutal question has to be asked over whether Sunderland have three capable centre-halves to operate a 5-3-2, even when O’Shea and Kaboul return.

Potentially, Jack Rodwell could play there – and that’s certainly an option worth exploring on the training field – but at present, it’s still a great unknown.

Look back on Allardyce’s successful teams at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham, and he’s had defenders who fulfilled that elementary job specification.

Does he have sufficient of those currently at his disposal?

The brutality of yet another defeat after derby euphoria would suggest not.
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http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...injured-in-upton-park-stalemate-a3109371.html

West Ham 1 Everton 1: Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia taken off injured in Upton Park stalemate

West Ham leapfrogged Tottenham into fifth place with a draw against Everton at Upton Park, in a match that saw Slaven Bilicllose both Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia through injury.

The Ecuadorian, who has been recovering from a long-term injury, replaced Payet after 50 minutes and looked lively at Upton Park. But after less than 20 minutes on the pitch, he was stretchered off with an ankle injury.

The Hammers made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark, following strong play down the right flank from Victor Moses.

The on-loan Chelsea winger tormented the Toffees in the opening exchanges, and his shot - following a jinking run into the box – was only half cleared, and rolled straight into the path of Lanzini.

The Argentine moved the ball out of his feet before executing an exquisite curling shot into the top right corner of the goal.

Slaven Bilic’s side continued to attack, with Dimitri Payet, Lanzini and Moses in fluid form, but their good work was undone by Everton’s in-form man.

If a club can have a bogey striker, then West Ham’s is certainly Lukaku. The Belgian struck home his seventh goal in seven consecutive games against the Hammers minutes before the break, and sides went into half-time level-pegging at 1-1.

No changes were made during the interval, but injury forced Payet off in the 50th, with Enner Valencia replacing the Frenchman.

With Payet off the field, the Hammers’ attacking gauntlet was passed to Lanzini. He linked up well with Cheikhou Kouyate just after the hour mark, but this time Tim Howard was kept him at bay.

Mauro Zarate, who going into the match had scored in both his previous meetings with Everton, was the man to replace Valencia on 69 minutes, but the Argentine was unable to extend his goalscoring run.

Nikica Jelavic was brought on against his former club in the final moments, but the Croatian was unable to provide the match-winning touch for the Hammers.

The point takes West Ham above Tottenham into fifth, but the losses of Valencia and Payet might make it feel like defeat.



TEAMS IN FULL:

West Ham starting XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Moses, Payet, Lanzini, Carroll

Substitutes: Randolph, Zarate, Valencia, Ogbonna, Jelavic, Antonio, Cullen

Everton starting XI: Howard, Stones, Kone, Lukaku, McCarthy, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Coleman, Funes Mori, Galloway

Substitutes: Joel, Gibson, Mirallas, Lennon, Naismith, Osman, Holgate
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Fullsome praise from Garde here....


http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/everton-4-aston-villa-0-10475556

Everton 4 Aston Villa 0 - Match in a minute stats, report and pictures with Gregg Evans

Aston Villa suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as they were battered and bruised by an in-form Everton.

Ross Barkley (two) and Romelu Lukaku (two) got the goals for the Toffees and it could have been even worse if the Toffees were more clinical.

New boss Remi Garde watched on in shock as his side were ripped apart by the hosts in what was by far the worst performance of the season.

Villa were 3-0 down at the break and grateful for the final whistle as Everton looked like adding more.

Man-of-the-match Gerard Deulofeu ran rings around the left side of the visitors’ defence and when Brad Guzan saved his 16th-minute effort, Barkley was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Guzan superbly denied Arouna Kone soon after but he couldn’t stop Lukaku heading in Seamus Coleman’s cross to make it 2-0.


Villa couldn’t get out of their half let alone create a chance and a third was always on the cards.

Shocking defending allowed Lukaku to play in Kone and just when Guzan looked to have ended the threat he let the ball slip out of his hands and Barkley easily added another.

Villa showed more of an attacking intent after the break but they had no answer to Everton’s slick forward line.

Deulofeu started the move for the fourth as he raced forward and played in Barkley. His first time pass found Lukaku and the big man did the rest.

Further chances went begging for Everton and despite the poor showing, Villa’s support never faded.


Remi Garde insists ‘the mission remains the same’ as he looks to turnaround Aston Villa’sfortunes.

Despite losing 4-0 at Everton - the heaviest defeat of the season - Garde still believes he can get the claret and blues firing.

Refusing to make excuses for the dismal display, the 49-year-old ex-Lyon boss admitted that his side weren’t good enough.

Garde, who never lost at Goodison Park as a player, said: “There are still a lot of points up for grabs so we must stay together and remain focused.

“I saw a lot of disappointment in the changing room.

“I knew we have a lot of work to do. We will do it. We’re in a big club here at Aston Villa so no-one has the right to let it down.

“I won’t, of course. I won’t let it down and neither will the players.”

Garde reckons Everton were far superior and that Villa must aim to produce the kind of displays that has made the Toffees one of the most exciting sides in the division.

“They are working altogether with the same manager for two or three years now,” he said.

They have a very good passing game. They are well positioned on the pitch and well balanced, and they know each other well.

“We have a lot of new players. We have to work all-together to one day become like Everton.”

He confessed that Everton’s ‘togetherness’ got the better of Villa’s new-look side and that they were no match for their opponents.



“The mission has not changed,” he said as his side remain rooted to the bottom of the table.



“It was a very tough game, especially the first half. Until we conceded the goal we did well, but then we didn’t do well between conceding the first goal and half-time.



“When you are 3-0 down at half-time the game is over.



“Second half we did much better. We battled more but the first 45 minutes we were not strong enough.



“I was disappointed and so were the players.



“We could have done much better.”
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