It was a 5 minute period that perfectly encapsulated Everton’s faltering Premier League campaign up to now. First, Steven Naismith scuffed a low shot past the despairing dives of Mark Schwarzer and Robert Huth to give the blues an underserved lead, and then barely minutes later, substitute Jamie Vardy escaped the attentions of Leighton Baines to fire across goal for David Nugent to level proceedings via the aid of poor goalkeeping from the hideously out of form Everton custodian, Tim Howard.
Moments like this have come to define an Everton side lacking in the necessary composure and wherewithal to close out matches they should otherwise be winning- far too often, leads have been squandered from supposedly unassailable positions. Thirteen may be an unlucky number for a superstitious few, but for the Goodison side, it carries even greater significance. Indeed, after Howard’s calamitous performance in Sunday’s match, Everton have now made a staggering 13 defensive errors leading directly to goals this season, more than any other team in Europe’s top leagues. This defensive frailty is the root cause of the club’s struggles this season, and it is an entirely self-imposed one. For Everton now find themselves looking over their shoulders with increasing trepidation, and with Arsenal and Stoke away to follow, make no bones about it- they’re now in a relegation dogfight.
Just 3 days earlier, the Blues showed the sort of scintillating attacking display in Bern that we’d become accustomed to during Roberto Martinez’s inaugural campaign as manager. Yet little over 72 hours later, and any sign of an Everton recovery had been dashed by a fairly average Leicester City side and their own, hideously suspect goalkeeper. These sorts of Jekyll and Hyde performances have characterised a firmly disappointing domestic season, as the initial optimism that pervaded the Goodison stands after comprehensive wins over the likes of Wolfsburg, Lille and FC Young Boys has been replaced by a growing sense of fear on the terraces. Quite simply, Goodison is not a nice place to be at the moment, and the players, it seems, are burdened by the weight of expectation that comes with playing in front of their home fans.
Before the match, all talk was of a potential Europa League hangover for the Toffees, and, despite Martinez’s personnel changes- Aaron Lennon and Mohamed Besic replaced Kevin Mirallas and the suspended Gareth Barry in the Blues’ characteristic 4-2-3-1 setup- Everton started the game in predictably sloppy fashion. Leicester, playing in a very defensive 5-4-1 system, pounced on poor passes from both Ross Barkley and Mo Besic, as Geoffrey Schlupp tested Howard at his near post with barely 3 mins on the clock.
Everton, meanwhile, played lateral pass after lateral pass, with little avail, as first Aaron Lennon escaped down the right only for his cut back to be intercepted, and then Romelu Lukaku hammered aimlessly over the Park End bar after good play from Seamus Coleman. From the outset it was clear- Leicester had Everton’s number, as so many others can claim this season. Far too often, teams have come to Goodison, pressed the fullbacks high up the pitch so as to limit their attacking contribution, and denied the likes of Lukaku and Barkley space in which to turn or move into. It is to be assumed that most Premier League managers believe that Everton lack the requisite guile to break down two banks of four, and this was further evidence that they are right.
Barkley, who flattered to deceive for most of the half, was replaced early in the second period by Darron Gibson, but not before first Kramaric, and then Schlupp went close for Leicester as the referee’s whistle heralded the sound of the increasingly recurrent Goodison halftime boos. Indeed, Everton had a remarkable block from the impressive John Stones to thank for even being on level terms at the break. Yet Gibson’s introduction, as well as that of AFCON player of the tournament, Christian Atsu, sparked the home side into life, as a pass from the Irishman released Naismith, who cut inside and scuffed the Goodison Park outfit into the lead.
Cue a change in tact from Leicester, who introduced Jamie Vardy and David Nugent in an attempt to gain a much-needed point. It was a double substitution that paid off almost immediately, as well, as boyhood Blue Nugent restored parity after Howard’s fumble. Moments later, the away side took a shock lead as Mahrez evaded the attention of Leighton Baines and, after Howard flapped at his cross, Vardy played the ball into the path of the impressive Cambiasso and the effervescent Argentine sent the travelling Foxes into raptures.
At the other end, Lukaku had an afternoon to forget as he blazed over after a delightful through ball from James McCarthy and then failed to get adequate purchase on Steven Naismith’s pass. Goodison grew increasingly restless, but still the home side pressed for an equaliser. It came on 88 minutes from the unlikely source of Matthew Upson, who put through his own net under pressure from Lukaku (who himself got something on the ball), following good work from both McCarthy and Atsu. Roared on by the Gwladys Street, Everton almost found a winner, as Lukaku’s powerful header was blocked on the line by the reprieved Upson. The expected late onslaught failed to properly materialise, however, and Leicester almost grabbed a precious winner themselves when Tim Howard again failed to deal with a Matty James corner, only for John Stones to clear the resulting danger. The final whistle sounded not long after to signal yet another missed opportunity to get a vital 3 points on the board ahead of a testing few weeks on the road. The sense of foreboding inside Goodison is growing weekly, at this rate it may take more than the removal of a certain American goalkeeper to stop it…
