MATCH REPORT: EVERTON 3-2 WOLVES

This was an important victory for Marco Silva, it’s now two wins on the bounce that has seen an improvement in morale around Goodison Park. This victory was not just about winning the game, it was the manner in which Everton overcame the challenges that Wolves presented that will please blues boss Silva.

The 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa left Evertonians deflated. That night at Villa park Everton were pedestrian and although they dominated the game their cutting edge was missing until late on, here against Wolves it was evident from the start. Richarlison led the line like a man possessed and the willingness of Moise Kean alongside him gave Everton the upper hand.

The Brazilian international was battered and bruised throughout what was a very watchable contest. He was the man that put Everton ahead on 5 minutes with a clinical finish.

Conor Coady put his goalkeeper Rui Patrício in trouble with a poor, misplaced back pass which the Wolves keeper’s clearance struck Kean who closed him down well. The ball broke across the area and Richarlison drove the ball into the ground and up into the top corner to put the Blues ahead.

Wolves hit back quickly after excellent play from Adama Traore. He demonstrated his powerful physique by out-muscling Lucas Digne, who should have cleared the ball, and crossing the ball into the six-yard box which Séamus Coleman failed to clear and his touch fell perfectly for Romain Saïss to equalise from close range.

Everton looked frustrated to concede but used that frustration to regain the lead 3 minutes later. Again it was Richarlison who was the spark, releasing Gylfi Sigurdsson down the right. The Icelandic international put in a perfect cross to the back post where Iwobi arrived unmarked to plant an excellent header beyond Patrício for his second goal in as many games.

Three of Everton’s summer signings had started the game and were all playing their part as the hosts bossed the game up to half time. Fabian Delph was intelligent in possession, Iwobi was cleverly linking the play together and setting up attacks and Kean was giving Wily Boly and Coady plenty to think about in the final third.

Everton led 2-1 at the break and manager Marco Silva would have been pleased that the equaliser didn’t knock the Blues off their gameplan, which had been the case on too many occasions last season.

The second half swung back and forth and although Everton always looked on top, Wolves did carry a real threat on the counter-attack.

Wolves used their physical threat well as the game wore on and drew themselves level after 75 minutes through Raul Jimenez. Boly was first to a long throw launched into the Everton box by Ryan Bennett. Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne did not react quickly enough to the defender’s flick and Jimenez ghosted in to score with a close-range header, despite taking a boot to the face from Digne in the process.

Silva’s response was to send on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Bernard for Kean and Iwobi.

And it was Bernard who played a part in Everton’s winner by releasing Digne down the left-hand side. The French left-back drove to the corner flag before delivering a brilliant cross into the heart of the Wolves’ penalty area. Boly stood waiting to clear unaware of Richarlison, and the Brazilian with a perfectly timed leap sent a glancing header beyond Patrício and into the far left-hand corner of the net.

Boly’s day got even worse when he was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence on the Brazilian. His pace, directness and finishing were simply too much for Wolves to contain. He left the pitch to thunderous applause and his “he’s Brazilian” song ringing in his ears.

Final Score: Everton 3-2 Wolves

How They Lined Up: 

Barry Cass