Ipswich 0-2 Everton: Match Recap & Instant Reaction | Ndiaye and Keane score in win

Today at 01:49 PM

A complete performance at Portman Road moves Everton up to 16th.

The return from the international break had Everton starting a run of seven matches against teams from outside the top six. This run will then be followed by four matches involving Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Arsenal in December. Getting some points on the board in October and November will be critical, starting with today's match against Ipswich at Portman Road.

Everton's last away match was the start of their current run of three matches without a loss. The draw at Leicester in the monsoon was a good result but it continued Everton's run of being winless in 15 away games in all competitions since beating Burnley 2-0 in December last year. Needless to say, a win would have been a welcome outcome to break that hoodoo.

Ipswich were still in search of their first win of the season and they have not recorded a top flight win in their past 20 matches was 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough in April 2002. Ipswich are just one point behind the Toffees after recording four draws on the trot but they were soundly beaten 4-1 by West Ham in their last match.

Team News

Thankfully, Iliman Ndiaye was fit despite a minor injury on international duty with Senegal and he took his place on the left side. Vitaly Mykolenko and Idrissa Gueye were in for James Garner and Orel Mangala. Full-backs Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman return to the bench. The other big news was the continued absence of Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been nursing a muscle strain.

The treatment room continues to be a busy place at Finch Farm. James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam were ruled out with respective back and foot problems and joined Nathan Patterson, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti who remained unavailable.

Ipswichmade two changes with Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess coming in with Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves dropping out. Former Everton academy forward Nathan Broadhead was on the bench.

Match Recap

The match was delayed due to an IT issue which begs to ask the question what the heck that was about! Turns out it was the turnstiles not functioning. However, the Evertonians who travelled to East Aused the fifteen minutes to ramp up their singing in anticipation of the arrival of the teams.

Michael Oliver got the game underway with Ed Sheeran keeping a close eye on the proceedings. Everton started the game on the front foot and were happy to keep the ball and put the Tractor Boys under pressure but it was a counter attack from Ipswich that gave Jack Clarke a chance but the shot was skied high over the net.

Everton's first chance was a gift from Calvin Phillips for Calvert Lewin but the striker should have done better against an onrushing Muric. Moments later, Ndiaye set up McNeil who missed a glorious chance because he took an extra touch that was quickly shut down.

It was another Ipswich mistake, this time in the box, that gave Everton another chance. This time it was Iliman Ndiaye who was the recipient of the gift but this time the gift was accepted and the Senegal international blasted the ball into the top of the net. The Evertonians were happy to embrace their new hero.

The supporters were loving it and the goal spurred the Toffees forward. Calvert Lewin was in again and his shot was well stopped by Muric. It was easy getting beyond Ipswich and Everton needed to capitalize. A quick counter attack by Amar Hutchison that forced Michael Keane to take a yellow card to snuff out the chance.

Jack Clarke wriggled his way into the box and not unlike Calvert Lewin's non penalty call against Newcastle, Clarke kicked McNeil's leg. VAR came into play and for once, Everton benefitted as the penalty call was overturned. Some justice.....finally! Evertonians rejoiced!

The decision seemed to take the wind out of the Ipswich fans who were considerably quieter which gave Evertonians the chance to break into "Spirit of the Blues". Jack Harrison was playing well and his whipped cross into the box was headed clear by Ipswich. The resulting corner was taken short and an incredible move from McNeil gave him the chance to set up Michael Keane who smashed the ball into the near post.

Ipswich attempted to get a goal back in the final minutes of the half but the Everton defenders were standing tall. A late free kick caused by some loose play by Doucoure gave Ipswich a free kick which Calvin Phillips lined up but his curling shot went over the top as six additional minutes was announced. Ipswich had completely lost the plot and their sloppy play made it easy for Everton to wind down the clock to half time.

The second half started and it seemed to be a little frantic. Everton needed to calm it down which they tried to do by keeping the ball. You sensed that the next goal would be critical and both teams knew it.

A nice run from Calvert Lewin put the Ipswich goal under pressure but Muric was up to the task. It was a nice touch from Doucoure in to Calvert Lewin but the striker could not get his shot on net.

Another lax play by Ipswich put Ndiaye in on goal but he was unable to beat Muric. Ipswich made the inevitable changes at the hour mark with Burns and Clark coming on for Burns and O'Shea.

Ipswich were holding the ball better but they could not penetrate the Everton back line. It was clear that the counter attack was the plan for Everton wiht the Blues sitting deep in their attempt to thwart the Ipswich attack. More Ipswich changes saw Clarke coming off for Szmodics and Calvin Phillips making way for Jack Taylor.

Iliman Ndiaye was taken down on the edge of the box and Dwight McNeil's cross could not be turned in by Doucoure. A quick counter attack from Ipswich ended with Delap shooting the ball just over the bar. Ipswich were buoyed by the chance and pushed forward for a breakthrough goal. That almost came to fruition when Burgess' header went narrowly over the bar.

Ipswich made their final change with Delap being withdrawn for George Hirst. Delap had been in the goals recently so to keep him off the scoresheet was a job well done. Hutchison was creating the biggest headaches for Everton and a corner that he had created was delivered low but Chapman's shot was well covered by Pickford.

Sean Dyche made his first switch with Ndiaye being withdrawn for Orel Mangala. A repeat of the infamous Brentford game. Evertonians would have to hope that the outcome would be different. It was Mangala who gave away a free kick which was well cleared by Tarkowski.

Calvert Lewin had the thankless task of holding up the ball to give some respite for his defenders. Ipswich had controlled the last fifteen minutes but there had been no real worried that a goal was imminent. That was until Jack Taylor weaved into the middle of the pitch and struck a low shot to the corner but Pickford saw it early and got down well.

Four minutes of added time was announced as the Evertonians raised their voices. Ashley Young was scythed down by Taylor who was given the requisite yellow card. Calvert Lewin was in for the third time and he was denied again by Muric but that was the final action as Michael Oliver blew the whistle to end the match.

Everton Man of the Match - For all of the discussions about the return of Jarrad Branthwaite, it has to be said that Michael Keane has been playing very well in the last few games and today he was excellent. He scored a cracking goal but it was the solid defensive play and distribution of the ball from the back that allowed Everton to protect the lead that they had built up in the first half. Dyche has to be pleased that Branthwaite can be given the time to heal properly with Keane playing so well.

Instant Reaction

Last year there was so much discussion about how Everton had one of the highest expected goals without converting. In fact, they were near the top of the league in that department but they were at the bottom of the league for goals scored. Today, our xG was 1.23 and we scored two goals. Against Crystal Palace we had scored 2 goals with an xG of 0.89. Our was the same against Newcastle without scoring and at Leicester we scored one goal with an xG of 1.1. Overall, we had an xG going into this match of 7.0 and we had scored 7. A huge improvement over last year and improvements as this season has progressed. We are taking our chances.

For all of the The big moment of the first half came when Michael Oliver made the penalty call against Dwight McNeil who got his foot in the way of Jack Clarke who was attempting to shoot the ball. It was an identical scenario to Dan Burn's block on Calvert Lewin at Goodison Park. VAR was called on again and there was a moment when Evertonians saw the chance for injustice to rear its ugly head. Thankfully, that was not to be and the penalty was overturned. This week, Howard Webb claimed that refereeing errors were down by 80% this year and perhaps we are now seeing more consistency in the calls being made by the men in the middle. Thankfully!

Team selection has been a talking point throughout the season and it can be argued throughout Sean Dyche's tenure. The gaffer goes on relentlessly about player experience being so critical for success in the Premier League. Today, Nathan Patterson was overlooked ahead of the aging Ashley Young, Idrissa Gueye was selected over Orel Mangala and Jesper Lindstrom was not even in the squad. It has to be said, Dyche got it right today.

Data from Fotmob.