This was an ugly and attritional game of football, one that didn’t deserve a winner and never looked like getting one. No shortage of effort but an awful dearth of quality. Time to move on for the next one.
In terms of the result, neither team will be particularly upset. Unai Emery’s Villa will need to show a little of this stubbornness if they are hold on to a top four position and find a way in to the Champions League. Everton, meanwhile, had lost their last three Premier League games.
Progress under Sean Dyche had stalled a little under the weight of defeats at Tottenham, Manchester City and Wolves and, as such, this draw represented improvement and sometimes in football that is all that matters.
Emery’s Villa a good side. That much we know. They come alive when they reach the final 30 yards of the field and so keeping them out for 100 minutes – as it was here – is an achievement in itself. Dyche, a former central defender, will see the value in that.
In terms of significant action, Villa did have a goal ruled out in the 18th minute after Alex Moreno drove a low shot in at the Gwladys Street End after the working of a short corner. A team-mate – Leon Bailey – had been marginally offside in the build up, however, and after the longest of VAR delays, the attempt was chalked off.
The first 0-0 of Unai Emery’s Premier League career came on Sunday as his side were frustrated at Goodison Park
Alex Moreno looked to have given the visitors with his strike on the edge of the penalty box
It was, it must be said, all a little confusing, a fact pointed to by the fact it took Stockley Park the best part of five minutes to reach a decision. Was it the right one? Who really knows? What was clear is that it was all too much for both sets of supporters who joined forces in song to voice the unanimous view that the novelty of VAR has long since worn off.
That apart, Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a terrific double save to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Garner just before half-time. This was another dispiriting afternoon for Calvert-Lewin who hasn’t scored since the autumn in the league and, with the European Championships on the horizon this summer, has lost his form at precisely the wrong time.
For all of this, Everton are barely recognisable from the team of last season, such has been the impact of Dyche’s work. Organised, committed and willing to commit players forward, Dyche’s side have represented increasingly formidable opposition this season. Early on here, they were superior.
Villa were a little slow in to the game and with Jack Harrison providing width down the right and Abdoulaye Doucoure the power and intelligence in central areas, Everton pushed their opponents back for a while. What they didn’t have much of, though, was poise in front of goal so Arnaut Danjuma mishit a shot at a defender after a cross from Harrison, Garner struck a free-kick tamely at Villa’s defensive wall and Doucoure crashed rather clumsily in to goalkeeper Martinez after stealing in to nick the ball away from a Villa player 25 yards from goal.
Goodison Park was alive and optimistic as the home team looked comfortable and full of intent. Villa, on the other hand, struggled to string passes together. When they started to move forwards with any kind of intent, their early decisions were letting them down. Over the course of the opening half, however, things did begin to change.
But a lengthy VAR check eventually ruled the goal out with Leon Bailey offside in the build up
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a golden opportunity to put his team ahead but couldn’t guide his shot past Emiliano Martinez
Second half saw a lengthy stoppage after Vitaly Mykolenko and James Tarkowski clashed heads
Once Emery’s team managed to get a foothold in midfield, they started to move the ball quickly and sharply around the edge of the Everton penalty area. The transformation was quite something as Villa immediately started to carry a threat that was much greater than that of the home team.
Villa have such clever players now in attacking areas and the likes of John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins were central to the sudden improvement witnessed within this game.
Watkins, almost certain to be in the next England squad, worked Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from an angle in the 14th minute. Then, four minutes later, Villa thought they were ahead.
A short corner from the left was eventually recycled to the edge of the penalty area where Moreno stuck a powerful low shot past Pickford. On the touchline, Villa’s set-piece coach Austin McPhee celebrated wildly what appeared to have been a well-honed training ground routine.
But a four-minute VAR check ensued and at the end of all that we were told that Bailey had been offside by a toe’s length as the move developed. It was hard to say Bailey was interfering in the play and goals have been allowed to stand for less. But this one wasn’t and the game continued at stalemate. Luis soon played Watkins in down the right for a shot that rolled ominously across goal and when it was recycled, Luiz was involved again to set up Bailey courtesy of a McGinn dummy. Pickford saved once again at his near post.
Villa were established as the dominant force by now but were almost undone as half-time neared. They were caught short of numbers and when Calvert-Lewin raced clear he was denied by the right foot of Martinez. The danger did not immediately pass for Villa and when Garner shot low first time within 20 seconds the World Cup winning goalkeeper produced an even better save, dropping sharply to his left to divert the ball past the post with both hands.
He can be a bit of clown, Martinez. Some of his gamesmanship and play acting can be hard to stomach. But he’s very good goalkeeper and it’s because of that his team were level at half-time.
The Argentinean was not over employed in the second period. The game had hardly been free flowing in the opening 45 minutes but from that point on there was even less rhythm to it.
It was combative and full-blooded but rarely awash with quality.
Watkins was almost played in after a superb pass from arguably the game’s best player, Boubacar Kamara, while McGinn took steady aim from the edge of the penalty area before planting a shot a foot or so wide of Pickford’s right hand post. Replays showed the England goalkeeper probably had it covered.
At the other end Danjuma shot tamely wide on the hour and that was pretty much his last contribution. Danjuma has not been a regular pick while on loan from Villarreal and in the week his agent was on the radio talking up a move to Lyon. On this evidence, the winger would not be missed. He was terrible.
Nor was it the best afternoon of Calvert-Lewin’s season. The Everton forward has not scored since October and was worryingly anonymous here before being replaced by the Portuguese player Beto.
The game developed into a fiery affair as frustrations on both sides boiled over on the pitch
Sporting a Terry Butcher-esque bandage, Vitaly Mykolenko produced multiple crucial challenges in the closing stages
Tempers flared briefly over by the far corner with fifteen minutes left. A thumping challenge by James Tarkowski prompted what you may call a mini-melee while the two managers argued fifty yards away by the dug outs. At the end of Tarkowski and Villa’s Clement Lengele both had yellow cards.
Villa remained the most likely winners as the game reached its death throes but the draw had long looked the most likely outcome. An overlap from Moreno caused some panic in the Everton defence but Vitali Mykolenko’s tackle half cleared the danger and when McGinn followed up Seamus Coleman cleared.
Moments later, with some late drama threatening, Villa substitute Jhon Duran nicked a near post cross from Matty Cash across goal and inches wide. Then, at the other end, Doucoure ran clear to smash the ball past Martinez only to be hauled back for what was a clear offside.
