‘Fight for us’ read the banner in the Everton end unfurled at the beginning.
And for a long period it looked like, hard as they tried, fighting alone wasn’t enough. That they’re just not good enough. That they would be undone by first half injuries that completely disrupted their game plan.
They ended up with Michael Keane at centre forward. And Jordan Pickford up for corners. We were in the 98th minute and they were at least still fighting, when Demarai Gray swung in his cross. It was decent but a little bit hit and hope. Find the big man at the back post and see what havoc he could create.
James Tarkowski was that man and it turned out considerable havoc was what he would create, enticing keeper Daniel Bentley from his post and beating him in the air to knock the ball down to Keane. Who knew Keane had quick, delicate feet to move the ball across into the box? Bundling into the box was Pep Guadiola’s favourite antagonist, Yerry Mina.
Mina is a hulk of a man and once committed to a cause there is little that will hold him back. All he needed was a touch and that he got. The net bulged and Molineux was silenced, other than the seating area housing Everton’s fans. Seconds before you wondered how ugly this might get, what reception their team would receive. Now it was delirium, bodies bundling, arms flailing in celebration, players charging over to join them.
Yerry Mina’s goal at the last-possible moment could have a lasting impact on Everton’s season
Jordan Pickford celebrated his side’s indefatigable spirit on a difficult day at Molineux
The fans were full of belief in their beleaguered team and finally had something to cheer about at the last
There is still work to do. They could yet be in the bottom three if Leeds win at West Ham. Yet they gave themselves a chance here. They gave themselves some hope. There may be an air of despair at Everton. The days of free spending are over. A major sponsor in sanctioned. A magnificent new stadium slowly comes to life on Liverpool’s dock and yet what team will there to be to play in it? A Championship one? Yet they survive for now and this point could be the one that saves them.
That said, it was thin gruel for much of the match. The essence of a bad side is not so much the careless mistake Abdoulaye Doucoure made in giving the ball away on the edge of the Wolves box, poor though that was. No, it was the absence of a midfield to prevent Adama Traore from striding up the pitch. Not one was thinking to patrol that space, which is a team without a brain.
Adama Traore (left) burst out of the starting gates for the home side, and played a key role in securing Wolves’ opener
Hwang Hee-chan (centre left) buried the ball in the back of Pickford’s net to surge ahead
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left) was in full flow as Everton fought for their equaliser after falling behind on the road
In worrying scenes for the Toffees, the forward was forced off with an injury before half-time
Add to that ineptitude the inability of any defender to stop on his run from box to box: not a block, an obstruction, nor a tackle laid on him. Traore is a formidably strong but still: the absence of Everton’s resistance, inviting him to get a shot away, was lamentable. Pickford at least saved the shot but pushed it out Hwang Hee-Chan, who had a simple task to score.
It is true they had bad luck. Nathan Patterson was off after 28 minutes and with no full back on the bench Michael Keane took over, never looked comfortable and Dyche reverted to a back three at half time. Dominic Calvert Lewin also limped off just before half time and Demarai Gray, his replacement was as different as could be imagined.
Everton’s threat was essentially coming from set pieces and crosses. Now they had to change tack. Gray would get down the right, deliver a great cross, but just out of reach of Iwobi and there was no centre forward to divert it home. He would get a shot way from the edge of the box which Daniel Bentley had to push away – and Gray can finish from there – yet there was little threat in the box. In the end, he would revert to the left wing role from which the goal came.
They lived a charmed life as they adjusted to the new system in the second half. First Pablo Sarabia Garcia, then Nelson Semodo and lastly Daniel Podence missed a succession of chances between 60 and 63rd minutes. Pickford would block sub Diego Costa on 73 minutes and then Nunes. They survived and they persisted. For that, they deserve credit. Next weekend will determine whether they deserve another top flight season.
Ruben Neves was subbed off to rapturous applause, the captain’s future away from Molineux all but confirmed
Sean Dyche (right) cut an agitated figure alongside his opposite number Julen Lopetegui
As added time ticked down Mina snatched an opportunity to make good on the Toffee’s quick counter-attack
The point has not saved Everton but a loss in their penultimate game would have been calamitous for Dyche’s men
Everton will have to fight until the final whistle on the last day of the season to stay up
