Everton extended their unbeaten run under Ronald Koeman to six games with a fourth straight league win as Middlesbrough and Lee Mason were overcome at Goodison. The North East’s best side and the top flight’s worst ref combined for a ludicrous opener but a 25-minute blitz kick-started by Gareth Barry capping his 600th Premier League game with a goal helped the Blues to a 3-1 win and their best start since 1978.
Mason’s first opportunity for major error – Boro’s opener – arose 21 minutes in when Maarten Stekelenburg grabbed Stewart Downing’s cross only to have his wrist headed by Alvaro Negredo. “He dropped it” Mason told Everton’s players with judgement that should see him barred from the legal profession. Have you ever seen a keeper run to the halfway line to complain then volley the ball angrily into the air? I wouldn’t be surprised if that was an occupational hazard for Mason.
Just three minutes later, Ashley Williams presented him with a chance to even it up. Two wrongs often make a right with Mason, sometimes three, four, five and so on. Challenging Victor Valdes for a corner, Williams’ foot was so high it was unwittingly a red card offence. No foul said Mason, instead a sweet left-foot leveller for the man of the day, Barry’s second goal in four games.
Mason’s mare continued. Adam Forshaw robbed five yards from a free-kick: play on. Everton found room after a Gaston Ramirez foul: don’t play on. Forshaw lunged at Williams: play on. Barry nudged Ramirez: yellow card. Mason actually played advantage here but called it back when Emilio Nsue, erm, dribbled past Leighton Baines. An appalling throw-in misjudgement was corrected by a linesman. Viktor Fischer was told “it doesn’t matter” if a team retains the ball after a foul. There are the worst referees, then the worst of the worst, then a considerable gap, then Lee Mason.
Screwing Boro by screwing Everton
His first decision was such a blatant howler it ultimately ruined the afternoon for Boro. Aitor Karanka’s side had played well until then, passing crisply, pressing sharply and tackling with impressive force. But Mason’s error proved the spark for Everton. Supporters were suddenly angry and vocal, the tempo increased and in a few short moments, the home side had tipped the balance. Boro may have helped themselves to a resilient 1-0 win with a different ref.
Once Barry had finished so calmly, Everton had control. Yannick Bolasie and Seamus Coleman began to find space. Arguably the Toffees’ best defender, Coleman was the undisputed match-winner after he cut in with menace before slotting into Valdes’ left corner. Coleman, like Baines, is benefiting from Koeman’s clarity and simplicity. There hasn’t been much to criticise about either man so far.
Minutes later, Bolasie crossed to find Lukaku onside and (possibly) able to get the slightest touch. The pair have clicked on the field and struck a chord off it. For the second this week, Lukaku ran to Bolasie to thank him for an assist. Remarkably, both are the sons of ex-Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) internationals (Roger Lukaku and Gaby Yala) and Western European migrants – kindred spirits of a particularly specific variety.
Towards the end of Roberto Martinez’s reign, two-goal leads meant the onset of doubt and anxiety. If you can be 2-0 up at home to West Ham with the ball on the penalty spot in the 69th minute and lose 3-2, you can always lose. Leads meant defending: struggle, inadequacy, failure. On Saturday, there was none of that. There wasn’t even a single Middlesbrough shot on target.
Significant defensive improvement
Everton have allowed just 12 shots on target all season, eight in the first two matches. With Williams in the side, the Blues have allowed just one per game. Two of three total goals conceded have involved fouls on Stekelenburg. Three goals is probably a few shy of what Everton ought to have conceded against what has been a smorgasbord of attacking blandness but the Toffees’ defence bears significant improvement.
Stekelenburg is quite good. His form will dip but he’s a definite upgrade on Tim Howard. Williams and Jagielka provide a solid base where there was chaos – minimum-of-fuss clearances transmit confidence. Both full-backs operate as defenders who join attacks rather than freestyle flank dwellers, or whatever they were under Martinez. And Everton’s central midfield can compete with the best in the Premier League.
Idrissa Gueye leads the tackling count by eight with 31. Added to sixth-placed Barry’s 19, that’s 10 tackles per game from central midfield. 86.15% of their combined 674 passes have been completed – more than any Premier League duo. And they have two goals and an assist between them in five games. A month into their partnership, Barry and Gueye could barely be performing better. Both men personify Everton’s top to bottom improvement under Koeman.
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By Chris Smith
Follow me on Twitter @cdsmith789
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