Everton player ratings after the Blues succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton’s final home game of their first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in disappointment as they surrendered a half-time lead to lose 3-1 to Sunderland who leapfrogged them in the Premier League table.
A Merlin Rohl shot, deflected into the net off visiting captain Granit Xhaka, put the Blues ahead two minutes before the interval but David Moyes’ men collapsed in dramatic fashion after the break. Jake O’Brien gave the ball away cheaply to allow Brian Brobbey to equalise on 59 minutes with Everton fading badly in the latter stages.
Enzo Le Fee put the Black Cats ahead on 81 minutes and then with the game having entered stoppage time and departing club captain Seamus Coleman having entered proceedings, fellow substitute Wilson Isidor was left unmarked to add a third goal for the visitors.
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Jordan Pickford 4
Should have done better with Enzo Le Fee’s second goal for Sunderland, displaying an uncharacteristic weak wrist, untested in the first half, he had to use his feet to keep out a Nordi Mukiele effort from a tight angle early in the second half but was left exposed by his defence for the equaliser as he wasn’t able to do anything about Brian Brobbey’s emphatic finish.
Jake O’Brien 4
Some Evertonians hoped to see him given a run-out in his natural centre-back role after some disappointing moment from the incumbent pair in recent weeks and despite being an enthusiastic option at right-back since David Moyes’ arrival, he struggled here, having to be bailed out by James Tarkowski when losing possession in a dangerous area and after being booked for bringing down Nilson Angula, he then lost the ball cheaply to be culpable for Sunderland’s equaliser and was denied the chance to redeem himself when heading straight at Roefs.
Vitalii Mykolenko 5
Something of a rickety, end-of-season display, he had to make a couple of nervy clearances and when he did get forward, he put three crosses into the Sunderland area in quick succession – the first two on his weaker right foot – but failed to find a blue shirt with any.
James Tarkowski 6
Tested Robin Roefs with a back header from close range, he was Everton’s most convincing defender, leading by example at the back, reading the game well, even if others weren’t, although when played into trouble by O’Brien, he went too early when trying to block Brian Brobey for the equaliser.
Michael Keane 5
Looked to play the ball out from defence on several occasions, although he and Mykolenko had a couple of jittery moments.
Tim Iroegbunam 5
Buzzed around without being able to find much control in the engine room, he picked up the first booking of the day for catching Reinildo Mandava.
James Garner 6
Pushing and prompting, he often looked the most likely Everton player to create a telling pass while also testing Roefs from distance with a shot that was well-struck but straight at the keeper and was booked in stoppage time for a foul on Xhaka.
Merlin Rohl 7
Has got his first Everton goal – for now at least – after his left-foot effort went in following a big deflection off Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka – he also impressed with a burst up the right wing followed by an inviting cross to Beto.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 5
Trying to rev up Everton when pushing forwards from deep, it was something of a Crystal Palace hangover with the timing of his passing not on point, although he kept trying to make things happen, picking out Beto with a lofted left-wing cross and then finding Ndiaye with a diagonal pass he should have done better with.
Iliman Ndiaye 4
Poor in big moments at both ends of the pitch, having squandered an inviting opportunity to restore Everton’s lead when picked out by Dewsbury-Hall, he then found himself in the unfamiliar centre-back position when Enzo Le Fee beat him to put Sunderland ahead.
Beto 5
Poor first touch from a Rohl cross squandered an early chance and while he produced the usual pressing, not much stuck for him before he made way.
Substitutes
Tyrique George (on 73 for Iroegbunam) 6
A bit of promise on the left wing in the latter stages but with one game to go, has he done enough during his loan spell to earn a permanent move from Chelsea?
Thierno Barry (on 73 for Beto) 5
No super sub performance a la Manchester City in front of the South Stand on this occasion.
Dwight McNeil (on 88 for Rohl)
Late cameo as Everton chased the game.
Seamus Coleman (on 88 for O’Brien)
Farewell home appearance from the departing Everton club captain, it’s not the ending he or the team would have wanted as he left Wilson Isidor unmarked to score Sunderland’s third goal.
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