Everton extended their Premier League unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-0 win over reeling and relegated Sheffield United at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Aboulaye Doucoure converted a Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the game’s lone goal, as the Toffees kept another clean sheet in moving 15th with 40 points on the season.
WATCH EVERTON vs SHEFFIELD UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Sheffield United have had no such luck and rarely a glimmer of hope this season. Chris Wilder’s men have not won since February 10 at Luton Town, collecting just three points from 13 matches to confirm their 20th-place footing. Wes Foderingham made six saves in a hard-luck loss.
The Blades have conceded 101 goals and scored just 35, the worst in both categories. Their 16 points are eight points off 19th place and 13 away from safety as firing Paul Heckingbottom to rehire Wilder has seen little improvement.
Goodison Park remains a difference-maker for Everton
The Toffees have been terrific at home since the start of April, beating Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Brentford, and now Sheffield United to surge clear of the bottom three despite multiple points deductions this season.
And the Goodison Park faithful were also so important last season when Sean Dyche engineered a very different safety push.
Everton are a proud and historic club, and their fans just keep finding their voices and standing behind their club regardless of the issues behind them. Like Newcastle and Aston Villa before them, they deserve better. Along with Dyche, they’ll get a chance and played no small part in making sure that chance is in the top flight.
Everton 1-0 Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Everton were very good from back-to-front, a complete effort that shows their unity and resilience throughout long miles of their journey to safety. Chris Wilder’s questioned his team’s leadership but the Blades have not quit on this moribund season.
Everton 1-0 Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Everton 1-0 Sheffield United player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Everton go to Arsenal on Championship Sunday, while Sheffield United host Tottenham.
How to watch Everton vs Sheffield United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Everton vs Sheffield United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Everton vs Sheffield United final score: 1-0
Goalscorers: Doucoure (31')
As it seems
Not a lot cooking in the second half, as a total of 0.60 xG has arrived in the first 40 minutes of the frame.
Blades have been getting more shots and danger but not in a way that’s given the foreshadow of a goal.
Halftime — Everton 1-0 Sheffield United
The Toffees probably should be up by at least another goal.
Sheffield United’s season of hemorrhaging xG continues, down 1.73-0.07 in that department and taking just two of the game’s nine shot attempts.
Doucoure goal! Everton 1-0 Sheffield United (31st minute)
Calvert-Lewin again with a beautiful set-up for Doucoure, and this time the Malian delivers with a thumping header.
The English center forward drives down the left of the box and waits out a charging Foderingham, chipping to the top of the six for the finish.
1-0.
Everton close!
A long ball is masterfully taken out of the air by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who slides it over to Abdoulaye Doucoure point blank.
But Wes Foderingham darts out and gets a piece of Doucoure’s shot from close range.
It’s been mostly Everton at Goodison Park.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young, Gana, Onana, Doucoure, Garner, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
Sheffield United lineup
Foderingham, Trusty, Robinson, Larouci, Bogle, Souza, Arblaster, Brooks, Hamer, Archer, Brereton Diaz
Everton focus, team news
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Vitalii Mykolenko (ankle)
Sheffield United focus, team news
OUT: Oliver McBurnie (thigh), John Egan (ankle), George Baldock (calf), Max Lowe (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), Anel Ahmedhodzic (suspension), Mason Holgate (unable to face parent club)
