David Moyes equalled Harry Catterick's record of 592 games as Everton manager on Friday night, marking the occasion with a 3-1 win over Coventry City. The victory came against the same opposition that Catterick saw off in his last game at the club.
Everton were sluggish and lacked ideas in the final third until Yann Gboho gave Coventry the lead less than 10 minutes after the break, wriggling free of Merlin Rohl, Harrison Armstrong and Jarrad Branthwaite to poke home an improvised finish. After that, the Blues were clinical, with Thierno Barry scoring twice and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall adding a well-taken finish from an improbable angle to put the game out of sight.
Another slow start
The Blues have scored just twice in the first half of Premier League games this season, and that trend continued on Friday. Despite early promise when Barry and Vitalii Mykolenko went close in the opening 10 minutes, Everton struggled to sustain attacks and lacked a cutting edge in the final third prior to going behind.
They only delivered seven crosses from open play up until the Coventry goal, at a completion rate of just 12.5%. They created just 0.26 xG (expected goals) prior to going behind, 0.22 of which came in that opening 10-minute spell. Between that attempt in the 10th minute and conceding, Everton only had one shot: an Armstrong effort that Carl Rushworth saved low to his right in the 49th minute.
By and large, Everton dealt with the pressure comfortably. The biggest chance Coventry carved out (0.25 xG) came from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto in the 36th minute, who pounced on a ball in behind after Branthwaite's weak clearance. The Gboho goal also came amidst some questionable defending, with Branthwaite at the heart of it, though he otherwise put in another solid showing, winning the most aerial duels of anyone on the pitch (9/10) and making the joint-most defensive contributions (11) for the Blues alongside Mykolenko.
Familiar route home
It may have taken going behind to shock Everton into life, but once they did wake up, they had far too much for Coventry. After going behind, the Blues attacked the box in much greater numbers. When Barry bundled home his second of the night to put his side ahead - the first time they have come from behind to win this season - there were five blue shirts in the box waiting to pounce, creating an overload that Coventry were unable to deal with.
Getting bodies forward in such numbers poses its own risks, namely fewer players in position to win the ball back if the attack breaks down. In games like these, though, where Everton are playing at home and expected to win, they simply must take more risks in order to reap the rewards from their striker.
This time, it proved to be enough, but the Blues will not always be able to rely on a turnaround when they fall behind, particularly against stronger opposition. Things could have gone much worse here, even against a weaker side on paper. Had James Tarkowski been penalised for his hair pull on Caleb Yirenkyi, which should probably have been a penalty, their task could well have been significantly harder.
Dewsbury-Hall makes his point
Dewsbury-Hall described himself as "sad" to be left out of the latest England squad, but made his point here with a well-taken finish into the narrowest of gaps at Rushworth's near post when breaking clear into the penalty area. After playing an all-encompassing role across the attack against Newcastle, Dewsbury-Hall explained how taking on this extra responsibility is improving his all-round game.
"I'm really, really enjoying it," he told reporters. "I've got a really good hybrid role in this team, where the gaffer is giving me the freedom to pop up all over the pitch."
"I feel like I'm getting a really good relationship with Thierno now. I'm buzzing that he keeps on getting the goals because he deserves it so much."
"He's come back from the summer like a different player, and all credit to him because without him tonight - to kick-started us into the gear - we probably don't win the game."
Although he only managed one pass into the final third in this game, Dewsbury-Hall supported his teammates effectively yet again, also making the most tackles (four) of any player in a blue shirt. He finished with the joint-most touches in the opposition box (seven) and another goal to evidence his clinical shooting.
Rest is key
With how bare Moyes' squad was left after a disappointing end to the transfer window, the value of the next two weeks as an opportunity for some of the team's key players to rest cannot be overstated. While Armstrong, George, Pickford, Branthwaite and James Garner have been selected for England duty, Dewsbury-Hall will now have two weeks to rest and recuperate ahead of a busy winter schedule.
Likewise, Barry - the team's only recognised striker - will now have two weeks off. Captain Tarkowski hasn't featured for England since 2019 and, at 33, is unlikely to do so again, while Pickford - despite receiving a call-up - has been snubbed in favour of James Trafford in recent games.
With three wins on the bounce heading into this international break, the Blues have a great opportunity now to keep that team together and try to build on a positive run of form. The challenge for this squad between now and the January transfer window, though, is to start games with the positivity to ensure that such comebacks are rarely required.
