Three points slip away after a bad second half

In a bizarre second half, Everton, reduced to nine men, drew 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

It looked like it was going to be a cakewalk for the Toffees when Michael Keane put them ahead in the 17th minute with a clinical finish, after a difficult run of games at home of late. However, manager David Moyes completely let down the second half.

Instead of making changes to achieve the insurance goal or reassure his side as Wolves grew further into the game, Moyes hesitated for too long. Rob Edwards’ side made the pressure count, with Mateus Mane keeping his composure and scoring the equalizer for the away support.

What followed was downright ridiculous. Keane was absurdly sent off for grabbing Tolu Arokodare’s hair during an aerial duel. Rookie referee Thomas Kirk ruled the incident as violent behavior after consulting with VAR and viewing the on-field monitor. Everton’s central defender now faces a three-match ban.

To make matters worse, Jack Grealish booked himself and just three minutes later he too was given his marching orders for sarcastically applauding the referee after winning the foul.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Blues held on to secure a point in a match they look back and think should have been won comfortably.

Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 1-1 draw against Wolves:

Jordan Pickford: 7.5

Pickford could have done little before Mane’s shot found the bottom corner. However, Pickford made a breathtaking save from Huego Bueno at full speed and managed to put his long-range shot over the crossbar.

Jake O’Brien: 6

O’Brien could have done better for the Wolves goal as the gap between him and Tarkowski was exploited by Mane. He was also conservative in possession.

James Tarkowski: 5

Tarkowski got away with a big foul near the end of the first half. He was partly to blame for Wolves’ equalizer, failing to anticipate Mane’s movement and close the passing channel. The Everton captain probably could have done a better job of calming his teammates after Keane’s departure.

Michael Keane: 6

Keane had a good game before being harshly sent off. The centre-back again showed his deadly instincts in the penalty area and reacted quickest to Iroegbunam’s shot, finding the back of the net with some aplomb. Keane also hit the post from Garner’s cross with a glancing header.

However, he was sent off for grabbing Arokodare’s hair during an aerial duel, which the VAR deemed outrageous as violent behavior.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 6

Mykolenko had a decent chance to double Everton’s lead after being found by Grealish in the penalty area, but he cleared his shot completely before getting a second stab at it to win a corner. Otherwise had a solid defensive performance.

James Garner: 7

Everton’s opening goal came from Garner’s throw. He could also have provided an assist after Keane’s brilliant ball struck the post into the penalty area. He often dropped deep to build play for his team and kept things ticking in the middle.

Iroegbunam team: 8

Tim Iroegbunam was by far Everton’s best player tonight. The Wolves midfield and defense found his forward runs difficult to deal with and won the error that led to the hosts’ opener. It was his scuffed shot that was diverted towards goal by Keane. Iroegbunam also showed authority in tackling and regaining possession, with the exception of the instance where he had to make a booking after fouling Mane to prevent a counter.

Harrison Armstrong: 7 (replaced by Nathan Patterson at 87′)

It was an impressive performance from the teenager on his first start after his recall from Preston. Armstrong showed a touch of class with a few off-the-boot passes, but some of his teammates weren’t on the same page. He should gain a lot of confidence from this match.

Dwight McNeil: 5 (replaced by Merlin Rohl at 90′)

There is little to write about the performance of McNeil, who was quiet on the right flank. Should have been taken off earlier to inject more energy into the game or shake things up as McNeil created little danger from his flank.

Thierno Barry: 5 (replaced by Beto at 87′)

Terribly quiet night for the Frenchman who had little to offer. The fact that he only touched the ball once in the opponent’s penalty area is a damning statistic. His night can probably be summed up by that wild shot/cross he attempted from an acute angle with no real conviction.

Jack Grealish: 4

Grealish had a pretty good game before imploding shortly after the Keane incident. Talked his way into the referee’s book and the sarcastic applause afterwards was irritable and unnecessary. Difficult to defend a player with his experience, especially when the Blues are already short of players at such a crucial time of the season.

Replacements

Beto: N/A

Nathan Patterson: N/A

Merlijn Rohl: N/A

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