First-half goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane saw Everton to a 2-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. The Toffees netted on 17 and 40 as Town, who had a penalty awarded but denied following a VAR check, put in their poorest home display of the season and never looked like getting back into the game.

Town made two changes from the 4-1 defeat at West Ham a fortnight ago with Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess coming into the side for Jacob Greaves and Ben Johnson.

Both Greaves and Johnson were absent from the matchday 20 with the central defender understood to have picked up a knock.

Dara O’Shea, who was subbed with a back problem while playing for the Republic of Ireland in midweek, was OK to start and moved to right-back with Woolfenden, making his 200th appearance for the club, and Burgess, making his Premier League debut, renewing their central defensive partnership, with Leif Davis at left-back.

Former Toffees youngster Nathan Broadhead was in the Town matchday squad for the first time this season having come on as a sub for Wales in midweek.

Everton made two changes from the team which drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle before the international break.

Left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko returned from a knock and replaced James Garner, who has a back problem, with Ashley Young moving to right-back. In midfield, Idrissa Gueye came in for Orel Mangala, who dropped to the bench.

England centre-half Jarrad Branthwaite remained absent due to a thigh injury with Keane, twin brother of former Blues striker Will, starting in his place. Ex-Town loan keeper Asmir Begovic was one of two glovesmen on the Toffees bench.

The game kicked off at 3.15pm following IT-related turnstile issues, Everton winning the toss and switching ends so the Blues attacked the Sir Bobby Robson Stand in the first half. Before the start, both teams took a knee in support of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign.

From the kick-off, Davis landed awkwardly on his hip after challenging for a high ball, but was OK after brief treatment.

Town created the first chance of the game in the fifth minute, Omari Hutchinson sending Wes Burns away on the right as the Blues broke quickly. The Wales international cut back from the right of the box to Jack Clarke, but the former Sunderland man mishit his shot high and wide when he really should at least have made Jordan Pickford make a save.

Two minutes later, Kalvin Phillips sold Woolfenden short with a pass five yards outside the penalty area and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was in on goal. Fortunately for the on-loan Manchester City man, Aro Muric was quickly off his line and the Kosovan international was able to force Calvert-Lewin’s shot wide.

Three minutes later, Clarke made a big challenge inside the Town box to take the ball away from Dwight McNeil, who had been found in space and was about to shoot.

On 11, moments after Pickford had come well out of his goal to reach a Hutchinson diagonal ball for Davis and Everton had inexplicably played the ball back towards their own area, Liam Delap threatened for the first time, squeezing a shot across the face and wide from the edge of the area.

Both sides had made frequent errors in a scruffy, defensively nervy start to the game and just before the quarter-hour mark Muric scuffed a Woolfenden back-pass out for a corner when under little pressure. Fortunately the flag-kick came to nothing.

And three minutes later, another mistake led to the visitors taking the lead. O’Shea headed a deep Jack Harrison cross from the right only as far as Burns at the back of the box.

The wideman chested it down but scuffed his second touch, allowing Ndiaye to get on it and smash a shot past Muric and into the net.

It was another poor goal for the Blues to concede, following on from several similarly disappointing at West Ham, once again illustrating that errors tend to be punished more clinically by Premier League attacks than Championship strikers.

On 21, Everton had another opportunity, Calvert-Lewin turning away and hitting a shot which Muric saved sharply and then cleared after the loose ball had been tapped back to him.

Having gone in front, the visitors began to take control but on 24 Hutchinson made a direct run towards the penalty area and was felled by Keane, who was shown the game’s first yellow card.

Hutchinson took the free-kick but it hit the wall and eventually the ball was worked back to the former Chelsea man on the right, from where he won a corner.

In the aftermath of the flag-kick, Clarke did well to dribble his way into the box, riding a couple of tackles and looked to be felled by McNeil and referee Michael Oliver initially awarded his first spot-kick of the season.

However, following the VAR check, Oliver was called over to the VAR screen on the Cobbold Stand side of the ground and having looked at the incident again, reversed his decision.

On 37, McNeil struck a shot from just outside the area, which Calvert-Lewin diverted wide of Muric’s goal.

But three minutes later, the Toffees did make it 2-0. Following a corner, unnecessarily conceded by Burgess with Muric ready to claim behind him, Everton skipper James Tarkowski headed a deep ball into the box across goal. Burgess nodded away to McNeil on the edge of the area. The former Burnley man started to dribble into the box but then fed Keane to his left and the central defender slammed a shot from a tight angle past Muric.

Soon after the goal, another Town will feel they ought to have been able to prevent, Delap headed over from Davis’s free-kick on the left, then just before the fourth official announced six additional minutes, Phillips curled a free-kick from not far outside the area over.

In the third minute of time added on, Ashley Young curled a 25-yard free-kick past the wall but straight into Muric’s arms.

That was the last action of probably Town’s worst half of the season so far, certainly their poorest at Portman Road.

As at West Ham, the Blues made far too many errors in all areas of the pitch and had been made to pay in their final third.

Town’s big opportunity had been Clarke’s early chance which he had failed to take, while Everton had made defensive mistakes of their own but with the Blues unable to profit from them.

The second half began with Everton looking for a third and on 52 Doucoure caught Clarke on his heels, stole the ball, brought it forward and found Calvert-Lewin, who shot wide not too far wide.

Town’s second half hadn’t started much better than their first had ended and in the 55th minute O’Shea’s poor touch allowed Ndiaye a run in on goal but Muric was equal to the Senegal international’s shot.

On the hour, the impressive McNeil cut in from the right following a corner and hit a low shot which was too close to Muric.

Town had shown little sign of getting back into it and on 63rd minute manager Kieran McKenna swapped Burns and O’Shea for Conor Chaplin and Harry Clarke, who was making his Premier League debut. Hutchinson moved wide with Chaplin in the middle behind Delap.

On 71, having been unable to threaten Pickford’s goal, although having got into one or two promising situations, the Blues swapped Jack Clarke and Phillips for Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor.

Four minutes later, following a quick break forward from Hutchinson, Szmodics laid Taylor’s pass back to Delap just outside the area but the ex-Manchester City striker’s shot flew over.

Hutchinson was an increasing threat down the right and in the 77th minute, the England U21 international cut in from the right and hit a shot across the face which deflected behind for a corner.

Soon after the flag-kick, Szmodics crossed from the left and Burgess rose high to flick a header just over the bar. On 79, George Hirst replaced Delap.

A minute later, Town hit their first shot on target of the afternoon in a manner familiar from League One and the Championship. Davis played a low corner from the left to Chaplin just ahead of the penalty spot but the forward’s shot was into the ground and too close to Pickford. Ahead of the restart, Everton switched Ndaiye was switched for Mangala.

With the game in its final 10 minutes, Everton were happy to sit back on their lead with the Blues camped in the around their area and with Burgess providing an additional aerial threat up front.

But the Toffees backline were strong enough to prevent Town from forcing Pickford into a save and on 87 Calvert-Lewin ought to have done better with a cross from the right but headed the ball very wide.

As the game moved into its final scheduled minute, ahead of four added on, Taylor hit a low effort from distance which Pickford saved down to his right and claimed at the second attempt.

In the second minute of additional time, Taylor looped a header well over from a cross from the right with Szmodics behind him better placed to add a final touch.

A minute from the end, Taylor was booked for a foul, then seconds before the whistle Calvert-Lewin was played in on goal but as earlier in the game Muric was able to block.

A thoroughly disappointing afternoon for the Blues, who went into the afternoon hoping to end their winless start to the season against another side in the division’s lower reaches. A run of eight matches without a victory at the start of a top-flight season is a new club record.

However, hopes of claiming three points were all but extinguished following an uncharacteristically disjointed first-half display in particular, the worst at Portman Road this season and among the poorest of the McKenna era at home.

Town were made to pay for that mistake-ridden performance and in the second half showed few signs of getting back into the game until the latter stages after the substitutions when Hutchinson provided a greater threat from out wide, but with Pickford never seriously tested, while the visitors might well have added to their lead with Muric the busier keeper.

While there were plenty of positives to be taken from Town’s first six games of the season, the last two have mainly raised concerns, however the Blues remain 17th - although with Wolves and Crystal Palace below them in action on Sunday and Monday respectively - ahead of next week’s difficult trip to 12th-placed Brentford.

Town: Muric, O’Shea (H Clarke 63), Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis, Morsy (c), Phillips (Taylor 71), Burns (Chaplin 63), Hutchinson, J Clarke (Szmodics 71), Delap (Hirst 79). Unused: Walton, Townsend, Ogbene, Broadhead.

Everton: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Mykolenko, Gana, Doucoure, Ndiaye (Mangala 82), Harrison, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin. Unused: Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Beto, O’Brien, Coleman, Armstrong, Dixon. Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland). VAR official: Graham Scott. Att: 29,862 (Everton: 2,977).

Photo: Reuters

therein61 added 07:20 - Oct 20 We are not learning that we can't get away with mistakes in this division it needs tightening up and fast.
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johnwarksshorts added 08:19 - Oct 20 We've GOT to cut out the silly errors, you can't get away with them at this level. I feel we have now lost our promotion momentum. That said I still believe McKenna can work his magic and get us through this.
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tractorboybig added 09:09 - Oct 20 other other than delap and greaves we have not added anyone better than we had. We are relegation bound let’s just hope we are not the leagues whipping boys
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irishtim added 09:12 - Oct 20 Clarke Taylor Broadhead sammy need to start.
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Blueballs83 added 09:18 - Oct 20 Team for Brentford - Muric Clarke - O’Shea - Burgess - Davis Morsy - Phillips Omari - Sammy/Chappers - Clarke Delap
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atty added 09:20 - Oct 20 Defensive errors and not taking the few chances we create. Recipe for disaster. Now injuries to our two best defenders. Not looking good at all. Thought Chaplin looked good when he came on because he knows how to play that role. Hutch doesn’, but he looked good when put out on the right. That’s his position imo. Should play 4-3-3 away from home. Some talk about signings in Jan. if we’re looking for players to make a big impact/big difference, who like that is going to come to a team struggling at the wrong end of the league? An old pro on loan at best. Worried.

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atty added 09:37 - Oct 20 Brentford - Muric Clarke O’Shea Burgess David Taylor Morsy Phillips Hutchinson Delap Broadhead
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atty added 09:37 - Oct 20 Brentford - Muric Clarke O’Shea Burgess David Taylor Morsy Phillips Hutchinson Delap Broadhead
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atty added 09:37 - Oct 20 Brentford - Muric Clarke O’Shea Burgess David Taylor Morsy Phillips Hutchinson Delap Broadhead
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Lukeybluey added 09:53 - Oct 20 I think it was evident we are lacking in midfield, so I would play 4141, stick another centre mid in there Muric, Clarke, Oshea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy Hutchinson, Phillips, Taylor, Szmodics Delap
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BlueRuin69 added 09:56 - Oct 20 Clear and obvious what has happened, break up a winning team, make too many changes. Muric is poor and pushing out Hladky has no logic, should have started as first choice. Phillips poor waste of money. Team is unrecognisable from last year and looks disjointed. MCKenna you had a great chance to replicate Burley but fell into the classic error of changing too much too fast. Some of the band of brothers must be secretly seething.

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BlueRuin69 added 09:58 - Oct 20 Anybody advocating Phillips to play next game could not have been at game yesterday.
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Tedray added 10:29 - Oct 20 Lets be a bit radical............Walton-Oshea-Wolfenden- Burgess-Davis - Clarke(H)-Morsy or Johnson-Taylor - Delap-Hirst-hutchinson
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 10:33 - Oct 20 Too many mistakes, too slow going forward, try route 1 and 2 up front, it can't be any worse than what we're doing now!!
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SuffolkPunch70 added 10:43 - Oct 20 It was evident yesterday that we looked better as a team when the championship promotion players were on - more cohesion, more fight, better movement, more forward momentum. Its little wonder the defence are constantly on edge, they have a calamity ridden keeper behind them that they cannot trust, and a midfielder in front who keeps giving the ball away - I think we have given both Muric and Phillips enough time now to show they just do not fit. I also feel O Shea has too many mistakes in him, very much in the Ecmundson mold - both goals yesterday came from his bad decision making. This was always going to be a very difficult season, its the premier league ffs, and everyone on here should have set their expectations accordingly. Anybody moaning about our current situation need to take a look back at the last 20 years of dross, and then the journey we have had for the last 2.

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Marinersnose added 11:24 - Oct 20 Wolfie out brigade back today. Lots of moans and groans from the plastic fans in the stadium today but thankfully they’ll disappear if the team doesn’t improve. It’s tough losing Greaves and Tuanzebe for what appears to be an extended period of time but fans have to support those that play. Neither Burgess or Wolfie are PL standard but McKenna has had his hand forced. Both looked nervous with the ball with Burgess finding touch more often than a player. That said O’Shea also had a nervous game. This league is a massive step up and some of the squad are not good enough to perform regularly at this level.As a fan it’s slightly frustrating but having watched hoof ball under Dino and other dreadful managers this is what I want to witness. Small steps. We need to recapture our confidence and I’m sure McKenna will work his magic.

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Linkboy13 added 11:52 - Oct 20 You can dress it up how you like but the simple fact is the recruitment hasn't been good enough apart from Delap and possibly Greaves. We've brought a championship team and it's showing. So no matter what formation you play without quality players you will always struggle.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:12 - Oct 20 Well the positive atmosphere and comments have been wiped out. Hardly surprising looking at the expectations many had set ie champions league ect reality now setting in,and the fact is it's about survival first season and build from there .If we survive by just one point or goal difference we will all be celebrating in May.
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Leejames99 added 12:32 - Oct 20 And here we go..the doom mongers and people living in the past, boo hoo play Walton, Burns, Burgess, Woolfedon etc THEY ARENT GOOD ENOUGH! They can all say they had a little go in the Prem and at to CV but time for Mckenna to start playing the new crop and not keep the old timers happy, it's football, they did great league one and Championship but that's their level. Clarke, Merseyside (just about) and Leif Davis will be okay, Chaplin as a sub and Taylor. Keeper is not good at passi g out but is a big presence, I think we should go get Kelhner on a free. Phillips it seems people have it in for him, I think he has been great and good for the others. Team if all fit - Muric (for now) Tunazbe, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis Phillips, Morsey, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Clarke Delap If injuries Try Walton or get Kelhner ,Johnson, Clarke (C), O'Shea, Davis Phillips, Taylor Hutchinson, Szmodicks, Clarke Delap And then see where we are at Christmas No time to be sentimental now. If we go down we will be clear favourites go back up and I don't think we will lose any of the New signings, Taylor is obvious replacement for Morsey soon and I personally think Mckenna has played a blinder by getting the best players from the championship as he knew staying up may not be easy so what a pool of talent if we do go down, it happens, we may be stronger, wiser and more equipped after being a solid eam in the Championship.with Pemiership experience. I think we enjoy the ride this year and see where we get without putting pressure on the team and defonately not the manager, we shouldn't be in Prem yet but we are but I for one think Mckenna has played a blinder bringing the best of the championship in, If Sunderland don't go up we nab Bellingham maybe too. Mckenna won't go he is on 4 year deal now and he and the owners have a plan, the stadium looks great, squad is stronger and we are ahead of time, a season of winning mentality as a team in championship could actually be one step back to make 2 forward. Just enjoy the talentvwe get to watch and if we stay up great but if we dont no pressure. Happy Sunday

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bluesman added 12:51 - Oct 20 Its pointless looking for someone to blame. Morsy is the engine of this team and it doesn't work without his full on aggression. He’s on four yellows and it falls apart when he’s not full on.
1

martin587 added 13:09 - Oct 20 I won’t criticize the team and I don’t blame individuals but the set up is not working and it’s clear to see.until we get Greaves and Taunzebe back there is not a lot you can do but I do think HC would be better on the right.For me we should be playing Sammy with his old Aussie mate in midfield.Omari definitely on right wing Broadhead wide left Chaplin in the 10 position and Delap up front.Just my opinion.At the moment there is Lillie camaraderie within the team and it showed yesterday.There were spells when we played well but once again the end product failed us.If you were to Annalise all our matches so far over 50:% have been very bad errors which need to be eradicated.There are still 30 games to play so all is not lost the support is there we just need better concentration and a bit of luck or should I say VAR or better Ref decisions.

3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:46 - Oct 20 We were too slow yesterday and our midfield was overrun, putting extra pressure on the defence. I agree with some of the above that we need an extra body midfield. We could go 433, with (given current injuries) Clarke, O'Shea, Burgess Davis; Cajuste, Morsy, Taylor/Luongo (is he fit?), Szmodics (let's give him a go) Delap, Hutchinson. No doubt may will disagree, but our attempts at the slow PL build-up that many more skilful and experienced teams are able to employ are not really working - we don't have to abandon this altogether, but a tweak to faster and more direct on some occasions might be an option until we learn the ropes.

1

pragmatic added 13:50 - Oct 20 Lee James 99, constructive & sensible opinion,
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VanDusen added 14:28 - Oct 20 Yesterday was awful. But I've been of the opinion no-one should be getting on their backs until after xmas when there is a proper chance for our longstanding players to have got their heads round adjusting to the new level (or not) and the newer players work out the best way of playing with each other. We're 8 games in - which as someone rightly noted is not much more than early September in the EFL. Imo Kieron is a genius, but he did also benefit from the fact that Cook did a lot of the blending a whole new team where we were equally disjointed for the first 3 or 4 months (remember that 5-2 defeat v Bolton anyone?), but ultimately it all came good in time. The lucky thing for us is that at present we may be being cut adrift but we are STILL above the relegation zone even with Wolves winning against Man City as I write - which I strongly suspect won't be the case at full time anyway. If we end up in a dogfight with 3 from 4 and stay up with 25 points it would still be job done. I'd be more worried if I was Russell Martin. Finally though - this league is a total rig. We have had next to nothing from the referees, as yesterday showed once again. We get that penalty and it's a different game - not excusing the fact our play often hasn't warranted things, but we are clearly not going to get a lot of the slices of luck we've ridden the last two seasons (for instance - what odds that difficult looking Coventry away game would end up delayed til they were out of it because of an FA Cup semi!).

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Razor added 14:29 - Oct 20 First a general point which will no doubt attract loads of abuse-----we panic bought in the summer and seemed to buy anyone offered to us, we were a soft touch and only about 2 decent ones amognst the lot. Clarke has to stay in and quite a few go out-----wot has luongo done wrong? Missing sitters and making basic defensive mistakes is not a good recipe Hirst must come in to help Delap who runs himself in to the ground----and it was not a penalty.

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