A look at how the national press viewed Leeds United’s sickening defeat at Goodison Park.
Coleman eulogised
Andy Hunter from The Guardian lauded Everton’s perennial competitor Seamus Coleman after his match-winning strike. He wrote: “Nine permanent Everton managers have put their faith in Seamus Coleman in the 14 years since his £60,000 arrival from Sligo Rovers.
“Sean Dyche is the latest to reap the reward of David Moyes’s bargain purchase, and of Coleman’s enduring standards, after the 34-year-old decided a relegation scrap against Leeds with one flash of inspiration. The Everton captain conjured a stupendous finish from near the touchline to deceive the stranded goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, and lift his club out of the relegation zone at the expense of Leeds.
“Coleman was too busy with a post-match altercation with Wilfried Gnonto to immediately celebrate on the final whistle, but the significance of the result was not lost on the veteran defender as he headed down the tunnel. He exited with a clenched-fist salute and a roar to the crowd and Everton, for the second successive home game under Dyche, departed with three precious points.”
Clamour for new manager
The Daily Mail focused on Leeds’ manager woes and how supporters will now be desperate for Elland Road chiefs to make an appointment. Joe Bernstein wrote: “While Dyche was feted after a second consecutive 1-0 home win, Leeds fans will be eager for their board to find a manager who wants to take over from Jesse Marsch.
“Skubala has been holding the fort while a number of candidates have turned down a move to Elland Road but this was a flat performance without a shot on target. If there is no change, he will be in the dug-out again for another big relegation battle against Southampton next Saturday.”
More Coleman praise
Seamus Coleman, unsurprisingly, was the centre of attention again in The Sun. Reporter Ken Lawrence wrote: “Forget about the Sean Dyche effect – this was all about Seamus Coleman and the goal of his life.
“And if Everton do survive come the end of the season then the veteran skipper will surely be able to dine out on this winning strike long into his retirement.
“Somehow - and few inside a tension-wracked Goodison were more surprised than the full-back – he produced a right-footer from nowhere. The 34-year-old had galloped onto a pass from Alex Iwobi, the kind of forward push he had made maybe a million times in a Toffees career now spanning fourteen seasons with only 27 goals to show for it.
“The next thing for him to do on almost all previous evidence would have been to bang a cross into the box. Certainly, that is what Illian Meslier clearly expected for he was off his line and a yard away from his left-hand post.”
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