Everton once again find themselves in the Premier League's bottom three after suffering their first home defeat of the Sean Dyche era as they went down 2-0 to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
A tight first half that Everton edged was met by two goals from Unai Emery's side in the second period. Ollie Watkins gave Villa the lead from the penalty spot before substitute Emi Buendia sealed their victory.
The Blues will look to bounce back on Wednesday they face a testing trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal, who they did beat 1-0 in Dyche's first game in charge of the club earlier this month at Goodison Park.
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But for now, the focus is still on what went wrong against Villa. And this is what the national media - along with our own Joe Thomas - made of it all...
The Guardian - Andy Hunter
"Everton’s diminished return in front of goal is of greater concern to Sean Dyche at this juncture than their return to the relegation zone. The contrast with Aston Villa’s potency, and the options available to Unai Emery, was stark as the dominant Ollie Watkins and impactful Emi Buendía inflicted a first home defeat on the new Everton manager.
"Emery had never lost four successive matches in his top flight managerial career. A combination of an incisive second-half display from Villa, ignited by their manager’s introduction of Buendíia, and Everton’s predictable toothlessness ensured that blemish remained off the Spaniard’s polished CV.
"Watkins excelled throughout and opened the scoring from the penalty spot, becoming the first Villa player to score in five consecutive Premier League fixtures. Buendía, after brooding on the bench, emerged to capitalise on weak Everton defending and seal victory with a fine individual strike."
BBC Sport - Shamoon Hafez
"Ollie Watkins continued his excellent goalscoring form in the Premier League as Aston Villa's victory returned Everton to the relegation zone.
"Striker Watkins netted for a fifth consecutive league game, thumping home a second-half penalty after former Villa midfielder Idrissa Gueye tripped John McGinn in the box.
"It is a costly defeat for Sean Dyche's men, who return to the bottom three after West Ham United and Leeds United both collected three points.
"Toffees players and supporters will have left Goodison Park wondering how they went home empty handed, having spurned the better chances.
"Neal Maupay's diving header was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mings while his tame, side-footed effort was gathered by Emiliano Martinez."
Daily Mail - Dominic King
"When everything is boiled down, football is a simple game. Take your chances and your hopes of progress mushroom; draw blanks persistently and you end up staring into the abyss.
"Never was that more apparent than at Goodison Park, where Aston Villa showed themselves – once again – to be a team making stylish strides under Unai Emery. Their fans were exultant as the players celebrated at the final whistle, three points having been clinched ruthlessly and decisively.
"Everton’s squad, by contrast, skulked back to the dressing room after another chastening afternoon. For all the play they had enjoyed, for all the effort they had exerted, Villa’s assault in the second half sent them crashing to the floor with an almighty thump.
"What Everton would do to have a striker in the form of Ollie Watkins; he had struggled at the start of the season, with only one goal in 12 games for Steven Gerrard, but Emery’s arrival has led to a flurry, his 63rd minute penalty being the eighth time he has scored in his last 13 appearances."
Liverpool ECHO - Joe Thomas
"It is in games like these that Everton are haunted by the failings of the January transfer window.
"There were points for the taking at Goodison Park. Everton were the better side before they fell behind to Ollie Watkins' second half penalty. This was not a bad performance.
"But it was a result heavily influenced by the limitations of the squad Sean Dyche inherited. Frank Lampard suffered before him. As he sought game changers against Wolves, Southampton and West Ham he had few genuine options to turn to. The transfer window offered hope that might soon change. Instead it was transition in the dugout, not the transfer market, and Dyche picks up the problem his predecessor was unable to contend with."
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