Sean Dyche has a problem to solve and he did not find the answer at Old Trafford.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s suspension forced the Blues boss to tinker against Manchester United. This was the first game for which Dyche was unable to call on the Mali international and it meant a change to the line-up that had proved so stubborn in going four games unbeaten.
It also led to a change in formation as, for the first time in his Everton career, Dyche abandoned 4-5-1 and moved to two up front as he sought to provide support for the incoming striker Ellis Simms.
The plan did not work. Everton did reach the final half an hour still in this game. And they did create chances. But they were largely overrun by their hosts and, while the Champions League-chasing side will be more formidable opposition than Fulham and Crystal Palace, Everton need to find an effective way of dealing with Doucoure’s absence for those two matches.
MATCH RECAP: Man United vs Everton final, goals and reaction
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Everton players after 2-0 defeat by Man Utd
READ MORE: Everton fans in agreement over kit change spotted against Man Utd
It took 70 minutes for this game to move beyond Everton’s grasp. Even with the ‘relentless mentality’ Dyche has done so well to drive into his side after such a short time in charge, it was clear that Anthony Martial’s tap-in was fatal.
It had followed a bright start to the second half for an Everton side still in contention before Seamus Coleman lost control of the ball on the edge of his area, allowing Marcus Rashford to cross for Martial. Even that better start yielded few chances for the away side and a handful of opportunities for the hosts, including a Bruno Fernandes header that produced a flying save from Jordan Pickford.
The first half had indeed been a Pickford highlight reel. Every now and then his defence forces him into an action-man performance and this was the case for the opening 45 minutes as Man Utd peppered his goal with efforts. When Dyche regrouped with his players at the break the England number one had been exposed to 21 efforts on goal, six of which were on target.
Ben Godfrey was tormented by Antony, who was picked out time and again in space down the Everton left. This became the hosts’ chief line of attack and in the final minute of the first half Pickford made an exceptional diving save from the Brazil winger to keep his side in the game. By that point he had already thwarted Antony once and Rashford twice as the home attack got beyond the Everton back line time after time.
A perfectly-timed recovery tackle by Godfrey on Antony and a determined late intervention by Alex Iwobi on Rashford were not enough to dovetail with Pickford’s brilliance and keep the home side at bay, however. Everton had a big let-off early in the game when Antony hit the post from the edge of the box and, with Pickford grounded, Aaron Wan-Bissaka pounced on the loose ball and skewed wide when it appeared harder to miss. The breakthrough came just as it looked as though Everton might have survived the storm. Both sides were lined up on the edge of the Blues box as defenders blocked and hustled while attackers attempted to find space to shoot or pass.
The opportunity came when Scott McTominay burst free of Amadou Onana to receive a ball from Jadon Sancho and smash beyond Pickford. The goal had, in truth, been coming. And when the break came Everton were fortunate to be just a single goal down despite posing a threat of their own. Onana was guilty of crashing a free header over from six yards before Simms, with space and time in the hosts’ box, rolled tamely wide. It was a glorious opportunity and a reminder that, for all the improvement Dyche has wrought, his side still lacks ruthlessness and still cannot afford to waste good chances in the hunt for the points needed for Premier League survival.
Vitalii Mykolenko replaced Godfrey at half-time as Dyche sought to offer Pickford more protection. The side became even more experimental as the game went on, James Garner, Tom Davies and Neal Maupay entering the fray before the 70th minute and Nathan Patterson then getting his first senior minutes under Dyche.
That was partially a necessity - Dyche is still learning about this squad and must find solutions to Doucoure’s absence as soon as possible. But he did not find an answer on Saturday afternoon.
READ NEXT:
Everton player ratings as Pickford excellent but seven others poor at Man Utd
Bill Kenwright call for unity is empty if Everton board fails to address fan anger
Dele Alli to return to UK after picking up injury during loan spell away from Everton
Everton door open for James Garner as major change identified
Sean Dyche won't tolerate play acting as Everton boss makes feelings clear about Harry Kane 'drama'
