The full-time whistle went at the London Stadium and then came the emotion.
Jarrad Branthwaiteonce again a key figure in this latest Everton away win, fell to his knees clenching his fists. Others slumped through sheer relief and tiredness after a battling display.
Dominic Calvert-Lewinthe scorer of the afternoon’s deciding goal, sported a beaming grin as he high-fived substitute Lewis Dobbinwhile team-mates Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson and Amadou Onana headed, arms aloft, to celebrate with a jubilant away end.
A challenging, emotionally fraught week for Everton had ended in the best possible way — with a performance full of resilience and endeavour which, crucially, earned them three points. It was the kind of result Everton needed; one to change the momentum and start the long healing process ahead.
A lot has happened since Sean Dyche’s side last played.
The aftermath of the 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat was dominated, from an Everton perspective at least, by anger over referee Craig Pawson’s decision not to award Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate a second yellow card for a cynical trip on Beto. There, Everton pointed to a glaring lack of consistency after Ashley Young had received his marching orders earlier in the game for two first-half fouls.
Tuesday brought news of the sad passing of long-standing chairman Bill Kenwright. Players and staff mourned his loss and training was subsequently cancelled by Dyche once the situation came to light.
While the club was still grieving, a report was published less than 24 hours later suggesting the Premier League will push for a 12-point penalty should Everton be found to have breached financial fair play rules for the 2021-22 season. The timing was insensitive and, for some, smacked of the kind of unnecessary posturing that could have waited until another time.
That run of events has left many at the club and among the fanbase feeling embattled and embittered, so much so that the mantra since has largely been ‘it’s us against the world’. Dyche spoke about a “siege mentality” and noted how his players had “rallied” after a tough week. On the derby officiating, he added they had felt “aggrieved”.
Dyche has been responsible for “blocking out the noise” — to use one of his familiar phrases — and turning attention back to the football.
“We’re professionals and can’t control what goes on above our heads,” Calvert-Lewin said afterwards.
(Photo: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
“The manager takes that burden for us and shares the message that we are going to block it out. I can honestly say it’s not crept in this week. It was about putting it right and winning the game.”
There were plenty of positive displays from Dyche’s side in east London. Branthwaite played with his now trademark composure at the back, stepping into midfield to win possession for the deciding goal, rising highest in aerial duels and mopping up in the channels. Midfielder Amadou Onana strode effectively between both boxes, routinely driving his side forward.
In general, Everton remained compact and resolute throughout their spine, as you would expect from a Dyche side. It explains in part why they have started to develop a habit of winning on the road. That was their third away victory in four across all competitions.
The sense of unity was palpable, with even outgoing owner Farhad Moshiri there in attendance for his first game in more than six months.
But nobody quite embodies that sense of resilience like the fit-again Calvert-Lewin, who has bounced back from two injury-plagued years to return to something approaching his levels of old. As usual, he led the line, won headers and brought others into the game.
His goal was a half-chance at best, fashioned by a sublime turn to evade two West Ham defenders, and finished with aplomb. In scoring, he became only the fourth Everton player to hit 50 Premier League goals (after Romelu LukakuDuncan Ferguson and Tim Cahill).
“It means everything,” he said when asked about his return to sharpness. “I love playing football and scoring goals. It’s the best feeling in the world so I’m happy to have put games back to back and be building match sharpness.
“I’ve got to give the manager credit for being patient and taking pressure off my shoulders because previously it killed me. The rush to get me back to get back fit and coming back too soon and breaking down, that cycle had to stop. He came in and said, ‘This will stop’ and he has allowed me to take time to get in this position. I guess we’re all reaping the rewards now.”
It was usual for Kenwright, during his tenure as chairman, to message players after significant milestones such as these. There will be no such text this time; something not lost on Everton players like Calvert-Lewin. But this was a much-needed boost of positivity after an immensely challenging period for all.
“I think he would have (messaged),” Calvert-Lewin. “That’s a happy and sad moment but we’re all thinking of his family.
“He was always there for me. I joined as a young boy and he was always warm and welcoming. He’d always message me when I hit key milestones, wishing me well in his own way, and that always made me very proud to be at this club.
“We knew what we wanted to do and that was to win the game for Bill. The way we did it, he’d have been extremely proud. That was the main thing.”
If it is to be Everton against the world from now on, this was a good start.
(Top photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
