Jeff Stelling and Darren Bent baffled by Everton boos at half-time v Southampton
Darren Bent and Jeff Stelling were baffled by Everton fans who booed the players off at half-time in their 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.
Michael Keane’s defensive lapse allowed Adam Armstrong to put the Saints ahead in the first-half.
It was an underwhelming performance in the opening 45 minutes but Rafa Benitez did manage to get a tune out of his players after the break as Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored to win the match 3-1 at Goodison Park.
Ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa striker Bent wasn’t too impressed by Evertonians who booed at half-time.
Speaking on Sky Sports News [05:33pm] after the match on Saturday, he said: “For Rafael Benitez, he was smiling at the end there and it was probably the perfect start because even at half-time, the fans booed them off, which I think was a little bit harsh.
“They weren’t great. But really?”
Stelling then said: “They’ve been waiting 18 months and they boo at half-time.”
Bent then continued: “It was quite strange but to be fair, whatever Rafa did at half-time, it worked.”
Oh, come on
Bent is sat their praising Benitez for getting the team to turn around their fortunes at the break – but the boos could have also played a role in that.
If we pay to go to a match and we’re not happy with what we see then we have every right to boo.
Whether you booed or not, it doesn’t matter, it’s up to you and you’re free to express your disdain as you please as long as it’s not abusive.
Booing isn’t abusive and sometimes it can have a negative impact on the players but in this case, it must have played a role in getting the team performing in the second half.
Benitez could have stood in the dressing room at half-time and told those players, ‘listen to the fans, they’re booing you and I would too if I was among them’.
They needed that fire in their bellies and it worked, while Benitez’s changes also helped with Alex Iwobi proving to be an inspired substitute.
In other Everton news, the Blues are worried about this big-money player after a major transfer development.
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