Michael Ball shares ‘huge’ problem for Everton amid relegation crisis
Michael Ball has put the onus on Everton to beat the “lesser teams” after they lost 3-2 to Brentford at Goodison Park amid their relegation crisis.
The former Everton ace insisted that it was a “panicked” performance from the Blues who ended the game with nine men after Jarrad Branthwaite and Salomon Rondon was sent off in each half.
Frank Lampard’s side has lifted themselves out of the drop zone in recent weeks thanks to impressive wins against some of the Premier League’s most elite sides – and Ball has urged the Toffees to maintain those levels regardless of their opponent.
He wrote in his Liverpool Echo column: “Yesterday was another example of Everton dropping points against a so-called ‘lesser team’ which is becoming a problem.
“We’ve seen this side beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United at home this season, while we earnt a credible draw against Tottenham and were unlucky against Man City. But on the other side of things, we’ve lost to Wolves, Watford, Brighton and now Brentford at Goodison.”
He added: “The results against Chelsea and Manchester United were huge and the team have shown their ability to pick up wins.
“We panicked in midfield yesterday with Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure – maybe it was the nerves and the pressure of it all. We needed a bit more composure and rhythm in there and put two or three passes together but we were too frantic.”
Go again.
There was absolutely nothing at all wrong with Everton’s performance on Sunday [May 15].
The Merseysiders were by far the better team and had gone one-nil up inside the first ten minutes on a day where it seemed and they really should have cruised to victory.
The players did themselves no justice with a catalogue of game-losing mistakes.
You have to feel for the youngster having been thrown in at the deep end but Branthwaite’s sending off changed the game – it was a stupid mistake that could have been avoided.
Rondon solidified the loss with his red card a mere three minutes after coming on despite being the Toffees’ last hope of salvaging anything from the game.
With that being said, Michael Oliver deserves a special mention for his disgraceful performance.
The first red card should have been avoided had the referee awarded the stonewall penalty after Richarlison’s shirt was almost ripped off his back just moments before – that would have completely changed the game with Everton most likely 2-0 and still with 11 men.
Nothing can be changed now and the Blues must continue their fight.
In other Everton news, Sean Dyche has lifted the lid on a private talk with Lampard after he insulted the Blues.
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