Idrissa Gueye wows for Everton as Anthony Gordon lets him down vs Wolves – Amazon pundits
Idrissa Gana Gueye wowed Leon Osman and Joleon Lescott with his role in creating a wonderful Everton chance for Anthony Gordon in the defeat to Wolves.
The Senegal international pounced on a mistake from Nathan Collins midway through the first half on Boxing Day, driving forward before sliding a ball into the path of his teammate who was advancing into the area from the right wing.
A second Everton goal, after Yerry Mina’s early opener had been cancelled out by Daniel Podence, looked certain but Gordon’s left-footed finish was read by Jose Sa when one on one and the Toffees’ best chance of the match went begging.
Lescott and Osman were left praising the work in the build up from Gueye and highlighting how the finish didn’t live up to the same standard.
Speaking live on the Amazon Prime match coverage at half time on Monday (26 December, 3.55pm) Lescott said: “It’s a great ball into Anthony Gordon and he has to finish in my book.”
Osman agreed, adding: “It’s brilliant play, winning the ball back, from Idrissa Gueye and a wonderfully weighted pass. He has to score when you get in those positions.”
Turning point
Had Gordon put that chance away there was enough in the game to suggest that Frank Lampard would have come away with a crucial three points.
If the home side hadn’t been chasing the winner in the 95th minute that their play, while not exactly sparkling, did deserve then they probably wouldn’t have been caught on the break to concede the sickening winner to Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Gueye, at fault for a few goals so far this season after being caught in possession himself, looked back to the player that Lampard wanted when he pushed to bring him back from PSG in the summer, and the sequence that should have brought a goal from Gordon was a perfect example.
The fact that it came soon after the 21-year-old had also failed to take advantage of a fantastic ball in from Vitalii Mykolenko to find him in a dangerous area compounded the frustrations around Goodison Park.
Neal Maupay found himself in some good positions on the day as well and was unable to find the net, highlighting beyond any doubt what this side is lacking.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin absent or short of fitness, and Richarlison now long gone at Spurs, there is nobody is this Everton side who can be relied upon to regularly take chances when they come along.
If someone who can do that doesn’t arrive in January then the margin for error is going to be wafer thin all season, and games like this one that should have been in the bag will go by with nothing to show for it.