Jordan Pickford wows Sky Sports pundit James McFadden with painful intervention in Everton win over Brentford
James McFadden was blown away by Jordan Pickford’s “tremendous” save to preserve the Everton lead as they fought their way to a crucial 1-0 win over Brentford.
Soon after half-time of the clash at Goodison Park a cross was swung over from the right wing to find the Bees’ Rico Henry at the back post, but as he looked to provide the finish a sprawling Pickford got across to keep him out.
Replays and subsequent scenes of the Everton keeper in some pain with his hand between his legs suggested he really had put it all on the line to keep his side ahead, and former Toffees and Sky Sports pundit McFadden was delighted.
Reacting live on the world feed commentary for the match on Saturday (11 March, 4.09pm) McFadden said: “It’s Pickford. It’s a brilliant save. A tremendous save.”
Ian Crocker then added: “Everton will wonder quite how Rico Henry was in so much space.”
Vital
It was one of Pickford’s more uneven performances in the Toffees goal as he failed to hold onto a couple of first half saves and had to be bailed out by a Dwight McNeil clearance on the goal line when he missed a cross in the second 45 minutes.
But he came up big at the one point where only he could maintain the clean sheet, and taking one in the groin will no doubt have been a price worth paying for the England number one.
The clean sheet and the three points at home was the latest evidence that despite the shortcomings in this squad Sean Dyche and his players can harness the Goodison crowd and drag themselves to safety again this season.
It is going to be a struggle, but there was enough on display against a Brentford side who came in on a long unbeaten run, to suggest that Dyche is starting to turn a corner.
Demarai Gray was a live wire up front and had the ball in the net until a VAR review ruled it out for offside, and Dwight McNeil’s first-minute winner was perfect.
The defensive strength and the battling midfield display might not have been particularly surprising at home under Dyche, but the improved attacking display was.
It still only brought one goal, which will need to change on a more regular basis, but ultimately that was all that was needed here.
Pickford wasn’t at his best but he made a crucial, and painful, intervention to keep out Henry and is likely to need to make a few more before the season ends.