Garth Crooks stunned by Jordan Pickford after Everton draw v Sheffield United
Garth Crooks has said that Jordan Pickford’s “exploits” at Brammall Lane were the only thing to save Everton from heading into the international break without a Premier League point.
Sean Dyche’s side broke their Premier League duck and scored their first goals of the league season in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United on Saturday (2 September), but were rather fortunate to not throw away their point late in the game.
Pickford excellently denied Oli McBurnie twice at the death to ensure Everton headed into the international break with their first point of the season and despite scoring an unlucky own-goal, the England stopper was at his heroic best.
Earning a place in Crooks’ BBC Sport ‘Team of the Week’ (3 September) the pundit was impressed by Pickford, writing: “If Everton are going to survive this season then they can’t afford to concede two goals. They haven’t been capable of keeping one clean sheet in four Premier League outings and it was Pickford’s exploits that saved them on this occasion.
“This game was full on from start to finish, but it was the double stop by Pickford to deny McBurnie at the end which gave the Toffees a much-needed point.”
Crucial form
It’s safe to say many have criticised Pickford for occasionally producing much better performances in an England shirt than when in an Everton one, but the 29-year-old has been excellent for the Toffees despite their recent struggles.
There was little he could do about his own goal, diving to save a shot that rebounded off of the post and onto his back while he was looking in the opposite direction and he more than made up for that with his incredible double stop in the game’s final moments.
On top of those two saves however, Pickford made four more in the entire match (Fotmob) and his incredible form has stopped an otherwise shaky Everton defence from being embarrassed as they were in their defeat at Villa Park.
Pickford’s form is papering over the cracks of just how weak the Toffees’ defence is, Sheffield United were allowed 13 shots against Dyche’s side and missed three big chances, meaning if other teams are more clinical, Everton will have to score a lot of goals to win any games. Something they have struggled to do so far this season.
Hopefully, the international break will give the Everton boss a chance to steady his defence and stop the recent rot.
In other Everton news, Dyche has revealed that he didn’t want Alex Iwobi to leave on deadline day