Ashley Young could face inevitable Everton axe after shocker in 3-1 win v Brentford, Nathan Patterson recall on cards
Everton ended their winless Premier League start in a thoroughly deserved victory over Brentford and Sean Dyche faces an inevitable decision on below-par Ashley Young.
Goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ensured Dyche’s side finally claimed maximum reward for their efforts in an impressive and assured 3-1 win at such a tough ground to play in.
Before Saturday’s (23 September) encounter, Brentford had only tasted defeat on their own turf once all calendar year but Everton recorded their first away against the Bees in well over 50 years lifting them out of bottom three and up to 15th.
The Toffees were as resilient, dogged and defensively assured as they were fluent and expansive going forward all game and that was down to the strange Dyche tactical decision that actually proved a masterclass.
A performance which may well have been their most impressive in Dyche’s tenure alongside the 5-1 win over Brighton towards the end of last season with many of Dyche’s key players proving the difference makers, however, one senior player turned out one of his worst of his late Premier League career.
While there were superb individual performances from his teammate, summer signing Young did not have anything to shout about and could yet face an inevitable axe after another below-par performance.
Against Arsenal, the former Manchester United full-back could not lead his side to a capable and solid performance let alone an unlikely victory, winning just one of his ground duels, successfully completing 56% of his passes, recording just 34 touches, losing possession 12 times, failed to complete a single cross, dribbled past once and recorded just one tackle [SofaScore].
The Brentford game will have provided Young with a shot at redemption but he surprisingly failed to take it which could have damaging repercussions down the line, with Nathan Patterson waiting for his opportunity and Seamus Coleman close to full fitness after a long injury lay-off.
With Patterson watching on, Dyche surprisingly didn’t chalk Young off at the Gtech Community Stadium where he won just 42% of his ground duels, recorded just 44 touches, again failed to complete a single one of his crosses, lost possession of the ball 11 times and failed to complete any of his dribbles [SofaScore].
The veteran simply failed to provide any attacking threat on the right flank and was even handed a yellow card so early in the game after a dreadful challenge on Keane Lewis-Potter.
It’s easy to see why Young has become an undisputed starter in Dyche’s first team given his experience and defensive quality but he’s simply failed to exert those qualities on a consistent basis which may force Dyche into a brutal but inevitable decision to start Patterson very soon.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are locked in a Premier League battle to sign one of the hottest teenage footballing talents in Brazil with a January exit now possible.