By Dan Carter

30th Sep, 2023 | 3:52pm

Sky Sports pundit slams Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko live on air for mistake v Luton Town

Sue Smith has slammed Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko for a defensive mistake in the first half against Luton Town live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.

The Toffees, who are looking to make it three wins on the bounce, have gone into the break 2-1 down to Rob Edwards’ side on Saturday (30 September) having struggled to match the levels of their performance against Aston Villa and Brentford.

Goals from Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris gave the Hatters a deserved first-half lead as Sean Dyche’s side seemed unable to cope with falling behind with former Lioness Smith questioning the Toffees’ confidence in the first half.

Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (30 September, 15:31) she said: “Everton started really well and since Luton have scored you can just tell it is a confidence thing. Suddenly their passing has gone astray, just not marking their players.

“Mykolenko doesn’t look over his shoulder. He’s just facing the ball, doesn’t open up his body and Carlton Morris just nips in at the far post and it’s a great finish from him. Really poor from an Everton perspective.”

Confidence

It really did seem as though Everton were back after a difficult start to the season, but against Luton in the first half, they seem to have slipped back into their typical sloppy style of football that has caused them so many problems already this year.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late goal has given the Toffees a lifeline in the first half but when they initially went behind, Dyche’s style looked shellshocked, as if they had no idea how they would be able to get back into the game.

When you have had as difficult a time of it as Everton have done recently confidence is always likely to be low among the squad, but if the Toffees want to climb up the table they have to find a way to deal with falling behind in matches.

Hopefully, Calvert-Lewin’s goal will inspire a much improved second display and Dyche’s side can find a way to complete the turnaround, not only for themselves but for the Goodison crowd who haven’t had much to cheer about recently.

In other Everton news, The Toffees could face new takeover problems after a 777 Partners club were hit with a transfer ban