BBC Sport journalist shares Michael Keane ‘hero to villain’ verdict after EFL Cup Everton loss v Fulham
Everton defender Michael Keane has gone from “hero to villain” after the club lost to Fulham in the EFL Cup, according to BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez.
The centre-back scored the second goal of the game in the 2-0 Premier League win against Burnley on Saturday (16 December).
But Keane then found the back of his own net in the match with Fulham on Tuesday (19 December), with the Cottagers winning on penalties.
The quarter-final encounter at Goodison Park finished 1-1 after normal time, with Beto levelling for Everton after Keane’s own goal.
“Keane went from hero to villain, netting an own goal to follow his man-of-the-match performance in Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Burnley,” Hafez wrote for BBC Sport (19 December).
Roller-coaster
It has certainly been a roller-coaster few days for Keane, who was the standout as Sean Dyche clinched all three points on his return to Turf Moor.
It was also a return to the stadium for former Burnley ace Keane, who was awarded the Man of the Match award for his display [Sky Sports Statto, 16 December].
But that is simply the nature of football, with players going through such emotions constantly, particularly when the schedule is so busy.
Everton were down at their very lowest not so long ago after being handed a 10-point deduction in the Premier League, sinking from 14th place to 19th place in the table.
But a stunning run of four successive wins has brought them up to 16th, with Dyche and his players thoroughly deserving of their success.
The manager will, however, be disappointed to exit the League Cup in such a manner, with his reliable midfield duo Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye missing their penalties at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, a BBC Sport journalist has shared a “hero to villain” verdict on one Toffees ace after their EFL Cup loss to Fulham.