Alan Shearer loves what Nathan Patterson did to Jack Grealish in Everton loss v Man City at Goodison Park
Alan Shearer loved what Everton defender Nathan Patterson did to Jack Grealish in the game against Manchester City on Wednesday (27 December).
Speaking on co-commentary on Prime Video on Wednesday (09:21pm), the pundit said it was good play from the 22-year-old Scotland international to not dive in on the Citizens winger in the opening stages of the second half.
He added that it summed up the performance of all the Toffees players before they fell to a 3-1 defeat against the Premier League champions at Goodison Park.
“It’s good from all the Everton players,” said Shearer. “It’s good from Patterson one-on-one against Grealish in the box, not diving in, not selling himself and being difficult to beat. That sort of sums every Everton player up at the moment.”
Never easy
It’s never an easy task for a right-back to stand up against Grealish and not dive in on him when he tries to take the ball past you in the penalty area.
But Patterson held his nerve well against the winger and didn’t allow him the opportunity to create anything for Man City at a time when they were looking to get back into the game.
The right-back has been in and out of the first team this season, but he has now started the past four games following the reoccurrence of Seamus Coleman’s injury.
He will be hoping to continue putting in decent performances as he is likely to be the long-term option at fullback for the Toffees, with Coleman and Ashley Young already deep into their thirties.
Sean Dyche will certainly not allow him to take that for granted, though, as he still has a fight on his hands to nail down the position while those players are on the scene.
In other Everton news, Dyche has revealed what he told Andre Gomes about his future at Goodison Park.