Everton rueing Ellis Simms decision amid disappointing striker situation at Goodison Park. Credit: Sky Sports Twitter
Everton rueing Ellis Simms decision amid disappointing striker situation at Goodison Park. Credit: Sky Sports Twitter
Match

Everton kicking themselves after what Ellis Simms did in Coventry City FA Cup victory v Wolves

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Everton could be rueing their past transfer decisions as Sean Dyche continues to fight the risk of relegation from the Premier League with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto up front.

Currently, four points above Luton Town, who are in the dropzone, the Toffees are battling relegation for the third successive season, and the number of goals has been a key part of that situation.

In all competitions, Calvert-Lewin and Beto have combined for a total of nine goals this season, highlighting the obvious weakness in Dyche's side. Abdoulaye Doucoure leads the way in the Premier League with six.

Everton rueing Ellis Simms sale last summer

Hindsight is a beautiful thing, although not in Everton's case on this occasion, having sold Ellis Simms to Coventry City last summer on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. [BBC Sport]

The 23-year-old was never really given a true chance at Goodison Park, making just 11 appearances since his senior debut in 2021, which he dubbed a "dream come true" after climbing up the academy ladder at Finch Farm.

However, with just one goal for the Toffees at senior level, the club chose to move Simms on and he has begun to show signs of what Dyche is currently missing at Goodison Park.

Though his start to life at Coventry was a little tough to watch, with most Everton fans glad to see him out of the club, the forward's recent form will have Everton desperate to turn back time.

Having bagged a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Maidstone United on Monday 26 February, he followed that up with a second hat-trick two games later as the Sky Blues thrashed Rotherham United on Tuesday 5 March.

Then, with Coventry travelling to Molineux Stadium to face Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday 16 March, the former Everton man was key as they laid waste to the Premier League outfit to reach Wembley.

Simms was named the Man of the Match, as per FotMob, scoring the match opener before an all-important equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time, and then assisting Haji Wright's winner just three minutes after in an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

The magic of the FA Cup is well and truly alive. However, Everton do not possess the magic ability to turn the clocks back and warn themselves about letting Simms go.

In other Everton news, Paul Merson has made a “crazy” relegation prediction live on Sky Sports.

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Everton
Ellis Simms
Sean Dyche
Coventry City
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