Abdoulaye Doucoure Marks 100th Appearance with Goal, Dobbin Secures Everton’s Win
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 100th Premier League appearance for Everton was marked with a goal, and a late strike from substitute Lewis Dobbin sealed a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday. This win inflicted a third consecutive away defeat on the mid-table London club.
The first half saw a tight contest with neither side able to find a breakthrough. However, Everton broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. Dwight McNeil’s surging run and pass found Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but his one-on-one chance was denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Luckily for Everton, Doucoure was on hand to drill the rebound into the far corner of the net.
Academy graduate Lewis Dobbin added to the celebrations in stoppage time, smashing home a loose ball from a corner to seal the three points and earn his first league goal for the club.
This victory sees Everton climb further away from the relegation zone, currently sitting with 13 points from 16 games. Without their 10-point deduction for financial breaches, which they have appealed, Everton would be comfortably positioned in 10th, four points ahead of Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Woes Continue as Pochettino Seeks Improvement
Chelsea, on the other hand, slip to 12th in the table with 19 points from 16 games, facing an uphill battle in the race for Champions League qualification. Manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his disappointment after the match, highlighting their lack of clinicality in front of goal and their need for improvement.
“Football is about scoring goals and we were not clinical in front of goal,” Pochettino told the BBC. “I’m really, really disappointed. We didn’t get the point we deserved. I think we were better but we didn’t get what we wanted.”
Adding to their woes, Chelsea lost captain Reece James midway through the first half with a hamstring issue. “He felt something in his hamstring. It’s not so nice for him to suffer another injury. He is an important player,” Pochettino stated.
Everton’s Robust Defense and Dyche’s Impact
Everton, under Sean Dyche’s leadership, have showcased a significant improvement in their defensive solidity in recent weeks. This win marks their third consecutive clean sheet, following their impressive 3-0 home win over Newcastle United on Thursday.
Doucoure expressed his delight with the team’s performance, highlighting the importance of the fans’ support at Goodison Park. He also spoke about his personal goal-scoring record, aiming to continue his positive form for the team.
“We are so glad to win this game,” Doucoure said. “At Goodison Park we know the fans are behind us. I’m very happy, two goals in two games. I’m delighted for the team.”
Dyche’s impact on the team is undeniable. With nine wins in their last 13 games across all competitions, Everton stand four points clear of the relegation zone and look poised to continue their upward trajectory.