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A resilient defensive performance saw Everton frustrate unbeaten Chelsea as they fought out a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Maurizio Sarri’s side would have gone top of the Premier League table with a win, temporarily at least, but with England international Jordan Pickford in inspirational form and Yerry Mina catching the eye on his first Blues start, there was no way past Marco Silva’s men as they earned a deserved share of the spoils.
Everton now sit ninth in the Premier League table heading into the November international break having lost just one of their last six league matches, and this is what the national media made of their performance.
The Daily Mirror ‘s John Cross was full of praise for the ‘brilliant’ Pickford after the final whistle.
He writes : Everton keeper Jordan Pickford was surely man-of-the-match with a string of brilliant, spectacular saves particularly from Chelsea’s attacking left back Marcos Alonso.
This was a game Everton would have lost in the past but they stood firm and defied Chelsea at every turn.
In fairness to Everton, this was not just about Chelsea’s wayward finishing either. It was also very much about good, strong disciplined defending from the visitors.
Marco Silva had Everton well drilled, they are harder to beat and are no longer a soft touch which was illustrated by the manager’s touchline theatricals.
All the reaction to Everton’s draw at Stamford Bridge is HERE
Michael Jones of the Independent also praised the Blues’ defensive efforts in the stalemate when noting the change at Goodison Park since Silva’s summer arrival.
He writes : Colombia centre back Yerry Mina made his debut for Everton and was part of a strong defensive effort by the visitors, who look a tougher proposition now that their new coach, Marco Silva, has had three months working on the team’s shape and style.
(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, he said of Pickford’s performance: Stopped Alonso’s volley with a diving save to keep things level in the first half and was under serious pressure in the second half but made some stellar saves to keep a clean sheet.
The Toffees’ resilience was again noted by the Daily Star ‘s Mark Taylor as he praised their ‘magnificent fight.’
He writes : Marco Silva’s visitors will no doubt leave Stamford Bridge the happier of the two sides having been only the fourth team to force Chelsea to drop points this term.
The Toffees put up a magnificent fight to maintain their place on the fringes of a Europa League qualifying spot.
Winger Bernard could have even claimed all three points for the Merseysiders, but the unmarked Brazilian could only fluff his lines just feet from the Chelsea goal to throw away his side’s best chance of the game.
Patric Ridge of Goal.com recognised Pickford’s efforts in helping Everton earn a share of the spoils.
He writes : Jordan Pickford was in fine form as Chelsea were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home to Everton on Sunday.
The England goalkeeper was the Toffees’ star performer with a string of excellent stops as Chelsea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League above Liverpool, with Manchester City able to reclaim top spot with at least a point against Manchester United.
Marco Silva’s team limited the space for Chelsea well, but when the Blues did get through Everton’s ranks, they found England goalkeeper Pickford in top form.
Meanwhile, Kris Holland of BBC Sport believes Silva will be very happy with his side’s work out Stamford Bridge.
(Image: PA)
He writes : Marco Silva’s Merseysiders will not be unhappy with their afternoon’s work, and go into this month’s international break having lost just one of their last six league games.
Silva will also surely be pleased with the performance of Colombian summer signing Yerry Mina on his full debut.
The £27m man came into the side for loanee Kurt Zouma, who was ineligible to play against his parent club, and marshalled the visitors’ defence with the poise of a player making his 100th start.
And while Pickford’s efforts in goal were impressive and worthy of special praise, Everton were not sliced apart by Sarri’s title hopefuls, with impressive showings across their back-line.
Silva’s side could even have snatched all three points to end a 28-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge when Bernard was played in a little more than six yards from goal, only to stumble and mis-hit his effort.
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And finally, the ECHO ‘s very own Phil Kirkbride believes that while not the best performance, it was Everton’s most important result under Silva so far.
He writes : There were hugs and high fives for as many of his squad Marco Silva could find as he strode onto the pitch at full-time.
Players thrust fists into the air in front of the fans in the Shed End, they handed over their shirts and then applauded them for their backing.
Everton weren’t getting carried away with having drawn a game 0-0 but the significance of the result here, against a strong and dangerous Chelsea side – and the marker it laid down for this developing group, was well worthy of the gritty satisfaction etched across their faces at the end.
This wasn’t the best performance of the Silva era, the most complete, fluent or cohesive but it was the biggest result.
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