Everton 4-0 Wolves
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park

HAVING gone four games without scoring, Everton scored four in one game against Wolves to end a run of five without a win and gain some kind of confidence ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

The delivery of Dwight McNeil was key and each of Everton’s goals came from a set-piece situation.

Ashley Young rolled back the years to open the scoring directly from a free kick, curling his shot around the side of the Wolves wall into the bottom corner.

Everton looked to have scored a second from another set piece when McNeil’s cross was met solidly by James Tarkowski but VAR intervened.

The players returned to kick-off not considering that the goal would be disallowed, and as the VAR performed a lengthy check was the unusual situation where the fans of the team potentially benefitting from the decision voiced their disapproval at the process.

Wolves fans sang “It’s not football anymore” and “boring” as the VAR check dragged on, eventually resulting in Tarkowski’s goal being disallowed for offside after referee Michael Salisbury checked the pitchside monitor.

Wolves fans continued their anti-VAR chants after the goal was given against them, joined by the home supporters. The six minutes added on at half time were an indication of how long it took.

Everton did eventually double their lead through the man who had been penalised for said offside, Orel Mangala.

McNeil sent a free kick in from which a Vitalii Mykolenko effort was blocked by Craig Dawson, but the ball fell to Mangala who fired in a shot from the edge of the area.

Everton have struggled with leads previously this season, but rather than nervously attempt to hold on to a 2-0 advantage, they added a third when McNeil’s corner went in off Dawson with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye causing problems for the Wolves defence.

Wolves fans were not for holding back their criticism, even of their own manager, and sang “You don’t know what you’re doing” and “You’re getting sacked in the morning” in the direction of Gary O’Neil.

Everton repeated their special move, with McNeil sending another free kick toward Calvert-Lewin with the ball once again going in off Dawson.

Dawson’s two goals mean only McNeil has scored more goals in the league for Everton this season than the Wolves defender.

Both managers went into this game under pressure, but O’Neil emerged from it with the bigger concerns. Sean Dyche, meanwhile, was aware there is plenty of work still to be done at Everton despite this rare enjoyable win, especially with the derby looming.