By Nick Said.
@PremierLeague.
Everton CEO Angus Kinnear has admitted the club’s American owners viewed the poor end to last season that saw them miss out on European football as a failure, but they made a bright start to this campaign with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Those comments would have piled the pressure on experienced manager David Moyes, who has entered the last year of his contract with no talks planned at this stage for a renewal.
It could therefore be Europe or bust for Moyes, but Everton showed enough signs in their win over Palace at a rocking Hill Dickinson Stadium that they could be contenders for those places.
Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry secured the points, though they did ride their luck as Palace hit the post twice in the first half, the second as Everton goalkeeper Jordon Pickford made an early contender for save of the season from Eddie Nketiah.
“There were bits of the first half we were good, but missed the chances on transition to score,” Moyes said. “We could have easily been a couple of goals down. The goalkeeper (Pickford) made a worldie save. It could have gone the other way.
“Once we got the first goal it settled us, and the second one made things feel a lot easier. We managed the game well after that, contained Palace.”
Moyes selected 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong, with James Garner only fit enough for the bench, and 20-year-old Tyrique George on the left wing.
“Harrison is 19 and he is making his way. If other people were fit he might not be getting so many opportunities, but he is getting them and doing well,” Moyes said.
“Tyrique George looked a threat from the start, hopefully he continues to do that, we want more deliveries from him as well.”
Everton’s tortuous search for a right-back goes on and could be a key factor in how their season pans out, with Merlin Rohl filling in against Palace but not looking entirely comfortable.
Moyes wants to sign more players before the end of the transfer window and if they make some smart acquisitions, there are the makings of a team that will rock the boat this season at their new home on the banks of the River Mersey.
Premier League Results
Leeds United 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland
Brentford 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur.