Everton 0-0 Aston Villa: post-match verdict
Will Rooney reports from Goodison Park.
Transcript
00:00 Full-time Ede Kudzenfaer finished Everton 0 Aston Villa 0. A result that probably will
00:06 satisfy Sean Dyche and his team. Held a high-flying Aston Villa side who had a chance to move
00:11 joint-topper up Emile Iketable to a goal at Stalemate. And they had the best chance of
00:16 the game, Everton threw Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the stroke at half-time. He was played
00:20 in but he just couldn't take it, saw his effort saved by Emi Martinez. I mean, the game started
00:26 in decent fashion and Everton had an effort on goal on about the fifth minute, cross coming
00:31 from the right from Jeff Harrison and felt it at Arnold Dan Dumer, who was given a rare
00:36 Premier League start, with Dwight McNeil only fit enough to make the bench after an ankle
00:40 injury, suffered a crystal palace, but Dan Dumer got his volley all wrong and Everton
00:46 couldn't take the chance. Eight minutes later, Jordan Pickles was forced into a good save
00:51 if they haven't goalkeeper from Olly Watkins. And then five minutes later, Villa had the
00:57 ball in the back of the nest but offside was given. Rightly so as well because in the build-up
01:05 it was not only was there a foul on Dan Dumer but it was just an offside. It took a good
01:09 few minutes for the decision to be made but it was the right one. The game was a little
01:14 bit, it was stop-start throughout really to be honest with you. It was a little bit frustrating
01:20 for everyone inside the stadium. Everton kept pushing, Pippa made another good save from
01:26 Leon Bailey of his near post and then let's just say it was so hard to time, Calvert-Lewin
01:30 had that big chance, he was slipped in by Dan Dumer. But it's just 13 goals was the
01:36 game, Calvert-Lewin just looks like maybe might be that little bit short of confidence.
01:40 But Sean Tight says there's a status of Rathen up in his favour because if he keeps getting
01:45 chances, one is he is going to score. Sean Tight said he thought the finish was good
01:51 but it just didn't look all that convincing to be quite honest with you. Second half,
01:56 Villa probably had the better of the chances, Vitaly Mikhailenko needed a great block to
02:02 deny a goal score and Shanston Shames called as well long after and then Everton had a
02:05 goal to survive themselves. Absolutely to call, he raced away and finished but on his
02:09 return to the team from a hamstring injury but he was deemed to be offside as well. I
02:13 would say overall Everton have to be happy with a point against the Villa side, surprise
02:18 back to the league, really really flying high. It is six games without a win now Everton
02:24 but they won't be overly concerned about that, it was all about getting a result now that
02:28 they've moved to a point above the drop zone now. Obviously that 10 point deduction has
02:33 killed them early Everton this season but Sean says that they can and really should
02:41 be surviving to be honest with you. Obviously that decision will go to an appeals panel
02:49 but for now Everton have just got to keep grinding out results, play Crystal Palace
02:54 in the FA Cup replay and then they're not in action next weekend so that's a chance
02:58 for Everton to refresh and revitalise really. Hopefully get players like Ashley Young back
03:05 then and it will be interesting to see what Sean Dyche maybe does in the transfer window
03:11 because maybe he might look at potentially bringing in another winger if he could do
03:16 centre midfield or obviously Hannibal from Man United being linked, they're probably
03:19 the two positions where Everton would need to strengthen, especially with just a Garnet
03:24 gate going to AFCON. Could be there for a month but in the end point well earned for
03:29 Everton, finish 7-0, Aston Villa 0.