Everton were the better side for most parts but it was Aston Villa who ran out 2-0 winners at the Villa Park, Friday night, forcing Marco Silva to lament his players’ missed chances.
The Toffees kept clean sheets in their first two games of 2019-20 but gave away a goal in each half as Aston Villa earned their first win since returning to the Premier League.
Alex Iwobi made his debut on the night, after Marco Silva threw him on alongside fellow new signing Moise Kean as Everton went after an equalizer. Wesley’s smart first-half finish, his first goal in the Premier League had given the home side the lead.
Alex Iwobi comes on to make his Premier League debut for Everton. pic.twitter.com/fxQnYLzNHW
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) August 23, 2019
Substitute Iwobi went closest to equalising for the visitors with nine minutes to go but he saw his effort hit the woodwork and Theo Walcott missed a decent chance before Anwar El Ghazi added a late second on the break to punish the Everton errors.
83: 🦁 1-0 🔵
Close! First Alex Iwobi has a shot fire off the inside of the post for the visitors. Then, moments later, Anwar El Ghazi sees a dipping volley well saved by Jordan Pickford. Into the closing moments. 😲#PL #AVFC pic.twitter.com/lFCXqeCbXj
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 23, 2019
Everton boss Marco Silva was left fuming at his players’ profligacy and mistakes.
“It is really difficult to see how we can lose this game when we create so many chances to score. It is a tough place to play football,” Silva told Skysports after the match as observed by Soccernet.ng
“We started well and controlled the game with some dangerous moments around their box. The first time they went in our box they scored.
“We spoke during thew week that Villa like to play fast set-pieces and they did that we switched off. In the first moment it was 1-0. We react and had a clear chance with Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] to make it 1-1.
“In the second half it was more with our team in the middle and them with nine players around the box. Even then we created chances to change the result for us. We had the shot off the post (from Alex Iwobi) and the clear chances with Theo [Walcott] and Lucas [Digne]. In my opinion we should achieve more in this game but if you don’t score from the chances you create.
“The most difficult thing is to create and when you do you have to put the ball in the net.
“It is concerning about the goals we didn’t score and of course we should score more. Against Palace we created lots of chances to score and didn’t and again today.”
