An overview of some of the moments beyond the headlines from Everton’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town
Everton continued their Premier League resurgence at Portman Road on Saturday. A 2-0 win saw Sean Dyche’s side past newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane before half time put the Blues in a strong position in the game and they saw the match out to make it four games unbeaten, with eight points taken across those fixtures.
Joe Thomas was in attendance in the south-east and picked out some moments from the contest you may not have spotted on the day.
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James Tarkowski has been playing on the cusp of injury for weeks and the centre back ended this game furious with referee Michael Oliver.
The defender, who has had his training schedule carefully monitored due to glute and back problems, has not let concerns over his body prevent him from being integral to Everton’s season so far.
But it is understandable that he would hope to get a degree of protection – something that appeared unavailable in his side’s win at Portman Road. The 31-year-old had to repeatedly dust himself off after being caught late by Ipswich Town attackers who were full of endeavour even while chasing a losing cause.
Chief among them was Liam Delap, the frontman with four Premier League goals who caught Jordan Pickford late in the second half and battled with Tarkowski throughout, somehow avoiding a booking.
When his replacement George Hirst charged into the Everton captain late in the game and Oliver waved play on, it was a step too far for Tarkowski. The former Burnley man chased down Oliver in the seconds after and remonstrated with the official as his frustration boiled over.
All too much for one Ipswich supporter
While this game was a match of high intensity, there was little bite to the game. Everton were able to take the sting out of the contest in the second half and played with an authority that had been missing when previously trying to hold on to leads. As the frustration grew, the home team and support had their own problems with Oliver’s decision making – not least the call to overturn a first half penalty after Dwight McNeil and Jack Clarke came together in the Everton box.
It was all too much for one home supporter sat behind the media seats, who kept yelling “grow up” as the exploits of the Everton players got to him.
Ed Sheeran watches on from the walls to the hospitality seats
All this was taking place in front of none other than Ed Sheeran. The chart-topper is an unavoidable presence at his home club, where he is a regular feature of arty black and white photos that show him, in colour, in a pristine Ipswich top. While his image looked back at those wandering the corridors of the stadium on Saturday, the Ipswich minority shareholder was watching from the stands – where he was probably the highest-profile figure to watch Everton while wearing a baseball cap since wannabe Blues owner Josh Wander attended Goodison during the ill-fated 777 Partners takeover bid.
A warm embrace and a halfway line heart-to-heart
At the end of the game two opposing players conducted a private reunion on the halfway line that they continued all the way to the tunnel. Jack Harrison and Kalvin Phillips were teammates together during the heady days of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. They so easily could have been reunited at Everton this summer, with Phillips having been on Sean Dyche’s radar before he signed on loan for Ipswich. The pair were deep in conversation for minutes after the match and shared a warm embrace before heading to the dressing rooms.
Everton scream of delight haunts Portman Road
As the ground emptied on Saturday evening it was those in the press seats who were among the last to head into the concourse. They did not do so in silence, however. The final chant to echo around Portman Road was one solitary voice who had remained at the back of the away end and was repeating ‘Everton, Everton, Everton’.
Amusing as it felt, there was also a poignancy to it. One of the most galling features of the past two years has been the number of away fans who have left Goodison Park celebrating. Just this season, supporters from Brighton and Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Southampton have had the final say in L4 after staying late to mark memorable wins.
For once, it was a Blue who was able to have the last word and he made sure everyone who remained within earshot of the stands knew it.
