We need to swap Delap for Hirst to help put pressure on their defence and retain the ball better up top.
Down two goals and a first half display punctuated by frequent lapses of concentration and mistimed passing. We don’t look like a side playing with confidence. Agree the penalty wasn’t a penalty - Clarke already falling from a slip before the tackle connected. However, get the impression if that was a Big Six club in that situation, the penalty would stand. Everton have been exploiting our left hand side. Clarke needs to drop back and help Davis out more. Our central defence - first choice last season in Woolfenden and Burgess - have looked a bit out of depth with poor distribution being the main culprit. We’ve really missed Greaves and Tuanzebe in that back line. Attacking wise, not much to write home about. Hutchinson has looked lively and seems to most likely to make something happen. Burns been quiet - and was at fault for the first goal. Not sure what he was trying to do there. Not been too impressed with Clarke either.
Bad first half. Second to everything, too slow moving the ball when in attack and too many simple mistakes. We give the ball away cheaply and are not winning tackles. I think we need Hirst on for the second half and get Taylor on for Phillips, who hasn't been great today. Need a goal early in the second half to get some confidence going. It looks like we haven't found a rhythm yet. The stop/start nature of the league so far hasn't allowed us to play enough games weekly to get anything to click and the team looks rusty.
Everton are one of the worst teams in this division and we haven’t laid a glove on them. Made them look really good for some spells. The defence hasn’t been great, but we can’t really change that - need goals. Phillips off for Taylor. Move Hutchinson to the right and put Szmodics on for Burns.
