Blues hold out in strong rearguard action from the 10-man Tractor Boys | OneFootball

Premier League #5: Everton 1 - 0 Ipswich Town

The Tractor Boys come to Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon just below Everton on goal difference after a decent start to the season

Jack Grealish starts but no Dibling, of course, and Harrison Armstrong is back, with Johnson preferred, no doubt for his vast experience... The usual Moyes nonsense of naming two goalkeeepers on the bench means one less place for any promising youngster from the U21, with only Graham sitting there, and unlikely to see much action.

Merlin Rohl is still out injured, along with Christian Norgaard, underlining how importabt it is that Moyes rotates his squad to the maximum extent possible... a message that so far this season seems to have gone right over his head.

First Half

Everton kicked off, the Pickford hoof initiating a scrappy bout of head tennes before Grealish got the ball and passed it up the line to Dewsbury-Hall who was whipped out by Diop as he smashed the ball away. Long throw-in only that fell for Dewsbury-Hall to welly high and wide.

Ipswich nearly broke through on the counter but Pickford collected the ball.

At the other end, a brilliant ball through from Armstrong saw Johnson collect and spin but incredibly shoot just past the post!

After Barry almost upset Walton's clearance, Johnson redeemed himself with a good recovery steal from Enciso.

A dreadful giveway by Dewsbury-Hall let Ipswich in and Pickford had to make a desperate save with his foot.

Everton attacked with Grealish inviting Mykolenko to cross but it was Dewsbury-Hall whose cross was punched out, and Tarkowski smashed it on the volley with Thierno Barry (11') in line and very smartly chesting it into the other side of the Ipswich goal. Brilliant from the Frenchman!!!

Branthwaite tried to release Grealish down the left but hit his long pass too hard. Ipswich had a decent spell but it needed a clever block by Mykolenko to prevent Enciso from scoring.

From the Ipswich corner, it was cleared out to Ouattara and his fantastic strike brought an equally good save from Pickford.

Everton played the ball around in their own half before Garner wastefully lumped it up to Walton. Superb defensive work by Johnson stopped Enciso, but he could only pass it forward to nobody.

Fatawu saw Pickford off his line and tried to chip it long but just off target as Pickford recovered to paw it behind. But Everton were needlessly conceding the initiative to the visitors, Branthwaite fouling Enciso.

Grealish was twice invited to do something down the left but played it safe. A dropping ball fell to Dewsbury-Hall who volleyed goalward but Diop was in the way. Grealish finally beat his man but Mykolenko was closed down.

Garner was next to see his shot blocked, this time by O'Shea. Maitland-Niles put in a great cross for Barry, who saw a decent headed chance spin wide of the post with Walton at his mercy.

Good work from Clarke saw Emersonn head just wide. Fatawu dragged down Dewsbury-Hall for a central Everton free-kick that played to Johnson who was half-asleep and Ipswich countered at pace. Ouatarra crossed well to Davis who seemed to have an open goal to aim at but he rolled it harmlessly back across goal. He was flagged offside but VAR would have awarded a goal.

Some better Everton play saw a cross from Mykolenko cause some panic but Everton weren't creating any chances. Garner then took a fraction too long lining up his shot and it was blocked. Everton ahead 1- 0 at the break.

Second Half

A really good Ipswich corner was swinging in under the bar, Pickford punching it clear before a foul was called, possibly on Pickford.

Johnson was doing good work in defence until his forward pass between two Everton players was jumped on and Ouattara lashed a shot at Pickford.

Everton were showing a painful lack of initiative in terms of getting the ball forward Grealish repeatedly cutting back inside and playing the ball backwards, not forwards.

Armstromg fina;;y got some forward ovement but Maitland-Niles could not find a blue shirt. Next, Branthwaite drove forward but Dewsbury-Hall's cross was not turned in, coming off Davis for a corner.

It was a superb delivery from Garner and awonderful header from Theirno Barry (58'), just inside the far post, a great goal... but VAR wanted to call it off, claiming Johnson was impeding the goalkeeper.... and the referee of course agreed on review... absolute rubbish. There was no way Walton was saving that. The game is utterly gon with this VAR garbage.

That only gave Ipswich more encouragement, Dip advancing unchallenged and Enciso scooping his shot high over the bar. Grealish finally played a forward ball, but lacking in power, and Barry could ad nothing to a weak header.

Grealish was barely touched by Lukic but a free-kick was given... and completely wasted. Dewsbury-Hall passing it to Armstrong who was looking the other way.

A good move saw Dewsbury-Hall play a perfect pass to Johnson but his effort was completely mishit.  Dibling on in his place.

Fatawu blatantly dived after a non-tackle from Garner and the referee showed him a second yellow: Ipswich down to 10 men -- Garner lucky not to be carded himself for his angry demand.

Grealish had a lot more space now, and was doing a lot more... Mykolenko winning a corner that Walton punched out to Dewsbury-Hall, but his shot was poor.

Everton continued to work it around the Ipswich area but to limited effect. Dibling cut inside and tried a curler but Walton read it all the way. Dibling then beat his man and scooped a beautiful ball to the far post and Dewsbury-Hall but it spun off him and wide.

Dibling next went more direct, into the side netting. After a long break, George came on and Dibling had another go but it was well blocked by Davis.

A strange spele follwed when some of the crowd wanted a foul on Dibling but Ipswich adavanced and it looked like Everton were in control but Branthwaite had the ball stolen off him

Armstrong broke forward and was desperate to score but his shot was interfered with and screwed wide, Dewsbury-Hall screaming for a pass.

George drove forward, his shot blocked for a corner. A superb delivery from Garner but headed away by O'Shea. Late subs by Moyes as 7 minutes were added.

Somehow, a ball came to Flemming who stabbed his shot up and over Pickford and the bar, perhaps their last chance.  But Ipswich kept finding a way to turnover and counter, making things very nervy towards the end.

Armstrong grappled Philogene and got a yellow. The free-kick fell to Diop, but Branthwaite was in line to block it. But Ipswich kept coming forward until finally after 9 added minutes, the referee blew the final whistle. What a slog.

Team Lineups

Everton: Pickford; Maitland-Niles (90+1' O'Brien), Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko [Y:42']; Armstrong [Y:90+7'], Garner, Dewsbury-Hall (90+1' Hackney); Grealish (79' George), Barry, Johnson (66' Dibling).

Ipswich Town: Walton; O’Shea, Ouattara, Diop, Davis; Lukic (77' Florentino), Palacios; Clarke (66' Philogene), Enciso (74' Maeda), Fatawu [Y:35';YR:67']; Emersonn (81' Flemming [Y:90+2']).