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The scale of the full-time Everton celebrations underscored the atmosphere within Elland Road to perfection. From the wave of players in blue jerseys who turned to Robin Olsen to congratulate the goalkeeper on the role he had played in Carlo Ancelotti’s fourth consecutive away win, to the bellows of the traveling directors to accompany the final whistle.
Not only did everyone associated with Everton understand the importance of this victory, but they knew that they had been in an all-powerful battle against Leeds, who continue to look like a team getting used to life in the Premier League. However, nights like these are a clear example of how the need to be a clinician at this level is everything.
Make no mistake, the effort of Marcelo Bielsa’s team was not lacking, who missed the opportunity to go to the first half. They did enough between the pits to secure at least one point, but fell short in attack on numerous occasions and ran out defensively in decisive moments. That, against an Everton team like this, is all it takes.
Having lagged behind goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds responded well after the break, when a precise shot from Raphinha cut the deficit in half. But a series of superb saves from Olsen, who did a good job substituting for the injured Jordan Pickford, along with a slight lack of composure on the part of the hosts, proved crucial.
“After the loss against Newcastle, we needed this kind of performance,” Ancelotti said. “We had trouble defending after conceding a goal early in the second half, but the reaction and concentration from the team was really good. We are in a fantastic race but we also have to be more focused at home. “
Just as Leeds is learning about good margins at this level, Everton will be reassured by the fact that their latest win on the road, their most won so far, came after surviving a second half of almost complete dominance from Leeds. . However, Olsen’s performance helped ensure that they were victorious.
Having already denied Pascal Struijk with a good save in the first half, three saves in the same minutes by the Swede were crucial to preserve Everton’s lead. Your manager may have something on your mind, as the battle to be number one now seems more uncertain than ever. “He made some super saves,” Ancelotti said.
It took Everton nine minutes to get ahead when a good cross from Lucas Digne found Sigurdsson unmarked in the penalty area. Leeds responded well, but after failing to open their opponents you always felt like Everton would punish them. That turned out to be the case, when Calvert-Lewin pushed Ben Godfrey’s nod home.
Raphinha shot home three minutes after the restart to get Leeds back into play, and the flow of traffic to Olsen’s goal intensified. The fact that they couldn’t force a tie Bielsa felt his game deserved was due in part to his own failures in front of goal, personified by the wayward effort of Tyler Roberts in the dying moments.
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But before that, Olsen had denied Leeds over and over again. From the impressive reactionary save to stop Mateusz Klich’s shot, to the smart one to deny Jack Harrison seconds later, as well as another good save from close range to prevent Raphinha from taking a second, Olsen was magnificent, and certainly decisive.
How the Everton players knew it at full time, when they headed towards their goalkeeper, who in turn punched the air as he fell to his knees. It was certainly a great night for the Swede, with Pickford potentially in shape as early as this weekend. But it was also a great night for Ancelotti and Everton in general.
For Bielsa there was disappointment and regret for the lost chances, but not for the attitude of his players. “The effort was very great,” said Bielsa. “We did enough to tie the game, we had enough chances and we could have won.”
There will be no shortage of Leeds fans who agree with that sentiment.
