Everton Goal of the Month: September

It was a September of highs and lows for Everton.

The club’s unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt ending with a dismal 3-1 home defeat to West Ham United, and a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park was almost as jarring.

The 2-0 defeat at Arsenal was the only game of the Blues’ four in September in which they failed to score, but they followed this loss up by dispatching Fulham 3-0 at home to see out the month.

Which of the Toffees’ five goals was the pick of the bunch?

Honourable Mentions

Dominic Calvert-Lewin v Huddersfield- despite starting the draw with the Terriers on the left-wing, where he has repeatedly proved largely ineffective, Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser reflected just why he is best served playing as a number nine.

Less than two minutes after Philip Billing headed the visitors in front, the Blues hit back; an exemplary cross from left-back Lucas Digne - whose start to life on Merseyside has been remarkable - and Calvert-Lewin was on hand to head the ball home from about eight yards out.

Gylfi Sigurðsson v West Ham- Sigurðsson’s strike against the Hammers may have proved fairly inconsequential, but a fine delivery from Jonjoe Kenny allowed Everton’s number ten to fire a header much too powerful for keeper Łukasz Fabiański, halving the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Runner-up- Gylfi Sigurðsson v Fulham (second goal)

The Iceland international is undoubtedly in his best spell in royal blue yet, and the win against the Cottagers epitomised all he excels at.

Sigurðsson’s tidy finish to seal the 3-0 win late on was terrific, but more is arguably owed here to the brilliance of Bernard.

Having only come on as a substitute moments earlier, the diminutive Brazilian received the ball from Idrissa Gueye - also wonderful in this win - before breaking down the left flank at great speed.

Bernard then had the intelligence to drag the ball back with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa in close proximity, and stayed calm before playing a beautifully-weighted pass into the path of Sigurðsson, who made no mistake.

Winner- Gylfi Sigurðsson v Fulham (first goal)

Same game, same scorer. Fulham centre-back Denis Odoi could hardly have placed his clearance from Jonjoe Kenny’s cross anywhere more perilous.

The Belgian may have thought he had cleared his lines, but through a herd of players, Sigurðsson found the corner of keeper Marcus Bettinelli’s goal perfectly, arrowing in a first-time strike from just outside the penalty area to break the deadlock.

Not only was this the best finish of the five technically, but Sigurðsson showed incredible composure to take this opportunity just four minutes after his penalty smacked the crossbar.

Already it looks as if Sigurðsson will retain this title for October after his unbelievable long-range screamer against Leicester City, but hopefully his team-mates - or indeed Sigurðsson himself - can provide competition for this goal in the games against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.