October proved another difficult month for Everton, with 2-0 home wins over Watford FC in the EFL Cup and West Ham United overshadowed by chastening away defeats to Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Marco Silva remains a manager under great pressure, but if there was one positive for him to take this month aside from the two wins, it should be the quality of some of Everton’s six October strikes.
Here are the goals which were a cut above the rest:
Honourable Mention
Dominic Calvert-Lewin v Brighton & Hove Albion - First came a lovely through ball from central defender Mason Holgate - who has made great strides of improvement in the last pair of matches, his first two starts of the season.
And then came a wonderfully composed finish from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the sort of which we must saw more of if he is to take the next step in his development as a striker, past Mat Ryan to put Everton 2-1 ahead in driving rain on the South Coast.
What a shame, then, that due to a questionable VAR decision and sloppy defending from Everton, that it all counted for nothing in the end.
Runner-Up: Bernard v West Ham United
Poor Bernard’s injury at Brighton means we won’t see his brilliant knack for passing up an easier chance at goal for a far harder attempt for a while.
But he may never do it better again than against West Ham. when he was played through on goal by Theo Walcott, beat the offside trap with impeccable timing, but declined to shoot with only goalkeeper Roberto to beat.
Instead, he cut back, allowing four Hammers outfield players to corner him, seemingly wasting the opportunity to put Everton ahead. But then, he peeled away from Arthur Masuaku to wriggle free, before finding the tightest of gaps past Roberto from an extremely small angle.
A piece of genius from the little Brazilian, who will be sorely missed in the coming weeks.
Goodison Park erupts!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 19, 2019
Everton get the early goal they craved!
Bernard dances around Masuaku and slots in at the near post... pic.twitter.com/9XaeMA5e2r
Winner: Gylfi Sigurðsson v West Ham United
While both aforementioned goals were great strikes in their own right, neither could really hold a candle to Sigurðsson’s clincher in added time against West Ham.
Rightly benched due to his own underwhelming form this season, the Icelander was introduced as a late substitute and looked a man with a renewed hunger and a point to prove. Within seconds of his arrival, Roberto was forced to make a diving save to deny his long-range drive.
But he wasn’t so fortunate second time round, though, as Sigurðsson left Jack Wilshere floored as he sent him one way, then the other, before picking his spot immaculately from outside the penalty area.
It crowned Everton’s best performance of the season, and sealed a victory which, really, was a game the Blues should have won by a far greater margin than just two goals.
Poll
Which was your Everton September 2019 Goal of the Month?
This poll is closed
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5%
Dominic Calvert Lewin v Brighton & Hove Albion
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15%
Bernard v West Ham United
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80%
Gylfi Sigurðsson v West Ham United
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