Substitute Theo Walcott scored an 87th-minute equaliser for Everton to nudge Aston Villa closer to relegation.

Ezri Konsa’s first Premier League goal looked to have earned struggling Villa a crucial win at Goodison Park, the former Brentford defender pouncing from close range after getting on the end of Conor Hourihane’s free-kick.

But Villa were denied a first away win since 1 January when Walcott headed the home side level despite Konsa’s attempted goal-line clearance.

Villa, who were seven points from safety before Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace, remain 19th in the table, three points behind 17th spot, with just two games of the league season left.

They face Arsenal at home next Tuesday before finishing the season at fellow strugglers West Ham on 26 July.

Time running out for Villa

The aim for Dean Smith and his Villa players is to get to the final day of the season still in with a chance of staying up.

But despite taking four points from the last two games, time is running out for the West Midlands club.

With West Ham hosting Watford on Friday, Villa will be four points from safety if the game between 16th and 17th ends in a draw at London Stadium.

Having seen his side take the lead in the 72nd minute with the game’s first attempt on target, Smith cut a dejected figure at the final whistle as his team failed to defend their advantage.

Villa limited their opponents to a handful of chances before a drab affair burst into life when Konsa struck after a lovely set-piece from Hourihane.

However, Villa are the only side without an away clean sheet in the Premier League this season and they once again conceded as three points became one.

Important summer transfer window for Everton

Walcott’s second Premier League goal of the season failed to mask another unimpressive performance by Everton.

An unspectacular season which featured the sacking of Marco Silva, an FA Cup exit at the first hurdle and 11 defeats in 18 Premier League away games could yet end in Everton’s lowest league finish since 2003-04.

There were strong words from manager Carlo Ancelotti and captain Seamus Coleman following the 3-0 defeat at Wolves on Sunday, when the Toffees mustered just two shots on target.

Against struggling Villa they managed just one. Fortunately for them, it was enough to earn a point.

With the squad lacking inspiration and leadership, Everton are facing another important summer transfer window after failing to secure a place in Europe.

Reports have suggested Everton have made an £18m bid for Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with midfield an area in need of urgent rejuvenation.

“I don’t want to talk about this because it is unfair to talk about a player who is with another team,” said Ancelotti after the game.

Ancelotti’s side at least started this game with some intensity, Dominic Calvert-Lewin volleying over the bar in the first minute, while Bernard struck the top of the bar with a miscued cross.

Despite Walcott’s late equaliser, which extended his team’s unbeaten home league run to 11 matches, the Toffees look a tired mid-table side lacking ideas following a fourth successive game without a win.
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*The Guardian*
*Thursday, 16 July 2020*

Aston Villa survival hopes dealt blow by late goal from Everton’s Theo Walcott

Slowly and agonisingly Aston Villa’s grip on a precious victory slipped away at Goodison Park and their Premier League status may soon follow suit. Dean Smith maintained relegation is not a formality after two points were lost but the reaction of his players to the final whistle, sinking to their knees almost to a man, painted perhaps a more accurate picture.

A must-win game in the bid to avoid relegation, the Villa manager had admitted beforehand, and his team were deservedly on course courtesy of the first Premier League goal of Ezri Konsa’s career. They should have had more, not least when Anwar El Ghazi spurned a gilt-edged chance to double Villa’s lead with 11 minutes remaining. A crucial miss not only in the context of the game.

With three minutes remaining, and after Everton had created precious little all evening, the substitute Theo Walcott sent a header arching over Pepe Reina in the Villa goal. Konsa’s attempted clearance on the line only took the ball over the line before Reina collected. All eyes turned to referee Anthony Taylor. His watch buzzed and signalled despair for Villa.

“I know we are not out of it because I can see the fight in the players,” said Smith, whose team must beat Arsenal and West Ham in their final two games to have any hope of survival. “Our defensive organisation has been really good but unfortunately we have been lacking a bit in the final third. It was a crucial moment for El Ghazi. If he scores in that moment it is a huge win but not making it 2-0 cost us. We will have to win our final two games now, but we have a lot of players playing well again and that gives us the belief we can go and win them.”

It took a while for Villa’s performance to reflect the urgency of their predicament as Everton started with the energy and purpose Carlo Ancelotti had demanded following their abject display at Wolves. But that was not sustained and Villa, threatening through the gaps behind Everton’s midfield and a series of inviting crosses from the right, gradually took control. The hosts were not helped by an early injury to Mason Holgate, whose departure led to a home debut for 18-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite. The teenager, signed for £750,000 from hometown club Carlisle in January, received a painful introduction in a collision with Tyrone Mings but otherwise enjoyed an assured Goodison bow. A busy one, too.

Jack Grealish released Trézéguet inside Everton’s penalty area only for the forward to overrun the ball and allow Séamus Coleman to intercept. Mbwana Samatta squandered a decent opportunity having peeled away from Michael Keane to meet Ahmed Elmohamady’s excellent delivery. His header, high over Jordan Pickford’s bar, illustrated the flaws that have hindered Villa all season. The visitors’ confidence and composure increased noticeably but they needed the clinical touch to capitalise when on top.
Villa were in the ascendency immediately after the restart by which point Everton’s decent reaction to Ancelotti’s stinging pre-match criticism had faded into distant memory. Grealish should have tested Pickford when picked out by John McGinn’s fine crossfield pass. The Villa captain attacked Coleman inside the area but dragged a shot well wide.

He was off-target with another effort from the edge of the box but the visitors stayed patient, continued to stretch Everton, and were rewarded with the late breakthrough. An ugly goal was a thing of beauty in Villa eyes.

Conor Hourihane created the opener with a delightful free-kick following a foul by André Gomes. His delivery, from the productive right flank, was drilled in behind the Everton defence and begged for a Villa player to apply the finishing touch. Two responded. Substitute Keinan Davis connected with a diving header that sent Pickford sprawling to his right. Konsa, arriving behind the striker, diverted the header past the keeper with an outstretched foot.

It should have been the platform for a priceless victory but El Ghazi somehow volleyed high and wide when Grealish’s perfect cross picked out the substitute two yards from goal.

Villa’s belief waned and it was a question of holding on. Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned a fine chance from Gomes’ cut-back and the Portugal midfielder then created Walcott’s equaliser with a cross to the back post. An agonising end for Smith and Villa.