Everton beat Stoke City 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Everton’s Leighton Baines celebrates with Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas
Pundit Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports of how impressed he was with both Ashley Williams and Ross Barkley during Everton’s 1-0 home win over Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
The Toffees were coming off the back of a 2-1 away win at West Bromwich Albion, and served up another win on Saturday as a penalty handed Ronald Koeman all three points.
Everton’s Ross Barkley looks dejected
After new signing Williams had been felled inside the area, Leighton Baines stepped up to take the resulting penalty, and whilst his spot-kick hit the post, the ball ricocheted into the net off the back of Stoke goalkeeper Shay Given’s head.
Everton dominated the game with 21 shots, nine on target and 55% of possession, but could only find the one goal – which proved to be enough as the Toffees stood firm at the back, something that rarely happened under former boss Roberto Martinez.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
There were a number of impressive individual displays from Everton players during the game, and pundit Charlie Nicholas picked out two players who particularly caught the eye.
Defender Williams was making his home Premier League debut for the club having joined from Swansea City earlier this month, and he was solid at the back as he helped Everton keep their first clean sheet of the new season.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Stoke City’s Joe Allen
Meanwhile, midfielder Barkley – who has tonight been left out of Sam Allardyce’s first England squad in a shock move – was a constant menace to the Stoke defence as he continued his impressive start to the campaign.
Pundit Nicholas suggested to Sky Sports that Barkley was man of the match even though he was a little greedy at times, and claimed Williams was ‘really good’ in a strong defensive performance from the Toffees.
“He was good on the ball, maybe a little bit selfish at times,” said Nicholas of Barkley. “He had five or six decent attempts at goal, so Ross Barkley was the man of the match for me.”
“Koeman will be delighted with the three points and the clean sheet, Ashley Williams played really well for him – they should have taken more chances though,” he added.
What did you think of Barkley and Williams against Stoke?
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