|
Post by Everton News. on Feb 21, 2024 19:17:30 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Everton News. on Feb 21, 2024 19:21:21 GMT
Amadou Onana has urged his Everton teammates to “keep going and keep pushing” ahead of the Blues’ trip to take on Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The midfielder made a vital contribution last time out against Crystal Palace on Monday evening. His second-half header at Goodison Park levelled the scoring for the Toffees, after the visitors had taken the lead through Jordan Ayew’s long-range strike.
Introduced in the 66th minute, the impact of the goal scorer Onana was evident across the field, with the 22-year-old winning three of his four ground duels and succeeding in two out of two aerial duels.
Speaking after the game, Onana told evertontv he always aims to have an influence.
“I always try to affect football matches,” he said. “Whether I start or not, I still try to help the team and help to win football matches because that’s all that matters.
“Every time I’m on that football pitch, I try to be the one who makes the difference – especially coming from the bench. Seeing the spaces, I was like: ‘Yes, there is a space for me to go and get one.’ So, I’m happy tonight.”
The Blues produced an improved second-half display on Monday, registering 13 of their 19 shots after half-time, including all four of their efforts on target.
Sean Dyche’s side were also far more dominant in possession during the final 45 minutes, having a 74 per cent share of possession – far more than their 52 per cent in a frustrating first half.
Onana was full of praise for the way his side fought their way back into the contest, explaining: “I feel like the energy and the mindset is half of the job. No matter how you play, if you just keep grafting and keep putting in 100 per cent, you’ll definitely be rewarded.
“I was okay with the first half, but I think we should’ve maybe been more efficient in front of goal.
“We always fight until the end, and I’m very proud of the boys because it’s not easy going 1-0 down. We managed to equalise and kept going.”
The Toffees will be hoping to build on Monday’s showing when they head to the south coast on Saturday to face Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
This fixture last season saw the Blues record their biggest win of the campaign, stunning the Seagulls when they hammered five past the hosts in a 5-1 victory.
Asked about the squad’s mindset ahead of the weekend’s game, Onana added: “[We] keep going. Keep going, keep pushing, keep putting the graft and hard work in, and we’ll definitely be rewarded.”
Everton FC
|
|
|
Post by Everton News. on Feb 22, 2024 14:54:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Everton News. on Feb 22, 2024 15:11:46 GMT
Everton manager Sean Dyche has confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, with Seamus Coleman returning to training following a bout of illness.
The Blues travel to the Amex Stadium on Saturday (3pm GMT kick-off), with three players - Arnaut Danjuma (ankle), André Gomes (calf) and Dele (groin) - still unavailable.
Vitalii Mykolenko picked up a minor knock in Monday night's 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace but Dyche is "hopeful" the left-back will be fit and available for selection against Brighton.
Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure are in contention to start against the Seagulls after both featured against Palace and came through the game unscathed.
Coleman, meanwhile, was forced to miss Everton's last game after suffering with illness but has now resumed training with the group.
Speaking in Thursday's pre-match press conference, Dyche said: "Seamus was ill earlier in the week, he was back in today - he still sounds a little bit groggy but he's the pro he is.
"Arnie [Danjuma] is working very hard to get fit, André [Gomes] is working very hard to get fit.
"The others are more or less okay. Mykolenko took a knock but we're hopeful he will be alright.
"Everyone else is okay. We had to monitor [Docuoure's] minutes [against Crystal Palace], of course, but he's been out there training today."
Everton FC
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Feb 22, 2024 17:27:03 GMT
A repeat of last seasons result will do
|
|