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Everton deservedly collected a monumental victory over fellow Premier League strugglers Leeds to climb out of the relegation zone and send their opponents into trouble.
Seamus Coleman scored the winning goal in the second half owing to an error from goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who failed to cover his front post, allowing the skipper’s effort to arrow in.
Victory was Everton’s second in three games under new manager Sean Dyche, lifting them up to 16th place, while Leeds drop to 19th and remain without a win under interim boss Michael Skubala.
Everton offered the more potent threat in the first half at Goodison Park and centre-back James Tarkowski’s towering header was pushed away by Meslier.
Neal Maupay’s spin and shot and Vitaliy Mykolenko’s effort were straight at Meslier in the second period, but Coleman’s winner now gives Everton real hope of survival.
Leeds failed to muster a shot on target. Patrick Bamford driving wide from the edge of the box in the opening period was the closest they came.
Everton claim priceless win
It was dubbed a relegation six-pointer beforehand and Everton came away with all the points to boost their chances of remaining in the top flight come the end of the campaign.
The Dyche era saw a dream start with victory over Arsenal and, although they were beaten by Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday, Everton returned to winning ways following a sequence of 12 defeats in 16 games.
Coleman set Goodison rocking with a fortunate 64th-minute winner, latching on to Alex Iwobi’s pass down the right flank and, as Meslier moved to anticipate a cross, the ball flew into the net.
Everton were the better side throughout the contest and held on for a priceless victory, but they should have had more goals.
The imperious Amadou Onana screwed over from the edge of the box from Idrissa Gueye’s pass, while Conor Coady’s header and Maupay’s follow-up were both cleared off the line.
Having failed to sign a player in the January transfer window and unable to keep striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit, Dyche will need the goals to be spread around.
His side have scored more than once in a league game just twice in 23 attempts this season and winning goals in his two victories have both come courtesy of defenders.
More to follow.
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Everton
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number23Player nameColeman
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Squad number30Player nameCoady
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Squad number2Player nameTarkowski
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Squad number19Player nameMykolenko
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number27Player nameGueye
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Squad number8Player nameOnana
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Squad number7Player nameMcNeil
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Squad number20Player nameMaupay
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
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Squad number50Player nameSimms
Leeds United
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Squad number1Player nameMeslier
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Squad number2Player nameAyling
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Squad number5Player nameKoch
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Squad number39Player nameWöber
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Squad number3Player nameFirpo
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Squad number28Player nameMcKennie
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Squad number12Player nameAdams
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Squad number10Player nameSummerville
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Squad number11Player nameHarrison
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Squad number29Player nameGnonto
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Squad number9Player nameBamford
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Squad number7Player nameAaronson
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Squad number24Player nameRutter
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Squad number25Player nameKristensen
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Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 30Coady
- 2Tarkowski
- 19Mykolenko
- 17Iwobi
- 16DoucouréBooked at 44mins
- 27Gueye
- 8OnanaSubstituted forDaviesat 74′minutes
- 7McNeilBooked at 44mins
- 20MaupaySubstituted forSimmsat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Holgate
- 5Keane
- 11Gray
- 13Mina
- 15Begovic
- 22Godfrey
- 26Davies
- 29Vinagre
- 50Simms
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 2Ayling
- 5Koch
- 39WöberSubstituted forKristensenat 45′minutes
- 3Firpo
- 28McKennieBooked at 44minsSubstituted forRutterat 78′minutes
- 12AdamsBooked at 43mins
- 10SummervilleSubstituted forAaronsonat 61′minutes
- 11HarrisonSubstituted forGreenwoodat 86′minutes
- 29GnontoBooked at 90mins
- 9Bamford
Substitutes
- 6Cooper
- 7Aaronson
- 18Gyabi
- 22Robles
- 24Rutter
- 25Kristensen
- 34Pinheiro Monteiro
- 42Greenwood
- 49Fernández
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 39,232
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton 1, Leeds United 0.
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Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
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Second Half ends, Everton 1, Leeds United 0.
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Attempt missed. Idrissa Gueye (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Davies (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
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Foul by Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton).
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Georginio Rutter (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt blocked. Luke Ayling (Leeds United) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Sam Greenwood with a cross.
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Substitution, Leeds United. Sam Greenwood replaces Jack Harrison.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Idrissa Gueye.
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Attempt blocked. Georginio Rutter (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Junior Firpo.
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Alex Iwobi (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
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Attempt missed. Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Patrick Bamford.
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Substitution, Everton. Ellis Simms replaces Neal Maupay.
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Idrissa Gueye (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Georginio Rutter (Leeds United).
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Foul by James Tarkowski (Everton).
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Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Leeds United. Georginio Rutter replaces Weston McKennie.
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