Everton manager Marco Silva says Sheffield United “didn’t try at all” but still managed to beat his team 2-0.
The Blades had just two shots in the entire game, yet took the lead on 40 minutes when Yerry Mina scored an own goal.
Lys Mousset made one of those efforts count late on, securing the result with his first goal for the club in the 79th minute.
“They didn’t try at all; they didn’t thrive in our box when they scored at 1-0,” Silva told Sky Sports.
“Until that moment we were setting the game, creating some dangerous moments, commanding the game like is normal in our team.
“We knew before the game they would be strong out wide, trying to block out combinations.
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“Second half was bad and not good enough.”
Everton boss may have a point about Sheffield United
Despite the result, Chris Wilder was relatively critical of his team’s performance at Goodison Park – particularly in attack.
“That’s possibly the worst we’ve played all season,” Wilder told Match Of The Day. “We didn’t play anything like our best today but managed to win the game.”
Wilder did praise the defensive resolve of United, though, as the Toffees had 16 shots but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The hosts also enjoyed 70 percent of the possession yet couldn’t make the breakthrough as goalkeeper Dean Henderson and defender John Egan earned particular praise from their boss.
Only Liverpool, Leicester City and Manchester United have conceded fewer goals than the Blades so far this season – and they have played a game more than two of those.
It was this solidity at the back that Wilder’s men built their promotion campaign on in 2018/19. They had the joint best defensive record in the Championship last term and Henderson kept more clean sheets than any other ‘keeper in the division.