Seamus Coleman deserved better than what happened at full-time as Everton fragility laid bare
The verdict after the Blues were beaten 3-1 by Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on club captain Seamus Coleman’s farewell
Seamus Coleman said his goodbyes to Everton fans(Image: Getty Images)
Seamus Coleman emerged from the tunnel to a guard of honour from his teammates.
The supporters applauded and he clapped back, all to the soundtrack of his famous “60 grand” chant. Surrounded by his family, it was no doubt an emotional moment for a talisman who has led Everton with pride across more than 17 years in Royal Blue.
For all that he did on the pitch since joining from Sligo Rovers in 2009, his impact off it is perhaps where his legacy truly lies. Everton were a mess in the final years of former owner Farhad Moshiri’s reign. Such was the financial plight of the club, relegation to the Championship would have been catastrophic, possibly fatal. It was in those dark times that Coleman stepped forward, a link between the stands and the dressing room and the talisman that helped inspire salvage acts when all hope was lost.
Coleman will go down as a club legend and deserves far more recognition for his impact at Everton than he is ever likely to receive. David Moyes will have a huge hole to fill next season, the first in almost two decades without his club captain and trusted protege at Finch Farm. Together, they have shepherded Everton to a point where the club can finally look up the table rather than down.
But his final game ended with a brutal reality check. For all the steps forward Everton have made in the past 18 months, the progress is fragile. That was unavoidable when, on the final whistle, Coleman took in hugs and handshakes from both sets of players to the soundtrack of celebrating supporters.
The problem was the noise was coming from the north east corner of the stadium. Coleman had his moment, brought on to a huge ovation for his final Everton home game. Minutes later it ended in a crescendo of boos as the few home supporters left inside the ground let their feelings known after a second half implosion destroyed any realistic hope of Moyes leading the side into Europe next season.
Even fewer remained when the squad returned to the pitch for a final lap to thank the fans after the final whistle. The scene was such that it deserved serious thought over whether it should even have taken place.
Had it not been for Coleman’s send-off, maybe it would have been cancelled. It was not supposed to end like this. At half-time it looked like it would not end like this.
Everton held the lead at the break and could just about make a case to say they deserved it. A positive start almost led to an early breakthrough but Beto was unable to control the bouncing ball after Merlin Rohl’s cross found him inside the box. The following 30 minutes produced a ragged, tame display from a side that knew a win could move them a big step towards away days on the continent in three months. They got away with it though – Jordan Pickford was untested and Everton finished the better side, James Garner and James Tarkowski forcing Robin Roefs into saves.
Then came the moment that Blues were desperate for. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sent a testing ball across the box that bypassed everyone. Rohl reacted first and collected the loose ball, turned towards goal and created the space to shoot with his left foot. A Granit Xhaka deflection defied Roefs and Everton had the lead.
At the break, results were in their favour. At the end they were too. With Brighton, Brentford and Fulham all failing to win, three points would have given Everton almighty hope of a top eight finish going into the final weekend of the campaign.
Instead it is Sunderland now dreaming of Europe. The first blow came on the hour mark and followed a mistake from Jake O’Brien, who Moyes persisted with despite him carrying a knock. He attempted to meet a high ball with a controlled pass and instead lost possession. Sunderland seized on the loose ball and Brian Brobbey bullied his way past Tarkowski and fired through Pickford’s legs.
Everton tried to respond and Moyes made proactive changes – Tyrique George and Thierno Barry replacing Tim Iroegbunam and Beto. George was a positive influence but Everton were unable to apply serious pressure and instead it was the Black Cats who found the urgency and energy that proved decisive.
The away end erupted with 10 minutes to go as Enzo Le Fee poked past Pickford after Sunderland attacked down the Everton right and the hosts failed to deal with the threat. Moyes had his head in his hands when O’Brien met a brilliant George cross at the back post but saw the ball bounce over the bar off Roefs shoulder.
Moments later Coleman received his ovation but his final minutes as a home player for Everton were played out to the sight of Wilson Isidor delivering the knockout blow to the Blues’ European ambitions and thousands of home fans leaving the stadium early. Coleman’s time at Everton deserved to end to the sound of singing supporters, just not those of the Blues’ opponents.
