Everton vs Sheffield United. Premier League.
Goodison Park.
Free match highlights and report as 17-year-old Daniel Jebbison scores on his first Premier League start to hand relegated Sheffield United their second away win of the season; Everton suffer ninth Goodison Park defeat of the campaign to lose ground in race for Europe
Monday 17 May 2021 06:25, UK
Everton's hopes of qualifying for Europe hang by a thread after 17-year-old Daniel Jebbison sealed Sheffield United's 1-0 win at Goodison Park with his first Premier League goal on his first top-flight start.
The Canadian-born forward became the competition's youngest goalscorer on their full debut, and it is doubtful whether he will find the net with an easier chance against a static home defence.
Earlier this season, Jebbison was on loan at Vanarama National League North side Chorley and only got his first taste of first-team football with the Blades as a 65th-minute substitute last weekend.
But his goal and an inspired performance from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale were enough to consign Carlo Ancelotti's side to a ninth home defeat, equalling their worst record from 1950-51 and 1993-94, with one match still to come at Goodison against Wolves on Wednesday.
Defeat almost certainly ended their chances of European football as they remain eighth, three points behind Tottenham and West Ham with a vastly-inferior goal difference.
At 17 years and 309 days, Jebbison become the youngest player to make his first Premier League start since Mason Greenwood in May 2019.
It took the youngster just seven minutes to make an instant impact as he ghosted in behind Ben Godfrey to turn Jack Robinson's cross into the unguarded Everton net.
Sheffield United's positive start and lead was nearly erased within four minutes when Allan curled a shot through bodies towards the far corner, but the unsighted Ramsdale produced an excellent save to preserve the Blades' lead.
Everton could have been two down before the half-hour mark when Mason Holgate's defensive lapse gifted Jebbison a gilt-edged opportunity to double his and Sheffield United's tally, but Jordan Pickford stayed big and tall to thwart the youngster's attempted lob.
Everton steadily increased the pressure on the visitors' goal as half-time approached but found Ramsdale in inspired form.
After Chris Basham had deflected a James Rodriguez effort over the bar, Ramsdale brilliantly kept out a Richarlison header before preventing Dominic Calvert-Lewin from converting the rebound at point-blank range with a stunning double save.
In between those two attempts, Seamus Coleman felt he should have had a penalty when his attempted flick hit Robinson's hand.
Everton's record the previous 32 times - dating back to 2015 - they were losing 1-0 at half-time has seen 25 defeats and no victories and even a change of personnel and formation, forward Gylfi Sigurdsson replacing Holgate, one of the three central defenders, made little difference.
United's David McGoldrick had the best chance of the half as the hosts continued to look devoid of ideas and drive.
Goodison hosts its final match of the season in three days and, despite the long wait to see live football again, on the evidence of this performance it could be an awkward evening in front of the 6,500 supporters who won tickets in a ballot.
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti: "It's really difficult. I have to take the responsibility for this of course but I hope the players also take responsibility for this. I am really embarrassed. Fortunately we have supporters at home for the next game and I hope they wake us up because I think we need to wake up at home.
"It is really difficult to explain what is going on here at home. We have two games until the end, I think we lost a great opportunity.
"Our chances now are less than before but the only way is to wait to try to get a result with the two games we have to play and see which position we are at the end."
Sheffield United caretaker manager Paul Heckinbottom: "Fantastic moment [for Jebbison]. It couldn't have worked out better for him on his first start in the Premier League. He deserved his start. He's a hard-working lad and we know him through how well he has developed at the academy. The fact I know how hard he works for the team changed my mind to pick him."
Aaron Ramsdale made six saves for Sheffield United, the most he has ever made in a Premier League game in which he did not concede a goal, while six saves is the most he has made in any league division while also keeping a clean sheet since March 2019 for AFC Wimbledon against Peterborough in League One (seven).
Everton host Wolves on Wednesday at 6pm - live on Sky Sports Premier League - before travelling to champions Manchester City on the final day of the season.
Sheffield United travel to Newcastle on Wednesday at 6pm - live on Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Mix - before hosting Burnley on the final day of the season.
