Everton 1-3 Wolves: Leander Dendoncker and Raul Jimenez pile the pressure on. There was, albeit briefly, some enjoyment. For two minutes in the second half, there were cheers and laughter as a stray black cat scuttled from one end of Goodison Park’s pitch to the other before disappearing into the shadows.
Black cats, however, are supposed to bring good luck with them but, on this occasion, there was nothing for Everton. The only thing the locals felt at the final whistle was that familiar sinking feeling, having seen their team torn asunder.
Wolves had recorded their first win at this stadium since September 1979 and there was nothing flattering about the size of their victory. Nuno Espirto Santo’s side consolidated seventh place with a fluent display, one that was aided and abetted by some horrible Everton defending.
Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Zouma, Keane, Baines, Davies, Andre Gomes, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Tosun.
Subs: McCarthy, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Stekelenburg, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Kenny.
Goals: Gomes 27
Wolverhampton XI: Rui Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Jonny, Jimenez, Jota.
Subs: Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, Gibbs-White, John Ruddy, Saiss,Traore, John.
Goals: Neves (pen) 7, Jimenez 45+1, Dendoncker 66
Referee: Lee Mason
Through Ruben Neves, Raul Jiminez and Leander Dendoncker, Wolves scored three to render Andre Gomes’ sparkling strike irrelevant and not for a moment did they give the impression they would leave with anything other than three points.
The more you watch Nuno’s team, the more they leave a positive impression and you would not think they only six months out of the Championship. They are polished and progressive and will be a fixture in this division for a long time to come.
There was little chance of them coming to Merseyside and hoping to pinch something and the intent was clear from the first whistle; within seven minutes, Wolves had the lead but the manner in which Everton conceded did little for Silva’s state of mind.
When Matt Doherty got the wrong side of Leighton Baines, the danger rose as the veteran full-back got in a tangle. He tumbled over, taking Doherty with him, and Lee Mason swiftly pointed to the spot. Neves dispatched the penalty with aplomb, sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way.
What promised to be a difficult afternoon for Everton suddenly became a significantly greater challenge and the silence of the home supporters amplified their tensions; there was, clearly, apprehension that Wolves might quickly take the contest away from them.
Everton did not instantly submerge. They were indebted to Pickford – whose fine save thwarted Leander Dendoncker in the 20th minute – for keeping them in the contest and, shortly after, they were level with a quite superb goal.
Neves might be a Portuguese midfielder getting headlines but his compatriot Andre Gomes has similar ability and he showed why Evertonians hold him in such high regard when he thrashed an angled drive beyond Rui Patricio from 20 yards.
The problem with Everton now, though, is that everything feels so fragile. Normally a goal of such quality would ignite the crowd and spark a period of pressure but Wolves were able to roll this particular punch and were soon back on top, taking the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Again the manner in which Pickford was beaten was ridiculous: Michael Keane needlessly fouled Diogo Jota and Joao Moutinho’s inswinging free-kick from 40 yards picked out Jiminez, who guided a thumping header beyond the England international.
It was a ridiculous time to concede and the way in which Marco Silva glowered towards his players left you in no doubt his feelings but here’s the thing: Everton have now shipped 16 goals from set pieces in all competitions, a statistic that isn’t so much bad luck but vandalism.
Evertonians expected a big response in the second