Review

Pickford goes from zero to hero as Everton pick up first point

2 Sep 2023

Premier League - Sheffield United v Everton

Sheffield United also off the mark in 2023/24 following exciting 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane

Sheffield United and Everton each picked up their first point of the Premier League season as they shared a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane.

While both teams blew a lead, Everton ended their goalless start to the campaign, while Sheff Utd had a star performer in new signing Cameron Archer, who was involved in both of their goals in his League debut for the club.

It was also a match of mixed emotions for Jordan Pickford, who made amends for an own goal with an incredible double save deep into second-half stoppage time.

SHU

2-2

EVE

TV Info - Broadcasters

How it unfolded

Abdoulaye Doucoure opened the scoring in the 14th minute, converting from close range after his initial effort had been saved. It was Everton's first Premier League goal of the season, ending a run of 316 minutes without scoring in the competition, since Doucoure himself struck against AFC Bournemouth on the final day of 2022/23 to keep the Toffees up.

Pickford then made a good save from Gustavo Hamer but Sheff Utd equalised shortly after with a debut goal from Archer.

The England Under-21 international, who joined from Aston Villa last week, smashed into the far corner after Hamer's cross was brought down and laid off by Oliver McBurnie.

Sheff Utd completed a first-half turnaround in added time, and again Archer played a part.

Full of confidence having scored 11 goals in 17 starts on loan at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season, the 21-year-old collected a Hamer scooped pass and hit a long-range shot that struck a post and bounced back into the net off Pickford for an own goal.

It meant in what was their 202nd Premier League match, Sheff Utd went in ahead at half-time ahead despite conceding the opening goal for the first time.

Debut delight for @Cameronarcher_ 🏹#SHUEVE pic.twitter.com/1ScTLJmh04
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 2, 2023

But that lead lasted only 10 minutes into the second half, as a quick team move released Nathan Patterson down Everton's right for the defender to deliver a fantastic cross for Arnaut Danjuma to score his first Premier League goal for the Toffees.

It capped a good week for Danjuma, on loan from Villarreal, who scored an 88th-minute winner in the EFL Cup in midweek.

Sheff Utd had the best chances to win the match. First, Yasser Larouci shot over after a Patterson clearance had ricocheted into his path, before Luke Thomas, another debutant having signed from Leicester City, saw a close-range volley saved by Pickford.

Archer came off to a standing ovation following a fantastic Sheff Utd debut, but as one star departed, another came to the fore.

In the dying seconds, Pickford dived to his right to push McBurnie's header on to the bar, before somehow also saving the striker's follow-up attempt with his head despite being on the floor.

The draw means Everton remain in the bottom three by virtue of their inferior goal difference to Bournemouth and Sheff Utd, who are two places higher.