Everton 0-1 Aston Villa: Emiliano Buendia header earns win for visitors

Duncan Ferguson's second reign as Everton caretaker manager started with defeat to Aston Villa at Goodison Park.

The Scotsman stepped in following the sacking of Rafael Benitez but the move did not produce the desired response as Emiliano Buendia's header in first-half added time settled a scrappy encounter.

Villa's victory was particularly sweet for former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as well as ex-Everton defender Lucas Digne, who provided the corner for Buendia's winner.

The goal was followed by disgraceful scenes as celebrating Villa players were struck by objects thrown from the crowd.

Everton will feel their second-half pressure, based on an aerial bombardment, should have brought some reward as Dominic Calvert-Lewin turned Anthony Gordon's cross over from close range and Ben Godfrey's header was scrambled off the line by a combination of Tyrone Mings and keeper Emiliano Martinez.

It leaves Everton with only six points from their last 42, searching for a new manager, and sitting uncomfortably close to the relegation zone of the Premier League.

Where now for Everton?

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright were banking on a 'bounce' from the appointment of Ferguson in order to revive a season sliding into danger and which resulted in Benitez's sacking.

It did not work on a flat afternoon at Goodison Park, which ended with fans staying behind on the Gwladys Street End chanting "sack the board" and waving banners of protest.

A plane also flew overhead before kick-off demanding the removal of Kenwright, who was also a target for abusive chants after the final whistle.

This is a genuine crisis for Everton as they not only face a relegation battle but must also make yet another decisive decision on their next manager.

Even the atmosphere inside Goodison Park was not lifted for long by the talismanic Ferguson's presence on the touchline, with Everton failing to produce a shot in the first half.

It was a grim spectacle, outlining exactly why Everton have only one win in 14 league games has led to growing unrest among the fanbase.

Everton improved after the break and threatened an equaliser but the danger was based largely on a succession of long balls rather than any guile, although Demarai Gray and substitute Anthony Gordon did their best to provide creativity.

However Everton came up short and once more face a pivotal moment, one they cannot afford to get wrong again.

Villa dig deep for victory

This was a Villa victory based more on sweat than quality, but manager Gerrard will be no less delighted for that.

In a tight first half, any danger was produced by Villa and it was fitting that Buendia's angled header from a corner gave them the lead as the Argentine was the game's most dangerous player at that stage.

Villa were presented with a different challenge after the break as Everton turned up the tempo and the pressure, hoping the height provided by Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Mina and en Godfrey might make a difference.

The visitors lived dangerously at times but it was a backs-to-the-wall effort that yielded three points as their defenders put bodies on the line to secure an important victory.

Buendia's excellence was the perfect response to those who felt he might be forced out by the arrival of Philippe Coutinho, who understandably tired as he adjusts to life back in the Premier League.

Player of the match

BuendíaEmiliano Buendía

Everton

Squad number24Player nameGordon

Squad number1Player namePickford

Squad number11Player nameGray

Squad number22Player nameGodfrey

Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

Squad number13Player nameMina

Squad number6Player nameAllan

Squad number7Player nameRicharlison

Squad number14Player nameTownsend

Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin

Squad number62Player nameOnyango

Squad number2Player nameKenny

Squad number4Player nameHolgate

Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes

Aston Villa

Squad number10Player nameBuendía

Squad number5Player nameMings

Squad number27Player nameDigne

Squad number2Player nameCash

Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

Squad number1Player nameMartínez

Squad number4Player nameKonsa

Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho

Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey

Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

Squad number11Player nameWatkins

Squad number33Player nameChukwuemeka

Squad number20Player nameIngs

Squad number30Player nameHause

Line-ups

Everton

Formation 4-4-2

1Pickford

2Kenny13Mina4Holgate22Godfrey

14Townsend16Doucouré21André Gomes11Gray

7Richarlison9Calvert-Lewin

Substitutes

Aston Villa

Formation 4-3-3

1Martínez

2Cash4Konsa5Mings27Digne

7McGinn6Douglas Luiz41J Ramsey

10Buendía11Watkins23Coutinho

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Everton 0, Aston Villa 1.

Second Half ends, Everton 0, Aston Villa 1.

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Lucas Digne.

Danny Ings (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Danny Ings (Aston Villa).

Mason Holgate (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).

Substitution, Aston Villa. Kortney Hause replaces Emiliano Buendía.

Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).

Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Anthony Gordon (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa).

Richarlison (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Danny Ings (Aston Villa).

Mason Holgate (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Ben Godfrey (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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