Everton won a Premier League away game for the first time in 2024 thanks to a 2-0 beating of newly-promoted Ipswich Town in Saturday's delayed kickoff.
Sean Dyche's side - who had not triumphed in a top-flight fixture on the road since December 2023, going winless in 15 since then - prevailed courtesy of first-half strikes from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane, as Kieran McKenna's side were left to rue some toothless attacking play in the second 45.
As whistles across the country sounded at 3pm on the dot, the Portman Road crowd had to wait an extra 15 minutes for kickoff, as turnstile issues pushed back the start of this bottom-half battle.
The unexpected delay may have had an impact on both sets of players - quality was at a premium early doors - but that was until Ndiaye capitalised on a defensive error to fire the Toffees into the lead.
Ndiaye's opener was the first act of a near-flawless first half for Everton, who also saw Jack Clarke have a penalty overturned before a striker's finish from Keane doubled the visitors' lead in emphatic fashion.
McKenna's hosts ramped up the pressure as the second half progressed, but the hosts simply lacked the ruthlessness that Everton possessed, as they set a new unwanted record of going winless in their first eight league games of a season for the first time ever.
However, thanks to Southampton's collapse against Leicester City, Ipswich remain just above the relegation zone in 17th place in the Premier League table, four points below 16th-placed Everton, now unbeaten in four.
IPSWICH VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
Iliman Ndiaye goal vs. Ipswich Town (17th min, Ipswich 0-1 Everton)
Wes Burns will not want to see this one back. Jack Harrison whips in a dangerous cross from the right to the back stick, which Dara O'Shea half deals with as he heads the ball down to Burns.
However, the Tractor Boys winger inexplicably swipes at thin air as he attempts a toe-poke pass, and Ndiaye immediately pounces with a fierce drive into the roof of the net.
Ipswich penalty overturned vs. Everton (28th min, Ipswich 0-1 Everton)
For the second week running, Everton are involved in a penalty situation where the attacker appears to kick the back of an opponent's leg. But this time, Clarke gets the decision as Michael Oliver points to the spot.
However, Clarke had clearly hit Dwight McNeil rather than it being the other way round, and the referee's initial call is overturned.
Michael Keane goal vs. Ipswich (40th min, Ipswich 0-2 Everton)
A goal from a centre-back that any striker would be proud to score! Everton have their breathing space right on the stroke of half time, as McNeil slips in Keane after the Toffees recycle a half-cleared corner.
The defender lets the ball run slightly before a thunderous finish into the roof of the net from a tight angle - who knew he had that in his locker?
MAN OF THE MATCH - MICHAEL KEANE
© Imago
Any Arsenal fans tuning into the Ipswich vs. Everton affair may have seen a bit of the Bukayo Saka with Keane's ferocious finish, as the Toffees defender rippled the roof of the net from a tight angle to put his side out of sight.
When the going got a bit tougher for Everton in the second half, Keane stood tall with six clearances, one tackle and one block to also preserve a precious clean sheet for the visitors. Jarrad Branthwaite who?
IPSWICH VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Ipswich 55%-45% Everton
Shots: Ipswich 13-11 Everton
Shots on target: Ipswich 2-8 Everton
Corners: Ipswich 12-10 Everton
Fouls: Ipswich 5-8 Everton
BEST STAT
67% - Dwight McNeil has been directly involved in six of Everton's nine Premier League goals this season (3 goals, 3 assists - 67%); only Cole Palmer for Chelsea (11/16 - 69%) has been involved in a higher proportion of a side's goals in the division this season. Influencer.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Ipswich's next Premier League outing sees them travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford next Saturday afternoon, a couple of hours before Everton host Fulham at Goodison Park.
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