Doucoure secures Everton record with win over Sheffield United

LIVERPOOL, May 12 — Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a first-half winner as Everton beat relegated Sheffield United 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday, setting a new Premier League club record and inflicting another unwanted on their opponents their.

Doucoure’s header was United’s 101st this season, one more than the previous record set by Swindon Town in 1993-94 in what was then a 42-game campaign.

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Everton, who are in 15th place with 40 points from 37 games, have now won five successive Premier League home games without conceding a goal for the first time, a run of form that has lifted them out of the relegation zone.

The game had an end-of-season feel to it, with neither club having anything substantial to play for, but it was Everton who created more chances and deserved the win.

Everton enjoyed themselves more with safety long secured and against a team that was one of the worst in Premier League history.

The visitors, however, pressed hard and had a period of possession in the second half, but Jordan Pickford in goal had a quiet afternoon, keeping his 13th clean of the season, second only to David Raya’s at Arsenal (15).

The hosts should have struck in front when Dominic Calvert-Lewin brilliantly fed Doucoure for a one-on-one chance, but the midfielder could not beat United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham with no defender in sight.

The two Everton players combined again on the half hour mark and this time it resulted in a goal.

Dwight NcNeil’s clever through ball was perfect for Calvert-Lewin, who drew Foderingham off the goal line and then crossed for Doucoure to drop into the empty net.

Everton continued to create chances in the second period and, although there were no more goals, it was as comfortable a win as they have had at Goodison Park all season.

The key to their survival this campaign has been beating the teams around them in the last six.

Their club record run of five home games without conceding also included wins against Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and, sweetest of all for the fans, Liverpool. — Reuters