PL hits and misses: Lewin's luck shows no sign of changing in Everton stalemate

The seconds, the minutes and hours keep ticking for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. 16 hours and counting without a Premier League goal since notching the winner at West Ham all the way back in September.

Everton are performing and coping admirably without him, but they need their forward talisman firing again and fast.

It would have been harsh on Aston Villa had Calvert-Lewin buried his first-half one-on-one, whose xG of 0.67 was more than double any other chance either side created all game.

But in the context of that moment, justice doesn't matter. Everton need points to drag themselves away from their FFP-induced woes and the England man may have cost his side two points in a game lacking much else in the way of clear-cut chances.

Manager Sean Dyche, who defended his front man ahead of the game, continued to support the beleaguered striker in public afterwards too.

"It was a good save, that's what stopped him today," he said. It was a generous take to avoid any additional heat from a striker whose confidence is clearly taking a hit.

The question for Dyche longer-term is how long he gives Calvert-Lewin to play his way back into form. Beto and Youssef Chermiti are not prolific alternatives, but there has to be some culpability, or an alternative solution, at some point.

Everton should still have well enough about them to beat the drop given they would be 12th in the table without their 10-point deduction.

But with winnable games against Fulham and Crystal Palace, twice, coming up over the next month, something has to change in front of goal.

It didn't take long, did it?

Any team would miss Kevin De Bruyne. Even a team of the quality of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. He's just that good and he showed his full repertoire in 25 minutes on