Sean Dyche may have just found the right formula as Everton barren run ends

On the spot

The penalty felt like a huge moment for both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Everton.

Over 11 months had gone by since the Blues’ number nine converted their last successful spot kick in what was another pivotal night from 12 yards out against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on May 1 last year when he converted but James Maddison’s later effort that could have put the hosts 3-1 up was then saved by Pickford. Everton’s wait for a first penalty of the season was a lengthy one of course with all other 19 clubs in the division having been given at least one of the 73 awarded before Beto’s effort was saved by West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola in their 27^thPremier League game of the season.

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Like this one, it took a VAR check before the decision went their way so the Blues are still waiting for an on-the-field official to point to the spot unprompted but they’ll take them any way they can get them at the moment, even if Paul Dummett’s wrestling to the ground of Ashley Young looked blatant. Calvert-Lewin’s 23-game goalless streak must have felt like an eternity for a striker who had only even featured in 17 Premier League games in both of the previous seasons but given that the run included efforts being ruled out both home and away against Tottenham Hotspur in the cruellest of circumstances, it was something of a statistical anomaly.

Nevertheless, the ball still needed tucking away and the centre-forward held his nerve to wisely put his laces through his shot and even though Martin Dubravka got a hand to it, the power ensured he couldn’t keep it