MANCHESTER CITY EDS 0, EVERTON U21 3
Manchester City lost goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw to injury and were taught a footballing lesson by an Everton side who ruthlessly exploited a poor performance by City’s EDS team.
First half goals by Bassala Sambou, Luke Garbutt, and David Henen after the break saw the physical, direct, and fast young Toffees despatch City after an injury impaired Grimshaw’s agility in the first half and forced off the young ‘keeper before the break.
Defeat meant City slipped further behind Premier League 2 leaders Liverpool as they were outmuscled, out run and well beaten by their experienced counterparts who moved within two points of their cross-City rivals.
City lined up with Brahim Diaz and Tosin Adarabioyo in their ranks with Phil Foden away on England U17 World Cup duty in India.
Everton fielded former Everton junior and Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United striker Jose Baxter who re-signed this season after being released from United while Luke Garbutt had first team experience with a variety of clubs.
There was early pressure by a physical Everton during an initial rain shower who put City out of their comfort zone with their pressing producing a pair of early chances for Luke Garbutt who should have done better with a free kick and also shot wide.
City were guilty of giving away possession and not closing down the visitors with the elusive Jose Baxter sending an early long range shot wide before trying his luck with another effort which tested Daniel Grimshaw in the City goal.
Grimshaw was in action coming out of his goal to deny Bassala Sambou a shot on goal as City tried to regroup.
City took almost 19 minutes to register a shot on goal with Brahim Diaz’ shot squirming out of Louis Gray’s grip before the Everton ‘keeper recovered the ball before Lorenzo Gonzalez could react.
Birthday boy Demeaco Duhaney also had a shot tipped onto the bar and out by Gray two minutes later as City roused themselves.
Morgan Feeney’s header was just over as Everton continued to trouble City in the air – City could not deal with Garbutt’s delivery from another set piece.
Gray produced a fine save to deny Duhaney from the edge of the area whose low shot was creeping inside the left hand post.
Baxter drew a foul after a clumsy challenge by Charlie Oliver, with a free kick for the dangerous Antony Evans which was saved by Grimshaw but City were finally punished for failing to control Everton’s direct attacking.
Daniel Grimshaw injury blow as Everton U21 capitalise on superior experience
Bassala Sambou was presented with a tap in after 35 minutes after David Henen beat Charlie Oliver on the left flank after a long ball set him free and his shot was only parried by Grimshaw.
And Luke Garbutt doubled the lead three minutes later with a sumptuous curling free kick from 25 yards out that crept inside the neat post after Benjamin Garre conceded the set piece with a foul.
Grimshaw was clearly struggling after seemingly hurting himself diving for Garbutt’s goal and put the ball out of play shortly before half time for treatment.
Pawel Sokol replaced Grimshaw but he was well beaten early in the second half when David Henen was sent clear by a defence splitting pass by Sambou allowing the Belgian to round City’s replacement keeper and give Everton a winning margin.
Matthew Smith hit the side netting but Everton still created the better chances after the break with Garbutt’s set piece delivery catching the eye.
Nabil Touaizi’s cross handed Smith another chance to pull one back with 14 minutes to go but the midfielder sent his shot directly at Gray.
In truth, though, City couldn’t attain any kind of coherence in attack and were second in most challenges with Louis Gray in the Everton goal equal to anything City could put his way.
Brahim Diaz blasted a late chance over the bar after seeming to slip as he pulled the trigger from inside the area – the bad miss and an injury time goal line clearance by an Everton defender off Taylor Richards summed up the game for the home side on the night.
MATCH STATS
Man City EDS: Grimshaw (Sokol 45+1), Duhaney, Oliver, Adarabioyo, Wilson, Davenport, Diaz, Smith, Gonzalez (Touaizi 62), Diallo, Garre
Man City EDS Subs: Francis, Sokol, Dele-Bashiru, Richards, Touaizi
Booked: Garre 38, Duhaney 45+2, Smith 74
Everton U21: Gray, Markello, Garbutt, Baningime, Feeney, Foulds, Evans, Adeniran (Donkor 78), Sambou, Henen (Broadhead 69), Baxter (Charsley 64)
Everton U21 Subs: Ouzounidis, Hilton, Donkor, Charsley, Broadhead
Booked: Adeniran 20, Luke Garbutt 45+5
Goals: Sambou 35, Garbutt 38, Henen 55