Bolton 0-0 Everton: Toffees held to pre-season goalless draw
Bolton 0-0 Everton: Toffees’ need for attacking signings laid bare as they are held to a frustrating pre-season goalless draw against League One side
- Everton missed a string of decent chances as they were held to a goalless draw
- The Toffees were denied repeatedly by Bolton keeper Nathan Baxter on Tuesday
- They are still to play Stoke City and Sporting Lisbon during the pre-season
Everton’s need for attacking reinforcements in the transfer window was laid bare when they missed a string of decent chances and could only draw to League One Bolton in a friendly.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was not one of the 25 players who travelled to the newly-named Toughsheet Community Stadium and, despite the injury-prone forward being part of the training group at a camp in Evian, France, he is yet to play a minute on the pitch.
There were positive outings for youngster Lewis Dobbin, the 20-year-old forward who spent last season on loan at Derby, and 38-year-old veteran Ashley Young.
But the Toffees squandered a number of gilt-edged chances and were denied repeatedly by Bolton keeper Nathan Baxter.
Alex Iwobi, who last week joked about Sean Dyche’s intense training methods on Twitter, was one of the brightest sparks. He played on Everton’s right wing and darted through on goal a couple of times but perhaps made the wrong decision.
Sean Dyche’s Everton side failed to find a breakthrough as they were held to a goalless draw
The Toffees had a number of chances with Lewis Dobbin (pictured) failing to score but having a bright showing
The Toffees squandered a number of gilt-edged chances against the League One side
Summer signing Ashley Young was among those to appear in the match on Tuesday night
Dwight McNeil also looked positive. After a good second half to last season under Dyche, he showed some moments of class in the first half here, most notably when he skipped past a challenge and threaded through Dobbin, only for the striker to shoot straight at Baxter.
Bolton had their own chances and Joao Virginia was forced into a string of saves for Everton.
Dyche imposed an infamous ‘Gaffer’s Day’ last week – a brutal day in which the manager puts his players through the paces with nothing but fitness drills – and the Toffees looked sharp here, which is the main takeaway from the evening.
With eight half-time changes, those being replaced were forced to do sprinting drills on the pitch at the break, with Iwobi leading the way in a dash from one penalty box to the other.
Lewis Warrington and Stanley Mills, son of former England full back Danny and brother of 1500m runner George, both played well in the second half.
Everton now go to Championship opposition Stoke on Saturday before hosting Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon a week later, then play Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season at Goodison Park.
MATCH FACTS
Everton starting XI: Virginia, Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Young, Onana, Iwobi, Gomes, McNeil, Dobbin, Maupay
Bolton starting XI: Baxter, Dacres-Cogley, Jones, Almeida Santos, Iredale, Williams, Dempsey, Morley, Sheehan, Charles, Adeboyejo
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