Oh for 3,000 Evertonians going beserk.

In the context of Everton’s long-term plans a win at Sheffield United to climb one place to 11th at the back end of the Premier League campaign might not go down as one of their most significant victories.

This was a fantastic performance, though, brimming with the character and personality Carlo Ancelotti has been urging from his team.

Jarrad Branthwaite, on his first Everton start, and Michael Keane were fabulous at the back, cussed, brave and assertive.

And regardless of the bigger picture, a meaningful Everton goal away from home invariably sparks bedlam,

Richarlison’s goal – the only strike of this game – deserved the joyous reception it would have received, too.

Andre Gomes was fouled by Ollie McBurnie seconds after the restart for an Everton free-kick from deep on the right.

Sigurdsson, captain and playing behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whipped in a very good delivery but Richarlison had a lot still to do.

We’ve seen this next bit from the Brazilian plenty of times this term, his headed finishes becoming something of a calling card.

Sheffield United seemed unaware nonetheless, allowing Richarlison to rush in unchecked and meet Sigurdsson’s delivery with a flicked header which flew into the far corner and gave Dean Henderson no chance.

From there, Everton kept the home team at arm's length. Jordan Pickford didn't have a save to make despite Sheffield United getting the ball forward quickly and steadily adding more bodies to attack.

Indeed, the Blues had opportunities on the break to put the outcome beyond doubt before David McGoldrick lifted over with the last kick of the game.

Everton had seen more of the ball than the Blades in the opening 45 minutes but faced five corners before winning one of their own.

And where Sheffield United were struggling to convert their set-pieces into opportunities of note – Jack O’Connell failing to connect at the back-post as an Ollie Norwood corner flew across the box unmolested the closest they came to making anything of those first-half corners – Everton nearly capitalised on their 43rd-minute dead ball.

Well, the ensuing melee anyway.

Richarlison, thrilled to be running towards his opponents’ goal after working manfully down the left all half, chased down a pass from Gomes.

He won the corner off George Baldock and Sigurdsson sent in a delivery which was punched out by goalkeeper Henderson.

Theo Walcott returned the ball with interest, landing it on Calvert-Lewin’s head at the back post.

Calvert-Lewin, back at his former club for the fist time, made good contact but his effort from three yards came back off the woodwork.

The influential Gomes had come close to combining with Calvert-Lewin on 24 minutes.

Gomes’s passing was crisp all game, particularly effective when the Portuguese was steering passes round the corner for Walcott or Djibril Sidibe to move Everton through Sheffield United’s press.

In this instance, though, he pounced on a lapse from Ben Osborn and surged forwards to clip a measured pass for Calvert-Lewin.

The forward tried to control on his chest but his touch was heavy, allowing goalkeeper Henderson to claim.

Calvert-Lewin was playing as Everton’s main attacker, with regular partner Richarlison moved out wide, and the Englishman’s off-the-ball running was stretching the hosts.

He didn’t always receive the ball over the top but Calvert-Lewin’s movement opened up the middle of the field for his side.

It was Calvert-Lewin dropping deep which instigated another Everton attack.

Resisting the tenacious Enda Stevens, Calvert-Lewin fed Walcott, who continued his forward run to collect a return from Sigurdsson before sending in a cross which flew across Henderson’s goal.

The hosts had meted out some heavy treatment to Richarlison in the opening 45 minutes, the forward on the end of illegal challenges from Sander Berge and Ollie Norwood at either end of the half.

Norwood was yellow carded for his infringement, following Tom Davies into the book after the Everton midfielder was over eager in a tackle on McBurnie.

Richarlison exacted his revenge to put Everton in front soon after the restart, ghosting in to connect with Sigurdsson’s flat delivery.

Sheffield United came back with chances for John Egan and David McGoldrick, both blocked, the latter by Branthwaite.

Those opportunities sandwiched a let off for Egan when the defender was unconvincing dealing with a low cross from Walcott and rescued by Henderson with Sigurdsson bearing down ready to take advantage.

Henderson’s reactions were excellent when Calvert-Lewin’s shot after bursting into the box deflected off Egan and threatened to wrong-foot the keeper.

Richarlison was a yard from Walcott’s fizzing delivery after a neat flick from Calvert-Lewin and Gomes sent a strike from distance hurrying past Henderson’s left post.

Everton were in control but not comfortable – no chance of that when protecting a single-goal lead against this dynamic Sheffield United team.

One home wing-back crossed for another when Baldock headed over a Stevens delivery as the home team tried to keep their European hopes alive.

Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin won huge clearing headers to keep the home team at bay and, on the counter, substitute Anthony Gordon failed to find a Blue shirt with a low cross.

 Keane twice defended magnificently to power balls away and McGoldrick shot over from 12 yards at the death.

Watching Everton’s players leave the field to no acclaim was very odd indeed.

They would have deserved their ovation after this.

 
Wide-Boy Richi

The dependable striking partnership of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was split by Carlo Ancelotti after combining for 14 goals in 18 games under the Italian manager.

Calvert-Lewin retained a position through the middle but for Richarlison it was back to the left flank where he shone in the opening 18 months of his Everton career.

The Brazilian scored 14 goals in all competitions from wide last term and at Bramall Lane he surpassed that tally this term with what is becoming a trademark headed finish.

Richarlison’s strike after 46 minutes has him level pegging with Calvert-Lewin on 13 Premier League goals with one game remaining.

He has come in for some heavy treatment of late and shifting wide didn’t enable him to dodge close physical attention.

The opening half was bookended by illegal tackles on the South American, Sander Berge getting in first and Ollie Norwood booked for his late challenge.

Right-back George Baldock was on Richarlison’s tail whenever he received possession with his back to goal.

And in the opening half, the Everton forward was frequently facing his own goal.

You could almost sense Richarlison’s joy when he had an opportunity to open his legs and chase down an Andre Gomes pass late in the first half.

He earned the right to play on the front foot with his terrific flicked goal.

Sheffield United had to chase the game and space opened up for Richarlison to gallop forwards.

He left Norwood trailing on one run and could have had a second goal when advancing to try to meet a Theo Walcott delivery.

Regardless of his starting position, Richarlison guarantees effort and combativity.

The South American's effervescent presence means opponents can never switch off.

And he is regularly finding the net when it matters.

Small Step To Better Away Day Blues

Carlo Ancelotti insists a notable improvement away from home can help fuel the big jump forward he wants from Everton next season.

The Blues had claimed 33 per cent of their 46 points away from Goodison Park before this first trip to Bramall Lane since March 2007.

Of four victories, however, three had come in Ancelotti’s embryonic tenure.

Those successes at Newcastle United and Norwich City, either side of the thrilling win at Watford, offered encouragement.

Twice, though – at Chelsea and Wolves – Ancelotti confessed his side fell short of what he expects.

He wants his team to play with personality when they leave the city borders and it takes character and resilience to take anything home from this ground.

The last three teams to come to Sheffield United were Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Chelsea and between them that top-seven trio didn’t manage a solitary point – Chris Wilder’s team winning those matches by an aggregate of 7-1.

This was a classic away performance from Everton, stifling Sheffield United and retaining their own threat and invention, with Gylfi Sigurdsson playing an important part in his advanced position.

The Blades were never allowed to gain attacking momentum, with Ancelotti’s side hogging possession.

Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite were resolute in the middle of defence and Everton’s full-backs reined in their attacking instincts to complete a strong defensive barrier.

A mention, too, for Dominic Calvert-Lewin who lent a significant hand defending set pieces into his own box.

Tom Davies played with bite and energy in midfield and Andre Gomes’s passing gave Everton an element of control.

In Richarlison Everton have a player who came get them up the field in quick time – and a consistent source of goals.

This was a model for Everton to imitate when it comes to making gains away from home next term.

 
Brilliant Branthwaite

 Jarrad Branthwaite’s first Everton start represented another staging post on the teenager’s overnight introduction to Premier League football.

The peculiar feel of games following last month’s restart has made drawing conclusions from what we’re watching a perilous task.

In the case of Brainthwaite, however, a defender whose last action against a Yorkshire club before today was in Carlisle United’s League Two meeting with Bradford City on Boxing Day, it is fair to wonder if Everton have unearthed another gem.

The 18-year-old was sure footed after being unexpectedly called from the bench in games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.

Against Villa, in particular, he displayed the anticipation, strength and composure of a seasoned pro.

And he picked up here from where he left off four days ago

Carlo Ancelotti was keen to praise Branthwaite’s character and personality following his Villa performance, much as the Italian manager was quick to highlight the same traits in Anthony Gordon, another whose star has risen in this strange season within a season.

It is clear Ancelotti values substance and style in equal measure and in his nascent Everton career Branthwaite is delivering on both counts.

He is courageous in possession and doesn’t shrink from a physical challenge,

Branthwaite was unperturbed by a wallop from Tyrone Mings moments after stepping on the pitch to face Villa.

The Midlands team doesn’t boast a forward in the ilk of Oli McBurnie, however.

Sheffield United’s angular number nine relishes a physical contest and had the bit between his teeth against Branthwaite – the Scotland international regularly positioning himself on Everton’s junior centre-back.

Branthwaite didn’t duck the challenge, engaging aerially with McBurnie, and emphatically leaping above the striker on the half hour for his first clear victory in the pair’s individual battle.

He is routinely in the right place to clear crosses.

But never was Branthwaite better positioned than when getting in the way of a goalbound David McGoldrick effort shortly after Everton’s opener.

Branthwaite’s choice of pass is consistently excellent and he is never hurried in possession.

He eased Billy Sharp – 16 years Branthwaite’s senior – off the ball in the closing minutes to snuff out a home attack.

It completed a tremendous performance from a player fast becoming one of the stories of Everton's post-lockdown campaign.