Pickford Commends 'Resilient' Blues

Jordan Pickford heaped praise on Everton’s defensive strength after the Toffees claimed a fifth clean sheet from six with a hard-earned 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

The shot-stopper had a relatively quiet afternoon in L4, as the Blues made it three games undefeated after cruising to a 4-0 victory over Wolves on home soil before holding Arsenal to a goalless draw.

Speaking post-match, Pickford reflected on this afternoon’s result in a match which saw him make a crucial first-half save from Nicolas Jackson.

“Very good from all the lads. I did not have too much to do today!," the England No.1 said modestly after full-time.

"The lads defended brilliantly, we had a few chances and Sanchez made some key saves for them.

“It was a 0-0 draw, we would have liked a win but we did not get beat again and we keep our run continuing.”

Sean Dyche’s side did excellently to nullify a title-chasing side for a second consecutive week. Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski kept Chelsea’s danger man Cole Palmer quiet throughout at the heart of defence.

Meanwhile, Ashley Young and Vitalii Mykolenko quashed the threat the visitors possess down the flanks, putting an end to the Londoners' eight-game winning streak.

Pickford added: “We work hard on defending and are resilient – it shows on days like today. Playing top sides like Arsenal away last week, defending most of the game and counter-attacking, being compact today against a very good side in Chelsea and the form that they are in. We dig in when we have got to dig in and we work hard.”

Everton were unable to secure all three points in L4, as the man in between the oppositions sticks, Robert Sanchez, claimed the player-of-the-match award after denying the Toffees several times, including Jack Harrison from close range.

“Keep the clean sheets coming because the goals will start clicking," said Pickford. "Jack Harrison is in the right place at the right time, Sanchez makes a great save, Iliman [Ndiaye] is there at the right place at the right time, but the defender makes probably one of the blocks of the season.

“The opportunities keep coming, it is about taking them. But we have got to credit defending, that is what we have been doing ourselves – defending well.’