Ancelotti Rues 'Too Many Mistakes' In Everton's Villa Defeat

Carlo Ancelotti conceded Everton got what they deserved from a performance with “a lot of mistakes, no balance and no concentration” after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa at Goodison Park.

The Blues missed the chance to climb up to sixth in the table – and go level on points with fifth-placed West Ham – following their eighth league defeat of the campaign on home soil.

Ollie Watkins put the Midlanders ahead on 13 minutes, only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to head home an equaliser six minutes later from Lucas Digne’s corner.

Everton had the impressive Jordan Pickford to thank for a series of fine saves in the first half to keep the scores level, but the England keeper could do little about Anwar El Ghazi’s pinpoint finish 10 minutes from time.

Ancelotti – whose only change to the side that won at Arsenal last week was enforced just before kick-off when James Rodriguez was replaced by Alex Iwobi due to a tight calf – admitted it was difficult to understand the Blues’ performance.

But the manager accepted it was not good enough, before insisting Everton’s fight for European qualification is not over.

Asked what disappointed him most about the display, Ancelotti said: “The defeat. The fact we didn’t play good. The fact we didn’t start the game well. We did a lot of mistakes at the beginning until the goal we conceded. There were a lot of mistakes, no balance and no concentration. It was not a good evening.

“I don’t know why. It’s difficult to say. I think we need to be more focused, more concentrated, show more desire.

“This season is like this. It’s difficult to say why. This is the same team that won against Arsenal eight days ago. We were in good momentum and good form and then another bad performance at home.

“We were not good. We didn’t have a good balance when we had the ball. Difficulties to find good solutions with the ball. A lot of mistakes. Completely different to the game we had against Arsenal.”

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02:03

HIGHLIGHTS: EVERTON 1-2 ASTON VILLA

Watch the goals as Blues slip to defeat at Goodison.


Ancelotti revealed he expected James to be fit for next Sunday’s crunch trip to fellow European chasers West Ham United.

Victory in east London would be Everton’s 11th on the road in the Premier League this season, a contrast from their fortunes at Goodison, with the Italian calling on his squad to keep fighting.

He added: “The opportunity was there - it was an important game to try to win to stay in the fight. Now we are still in the fight, but it will be more difficult.

“Of course, we could do better at home. Away was different. It’s all unbelievable - it’s unbelievable the run we had away and it’s unbelievable the run we’ve had at home. I think we have the points we deserve to have.

“The season is not finished yet. There are five games and we have to keep fighting. We have important games still - to fight to reach our target.”