World Cup: Southgate sees Everton’s snowmen melt at Burnley

You’d have been forgiven for giving this fixture a miss, looking at the form of both teams going into the game; but with both teams having a core of English players, it wasn’t surprising to see Gareth Southgate at Turf Moor.

The first half kicked off with a real sense of purpose from both teams, with differing tactical approaches taken, Burnley for once the team who dominated possession, whilst Everton sat back and hit on the counter attack.

It was a quintessentially English tie, a physical, direct battle with crosses, pace and a heavy press on the ball. Whilst I think England’s national team needs to reclaim this identity with the way they play, Southgate has neither the experience nor the inclination to do that. It isn’t his style, and he isn’t risking anything by playing it safe and keeping England on the same track they’re on now.

https://twitter.com/dlrbrts/status/969997986221707265

The game was played in wintry conditions, but in the second half you’d have been forgiven for thinking Everton were snowmen, Burnley’s goal a fireplace, and Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood up front were the bullies knocking the heads off any that hadn’t melted.

Burnley ended up doing something they haven’t managed in 52 prior attempts…winning a Premier League game after conceding the first goal.