Everton captain Seamus Coleman rolled back the years on Saturday with a dominant display against one of the inform Premier League wingers in Wilfried Gnoto.
After having him tucked in his back pocket all game, Seamus Coleman let Gnoto out as the full-time whistle rang out at Goodison Park and what looked like a friendly conversation between the two quickly changed resulting in the Leeds United winger receiving a yellow card for his actions.
At first it looked as if Gnoto was congratulating Coleman on the win and him scoring the winning goal, but as the pair got more and more animated it was clear that Gnoto was wound up about something. (Probably because he was marked out the game by a 34 year old)
Coleman vs Gnoto
For many Evertonians before the game, myself included I was dreading seeing Coleman up against 19 year old Wilfried Gnoto.
In what was his 401st appearance for Everton, Coleman netted the winner, kept the Italian winger quiet all game and in the process picked up the Man of the Match award for his display and manager Sean Dyche had only the highest of praise for his skipper. [EvertonFC]
He said: “A fantastic pro that he is, he gets forward when he can, and with his experience, he makes a good decision. The finish is sublime. The way he struck it looks like a shot, and it’s a sublime finish.
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“There’s no question about his professionalism and what he means to Evertonians.”
Seamus Coleman who, as mentioned, netted the winner, also answered many fans’ question – did he mean it?
“Everybody was predicting the cross, but the way my hips were feeling, I couldn’t wrap my hips around it,” Coleman said.
“I thought I would take on the shot because I knew he would be anticipating the cross. I am not sure I would catch it like that again if I hit it another 10 times.”
The returning Nathan Patterson
Seamus Coleman is out of contract in the summer and with him turning 35 this coming October, he must be thinking about hanging his boots up soon.
Nathan Patterson like Coleman has has a horrid time so far with injuries in his 12 months at Everton and he was in action on Friday night along with James Garner as they both got valuable minutes in Everton U21’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur U21’s and it should not be long until Patterson’s return.
Coleman should have been eased out of Everton squad by now, but like Leighton Baines. Everton did not focus on a replacement for Coleman until last January when Patterson was brought in from Rangers.