Everton got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday, beating Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage.
The Toffees had gone three games without victory in the top-flight and needed a response.
It had looked as though a tough afternoon was in store, with Fulham the better side in the first-half. They went 1-0 up through Raul Jimenez.
But Vitaliy Mykolenko pulled one back just before half-time, and that gave Everton the confidence to play in the second-half.
By the 75th minute, Everton had found two more goals through Michael Keane and Beto, and dealt Fulham a big blow to their European hopes.
It was a great win, but one that would not have been possible without some key contributions from Jordan Pickford, who came in for praise from Match of the Day.
Jordan Pickford singled out for praise on Match of the Day
Pickford has had another top season for Everton.
The England number one – who’s won the club’s Player of the Season award three years running – has been in fine fettle, and was a big reason Everton kept their heads above water earlier in the season.
Against Fulham, Pickford – who was the subject of a new fan song on Saturday – made five saves in total. Two of those came from Fulham shots inside the box.
And his contributions were acknowledged on Match of the Day last night.
Gary Lineker said: “Once again, Jordan Pickford played an important part. He is a very consistent goalkeeper, isn’t he Shay?”
Shay Given said: “I think that’s the sign of a very good goalkeeper. Make the least amount of mistakes and do what it says on the tin. He makes big saves in important moments.
“Him and Wilson had a bit of a one-vs-one today. This is a brilliant save (from Harry Wilson), reversing it to the near post, takes a deflection on the way through and that’s a brilliant save.
“This save is more basic, but he does see it late from Sessegnon. The good thing about this save is he shovels it away from danger.”
Given then said Pickford’s final save from Wilson – where he tried to lob the Everton number one – was ‘the pick of the bunch’.
Pickford has been an exceptional Everton signing
A lot of money was wasted under Farhad Moshiri, but the signing of Pickford has proven to be incredible business by the football club.
Everton have diced with death a bit in recent years, and had it not been for Pickford’s consistency, the Toffees may well have found themselves in the Championship.
£30 million was quite a large transfer fee at the time. But Pickford has ultimately made that look a complete bargain.
David Moyes recently suggested Pickford doesn’t get the respect he truly deserves, and there is perhaps some truth in that in terms of the perspective from neutrals.
But his quality and importance is certainly not lost on Evertonians.
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