Everton 1-0 Sheffield United: Abdoulaye Doucoure heads Toffees to fifth straight home win

Abdoulaye Doucoure's first-half header sent Everton to a fifth straight home win and clean sheet as they beat Sheffield United 1-0.

Sean Dyche's inspired side have made Goodison Park a fortress when it has mattered most this season and Doucoure was on hand to head home a Dominic Calvert-Lewin cross on 31 minutes.

That was the 101st goal Sheffield United have conceded this season - no side in Premier League history have conceded more over the course of a season.

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This victory took Everton to 40 points - without their eight-point deduction for financial breaches they would have been pushing for a top-half spot - and comfortably 15th ahead of the daunting final-day trip to Arsenal.

On the pitch, at least, the season is finishing positively.

How Everton reached the 40-point mark...

Since the beginning of April only Arsenal and Manchester City had more points than Everton's 17 after their tremendous run of late meaning this game was played in a very relaxed environment at Goodison Park.

It could be the last time many of these Everton play at the famous old ground after the club released a statement admitting they will need to sell players this summer to ease their financial troubles.

Doucoure should have scored early on but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham got enough on his shot after some superb work from Calvert-Lewin, who was a constant threat for the home side.

The Everton duo linked up once again 12 minutes later to open the scoring. Calvert-Lewin latched on to Dwight McNeil's through-ball and his chipped cross was headed home by Doucoure with Foderingham out of the picture.

Calvert-Lewin was involved with an altercation with Blades captain Jack Robinson, who shoved the Everton forward to the ground in front of Everton's technical area but only a yellow card was shown.

The game meandered towards a conclusion in the second half with Jordan Pickford untroubled in the Everton goal as he grabbed a fifth straight clean sheet at home.

Dyche: It's been a taxing season

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Everton boss Sean Dyche:

"It was a good day. The performance was OK. It was one of those end of season games, it had that feel. But I'm pleased with the winning mentality and the clean sheet. We've found ways of winning. This season has been about safeguarding the football club and making sure we're in the Premier League and we've done that. Myself, the staff, the players and fans deserve a lot of credit. The fans have stuck by us through some testing times this season.

"It's been a really taxing season for me personally and everyone involved. This is the job we've got. So to finish in the way we've had is very pleasing."

Analysis: Calvert-Lewin remains in unplayable mood

Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:

"Where would Everton be this season if Dominic Calvert-Lewin had been this fit all season?

"He has looked a different animal since his late penalty grabbed Everton a late point at Newcastle. Amazing what a goal can do, although the way Sean Dyche has managed Calvert-Lewin's workload has to be commended too. He scored the winner in the 1-0 win over Burnley, which was the start of this amazing run of five straight home wins to nil. Since then, Everton and Calvert-Lewin have been rampant, seeing off Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Brentford and Sheffield United without conceding a goal. Outside Arsenal and Manchester City, no team are in better form.

"Calvert-Lewin's pace, power and physicality was too much for the powderpuff Blades, whose frustrations at having to deal with him boiled over just before the break when Jack Robinson inexplicably pushed the striker to the floor in an aggressive manner. In this mood, the Everton man is borderline unplayable. With a potential fire-sale in the summer happening at the club, Calvert-Lewin won't be short of suitors."

Opta stats: Everton's rock solid defence

• Everton have won five consecutive Premier League home games without conceding for the first time since March-August 2019, and for the first time in a single campaign since March-May 2013.
• Sheffield United have conceded a goal in all 19 of their Premier League away games this season. It's the fourth time in their league history they've not kept a single away clean sheet across a full campaign, along with 1898-99 (17 games), 1953-54 (21) and 1977-78 (21).
• Doucouré's opener was his first Premier League goal since December; despite this, no Everton player has scored more league goals than the Malian this term (7).
• Everton have kept a clean sheet in 85% of their Premier League wins this season (11/13), the highest share in the division. Indeed, each of their last 14 league wins at Goodison Park have been to nil (6 in 2022-23, 8 this season).

What's next?

The Premier League's final day will take place on Sunday May 19 with all games kicking off at 4pm. Everton travel to Arsenal, while Sheffield United host Tottenham.

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