“We have been conceding goals for fun,” was David Unsworth’s assessment of his six weeks in charge and Sam Allardyce, based on his work at ailing clubs, should at least be able to introduce some rigidity to the backline and prevent Everton’s recent resemblance to a rugby team arranged on a diagonal. Whether he can do much to rescue Phil Jagielka’s career or put the suddenly vulnerable Ashley Williams back on track remains to be seen. The greatest worry is that Michael Keane appears to have been affected by the chaos around him and no longer looks the assured performer he was at Burnley. With Ramiro Funes Mori long‑term injured and Mason Holgate just back, Everton have problems in central defence and are not exactly secure elsewhere. Allardyce in the past has been critical of Leighton Baines, who, like Keane, is injured and though Jonjoe Kenny looks the part the dependable Seamus Coleman has been sorely missed at right-back all season.
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