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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Phil Kirkbride

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti displays ruthless edge and Mason Holgate shows up attackers

Unrest Ham

Hundreds of angry Hammers' fans staged a protest outside of the London Stadium before kick-off on Saturday.

The supporters were voicing their frustrations at co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold who have now reached 10 years at the helm.

A statement issued by protest organisers Hammers United, read: "Many fans have sacrificed a great deal of what they hold dear about West Ham," said a Hammers United statement.

"This sacrifice was made on the understanding that more, a lot more, would be forthcoming than just the survival of the club."

Sullivan and Gold responded by saying: "Despite our best efforts we have not made the progress, in a football sense, that we all hoped for and expected following the move to London Stadium almost four years ago," they said.

"We accept that mistakes have been made and that there are some things we might have done differently."

Ruthless Ancelotti

Typically, managers wait until past the hour mark of a game before making changes.

On Saturday, the Everton boss lasted until half-time.

He hauled off Bernard and handed Anthony Gordon in Premier League debut.

The initial feeling was that the Brazilian, one of the standout players in the win over Brighton a week earlier, was injured.

Ancelotti would knock that idea on the end in his post-match media interviews.

Anthony Gordon during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 (Photo by Tony McArdle /Everton FC via Getty Images)

"It was a tactical change.  I wanted to put in some fresh legs."

Ancelotti demanding improvements in key areas

The Italian made his second change after just 57 minutes but it had been in Ancelotti's mind before the break.

Djibril Sidibe was sent out to warm up during half-time and Walcott had not improved enough for the Everton boss to change his mind.

Defenders defend....and provide assists

Man-of-the-match Mason Holgate flicked on Lucas Digne's corner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin stooped to do the rest.

Everton had clawed their way back into the game and Holgate had a third league assist of the season.

He and his defensive partners are putting (most) of their attacking team-mates to shame.

Mason Holgate applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Digne and Sidibe lead Everton's creative list with four assists each with Holgate joint second with Richarlison on three.

Adam Jones on why Holgate was Everton's star man in the capital

Yet Bernard, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Walcott, for example, have registered just one each - as many as right-back Seamus Coleman.

Alex Iwobi has yet to register one.

Everton's defenders are charged with preventing goals, but they're also vital in creating them.

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