Ndiaye and Keane heap more misery on struggling Ipswich in Everton win | first division

Sean Dyche's formula for first division Survival is different from Kieran McKenna. It also has the mark of being tested and trusted. If midfield muscle, set-piece experience and a tough, deep defense go against Ipswich's sense of adventure, there was a harsh lesson here that playing the right way will not always lead to the right result.

A surprise? Five points from the last three games had followed Everton's desperate start, signs of resurgence. part of DycheIan The deja vu is that his teams rarely start seasons well and eventually find their gears like autumnal browns. McKenna's Ipswich entered their ninth league game of the season looking for their first win. They will have to be lucky at Brentford next week, where they will have to defend much better and take advantage of their opportunities too.

After a kick-off delayed 15 minutes due to issues with turnstile technology and some early rushing from Everton, Ipswich squandered their golden opportunity to open the scoring; Wes Burns burst onto the byline and set up Jack Clarke, only for the shot to deflect.

That was the Ipswich that wins hearts. The annoying part came shortly after; so much risk rewards opponents. Sam Morsy and Luke Woolfenden got into a terrible mess trying to get the ball out. Dominic Calvert-Lewin stole, but Arijanet Muric saved. And when Iliman Ndiaye sneaked in after further delays, Clarke redeemed himself by robbing an expectant Dwight McNeil.

While Muric always played from goal, Jordan Pickford repeatedly threw the ball forward, making Ipswich nervous in possession. His nerves caused Everton's first goal. Burns faltered in his own area, the excellent Ndiaye pounced and this time Muric had no response. Dyche may be reluctant to use the term, but his team was employing high pressing to give their opponent plenty to think about.

Redemption could have come when McNeil appeared to foul Clarke in the box, only for VAR to overturn it. Ipswich began to press, Dyche's sub-bass growl conveying concerns from the touchline before his team took advantage of Suffolk's greater slack. After a corner was cleared, McNeil made space for himself and set up Michael Keane at an angle from which central defenders are not known for scoring. Keane, however, has a reputation as one of Everton's best finishers. McNeil's turn and pass showed that it's not just Ipswich who can play with champagne; He and Ndiaye decorated Portman Road in their style.

McKenna is not so idealistic as to ignore the need for points, but he made no changes at halftime. This week, their club's American owners embraced “a different brand of soccer” to build “something special,” while acknowledging the risk of relegation. If the home crowd kept their spirits up, Everton continued to be more dangerous. Ipswich's execution never fulfilled its creative ambitions.

Had Calvert-Lewin's finishing (three good missed chances in the second half) been up to par with the rest of his game, Everton could have been out of sight. Another mistake by Morsy allowed Ndiaye to have another chance, saved by Muric. Everton's muscles had already taken control, and Ipswich were unable to offer anything similar once local heavyweight boxer Fabio Wardley finished his half-time encounter.

At the end of the match, Ipswich's first meeting with Everton since 2002 generated audible frustrations. Losing adds little novel value to the Premier League experience. Everton dug in and started to buy time; Another central tenet of the Dyche doctrine is to slow down games by leading. Liam Delap, too often forced to sink, fired a shot and then a header wide as Ipswich continued ahead, and substitute Conor Chaplin fired straight at Pickford.

A series of late Ipswich set pieces proved to be fodder and drink for Dyche's drills, his team always ready to clear and hold their shape as he growled instructions. It's all part of a formula executed almost perfectly.