Everton's Moyes told players to make sure Goodison finish was positive
LIVERPOOL, England :After all the emotional build-up to Everton's heart-wrenching farewell game at their beloved Goodison Park, manager David Moyes was concerned the moment might be too much for his team.
He need not have worried as his players handled the occasion with ease, Iliman Ndiaye scoring twice as they beat relegated Southampton 2-0 on Sunday as the stadium known as the Grand Old Lady hosted its final Premier League game after 133 years.
"I was worried today. Everybody's been talking about this for so long," Moyes told reporters.
"The scenes outside the stadium were incredible, really. It felt like a club which is needing some big days, some big things in the future. So let's hope this is the start of it.
"But I tried to make a point to the players that what couldn't happen was that we left here not finishing it off right. (But) we've done the job which we needed. We've got 45 points (and stand 13th in the league table).
"The pressure was off the players today because of that (being clear of relegation), but it was also on because of the occasion, because of the greats who were sitting watching them."
Dozens of Everton icons, including Tim Cahill, Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson, were at Goodison to take part in a post-game celebration that had fans in their seats - some singing, others sobbing - long after the final whistle blew.
"I've been here a while and I know what it means. It's been a great stadium," said 62-year-old Scot Moyes, who managed Everton from 2002-2013 before rejoining the club this year.
"Some questions (about the last game at Goodison) make me think, 'My goodness, this is difficult to take some of these,'" he added.
"I think more the feeling that there might be a club which is coming back together, signs that before there was a real breakup of a sort, of a love affair with the supporters, the players, the club, the owners. So we're all trying to get back ... together."
Everton end the season at Newcastle United on May 25, and then will move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the next campaign.
The club announced earlier this week that their women's team, who play in the Women's Super League, would make a permanent move to Goodison from next season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Root masterclass helps England beat West Indies to clinch ODI series
Cricket - Second One Day International - England v West Indies - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - June 1, 2025 England's Joe Root celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS Cricket - Second One Day International - England v West Indies - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - June 1, 2025 England's Joe Root in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS CARDIFF - Joe Root scored his 18th One-Day International century and became England's leading run-scorer in the format when the hosts beat West Indies by three wickets on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Root's masterly 166 off 139 balls helped England, who won the first ODI by 238 runs at Edgbaston, chase down a target of 309 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Root, 34, overtook Eoin Morgan to become England's leading ODI run-scorer and also the first Englishman to score more than 7,000 runs in the format. The victory also ensured England's new era under Harry Brook began on a flying note. He succeeded Jos Buttler after the wicketkeeper-batter stepped down following their group stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. "As long as I have the motivation, want to get better every day, want to be there at the end, you are always adding to the group," Root said. "If I keep contributing, I will keep putting myself forward." After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England made an early breakthrough to make it 6-1 by claiming the wicket of 18-year-old opener Jewel Andrew (0), before Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a run-a-ball 141-run stand to calm West Indies' nerves. Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership when King (59) holed out to long-off, and all-rounder Will Jacks struck to end Carty's fluent knock of 103 off 105 balls, reducing West Indies to 205-3. Carty was dropped twice — on one and 41 — and also survived a few run-out chances, before going on to punish the England bowlers by notching his fourth ODI century. But Rashid continued to shine with the ball, trapping Shimron Hetmyer (4) lbw and finishing with figures of 4-63 to become England's highest wicket-taking spinner across formats. 'FELL AWAY' West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, but captain and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (78) and Justin Greaves (22) came to their rescue, helping the visitors to a total of 308 all out in 47.4 overs. England opened their run chase in disastrous fashion, reduced to 2-2 after both openers, Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, were dismissed for ducks. Dropped on 30 by Hope off the bowling of Jayden Seales, Brook went on to make 47 as he tried to stabilise their innings before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who ended with figures of 4-31. With Buttler out for a duck and Jacob Bethell trapped lbw, Root anchored the innings, putting together a 143-run partnership with Jacks (49). But after Brydon Carse (2) was dismissed, Rashid (10) provided Root help on the other end as England chased down the target with seven balls to spare. "We certainly did (lose our way)," Hope said. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least. "But we just fell away at the end and didn't give ourselves the best chance of dominating the game with the bat. "I have to commend the bowlers for the fight they showed to keep us in the game. They fought until the end." The final ODI will be played at The Oval in London on Tuesday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
13 hours ago
- CNA
Root masterclass helps England beat West Indies to clinch ODI series
CARDIFF :Joe Root scored his 18th One-Day International century and became England's leading run-scorer in the format when the hosts beat West Indies by three wickets on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Root's masterly 166 off 139 balls helped England, who won the first ODI by 238 runs at Edgbaston, chase down a target of 309 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Root, 34, overtook Eoin Morgan to become England's leading ODI run-scorer and also the first Englishman to score more than 7,000 runs in the format. The victory also ensured England's new era under Harry Brook began on a flying note. He succeeded Jos Buttler after the wicketkeeper-batter stepped down following their group stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. "As long as I have the motivation, want to get better every day, want to be there at the end, you are always adding to the group," Root said. "If I keep contributing, I will keep putting myself forward." After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England made an early breakthrough to make it 6-1 by claiming the wicket of 18-year-old opener Jewel Andrew (0), before Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a run-a-ball 141-run stand to calm West Indies' nerves. Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership when King (59) holed out to long-off, and all-rounder Will Jacks struck to end Carty's fluent knock of 103 off 105 balls, reducing West Indies to 205-3. Carty was dropped twice — on one and 41 — and also survived a few run-out chances, before going on to punish the England bowlers by notching his fourth ODI century. But Rashid continued to shine with the ball, trapping Shimron Hetmyer (4) lbw and finishing with figures of 4-63 to become England's highest wicket-taking spinner across formats. 'FELL AWAY' West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, but captain and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (78) and Justin Greaves (22) came to their rescue, helping the visitors to a total of 308 all out in 47.4 overs. England opened their run chase in disastrous fashion, reduced to 2-2 after both openers, Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, were dismissed for ducks. Dropped on 30 by Hope off the bowling of Jayden Seales, Brook went on to make 47 as he tried to stabilise their innings before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who ended with figures of 4-31. With Buttler out for a duck and Jacob Bethell trapped lbw, Root anchored the innings, putting together a 143-run partnership with Jacks (49). But after Brydon Carse (2) was dismissed, Rashid (10) provided Root help on the other end as England chased down the target with seven balls to spare. "We certainly did (lose our way)," Hope said. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least. "But we just fell away at the end and didn't give ourselves the best chance of dominating the game with the bat. The final ODI will be played at The Oval in London on Tuesday.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
England beat West Indies to clinch ODI series with Root masterclass
Cricket - Second One Day International - England v West Indies - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - June 1, 2025 England's Joe Root celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS Cricket - Second One Day International - England v West Indies - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - June 1, 2025 England's Joe Root in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS CARDIFF - England batter Joe Root scored his 18th One-Day International century and surpassed 7,000 runs in the format when the hosts beat West Indies by three wickets on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Root's masterly 166 off 139 balls helped England, who won the first ODI by 238 runs at Edgbaston, chase down a target of 309 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England made an early breakthrough to make it 6-1 by claiming the wicket of 18-year-old opener Jewel Andrew (0), before Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a run-a-ball 141-run stand to calm West Indies' nerves. Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership when King (59) holed out to long-off, and all-rounder Will Jacks struck to end Carty's fluent knock of 103 off 105 balls, reducing West Indies to 205-3. Carty was dropped twice — on one and 41 — and also survived a few run-out chances, before going on to punish the England bowlers by notching his fourth ODI century. But Rashid continued to shine with the ball, trapping Shimron Hetmyer (4) lbw and finishing with figures of 4-63 to become England's highest wicket-taking spinner across formats. West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, but captain and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (78) and Justin Greaves (22) came to their rescue, helping the visitors to a total of 308 all out in 47.4 overs. England opened their run chase in disastrous fashion, reduced to 2-2 after both openers, Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, were dismissed for ducks. Dropped on 30 by Hope off the bowling of Jayden Seales, England skipper Harry Brook went on to make 47 as he tried to stabilise their innings before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who ended with figures of 4-31. With former captain Jos Buttler out for a duck and Jacob Bethell trapped lbw, Root anchored the innings, putting together a 143-run partnership with Jacks (49). But after Brydon Carse (2) was dismissed, Rashid (10) provided Root help on the other end as England chased down the target with seven balls to spare. Root, 34, also surpassed Eoin Morgan to become England's leading ODI run-scorer. The final ODI will be played at The Oval in London on Tuesday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
