David Moyes slammed Everton’s ‘terrible decision-making’ following their collapse against Ipswich Town that saw them forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.
The Everton fans put on a show prior to kick-off in the penultimate Premier League game at Goodison Park, and they were treated to a spectacle as Everton raced away to a two-goal lead inside the first half.
Beto broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a glancing header, while Dwight McNeil doubled their lead with a brilliant swerving strike from 20 yards out less than 10 minutes later.
But McNeil quickly saw his strike bettered by a superb dipping long-range effort from Julio Enciso.
Put under late pressure by the Tractor Boys, Everton saw their lead slip through their fingers as substitute George Hirst nodded home at the back post in the 79th minute.
The draw means that Everton have now won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches (six draws, three losses) – a sharp dip after winning four of their first five under Moyes (one draw).
It also sees Everton sit in 14th place in the Premier League table with just three matches remaining.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Moyes expressed his frustration at the way his side let their lead slip.
“We are disappointed. We didn’t shake them off and couldn’t quite get enough,” Moyes said.
“We did a lot of good things and tried some new things to see how players play in new roles.
“The goal just before half-time rocked us. It gave them something to keep going at. We just couldn’t get clear.
“The game was always tight, but we should have done better. We have done that a couple of times now.”
The Scot added: “We need to understand how to see the game through. There were terrible decisions in the build-up to the second goal and we left ourselves exposed.
“I am disappointed we didn’t win but there are lots of positives from where we’ve been. I thought we controlled the game up until the last five minutes.”
Speaking to Premier League Productions, Kieran McKenna was full of praise for the way his Ipswich side fought back to salvage a draw.
“I’m really proud. It was always going to be a tough game for us,” McKenna said.
“I don’t think it had been a 2-0 game, but the group responded really well.
“It took a great goal to get us back into it, but the group stuck together, and I think we deserved at least a point.”
McKenna added: “It’s been a challenge [this season]. We knew everything would have to go right, and it hasn’t.
“The boys who have been available have given their all pretty much every week.
“The motivation hasn’t been hard. A lot of the boys are playing in the Premier League for the first time.
“The only hard bit has been pulling them together as a group. I think you can see that they’re still really fighting for the club.”
Saturday’s draw was the first time Ipswich have come from two goals down to earn a Premier League result since October 2001, when they drew 3-3 with Southampton.
