From zero to hero! Jordan Pickford rescues a point for Everton with incredible 98th minute triple save, after his comical own goal had given Sheffield United the lead
Pickford #Pickford
Jordan Pickford was the Everton hero as his injury time triple save prevented a fourth straight defeat for Sean Dyche’s men against Sheffield United.
With just seconds left in the game, and the scores level at 2-2, the Blades swung in a corner that was met by the head of Oli McBurnie.
But the striker’s powerful header was brilliantly saved by Pickford, who then went on to save both McBurnie’s follow-up attempt and then scramble the ball away from the on-rushing Sheffield United players for a third incredible save.
The England number one then responded to the moment by making a nonchalant face to the Blades fans has he kept hold of the ball.
The moment was the perfect answer to the comical own goal he scored earlier in the game, when Cameron Archer’s shot cannoned off the post then bounced off Pickford’s back and into the net to give the home side the lead.
Jordan Pickford pulls off the incredible triple stop in injury time to save Everton from defeat
The super saves saw Everton hold on to a 2-2 draw and earn their first point of the season
Pickford’s reaction to the moment was captured as he made nonchalant gesture to fans
Fans on social media were quick to praise the Everton goalie, with one fan saying ‘Anyone who says Pickford isn’t any good, give your head a wobble you doughnuts!! England’s number 1 for a reason!’
That sentiment was a popular one following the saves with another post reading; ‘I know he’s got his critics but that double save from Pickford there was incredible.’
The point was Everton’s first of the season and another tweet suggested that it’s performances like today’s from Pickford that will stop them from being relegated from the division and that the goalkeeper needs recognition at Goodison. Stating; ‘Pickford gonna pull us through 3 relegation battle on the bounce honestly give him a statue at the new ground.’
Another post suggested Pickford’s stops were already a contender for the season’s best, declaring; ‘Sensational stuff from Pickford. Early contender for save(s) of the season.’
Following the draw that saw the Toffees pick up their first point of the season, Pickford said he was happy with the point, but knows there’s still room for improvement from his side.
‘I think there’s a lot of positives but still a few negatives.’ Pickford said.
‘When you’re 1-0 up you’re in control but then they go and score two. That’s why the Premier League is the best league in the world. You can’t take any team for granted. They then got a bit of luck with the second goal bouncing off me.
Fans took to social media to praise the saves from Jordan Pickford against Sheffield United
Pickford had earlier in the game scored an own goal after the ball bounced of his back
‘That’s football. Sometimes it can hit me in the head and go in. They are great from set pieces. I had to be switched on. The manager said it will be 100 minute games now. I had to be on my A game.
‘We’re our worst enemies sometimes as a team. We need to learn from those. The three games we have played apart from the Villa game has been small margins. We need to improve as a team, start getting things together and get three points.
‘It’s a start. Being at Everton for six years, the fans want hard work from us. If you work for the shirt, they’ll love you. If all of us give that the fans will be happy and the points will be on the board.’
Everton had taken the lead against Sheffield United thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure before Cameron Archer’s first-ever Premier League goal levelled things up a Bramall Lane.
Pickford then was on the end of one his more awkward moments, as Archer’s shot bounced off the post and the rebounded off the Everton stopper’s back.
Sean Dyche’s men were able to rescue a point from the game when Arnaut Danjuma turned in Nathan Patterson’s cross to level the game.
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