'Physicality and pace helped the team' - Pat Nevin hails Iwobi for first half display v Chelsea 

Retired Scotland international Pat Nevin, who has a foot in both camps, heaped praise on Alex Iwobi for his performance in the first half of Everton's Premier League meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. 

Toffees boss Sean Dyche named the same starting lineup that earned a 1-0 win over Brentford last weekend, with Demarai Gray flanked by Iwobi and Dwight McNeil.

Everton showed character, coming from behind to salvage something in the dying embers of the game with an 89th minute equalizer.

After a goalless first half, Joao Felix broke the deadlock with a low effort that went in off the post in the 52nd minute, but two goals in the last twenty minutes, one from Abdoulaye Doucoure, one from Ellis Reco Simms made Kai Havertz's goal ultimately worth a point.   

Despite overwhelming possession, Chelsea only had three shots on target in the first half, an indication of how well Everton did defensively. 

Nevin singled out Iwobi for praise for his defensive contribution to the Everton team in the first half. 

"At the moment, the player who is standing out for me for Everton is Alex Iwobi. Really really impressive," Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

"Over on the right hand side, he has had to do all of the defending but his physicality and pace has really helped the team so far."

Iwobi is expected to report for international duty early next week ahead of Nigeria's double-header with Guinea-Bissau in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.  

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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