Incredibly, Everton have won just one of their last 23 away games, the latest misery coming at Burnley this afternoon. They led 1-0 against the run of play through Cenk Tosun - assisted by Seamus Coleman - before collapsing in the second half, with Burnley winning the game via goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood.
It was the first time under Sean Dyche that Burnley won a Premier League game in which they fell behind, with Seamus Coleman admitting to Sky Sports that it wasn't good enough that Everton "crumbled" as they did. Sam Allardyce said that Everton "gifted" the game to a Burnley side who hadn't won a game since December.
Among the most insipid of Everton's performers was Ashley Williams, who wore the captain's armband. Williams was dreadful on the winning goal, electing not to bother marking Chris Wood.
It was to get worse for the captain a few minutes later: he received a straight red card for mindlessly swinging his elbow into the face of Ashley Barnes in the Burnley penalty area. There were no protests from Everton at the time or post-game, with Jamie Carragher wryly remarking that Sam Allardyce might wish that his captain had shown the same level of aggression in defending what proved to the winning goal.
Everton fans were equally unforgiving.
Good news.
Ashley Williams misses the next Everton match.— GrandOldTeam (@grandoldteam) March 3, 2018
3 game ban for Ashley Williams pic.twitter.com/t7meGjYu0E
— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) March 3, 2018
Can we appeal Ashley Williams’ 3 game ban and get it extended till the end of the season?
— TheEvertonForum.com/forum - Register now (@TheEFCForum) March 3, 2018
Ashley Williams has been a disgrace all season. Should never play for the club again.
— Joe Strange (@joe_strange) March 3, 2018
How is Seamus not our captain? - the only person to speak any sense - unlike the "manager" and act how you expect an Everton captain to conduct himself. Ashley Williams should never wear a blue shirt ever again
— Sam McPartland 💙🌈🐶🐾⚽️☘️ (@SamMc1878) March 3, 2018
Sums Ashley Williams’ display up that! An absolute disgrace today! 😡
— Dave Seed ™ (@dave_seed) March 3, 2018
