A surprise start for Robin Olsen was repaid with a commanding and assured display in Everton’s 2-0 win over Leicester on Wednesday.
The goalkeeper, who typically deputises for Jordan Pickford at Goodison Park, has only otherwise featured in a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United.
This time, the Swedish international gave a performance which delighted plenty of Everton fans as he took responsibility and looked a comfortable presence between the posts.
He worked well with a defence which consisted entirely of natural centre-backs as the likes of Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey filled in as full-backs.
A mistake almost let Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in to score after some miscommunication with Yerry Mina, but the 30-year-old netminder otherwise performed superbly and kept a clean sheet.
In truth, Everton’s good defending ensured that Olsen had little to do as he was aided superbly by those in front of him. Other notable flashpoints included a six-yard Vardy header which the goalkeeper coolly collected and a low Cengiz Under shot.
Olsen’s clean sheet is his first so far this season and the Toffees’ third in the Premier League. These Everton fans expressed their delight on Twitter at the performance from the stand-in ‘keeper, with one labelling him a “calming influence” and other calling for him to start against Arsenal on Saturday:
Twitter: Robin Olsen, everything Jordan Pickford isn’t. Calm, huge, no nonsense goalie, who was spot on again tonight.
Keep… https://t.co/0Y1KUrckaC (@StreetEnd056)
Twitter: Also, don’t let Robin Olsen go without praise tonight.
The biggest compliment I can pay him is that we didn’t have… https://t.co/LUAFNnFITO (@TheGwladysSt)
Twitter: Robin Olsen makes me feel safe. I like that in my goalkeepers
(@LindseyC1878)
Twitter:
Cleansheet for Robin Olsen tonight! Strong performance
https://t.co/CSnNAt50vJ (@EvertonNewsFeed)
Twitter: Jordan Pickford
Robin Olsen
Clean sheets in big games https://t.co/EQWdAagmsA (@Iwobnaldo)
Twitter: Doucoure should get all the plaudits, but shout out to Robin Olsen for being a very calming influence all game, doe… https://t.co/Y51bjmdVS2 (@EvertonViking)
Twitter: Robin Olsen has been very assured and a calming influence on the back 4. #EFC (@fatwap73)
